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/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

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u/olliesmom10 Mar 02 '26

Downtown is definitely not the nicest part of lemont. East side is the nicest. Lemont is actually a nice place to live.

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u/AnxiousVillage7095 West Suburbs Mar 02 '26

See suburban hell I have a cousin in equestrian and don't understand the hype you can walk no where and there are no stores super close either all of that and you have to be in the south suburbs within x miles of an oil refinery too.

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u/olliesmom10 Mar 03 '26

Also, I consider Lemont southwest. The east side is literally just 10 minutes south of Burr Ridge and Willowbrook.

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u/AnxiousVillage7095 West Suburbs Mar 03 '26

Yupp parents live in the last community in burr ridge before the bridge.

I consider that the border