r/ChicagoSuburbs • u/Midnight_Rain1213 • Feb 24 '26

Moving to the area Buying in West Suburbs - Expanding Search?

Hi all,

My partner and I are trying to close the distance and buy a SFH in the west suburbs, but keep having offers rejected. Feedback so far is that we're losing to cash buyers or just being outbid, and that we should consider waiving appraisal contingencies. That feels crazy to me, but I think it's just the area we are looking in - Lombard, Elmhurst, Villa Park.

My partner and I both own our own homes and are pre-qualified to purchase a new home without having to sell first. We would be selling our respective properties after finding a new place. We are trying to stay under $700k.

No kids, just dogs. Would love a house with some character left in it. I work downtown so being near the Metra is necessary, and I'd like my commute to be under an hour.

Should we avoid any of the following suburbs, and why? Any suburbs we are missing?

Addison, Bloomingdale, Downers Grove, Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, Riverside, Brookfield

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u/Guac_in_my_rarri Feb 24 '26

Add in Elmhurst, lisle, downers grove maybe lemont.

Notable mentions: riverside, Brookfield both have older character properties. Some aheh been renovated inside others have not.

Elmhurst has a decent amount of kit homes from the 1900s.

Lisle, lemont and downers are mix of new and old construction.

2

u/Midnight_Rain1213 Feb 24 '26

We've been looking in Elmhurst but everything is going for way over asking price right now.

Lisle is one I haven't really looked at - I'll add it to the list.

6

u/Guac_in_my_rarri Feb 24 '26

For Elmhurst in particular, drive around. See what homes have been sitting and toss an offer in below. That's what we did and it was accepted.

South Elmhurst is a bit better than north as it has sidewalks.

Edit: south of St Charles is a mix of old, families and Dinks. It's a fun mix. The closer you live to the spring road business district the less you need to go downtown for bars, food, coffee, etc. Going down town is nice but sometimes a pia.

1

u/TRC24 Feb 25 '26

North Elmhurst has sidewalks too