New(er) townhomes Northbrook/Lombard/Schaumburg/Naperville (Chicago, Arlington Heights: townhouse, buyers)

[birch85]

Hello,

We are thinking of relocating to one of these areas - Northbrook, Lombard, Schaumburg, or Naperville (due to job) - and are planning a scouting trip soon. We would like to find a new or fairly new townhouse that is in the $275k-400k range and is close to trains into downtown Chicago. We don't have any kids, so school district is not a consideration. Any suggestions on specific areas in which to concentrate our search?

Thanks!

[knitgirl]

where is the job? You've listed towns that aren't close to each other and they're not all going to be decent commutes.

[holl1ngsworth]

Are you working in Chicago? Or one of the suburbs mentioned?

Here is a townhome in Wheaton (adjacent to Naperville, two towns west of Lombard) that is directly across from the Metra UP-W Wheaton station:

207 N West St #201 WHEATON, IL 60187 | Redfin

A true walk-to-everything location for a great price.

[birch85]

The job could be in any of those locations, our choice.

Walking distance to shopping/dining/parks is a big plus!

[chet everett]

Schaumburg is not really very walkable at all and really has no direct connection to Metra.

While Northbrook does have a train station and is more walkable than Schaumburg it really does not have many options for dining / shopping / parks.

That leaves Lombard and Naperville. Though you may get slightly more for more money upfront in Lombard becuase it is not as desirable the reasons for that diminished desirability will have to be weighed by anyone shopping for a home now or needing to sell down the road: though Lombard has some nice parks and has seen some improvements in the range of dining options in its core it cannot hold a candle to the range of shopping, dining, nightlife and parks / nature all ideally located for walking. The reason Lombard has not seen such things develop is largely attributable to the fact that the enclosed regional mall, Yorktown, had until rather recently been the focus of retail and dining in the area. Finally, though schools may not be important to the OP the total pool of potential buyers are very much motivated by school quality and Naperville stands far above in Lombard in that regard...

Of course other towns might also be on one's short list and anyone considering a work location in either Naperville or Lombard would be wise to consider a full range of neighboring towns in DuPage like Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Downer Grove or Elmhurst all of which compare extremely well to Naperville...

[cubssoxfan]

There are new townhomes a few blocks east of downtown Arlington Heights, near the corner of Dryden and Kensington. Not sure if they're all sold out.