Age Old Arguement: City or Suburbs?

As a North Shore Realtor, I’m obviously biased towards the suburbs. But, there’s a reason for that and it has nothing to do with selling real estate. Living in the suburbs of Chicago just has so many advantages. And, you can still have the best of both worlds, thanks to Metra. Here are the top 5 reasons to consider the suburbs for your next home.

1. Better schooling options:  In Chicago, you have to pay a premium to get into a (small) property in one of the “good” school districts or apply to get into a magnet school. There are no guarantees you will get into that magnet school and if you opt for the higher rated private schools, the costs can be quite extensive.
2.  Less Crime: I think it’s pretty much a given that the suburbs are going to have less crime. Some say, it’s mostly due to the fact that there are less people on top of each other. Whatever the reason, the statistics speak for themselves and it’s clear that the suburbs are “safer” than the city.
3.  It’s less expensive to live in the suburbs.  Recent studies show that living in the suburbs of Chicago can save an average of just over $18,000 per year. I’m sure you can think of many ways to spend or invest that savings- maybe for some lawn furniture since you will actually HAVE a lawn. 
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4. Community Involvement: The North Shore has a well-educated population and the residents are very involved in their communities.  
5.  Fun amenities:  Beaches (Many people think that the beaches on the North Shore are nicer than the ones in the city.), off-leash dog parks and dog beaches, tennis courts, country clubs and  golf courses (lots of these on the North Shore), Ravinia Festival (outdoor music venue in the summer in Highland Park), Chicago Botanic Garden, an assortment of  bike/hike trails, and some very nice shopping malls . Old Orchard is one of the very first suburban malls in the US and is still very nice. Northbrook Court is also a popular shopping mall.  And, of course some things that you also find in the city are easily available in the suburbs such as  high end restaurants, coffee shops, park district programs, parks, movie theaters, shopping, tons of exercise places and nail salons, etc.   The big difference is that you’ll probably use your car more in the burbs...and it is a LOT easier to find parking!!!

 While enjoying all the amenities of the suburbs is great, you might eventually miss the city. Don’t worry! There are easy and comfortable Metra commuter trains to Chicago. These aren’t like the inner city trains, they are much more comfortable and pleasant. You can listen to music, scroll through Facebook or even take a nap on your way to work or a city event.

If you think a move to the suburbs is in your future, give me a call and we can discuss all your options.