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please help!! re: Naperville/SW burbs
Hi! I grew up down state near Champaign, but for the last three years have been living in Los Angeles. MH and I are considering a move back to IL, but for job related reasons for MH we would like to move to the Chicago area instead of back to Central IL. (He's a lawyer and could transfer, we think, to the Chicago office of his current firm).
MH lived in Evanston and Lincoln Park years ago, but neither of us have lived in the suburbs. Really, the main reason we are thinking of moving is to be closer to my family and our friends and because the COL is less.
On paper, it looks like we could get a nice house in Naperville for 1/2 to 2/3 what our house in LA costs. But there are a wide range of house prices in the area so we don't know if the houses we are seeing online are in a "good area" or even if there is a "bad area" in Naperville.
We have heard great things about the schools, but so far I have been unable to talk to anyone at the school directly. My DS will be in 5th grade next year and has Aspergers (a form of autism) so schools and resources are REALLY important to us.
Most of my Chicago friends don't have kids and since we are unsure if we will move I am trying not to advertise the possibility to our friends and family. Any help/advice/opinions would be REALLY, REALLLY appreciated. Thanks!!!!!!!!
Re: please help!! re: Naperville/SW burbs
Hi Amanda,
My husband and I are relocating from Northern NJ to the SW burbs of Chicago this August. We've lived on the east coast our whole lives, and so were very unfamiliar with IL. With the help of some of the Nesties on here (and a SPECTACULR realtor who specializes in nation and international relocation), we settled on a town called Elmhurst.
We had looked in Schaumberg, Rolling Meadows, Arlington Heights, and a few other towns in Cook county that turned out not to be our "style," or what we were looking for in terms of a community to raise a family in. So, we chose Elmhurst for the lower taxes (DuPage is lower than Cook), GREAT school system, amazing downtown area, and ease of commute into Chicago (I'll be commuting, and the Metra station stops right in center of town!). It's certainly a personal choice, but towns like Elmhurst (and also Glen Ellyn), felt more like a close knit community with lots of young families.
Certainly check it out, and if you need the name of a GREAT relocation realtor (located right in Elmhurst, but services the 5 or so sorrounding counties of Chicago), just let me know... she's a jewel and knows her stuff!
~Lauren
I grew up in Naperville and am a product of their school system. I think it is a really great place to raise a family. I know a few years back it was on the top list for best place to raise a family.
As far as good and bad areas there really IS NOT a bad part of town. The southside of Naperville has the newest high school and newer homes as it was mostly farm land 10 years ago. The north side has older homes but is located around the 'downtown'. That is where the train station is that will take you into the city. The homes in downtown are GORGEOUS (a picture perfect midwestern town), lots have been torn down and rebuilt. The northside of town has 2 different high schools which always rank among the best in the state in acedemics and sports. (there are 3 high schools with a 4th being built on the southside)
My parents still live on the southside of town and really enjoy Naperville. Best of luck! And if you have any other questions just ask!
lucy mae 9.26.11
three square
pinning princess
Lauren--I would love a realtor reference!! Thank you! Did you find that he was very straight and honest with you when you asked about neighborhoods and schools?
wifepizak-- It is so overwhelming to contemplate a move to a town I've never been to (again), but some of my top questions:
1. Ideally, we would like to find a house in the $350,000 to $450,000 range. Our house here is over $650,000 which is insane. Square footages aren't listed on realtor.com but I've been looking at 4br/3-4ba plus a basement. Do you think houses in that range are as nice as they seem to me online? It is such a sticker shock in a good way to see houses at that price that I don't want to get carried away thinking it will be better than it is. Sorry if it is inappropriate to talk about money, but I don't know how else to get my questions answered.
2. Where we live now it is a very good school district, but there are 2-3 elementary schools that are much "better" than the others. Is that true in Naperville, do you think? Or will any of the elementary schools have what we are looking for? Same goes for jr. highs and high schools?
Anything else you can think of to tell me would be great!
