Moving to Chicago soon and would like to consider living in the city. Recommendations?

Question

Married couple, early 30's, with a 1 year old child. Want to live in the city to reduce commute time. Our next choice will be living in Naperville, but we'd like to consider our options in the city. Housing budget is up to $700,000. Assuming city living would mean a condo or small house (?). Not sure. Any recommendations on areas/zip codes we should consdier? Thank you.

Answer 1

Don't know what Penguin Gal is talking about... you can definitely find a condo for well under $700,000 in a nice neighborhood in Chicago. Try Edgewater, Wrigleyville neighborhood (near Wrigley field), the west Lake View area, East Irving Park... lots more. Believe it or not, people have lived in Chicago all their lives and somehow managed to NOT get shot. And with $700,00 to spend, you can have a GREAT condo in Chicago. In fact, there is an area along North Marine Drive that has some nice place. Check this website out (http://www.chicagocondos-online.com/). There are a few others too that you should check out. Also look on the Chicago Reader website (www.chicagoreader.com) in their Space Finder section. With that much budgeted for a condo, you're sitting pretty in Chicago. Just do your research before hand on the neighborhood, etc. and everything will be cool

Answer 2

Naperville is quite far from the city, although it's a very nice suburb, with a Metra train that will bring you to and from downtown in about 45 minutes. If you want to live in the city, however, $700,000 can get you some quite nice property. You might look in Avondale, Roscoe Village (northwest parts of the city, along the Blue Line of the L) if you want a house, or the South Loop (just south of the Loop, around Roosevelt and State) if you are looking for a condominium.

Answer 3

If you work in the city, living in Naperville and taking the train can be a serious problem. There is a 4 year wait for a parking space at the train station. The highway into the city is usually a mess, so that isn't a good option. Living downtown can be wonderful, but the schools can be a problem for your children. I live in Palatine/Buffalo Grove area, and the train parking is great and the schools are very good. I also have lived in Elmhurst, and both the train and schools are excellent, but the housing prices are a little over your budget.

Answer 4

Naperville was rated as a great city for families however there is considerable overcrowding that my friend bought her townhouse in Plainfield. Plainfield is a neighboring town next to Naperville. But if you want to reduce travel time, definitely there's condo's available for half a million and up in Chicago. Lincoln Park and Wrigleyville has a tendency to be just out of college grads. You're better off in the outskirts of those neighborhoods.

Answer 5

My first recommendation would be to look around different areas to see what you like or don't like. If you are making a long-distance move this might not be very feasible. I grew up in the northwest suburbs and now live in the western suburbs. I would personally never live within the city limits for several reasons. The public schools are horrible (you will be locked into private schools) the city of Chicago will nickel and dime you to death with additional sales and gasoline taxes, more expensive city sticker for your car etc. In addition, your auto insurance will be higher because of higher crime rates in the city. My recommendation is an inner-ring northern, northwestern or western suburb. For $700K you can find a nice house but not a 4,000 square foot mansion on an acre or land. Look into Evanston, Lincolnwood, Park Ridge, and Elmhurst. Barrington, Deerfield and Lincolnshire are also nice, but are farther out. Willmette, Winnetka, Glencoe and Highland Park are very nice but might be out of your price range. Money magazine called Naperville the second? best place to live in the US. Personally I don't like it. It is too far from downtown and too crowded for my tastes. LaGrange and Hinsdale are in the western/southwestern suburbs. They are nice places to live also. Finding a $700K house in Hinsdale which is not about to fall over might be a chore. Oak Park and River Forest are adjacent inner-ring suburbs on the west side. They are expensive and exclusive places to live. Again, personally I do not like this area. While these two suburbs are nice, they are quite literally an island surrounded by some not so nice areas.

Answer 6

i'm from Chicago and that i moved to North Carolina. it quite is an remarkable place to stay. I basically could no longer handle the climate anymore. it quite is the terrific place for transportation. the all and sundry is quite cool. The south/west Loop is getting revitalized and that's a competent area. in case you're into artsy stuff, Wicker Park, Hype Park or Lincoln Park are cool areas to stay besides. The eating places, museums and the figuring out to purchase is extraordinary. I pass over that plenty.

Answer 7

You would not be able to purchase a condo in the city for under $700K (at least in any area that you would not get shot)----seriously, I have lived here my entire life and I am not joking......you should look into Naperville.....you may be able to get something for around $700K or maybe a little bit more......good luck in your search!

Answer 8

I know someone who is selling a beautiful house - i babysit for them. it is close to an elementry school and it is probably in your budget. it is for sale by owner so it would be cheeper than through an agency. you can email me and i can give you there number if you want to check it out. it is near montrose and pulaski. upstairs has 4 bedrooms i believe but i think they use one as an office (kinda small). large living room, dining room, alcove, kitchen, backyard with garage, finished basement that has a cool little 'playhouse' under the stairs. if you are interested you can email me and i can give you their contacts. [e-mail]