There are over 240 neighborhoods in Chicago, plus more in the outlying areas. How do you decide which one to move to? Let’s go over some of the key factors to assess when you are trying to decide where to buy a home in Chicago.
- Location. One of your top criteria should be location, especially if you work outside the home. Try to choose a place to live that won’t result in too long a commute to your job. You may also want to choose a neighborhood that puts you close to area attractions you enjoy.
- Amenities. One of the benefits of living in an urban area is that most neighborhoods have ready access to basic amenities like groceries stores, post offices, hardware stores, clinics, and so on. Still, it is worth taking the time to research the area you want to live. See how close the nearest amenities are, and if they are what you want (i.e. specific grocery stores).
- Schools. If you have kids, or plan to have them, you should research the local school district. The difference between a good district and a poor one is huge in terms of the impact on your kids, both academically and in general. If you will be in Chicago for the entirety of your kids’ academic journeys, it may make sense to make some sacrifices for them to be able to attend an outstanding school.
- Home styles. One of the joys of living in Chicago is the chance to enjoy some truly spectacular architecture. There are a lot of beautiful homes in this city and the surrounding suburbs. Some popular styles include prairie style, Tudor revival, greystone, Victorian, Chicago bungalow, and others. If you find a neighborhood with home styles you love, you might just find your dream house. You’ll also enjoy the vibe on your street since the other houses will look nice too.
- Safety. Do a basic safety assessment of the neighborhood you are considering. Some steps to take include:
- Looking up stats for crime in that neighborhood.
- Chatting with a few of the neighbors next to the house you are thinking of buying.
- Seeing if the neighborhood has been in the news lately.
- Driving around and getting an overall feel for how safe the neighborhood feels. Do this during the day, and then come back and do it again late at night.
- Comfort. Even a neighborhood that is in a great location won’t be enjoyable to live in if it isn’t comfortable. Consider factors like weather, noise levels, overall aesthetics, and so on. You might not want to live right next to a busy highway, for example. It’s convenient being near an on-ramp, but it’s also loud, and can ruin the ambiance day and night.
- Affordability. Another factor to think about when you are choosing where to live is affordability. Luckily, Illinois is pretty affordable in general, and Chicago is one of the more affordable cities of its size in the US. So, even if you are buying a home with a tight budget, you will probably find many neighborhoods where you could feasibly afford to purchase.
- Future potential of the neighborhood. If you are planning to live in the same home for many years to come, you should think not only about how a neighborhood is in the present, but also what it may be like in the future. Will the neighborhood continue to expand? Is it likely to add amenities? Is it considered an “up and coming” area? How much might homes in the area rise in value? How will that impact property taxes? Think about how that will affect both your investment, and your budget.
Buy a Home in Chicago with a Competitive Mortgage
MidAmerica Bancorp can help you buy a home anywhere in the Chicagoland area or throughout Illinois. We also help homebuyers and homeowners in FL, IN, MI, TN and WI. To get started, please give us a call at (708) 237-4050 to schedule your consultation. We are excited to help you move into your dream home with a competitive mortgage.
