Relocating ... (Chicago, Arlington Heights, Glenview: homes, public schools, closing)

[msujohn]

I have the opportunity to relocate to the Chicago area. Office will be in Morton Grove area. I don't know very much about this area, but would like to find a home somewhere within about a 30 minute commute. I'm married with 2 young boys (1st and 3rd grade). I want to make sure the city I relocate to has great public schools and will be an easy commute to the office.

I would like to get a 4 bedroom and spend no more than about $550K to $650k.

Any advice on locations would be great.

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by msujohn

I have the opportunity to relocate to the Chicago area. Office will be in Morton Grove area. I don't know very much about this area, but would like to find a home somewhere within about a 30 minute commute. I'm married with 2 young boys (1st and 3rd grade). I want to make sure the city I relocate to has great public schools and will be an easy commute to the office.

I would like to get a 4 bedroom and spend no more than about $550K to $650k.

Any advice on locations would be great.

Morton Grove itself is nice enough.

[chet everett]

Four bedroom is a pretty limited description. If you are OK with older style towns with mostly post WWII or tear-down / in-fill Morton Grove might work.

If budget up to $650K I think I would toss in some more highly desired towns -- Northbrook, Park Ridge, Glenview would all still be fairly close and probably within budget depending on the compromises you are willing to accept -- at your price point you certainly won't be shopping for the biggest homes in those towns, but the schools are quite good, the mix of housing stock is generally better and the overall distance to work in Morton Grove ought to be very tolerable.

If you want newer home on bigger lot you might have to increase "commmute radius" signficantly.

[msujohn]

Thanks for the info. Still trying to figure out what makes the most since. I would prefer a newer home if I could. But, depending on how far that would push me from a commute stand point - might change my mind. Another dumb question - but from a commute stand point is there any difference going north vs. northwest?

From some of the reading I have been doing it seems like alot of folks really like the north shore area (not really sure the cities in this area) but based on my budget not sure if those cities would be an option either.

[chet everett]

Getting to / from Morton Grove from the north / northeast of true "north shore" communities should absolutely be easier than getting their from NW / far North suburbs. Of course finding a four bedroom that is newer is probably not in the card for Wilmette, Kenilworth, Winnetka, or Glencoe at your price point...

Heading out to someplace like Lake-in-the-Hills would probably triple your commute maybe double you tax rate too, but you'd get a big new McMansion instead of a quaint little place...

[cubssoxfan]

Originally Posted by msujohn

Thanks for the info. Still trying to figure out what makes the most since. I would prefer a newer home if I could. But, depending on how far that would push me from a commute stand point - might change my mind. Another dumb question - but from a commute stand point is there any difference going north vs. northwest?

From some of the reading I have been doing it seems like alot of folks really like the north shore area (not really sure the cities in this area) but based on my budget not sure if those cities would be an option either.

When you go west of I-294 commuting becomes longer. There are not as many east-west thoroughfares because of the forest preserve and DesPlaines river. The existing roads get backed up. There are also no expressways or Tollways going east-west also adding to the impact.

[msujohn]

Just to help me understand the commute time - I'll throw out some cities to help get a gauge of drive time? Arlington Heights, Libertyville, Lincolonshire, Lake forest, Lake Bluff? Thanks for the help.

[cubssoxfan]

Originally Posted by msujohn

Just to help me understand the commute time - I'll throw out some cities to help get a gauge of drive time? Arlington Heights, Libertyville, Lincolonshire, Lake forest, Lake Bluff? Thanks for the help.

Where in Morton Grove, nearest major intersection. East or west of the Metra tracks makes a difference!

[chet everett]

Libertyville, being the furthest, will have the most variability -- probably rarely less than 35 - 40 minutes in the AM and about 25% to 50% more in the evenings, with some "bad weather"commutes being over two hours. Technically parts of Lake Bluff are no closer.

Lake Forest is only a bit closer, but the stuff in your price range is right up along the tollway, so that should reduce the variability. Still routine commutes won't be less than 30 minnutes and worst case will be triple or more...

Lincolnshire is about 10 minutes nearer, though it is notorious for having secondary roads that are flat out hostile to "cut through traffic" which tends to help residents once they know where all the crazy "rush hour one way" road closings lead...

Finally Arlington Heights, although closer on N-S scale lies quite a bit further west in an area with a real dearth of E-W routes. Expect travel times to be very similar to Lincolnshire, but funneled along on crowded arterials instead "zipping" along at tollroad pace (which while great at off-peak hours falls to about half the posted limit during rush hour...).

Frankly I would try and live closer...

[msujohn]

It's right off of 94 and golf road I believe.