In thinking back, can you remember the last city you visited that had almost everything you were looking for? A city that afforded you the best of both worlds; your little urban oasis as well as a welcomed suburban retreat. Having traveled to several cities both large and small in and out of the continental U.S., I can say Chicago may just be that place!
Before relocating to Chicago from one of the greatest cities in the world - New York -, I pictured Chicago being similar to the many other cities I’d traveled to in the past–nice, but not quite what I’d been use to in New York. I assumed it was going to be small with not enough to keep my attention. I’d heard Chicago being coined the second city but had ruled out any high expectations of what it could offer. My first “walk thru” of down town and the lake front area instantly gave me a change of heart. I absolutely fell in love with how “neatly packaged” Chicago appeared to be from first glance. Since I wouldn’t allow myself to fall head over heels right away, I decided to travel into some of Chicago’s most well-known, historic neighborhoods. My drive down Lake Shore Drive to Chicago’s south side Hyde Park neighborhood felt like a car ride down the West Side Highway in Manhattan, NY. Once we arrived in Hyde Park, I was overtaken by an oddly familiar feeling; Hyde Park looked and felt like Brooklyn’s Park Slope area with outside dining, a diverse make-up of people and mom and pop shops on nearly every block. The homes were cozy and well-kept and there was a real sense of community. Similarly, driving south bound down King Drive was just like taking a trip down Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn. The massive gray stone buildings that lined each side of this pass thru were grand and stately. The architectural integrity of this area of the city was absolutely breathtaking. Each time I’d visited there after further confirmed my sincere pleasure of this city, mostly because it felt like home. If you’ve had the chance to visit both Chicago and New York City you too will likely find many similarities between the two cities. And for those of you who have preconceived notions of big cities in general, I am here to share with you even big cities can bring you the peace and quiet you may be looking for. Chicago is filled with a plethora of neighborhoods filled with diversity in things to do and people to see. From Rogers Park on the far north side to Chatham on the south side; you are likely to find your urban oasis or suburban retreat. There are some neighborhoods, like Beverly (south side) and West Loop Gate (downtown) that make you feel like you’ve just arrived to your typical suburban neighborhood. Instead, you are minutes away from the most sought after amenities that come with big city living such as access to down town, public transportation, as well as a vast selection of cultural activities including state of the art museums, fine dining, and of course access to the beach! Chicago also happens to be listed as one of the country’s largest, most affordable cities. Both rent and home sale prices have remained relatively low compared to many cities of its size. According to today’s Forbes article titled “Rising Home Prices: Coming To A Market Near You”, in Chicago, asking prices - for homes - fell in all listed areas, with even lower numbers for the northern and southern suburbs. While this may not be the best news for current home owners in these suggested areas, it could mean great news to you as a potential buyer. My final recommendation: Check out Chicago for yourself! Research and read about the Chicago rental and real-estate markets as well as the different neighborhoods both on the north and south sides of the city. You may be just as surprised as I was in learning about this charming mid-western city! To read the Forbes article cited in today’s blog go to http://www.forbes.com/sites/trulia/2012/05/03/rising-home-prices-coming-to-a-market-near-you/2/. We’d love your feedback! Feel free to leave a comment below or at The Soldon Corner. Till Next Time, Happy Living and Learning
2 Comments
|
About The AuthorSolonge Robinson is a Co-Founder of Soldon Properties, LLC and proud contributor to The Soldon Corner. Archives
January 2020
Categories |