Just got word I have to relocate to Chicago area and Western Suburbs are most central to my work area. Any recommendations, tips, thumbs up or down on various communities and why? Will probably be looking at single family homes valued in low $300,000's. Wife and I are both 48 years old, no kids, don't need to be close to recreation, have family in other areas of Chicago (not West).

You might investigate the many advantages of living in Oak Park -- good value for money in housing, location to all others suburbs, excellent cultural facilities, adult education, superb public library system, abundant health care facilities, reasonable taxes, honest local government, fine police and fire protection, no bad fiscal surprises. Churchs of all denominations. Fair housing for people of all races, religions, and ethnic backgrounds. Very interesting restaurants in the village and nearby. Near to good sports facilities. How do I know? I grew up there, attended the public schools from K through 12, and have relatives still living happily in Oak Park. The Eisenhower Expressway, incidentally, runs straight through Oak Park, and you can be in the downtown Loop area in 12 minutes or out to O'Hare Field in 20. In the recent snow storm, Oak Park streets were cleared very quickly while some other towns were days before they were open. Two lines of the El (Chicago Transit Authority or CTA) run through OP as well as the Chicago Northwestern rail line. In real estate, the key words, as you may know, are location, location, location -- OP has it all.

"Western" is really a pretty big area. I think you will need to narrow it down more than that. Some of the "close in" older suburbs are very nice, such as La Grange or Riverside. Further out are Downers Grove, Glen Ellen, Naperville, and Geneva-St. Charles. Do you want new construction or an older established place with trees? Check out access to roads and expressways--Chicago commuting is NOT fun, no matter the season, and you might want to minimize the commute as much as possible.

Check out cyberhomes.com. You can search for almost anything in the city or suburbs.

Lisle is a nice community, not as big or busy as Naperville. It has the wonderful Morton Arboretum and a spectacular library know for a fine collection and very good public service. Hinsdale is a pretty town and rather expensive. Most all of DuPage County
has fairly high taxes depending on where you have lived before. Email me for more details. I used to live in the area and miss it very much.

A smaller community than Oak Park, LaGrange is very nice - if you like lots of charming, older houses.

The commuting comment assumes you will be travelling into d'town Chicago; perhaps you are not.

Tho the whole area, and especially DuPage County, is under growth attack, with the accompanying problems of traffic/sprawl, etc.