Local Communities

As someone whose family has lived in the area for 5 generations, I will be glad to share my knowledge of the area. Each town has its own personality and selling points. The page is organized to answer the four main questions I am asked most frequently. I will be glad to take you on a personal tour of the local communities that you are interested in. I cover many communities in Cook and DuPage Counties. See a list at the bottom of the page.

If you would like more information or to make an appointment, feel free to call me at 312-615-2300 or reach me by email

Community Information- Frequently Asked Questions

Is there an easy to use source to find out about all the different communities?

A quick, concise site to find out about all the Chicagoland communities includes community websites, a list of the utility companies that cover each towns and school districts that are associated with each town.
Directory of Chicago Communities
Riverside
LaGrange
Westchester
Brookfield
North Riverside
LaGrange Park

How expensive is it to live in your area?

No two communities are exactly alike in the services and amenities that they offer, however there can be enough similarities to make some rough comparisons. Coldwell Banker offers a tool to compare home prices across the country. This can be a great starting place if it is used correctly. Other factors include cost of services, recreation, cost of commuting among others. I will be glad to help narrow your search for communities based on the criteria that are most important to you.
National Home Price Comparison Tool
Search Local Properties For Sale

What are my transportation alternatives?

Getting around the Chicago area and the Western Suburbs is easy due to its excellent mix of commuter railroads, bus service, highways, tollways and proximity to major airports.

METRA Train Service- Commuter railroad service throughout the Chicagoland area. Schedules, routes and more
Pace Bus-Local bus service throughout the area
Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT)- Roads, highways, toll roads and traffic throughout the Chicago area and the state
Chicago Airports- Information about both OHare and Midway 

Where can I find more information about the area and local communities?

This section has links to both Cook and DuPage counties. Their sites contain a wealth of information and more links. I also have links to the state of Illinois and the Department of Natural Resources which governs Illinois State Parks. Finally there is a link to check on whether a community charges a tax on the sale of real estate, if so who pays it and whether a community requires inspections. (The state of Illinois and local counties tax the sale of real estate but not every community has a tax.)

Cook County
DuPage County
State of Illinois
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Local Transfer Tax Checker
School Information
Riverside
LaGrange
Westchester

List of Communities Covered

Riverside, North Riverside, La Grange, La Grange Park, Westchester, Brookfield, Indian Head Park, Western Springs, Willow Springs, Burr Ridge, Forestview, Hinsdale