Chicago Suburbs Like Northern Virginia?
 

Hi Fodorites,

I recently posted for myself and my husband regarding areas like Lincoln Square in the City of Chicago.

Now, my parents are looking to move to Chicagoland. They are 60; not retired yet, they still want to work for next 10 years or so. They have lived in Reston, the Northern Virginia (Washington, DC) area for the past 25 years, but have been priced out as of late. They would like to buy either a 2-3 bedroom condo/townhouse or single-family home and try and stay under $300,000. They really love the Northern VA. area and I was wondering which suburbs are as similar as you can get (I know it's a whole different state and region) for their budget. To better describe; they would like an area that is beautiful, green, quiet, but with amenities (nice suburban-type ones, I guess) and the most desirable and affluent for their budget-ha! As you may see, they are pretty picky. They don't want a big yard to take care of, but possibly a small one or a courtyard-style home. I think they may like a condo in Evanston, but I'm not sure if that's even too city for them :).

If you can help at all with advice or where to look for more information, I'd greatly appreciate it. In my initial research, Chicagoland has proven to be very large and overwhelming. I thought it would be best to get first-hand knowledge from locals.

Thanks in advance!

~Tara

Naperville would probably be like what they are use to, $300,00 may be the low end for a nice townhome/condo there.
The far north suburbs in Lake and McHenry counties might also work for them and be less expensive housing.

My parents are exactly the same age as yours, and they live in Evanston. I would say it has little in common with Northern burbs of VA. It's fairly urban, and while the lakefront is gorgeous, it's not very green.

The Western or Southwestern Burbs.

Job locations first, housing location second- and this goes especially true for the Chicagoland area.

Find the jobs first, and if you know where they will work, then ask the location question.

Homer Township, Lagrange, Tinley PK- Orland, Naperville, Brookfield- all would work depending upon the job location.

A few Northern ones would work well too, but right now you'd be pushing too urban or too non-country like or non-VA like, IMHO, for that kind of money.

No offense, JJ5, (don't know enough about the other suburbs you mentioned), but I'm guessing La Grange would be out of their budget. We looked into moving there 10 years ago and found it to be very expensive. And more urban than the suburbs a little further west.

We lived in the DC area over twenty years ago. I'm sure things have changed much in that length of time. But, from what I remember of the VA suburban area, Naperville would probably be a pretty good match. But I know nothing about prices in that area.

From what you've said about your parents' requirements, I would think Evanston would be too urban. And, being on the North Shore, I'd think it would be very expensive.

There are probably townhouse developments in this area (Oak Brook/Lombard/Downers Grove) that would meet their stipulations in terms of price and green areas. And this area offers a lot of amenities as far as restaurants, shopping, etc. There are also a lot of corporate employers in this area.

Well, I know Lagrange very well. My old boss lives there in a condo, and it isn't less than 1300 square feet and upgraded yet at least 25 years old and it is in an extremely non-urban park-ways type of surroundings. And she is trying to sell it for $310,000 and can't. LOL! Not all of Lagrange is like Lagrange Rd. and downtown Lagrange. And not all of it is the main drags with minimum $1.1 million and above old Victorians either. Parts of it are very dense traffic, city-like. Parts of it are very suburban, with dense traffic. LOL!

Downers Grove & Westmont areas actually have greater density in big segments as well and overall are more urban looking streets and business/shopping and also frankly, some subdivisions that are water problemed. But Downers Grove alone is over a larger geographic area than some Eastern USA multi-million pop. cities- so there are parts that are clearly not city-like as well. Lagrange or Countryside, IL (another suburb near Lagrange Pk) I find that is still true. But traffic itself, I must admit, is heavy. Very heavy.

Yes, and also for all of them mentioned above in this and in my former post, especially Brookfield, the pricing you mention for a condo, tarajane, would put them at the absolute lowest end available and it would be small with high taxes.

