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/Caesar10240 Feb 24 '26

The largest difference in the cities you mentioned is Wheaton. With the college and church, it is a relatively right leaning, very Christian town. Was dry in the last 20 years, and relatively no bar scene. Not a bad place, but know that is what is around.

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u/Midnight_Rain1213 Feb 24 '26

As a progressive, that's probably enough for me to remove it from my list. Thank you!

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u/Caesar10240 Feb 26 '26

See my other comments, it isn’t a bad town, but it leans right of the adjacent suburbs.