If you are looking for real estate in Northern Illinois, you can choose to settle in an environment as lively and busy as Chicago or as scenic and historical as Rockford.
Even though both of these places rank within the three largest cities of the state they definitely have different attractions to offer home buyers.
Chicago
In addition to housing the second largest business district in the U.S., Chicago is ethnically diverse, culturally rich and full of lively entertainment. The Chicago real estate market is also huge and diverse since it accommodates millions of people with a broad range of small and large budgets.
As a result, buyers can choose to invest in anything from a single-family home or mansion to condos, penthouse apartments, townhouses, and loft apartments when they shop for a home in Chicago. The Loop and northern neighborhoods have always been popular for their lakeside views, harbors, parks and nightlife, but West side neighborhoods like Bucktown are also rising on the home value scale.
As a result, the best place to look for affordable Chicago homes are southern communities like Englewood, Riverdale and Chicago Lawn.
Rockford
By comparison, Rockford is a smaller city with an economy that relies heavily on high-tech businesses, tourism and the westward growth of Chicago. Real estate prices are also significantly lower in Rockford.
For example, the median price for a single-family home in Rockford is $93,000. This figure is lower than both the national median cost for single-family homes and the median cost for Chicago homes. From its nickname as “The Forest City” to local attractions like the Anderson Japanese Gardens, Klehm Arboretum and the Botanical Gardens, Rockford is also famous for its natural beauty and park systems.
Its location makes it a valuable refuge from the city, but you can commute into Chicago for a day of sightseeing in less than two hours too.
Sorting through the Real Estate
Whether you prefer Chicago or Rockford living, there will be a lot of real estate listings to go over before you find the home of your dreams. One of the best ways to make the home-buying process faster and less stressful is to hire a knowledgeable Realtor who is familiar with the local area.
That way you can have a guide to show you through the houses as well as access to the most up-to-date listings and all the neighborhood statistics. If you’re working with a Realtor you can also hold them to the stringent ethical standards required by the National Association of Realtors.
Rockford and Chicago are only two places in northern Illinois to look for real estate, but RE/MAX can help meet your needs no matter where you want to settle. For more info on Rockford and Chicago homes visit http://www.illinoisproperty.com/rockford-real-estate.aspx. Art Gib is a freelance writer.
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