All of these Cook County, Will County, Dupage County locations have some of the highest property taxes in the country. Plus a sales tax on everything, plus an income tax, plus extra gasoline addage taxes. At their age I would take this into strong consideration and really look at numbers to rectify salary requirements as well. It is not unusal for the base property tax to be $8,000 to $10,000 per year for a 2 or 3 bedroom home. Condos only slightly left plus most have service or association fees.

Also Hinsdale in that group would be impossible at that price- as would Willow Springs.

But I know Lagrange, and helped rehab a Victorian there, and it and Downers are BIG areas in geographical size- with more opportunities to buy with a good offer than people think. Yes, the average price is higher now than 10 years ago, but it is absolutely lower than it was 2 years ago. In some cases, much lower. It is a buyer's market in some Western burbs.

It is turning to a buyer's market in the Southwestern burbs as well, but not as heavily. If they want brand new for $300,000-with an excellent location, even in SW now, the search will be harder.

I always say rent until employment is resolved. They may absolutely like grittier city climes, or if they want something VERY much more like VA (and I have been)- I would think the SW or NW burbs may be far more their dithers.

There are condos where I live throughout Orland and Frankfort townships that are still $250-$350,000 price range for 1800 plus sq.feet of high end space with great amenities, some by town squares, railroad station/ "downtown" (my burb Tinley Park just got into top 50 downtown train station- public squares in USA rating)- but I do think that traffic and taxes are to be considered in all of these moves.

The areas most mentioned on Fodors for North, NE- I don't think they would be getting anything at that price as you describe. Possible, but not easy and they wouldn't be under $300,000 in any that I have ever seen. I just visited this tiny, tiny house in Mt. Prospect which was listed at $250,000 OVER the $300,000. And the area does not remind me much up there of VA, to tell you the truth. Except maybe out by Long Grove, but that is every more $$$.

It's complex. Some condos for those prices don't have garages. I think garages are necessities with our winters.

I just went to D.C. area in Feb. and I know the property values are sky high- but that some are things are rather "free" there compared to here, don't forget that. Like tollways/highways, for instance. LOL!

Depending on how far your parents want to be from Chicago, Geneva/St. Charles (40 miles west) area also might fit what they are looking for. Metra commuter train station in Geneva, quick access to the tollway to get into the city. They both have lovely downtowns and lots of green space, older homes with new construction going on. I think they could get a condo/townhome for $300,000.

I don't know anything about prices there, but I agree with you about Geneva/St. Charles, isabellasu. We've always really liked that area.

Wow! Thank you all so much for the incredible amount of great information. I will forward it along to my parents.

JJ5--Thanks for filling me in on the high property taxes, as well. This is a very important thing to consider.

I would like to see them in a more "urban" place like Evanston...they may like a change???

Thanks again,

Tara

I'm not sure what the prices look like, but downtown Arlington Heights has undergone a metamorphesis in the past ten years. They are trying to turn it into a more commuter driven suburb and attract young singles. Lots of new highrise buildings and amenities downtown. It's a bit "greener" than Evanston, so it could be an option for your parents. They might also try downtown Palatine.

I've spend 0 time in the south/southwest suburbs so I can't comment on any of the other suggestions. I grew up in Arlington Heights and Evanston, so that's pretty much my area of expertise.

And lastly, reading the other thread, you said your parents were rather picky. In that case, I would not suggest the older, formal and more established close in suburbs S & SW- like Oak Lawn or Crestwood. They are just like extensions of Chicago now, but worse, IMHO, because they are NOT Chicago.

All the Palos' (Palos Park, Palos Heights, Palos) are tree heavy- and most hold single and multi-housing with huge lots- much forest preserve- high, high end quality possibilites- but they may be out of the price range as well.

Another area that may be a go, like Geneva but not as "far" out is New Lenox. That's newer, but was an unknown gem until recently. About two years ago it was "found" and now it is too probably out of their price range.

It sounds to me if they are more NW side (DesPlaines maybe, Arlington Heights maybe) prone- but I doubt they will like the pricing on what they get as available.

