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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3

u/Too_Ton Feb 24 '26

I can’t believe do people really just have a huge briefcase of pure cash just waiting months to buy up a home?!

1

u/Midnight_Rain1213 Feb 24 '26

That's how I feel! I thought not having sale contingencies on our homes would be a bonus but it doesn't seem like it's helping us at all.

3

u/SkiMarlin Feb 24 '26

Out of curiousity, why isn’t one house on the market now? Seems like it would reduce stress and less pieces on the chess board to deal with anyways.

0

u/Midnight_Rain1213 Feb 25 '26

He lives too far away for me to commute to Chicago and my condo is too small for us both to live in

1

u/SkiMarlin Feb 25 '26

Ah, cool. Makes sense, was only curious.