Our realtor is:
Linda Lee - Coldwell Banker. Address: 190 N. York Rd., Elmhurst, IL. Phone (cell): 1-708-205-6280 (office) 1-630-530-2500 email:linda.lee@cbexchange.com
She's very high energy, but extremely knowledgable about all the areas you'd be looking in. She works quickly and efficiently, and really listens to your needs (which is a quality that's lacking in so many other brokers we had dealt with). If you do call her, just tell her you got her name through Lauren Johnson, and she'll know who I am
Interestingly enough, our price range is about the same as yours, and there are MANY options available to you in the suburbs you'll be taking a look at. Coming from the sticker shock we expereinced living around the Manhattan NY area, the prices here were a wonderful surprise, and close to 200k less than we'd be paying on the east coast! I completely understand where you're coming from
Also, I concur with wifepizak with regards to Naperville...it's absolutely gorgeous and a wonderful place to raise a family. The only factor that accounted for my husband and I not looking there was the commute time into the city (both driving and through public transportation). Traffic gets pretty bad during rush hours, so unless your hubby is going to be working odd hours, he may be spending a good deal of time in the car.
Good luck!
DH and I currently live in the south side of Naperville- off of 95th and Naperville/Plainfield road.......its the south side of Naperville and we love it, great neighbors, great house and we are in district 204- which would be Nequa Valley high school- a very good school. We moved from the city and although I do miss the city life, the downtown area in Naperville is wonderful and we have our first baby on the way- so we wanted to be in the burbs to raise our family! We moved out here almost 2 years ago......needless to say we have a fabulous realtor that has lived in our subdivision herself and knows Naperville very, very well. I highly recommend her as she is fun to work with and will always go the extra mile for her clients. Her name is Kelly Bitto out of Remax Action in Lisle. Her cell # is 630 484-8785 and her email is kbitto@a-sold.com.
Best of luck to you and your family!
Email me if you have other questions!
dianemcd2006@hotmail.com
I grew up in Naperville, near Route 59 and North Aurora Road/Ogden Ave, near the Route 59 Metra station and Fox Valley Mall, on the edge fo the Aurora/Naperville border. It's a really great town to live in - there isn't a "bad" part of town. It's all generally upper-middle class.
Schools are all good - Naperville North and Naperville Central (District 203) are two of the top-rated schools in the state. I attended Waubonsie Valley (District 204) in Aurora, which was also a great school - certainly on par with anything in Naperville proper. There aren't really any grade schools that are "better" than others. There are (I think) about 50+ grade schools in the combined Distrs 203/204 area, and they're all excellent. Naperville is known for it's special student programs for kids with disabilities, so your child would be receiving excellent attention and help at school dealing with Aspurger's.
As far as housing prices, consider living in unincorporated vs incorporated Naperville. There is a significant tax difference, and utility service prices vary (snow removal, street cleaning, etc). We lived in unincorporated and aside from slightly lower taxes (but higher library membership fees), there wasn't a difference in the community services our neighborhood received. My parents' home was 4br/3 bath with a full basement, and I think it sold for around $400K when they moved to their new house about 2 years ago. You can certainly find some very nice houses in your price range. Downtown Naperville will be more expensive, and you'll get less land per $. The further away from downtown Naperville, the larger the lots, and usually it costs slightly less (but not always - depends on the neighborhood you're looking at).
Other nearby towns to consider that also have great school systems and are well within your price range: Wheaton, Warrenville, Lombard, Glen Ellyn, Lisle, Downers Grove, and Darien.
I grew up in DOwners Grove. Naperville is a great town and there arent alot - if any - bad spots in town. Its a beautiful town and there is alot of eating & shopping to do. A handful of great restaurants from Chicago have opened also in Naperville. Downers is another good option & has a great little downtown area. I would stay away from Woodridge (a lot of shitty areas, section 8, and high taxes for ok schools, well dont get me going).Woodridge and Darien dont have the same "homey" feeling since they lack actual "downtown" areas.(BTW.. Sorry to Woodridge people); but if you are moving from LA I am not thinking Woodridge would be the best place for you. Lisle is nice; Wheaton & Glen Ellyn are nice; Clarendon Hills & Hinsdale for the ridiculous homes & taxes since i dont know your budget..... these are all considered western burbs or far western burbs... I am a fan of the western burbs over north western burbs... but that is JMO.
sorry for the run on sentences I am just in a hurry.