My parents absolutely love living in Evanston. It's convenient to downtown, pretty good restaurants, and lots of cultural and social opportunities available at Northwestern. The keep a sailboat on Lake Michigan, so access to the lake is a huge benefit. They are both retired, and my mom has found many opportunities to volunteer.

They purchased an older bugalow in a great neighborhood and have just finished putting a big addition on it.

If I had to name downsides for Evanston, they would probably include the property taxes and the crime. Evanston is very segregated, like much of Chicago, and there is a certain amount of friction that accompanies that. My parent's garage has been broken into, and a few of their neighbors have also been burglarized. I'm not sure if htis is as much of an issue in downtown Evanston, but it is a point of concern. There is also an ongoing controversy about Northwestern's refusal to pay property taxes.

Hi All
New to this post.
As a "burb" kid who grew up North of Chicago I found this to be an interesting conversation. My mom and family still live in McHenry. The advise of renting while finding a job is the best. The IL roads are ALLWAYS under construction so the commuting can be very frustating.
McHenry is a great city, the river, large yards, quaint buildings. But be careful of some cities that seem to be like that as there are some towns like Woodstock (I lived there as a kid) that was great but now has issues with gangs.
But now is a great time to buy or look at buying. Your parents may be able to find something that is for sale but perhaps they could rent with the option to buy. People are looking at all offers now.
Just FYI
Good luck!!

Yes, I totally agree.

Three years ago you couldn't touch good quality condo's or houses near me for under about $350,000 minimum for just the starter sizes, and now you can get some deals on offers that would never have been considered before last year.

For instance a $660,000 valued house within a block from me was sold by very good friends who had to move for business for the price of $552,900. It was a steal.

And our new start ups builds have not slowed at all, permits are almost the exact same number, so the older home is taking the hit in value the hardest as well, with the newer being their contant competition.

Having lived in Deerfiled for over 20 years, I am surprised no one has mentioned the change in climate. Just going from Ohio to Chicago was a huge shock and glad to be in a warmer (ha-ha) clime. You mentioned they are 60 and still working, but they should take this into consideration. Spring comes much later to Chicago than Virginia, winter will be brutal. I still remember living off LSD at Belmont Harbor and seeing frozen white caps in January. A fur coat was a NECESSITY working in the Loop, not a luxury.

Absolutely agree with other posters' suggestions to rent for a year, make sure they like the community and area. Another suggestion a lot of sellers are doing in this real estate market is rent with option to purchase - they could lock into a good price (buyer's market, at least today).

Yes, I thought of it was but too long-winded as it was. Climate is vastly different, that's why I mentioned that you need garage space.

As for all places of such wide divergent moving, I would never buy until I saw all the variables by living in a place for at least a six month period of working/commuting.

There are many commutes in Chicago that are some of the worst in the country too, because our traffic is heavy and we are much in weather or construction.

I had to laugh a little about the climate difference. Oh, I don't disagree that there is one. As aliska said, the winters are longer and colder here. But in the four years that we lived in D.C., there were two "worst of the century" snow storms. One just after we got there, another just before we left. Both of them involved major snow fall amounts (seems to me one of them was 18", the other may have been more) and, of course, totally shut down the city. And in between was the snow storm during which a plane crashed into the Potomac on the same day there was a fatal crash in the Metro. So, at least in my experience, the D.C. area is no stranger to bad weather either.

This may be a bit too far out, depending upon where they want to be, but Fox River Valley towns such as Batavia, Geneva & St. Charles may be worth looking at. Geneva does have a train station for trains going into Chicago. & some green parkways along the river. Some of the southern parts of Elgin/South Elgin, maybe, but you would have to go more west of there. If you want more of the green areas you may have to go further out west in maybe Kane County.

I looked in the newspapers for you, tarjane. Yes, it can be done and with no "junk" either.

Palos Hills has condo's for $200-$300,000 near the Lake Katherine region and this may be highly acceptable.

And there are all kinds of opportunities in the Western burbs too. Some of which I find, that even myself have discounted as "impossible".

Yes, it is a buyer's market.

But, do not forget about those taxes, property and state income, as well as many other IL "special" category expenses.