Good Area for a Townhome?

It's time to start the next chapter in my life and I've begun to do researches and look for a condo or (preferably) townhome. Nothing immediate, but I'd like to aim for within the next six months. This will be the first property I've purchased and am looking for something around or under $200k. I also would like 2 bedrooms, 1.5/2 bath, and preferrably a garage. I also would like something that is at least fairly new construction. If anyone has any points, guides, tips, advice, questions, etc..etc.. I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks everyone!

 

Hi Walter,

If you're looking in the city, I can help you. I own a real estate company and would love to help a felow Fchater. Email me at [email protected] Thanks Gene.

 

When I met my wife a few years ago she had a townhome in Roselle, it was really nice. Think it was about $180k.

 

I think 2 bed / 1.5 bath "new construction" + garage in any decent area of the city for under $200k might be a bit unrealistic.

 

If your like me and looking to get out of the city and as far away from cook co. as possible than look into the Yorkville/Plano/Oswego area. This area is going to boom in the next couple years similar to what plainfield experienced in the past 10 years. Right now its pretty flat with lots of building and expansion going on which is a good time to get in. Plenty of nice, new construction townhomes that fit what your looking for and should turn out to be a nice investment a few years down the road. There is a new park and ride metra going up in this area that should boost property value as well as provide easy commute to the city if needed. I've found a couple 2-3 bed, 2.5 bath, 2car garage, new construction townhomes (priced in the 160-200's) that im going to take a look at within the next few weeks. I doubt you can touch anything half as nice for that price in or around the city. Im looking to make the move out there as soon as I find the right place which hopefully will be before winter.

 

$200K? Gary, In?

 

A rather strange comment.

 

In the city? $200K with all that?? I think you need to add a zero to the 200K, more like 2M... Ok, maybe not that much, but closer to that than the 200K amount... Good luck.....

My sister is selling her condo, it's 2br/2bath with a parking spot. It's walking distance to downtown on the south side (Michigan Av./18th st. if your interested, it's a little more than $200K though.

Tod

 

For comparison: A deeded parking space in the Trump tower (under construction) costs $ 250k.

Anymore questions?

 

Your sister is my neighbor...

$200k in that area gets you, at best, a very small one bedroom, without parking.

~$400k might be more realistic for a 2 bedroom, 1.5 bathroom place with a garage spot... and it still won't be a very big place.

 

I'm a north sider near Wrigley and in this area a 1400 sf unit in a new construction 3 flat will set you back $400k. If you head farther north on the red line you can get down to $200k. Look in Rogers Park zip 60626. It is an older neighborhood on Lake Michigan that is slowly gentrifying.

http://homes.realtor.com/search/searchresults.aspx?zp=60626&ml=3&bd=3&bth=3&typ=7

 

Seems reasonable to me - the DMV keeps trying to put Cook as my county of residence on my DL etc... I live & pay property taxes in DuPage. No frakin' way am I driving into the city for jury duty.

p.p.s: If the original poster isn't stuck on a townhome & doesn't need new/newer construction... the area where I live is quite nice & there is probably something available near his price.

 

There is a reason that cook county has one of the highest declining population rates in the nation. (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4155/is_20070322/ai_n18740541)

There is talk on the table of raising the sales tax once again as well as daley's 5cpg tax on what is already one of the highest fuel prices in the country. And if you happen to be a business owner, they want in your pocket even more. Ever heard the phrase "if you can make it in chicago, you can make it anywhere"?

There is no beating the city lifestyle though and I didnt mean to make it sound like I hate it here, but there is a high price to pay for it. If you can afford it and your willing to put up with all the crap that cook pulls on its residents then of course its a realistic option.

Take into consideration the unbelievable growth out in yorkville right now (up 45% since 2000) getting in now for rock bottom prices in a great area would be a wise investment decision. A friend of a friend got himself into a new construction house in a yorkville subdivision for 260k just 4mo's ago, the same houses are now going for 310k.

 

Boy are you right. I am actually moving my company to Austin TX to get away from this tax blackhole.

 

Agreed about Cook County, and the town I live in is trying to bleed me dry too.

I'm in the process of looking elsewhere.

I've been unemployed for 26 years, and it's really a struggle!

 

nuff said

 

Some very good information here, thank you everyone. I would love to live in the city, being young and having the city nightlife would be great, however as mentioned any place in the city is going to be too much for myself to handle right now. I've actually found a couple nicer places in Naperville that I was going to check out.

 

I don't know what your situation is now, but I would imagine you could rent a sweet condo these days for not a ton of money... save some more $$ for your down payment on your future digs.