Planning on moving soon... Where to look?

[LJRuddy]

Ive decided that my time in Omaha is coming to and end (thank god) and I have made the decision to move to the Chicago area which has been a place I've visited many times and have always wanted to live in.

I am flying up there in 2 weeks to look around for housing as well as to meet some people at a few Chicago area companies that I do extensive work with. I am curious as to where I should specifically look for housing. So far, I will be visiting the Schaumburg area, Lincoln Park, Wrigleyville, Skokie and a few other areas as well. Ideally, I'd like to find a nicer area that is affordable, close to public transit but not too far away from the Loop as I have several friends that live in the Downtown/Little Italy area. The main reason Schaumburg is on my list is that one of the companies that I know well is based out of there so I'd like to get to know that area in case I am offered a position there. Are there any areas in actual Chicago that dont cost a left nut for a 400 sq ft studio? I dont mind living in the burbs but I'd enjoy being closer to the city more.

I guess I am just looking for some advice on what areas to avoid and what areas I should look into. Chicago is a huge city and even though I have spent a LOT of time there, I am certain that I have only seen a fraction of the area so I'd like to get some opinions from other people who actually live there.

Thanks for the help!:wave:

 

[SHOCH]

Draw a circle around where you are going to work, then draw a circle around where you want to live(friends places), then look at where they cross and we can get a better idea.
The question is to vague, there's lots of scattered good and lots of crap, what gang will you be joining?
Scumburg is pretty pricey, lincoln park, wrigleyville all big $ afaik and I never heard of anything as small as 400 ft out of the city and the cost of roach killer will break the bank but they may exist, havn't ever looked that small.
Look some stuff up for apt listings and we can give you a better idea.
Look at a map and see the metra trains that run from downtown out northwest, through Des Plaines Palatine Mt. Prospect, Arlington Heights, just don't look in Niles, place is a dump.

 

[Mr Anonymous]

Should we give him Tony & Sandy's number? Or Neno's?

Both seem like they could really use roomies!

 

[LJRuddy]

Tom, I'd like to give you a better idea of where I am wanting to move but which job I take will dictate that as I wont know what I can afford until I am hired on somewhere.

 

[JRA2000TL]

For you, I would suggest the Lakeview area if you want to live in the city. Irving Park Rd, Addison, Belmont area. Forget Lincoln Park; it's a small fortune to live there.

If you want pricey ritzy newer suburbs (like I do) then check out Naperville/Aurora out near Steve. Also Waukegan, Gurnee, etc. on the northside can be pricey and it's cool b/c you're midway between Milwaukee and Chicago.

Schaumburg is a decent area and seems to be convenient to alot of areas on the north side of town.

If you're feeling gangsta and wanna live deep in the hood check out Alsip, Dixmor, Posen, Blue Island, etc. J/K don't do that unless you wanna get shot.

 

[zblackbeast]

Ima miss you buddy. Ha

 

[LJRuddy]

Thanks for the helpful advice so far. Its very difficult for me to make some circles in the areas that I am wanting to look for as like I said before, where I will move depends on where I work and how much my income will be. I guess Chicago is a bit different from KC (where I was born and raised) in that if someone asked me what parts are nice I could literally give you main streets as boarder areas to look in... I suppose the Chicago metro is a little bit too large for that

Jeremy, a few of my friends that live up there suggested Lakeview as well. I spent a half a day in Lincoln Park 3 weeks ago when I was up there looking around and I found some nice apartments/small houses that werent too expensive... Maybe I was jut lucky or they were much more dumpy than advertised.

After my next visit up there, I will hopefully be able to narrow down my search criteria a little bit which I hope will be a bit more helpful.

 

[LJRuddy]

Once you do settle though, keep us all posted so we can crash, oops I mean attend your house warming party in true SHO fashion (Tom you MUST stay clothed)

You're a cop, right? Guess I better make real good friends with you then.

 

[SinisterSHO]

Boystown?

 

[LJRuddy]

color me surprised... Figured it would have taken less than 11 posts before that place was brought up.

 

[RonPorter]

When I lived in the Chicago area, I first lived in Olympia Fields (as I worked in Matteson), then I moved to Lake Zurich (when I worked in Arlington Heights).

