Real Estate - Illinois

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Move to Illinois

In the heart of America, Illinois is not only the geographic center of the country, but also acts as a transportation hub to connect one side of the country to another. From the big cities to the small towns, Illinois is home to a diverse collection of communities that are home to 12.5 million people. A strong economy offering opportunities for personal and professional growth from world-class educational institutions, combined with efficient transportation, parks, recreation activities and an excellent education system, makes Illinois an attractive place for residents to call home.

Illinois’ robust housing market adds to the state’s economic stability, with a steady demand for single-family homes, condominiums and a selection of villas and townhouses. With its charming Victorian-era villages, sprawling middle-America suburbs, quaint farming towns and fast-paced cities, Illinois offers the best of American life. All you need to do is choose which lifestyle suits you best.

The statewide median home price is near $199,900. There is a vast contrast between cost of living, lifestyle and landscape between the northern region of Illinois and Southern Illinois. Statewide, the cost of living in Illinois is near or at the national average; however, moving to the big city of Chicago will raise living costs to around 12% above the national average. Southern Illinois, especially the western region, is considered to be part of the Greater St. Louis region, which enjoys a low cost of living relative to other metropolitan areas with home prices averaging closer to $130,000. This is compared to the Greater Chicago area in the northern part of the state where home prices run closer to a median price of $223,700. City living price tags are much higher with condominiums in downtown Chicago averaging around $400,000 while single family homes are priced between $750,000 to over $1 million.

Illinois is a four-season state with warm, humid summers and cold, dry winters. With a state that extends 400 miles north to south, weather patterns tend to vary. Summers in northern Illinois are somewhat cooler and less humid than those of the far south, and the duration of "summer" like weather is some four weeks shorter than that of the south. Conversely, winters of northern Illinois are longer and colder than those of the south. Chicago gets a good dose of lake effect snow fall averaging 38 inches of snow every year. If landscapes blanketed by snow are not for you, a winter in southern Illinois will occasionally pass without the occurrence of one substantial snowfall and no groundfrost.

Statewide, Illinois offers recreation for outdoor enthusiasts as well as culturally-rich events. As the third largest city in the nation, Chicago is best known for its cultural and ethnic diversity and history. Its unique selection of museums, art galleries, performing arts centers and an endless selection of restaurants and cafes, along with athletic teams, are some of the most recognized symbols of the city. Residents in Southern Illinois enjoy an affordable, high quality lifestyle filled with an array of choices when it comes to cultural and recreational amenities, including State parks with trails and historic sites, more than a dozen wineries among the rolling hills and the River Bend area with one of the finest marinas on the Mississippi river, a variety of public parks and the National Scenic Byway.

To learn more about specific communities in Illinois, request a Free Relocation Packet prepared by a HomeRoute Preferred - local community expert. This exclusive guide will be customized to your specific home search and help you prepare for your upcoming move to Illinois.

Information provided courtesy of HomeRoute.