As regards high taxes and supporting schools you aren’t using, I definitely understand your hesitation. But, good school districts which do attract buyers. I don’t know what the current turn-over in homes is in Berwyn, but that might be something to research or discuss with a realtor. If you want to sell quickly down the road, being in a “good school district” area might make a difference.
@Momofadult yes it’s always better to be in a good school district as the house I just sold went in 8 hours. I’m just not up at this point for paying the very high taxes in Oak Park. The entire tax situation has been sticker shock compared to Ohio.
We have relatives in Ohio - I understand!
A lot of empty nester types will choose a lower tax area with “lesser” schools. They arent necessarily interested in the schools and “roi” as the taxes tend to eat the return anyway.
Let me know if you want a referral to a real estate agent in Oak Lawn. I can private message you her contact details. We know Oak Lawn quite well.
I don’t live in the Chicago area, but all of my first cousins live there as does my brother and his family. I spent lots of summers with my cousins when I was a kid. One family lived in Oak Lawn and others lived in Beverly. The cousins in Oak Lawn moved to Wheaton and Naperville. The ones in Beverly have been there for years—when my aunt and uncle passed away, one of their daughters bought the house and moved in. She has teenagers who go to parochial high school—same one as their Mom (Mother McCauley).
We have a cousin reunion every other year and it is often in Chcago. So I have been there recently. IMO Beverly is a much more ecclectic neighborhood with a mix of housing. Oak Lawn seems pretty bland to me—lots of cookie cutter ranch homes. Also, I would think that if Beverly is too far to commute, Oak Lawn probably would be far as well. The two areas are only 6-8 miles apart. Doesn’t seem like much difference in commute time—but, I don’t live there. Good luck with your decision.
@BerneseMtnMom @Bromfield2 I love the houses in Beverly but yes it’s too far, and Oak Lawn would be too far as well.