Please Select a Point on This Screenshot (Chicago, Arlington Heights: rent, houses)

[Drover]

Originally Posted by dinajju

Actually what I was looking to get out of my OP was get a list of towns from the map that ppl thought matched my original criteria. And then I would take that list and individually research the towns. I understand I will need to provide more specifics (at least my work location) for posters to respond effectively.

What's making this difficult is that there are about 100 different communities on that map and dozens upon dozens of school districts. That's another reason why we'd like to have more info about where you're working because otherwise there are conceivably 40 or 50 different answers we could provide based on the criteria given so far. In short, you're sending us on a fool's errand unless we have something more we can use to pare down the list.

[oakparkdude]

Originally Posted by Chuckity

I find it quite funny that the poster lopped off the entire south side.

Isn't this what the majority of (white) middle and upper class home buyers do? Sad but true.

[chet everett]

There are lots of newer homes (and non-minorities) in the greater SW, but not too many jobs. And it the OP does have some WI connections it does add signficantly to the travel time to be south of I-88...

[ImaloneJill]

The OP explained his reasons for not wanting to venture SW and it was not derogatory in the least and totally understandable.
For others, SW suburbs do, however, offer strong community, good schools and affordability not always seen west or north. In other words, more house for the money.
Also, I355 makes business areas of OakBrook or Naperville more easily accessible.

[Chuckity]

If he would've given his reason in the beginning, I would've said nothing about the south side's slice & dice job.

In his original post he said that he choice that specific map because of the distance he wanted to live from downtown. Not distance from Naperville, not Milwaukee but from downtown.

When someone says that and then specifically lops off the south side ... well, I'd have to think someone has a bone to pick with the often picked on (and, in some cases, for good reason) south side.

Nothing more, nothing less.

[dinajju]

@oakparkdude, chuckity- You certainly made lot of assumptions based on my one post. I dont know if its true that the majority of "white" upper class home buyers do not want to live in the south. But that doesn't apply to me simply because I am not white . However, prejudices (right or wrong) will never cease to exist. Just look at the plight of immigrant African cab drivers in Argentina, no one wants to sit in their cab. Xenophobia?

[oakparkdude]

Originally Posted by dinajju

@oakparkdude, chuckity- You certainly made lot of assumptions based on my one post. I dont know if its true that the majority of "white" upper class home buyers do not want to live in the south. But that doesn't apply to me simply because I am not white . However, prejudices (right or wrong) will never cease to exist. Just look at the plight of immigrant African cab drivers in Argentina, no one wants to sit in their cab. Xenophobia?

I made no specific comment regarding your intentions, and I apologize if you thought I was casting aspersions in your direction. I was simply making the point regarding the general housing market in Chicagoland, which is that the south suburbs (with the possible exception of the SW burbs) are ruled out by most homebuyers who don't have a prior connection to the Southside. (ie most transplants.) The reasons are complex and multiple and cannot be addressed in a single post.

Hope that clears things up.

[Chuckity]

Originally Posted by dinajju

@oakparkdude, chuckity- You certainly made lot of assumptions based on my one post. I dont know if its true that the majority of "white" upper class home buyers do not want to live in the south. But that doesn't apply to me simply because I am not white . However, prejudices (right or wrong) will never cease to exist. Just look at the plight of immigrant African cab drivers in Argentina, no one wants to sit in their cab. Xenophobia?

If that truly was your motivation for posting a map of the upper 2/3s of the Chicagoland area, then I apologize.

But in most cases when someone posts a question about which suburb to live, a map like yours and a stipulation that this is the area they want to live based on proximity to downtown ... they have pre-conceived notions about the south side.

Truthfully, there are large sections of the south side that I would never raise a family in - some towns that I've lived in myself. It just bothers me though that people dismiss anything south of Burr Ridge. But that's my own hang up.

[middle-aged mom]

I have moved 30 times, including multiple cross country relocations.

#1 rule of thumb is employment first, then housing.

[dinajju]

Originally Posted by middle-aged mom

I have moved 30 times, including multiple cross country relocations.

#1 rule of thumb is employment first, then housing.

Thanks. In the past everytime I have moved to a new location, I moved in with someone I knew until I found my own place. But the Chicago move is going to be different. I am married now and have a 2 year old so moving in with someone for a month or so is not practical. Any idea what ppl typically do in my situation? I guess I can always rent an apartment first then do house search (assuming I already have a job). But rent on a month by month basis is usually high.