Between the move from Olympia Fields to Lake Zurich, I looked at about every suburb in between. Now, I didn't need a train station, which actaully made Lake Zurich cheaper with no train link to the Loop.

Schaumburg is not a bad choice. A bit cheaper than some nearby areas, good access to the Loop, and a LOT of stuff like shopping and restaurants nearby.

It's really hard to pick in the Chicago area. A lot of suburbs have similar housing prices & amenities.

All else being equal, I would stay out of Cook County. Prices and taxes are higher there.

Personally, I kinda liked the north/northwest suburbs better, even though most of my work cohorts lived in the Naperville area.

 

[JRA2000TL]

I may need to consult Ron if I wind up moving there too. They have me going for 2 weeks to help out a lacking accounting dept, so I'm not sure if relocating there is in the pipeline later on or not. I've heard of Lake Zurich but haven't been there. Our office is in Northbrook, and I've stayed in Lincolnshire before and the Glenview/Wilmette area.

As for Boystown, yes that's the Lakeview area. lol. That's why I suggested that for him. Halstead around Belmont and Addison.

I've gotten to where I like the northern burbs too. Something about Naperville is just cool though. And taxes in DuPage are high as ****; not just Cook county. I've researched a LOT about Chicago b/c I still want to live there someday and have been there over a dozen times.

Good luck wherever you go. It's a damn fine city!

 

[Michelle]

Lake Forest!

 

[RonPorter]

In all of my moves, I tend to like suburbs that are actual cities with a downtown (however small), as opposed to a bedroom community.

I lived in lake Zurich, and now Lake Orion. Lots in common. Both used to be a day's drive from the "big city", and had cottages. And both are now part of the suburbs of a big city.

Lake County, in the 90s, was cheaper than Cook or DuPage. If you don't work in the city, I wouldn't live there. Well, unless you are the artsy-fartsy type, or you "play for the other team" (so to speak).

When we first moved to the area, we tried to get into the city at least once a month to try out restaurants. We then found restaurants as good in the outlying areas that rivaled anything near the Loop, without the travel, parking, and price issues.

 

[SHOCH]

Just find out where you're going to work, you'll be going there what, 5 times a week. Then we'll worry about the best location for access to work and trips to see friends. I'll be glad to help with advice on traffic patterns, public trans, all that once you narrow it down.
Ron, it now takes us at least 45 to an hour in MEDIUM traffic to get to 22 and Quinten on Rand rd/12, there's like 54 stop lights from Des Plaines to my buds house.
As for staying clothed I think people have me confused with a Canadian.

 

[RonPorter]

Just find out where you're going to work, you'll be going there what, 5 times a week. Then we'll worry about the best location for access to work and trips to see friends. I'll be glad to help with advice on traffic patterns, public trans, all that once you narrow it down.
Ron, it now takes us at least 45 to an hour in MEDIUM traffic to get to 22 and Quinten on Rand rd/12, there's like 54 stop lights from Des Plaines to my buds house.
As for staying clothed I think people have me confused with a Canadian.

****, 16 years ago I would take Quentin down to Lake Cook to hit 53. Rand Road ALWAYS sucked!!

I worked down near Golf & Algonquin.

 

[SinisterSHO]

I'm not far from Aurora/Naperville and Geneva/St. Charles/Batavia. Aurora can be a little shady in places, but Naperville overall is pretty nice, kinda pricey. But, both have train stations that will take you right down town in about an hour

 

[LJRuddy]

As for Boystown, yes that's the Lakeview area. lol. That's why I suggested that for him. Halstead around Belmont and Addison.

Could have sworn boystown was North Halsted

 

[VortecGT]

Just moved to Schaumberg a couple weeks ago here! So far its pretty cool! If ya hungry I just started working at the McDonalds on Rosselle and Lake Street.

 

[RonPorter]

Plus, a lot of the Chicago-area car clubs have meets in the Schaumburg area, since it is sorta central for everyone in the Chicagoland area.

They are all good guys, and will accept anyone who speaks cartalk. And drinks alcohol!!