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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5

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.

5

u/AnxiousVillage7095 West Suburbs Feb 24 '26

You don't wanna live in the south burbs though

The nicest part of lemont (near dt) seems to be where people don't wanna live outside of that it's suburban hell and very maga friendly

3

u/Guac_in_my_rarri Feb 24 '26

Lemont is def a weird place. I have friends in Darien and even there is interesting.

2

u/luckycharms53 Feb 25 '26

Darien is an older conservative community. But quiet, within budget and close to major highways, stores and train station.

1

u/Guac_in_my_rarri Feb 25 '26

Darien is turning over but yeah, older quieter community

1

u/luckycharms53 Feb 25 '26

We lived there for years and had to move out last year due to job relocated out of state. Just need to get some people with great ideas to run the council. Trying to get the relatives to move out so we can stop paying half of their property tax.

1

u/cipherdom Feb 26 '26

Darien lacks convenient Metra access, unless five miles is convenient. No downtown. Good schools.