A version of this blog article appeared on Cityhousecountryhouse.com on 01/07/2019
Done with the city? Tired of the suburbs? Why not try the Exurbs!
According to the Urban Dictionary:
Exurb – A sparsely populated area, that is currently making the transition from rural to suburban, located usually on the fringes of a metropolitan area. Often times, it may be populated by wealthy estates, hobby farms, as well as existing rural towns, and usually with larger, more-mainstream suburban development on the brink of happening.
Benefits of living beyond Suburbia
Space. Land. Privacy…yet 15 minutes from one of the largest malls in the State. That’s the best of both worlds to me! I love that I can feel like I’m in the” middle of nowhere” and still be “somewhere” without a long drive.
Something for Everyone
Looking for a fixer-upper? Maybe something more luxurious? Land for dogs, chickens, horses or other animals? What about just the feeling of a little more freedom to do as you please? Whether you are an empty nester looking to retire, a family wanting more open space or anything in between there is something for everyone in Exurbia.
Great Schools too
Moving with a family? Great school districts can be next to ones that need improvements. Real Estate sites like Realtor.com and Zillow.com do not always have accurate information. Read my websites for School Ratings to learn how to judge the schools in your dream area.
The Exurbs of Chicago
There is no set list of the Exurbs of Chicago and it changes over time. I remember as a kid thinking Naperville was as far as the end of the earth. Now it’s considered a suburb of Chicago.
To me, an Exurb still has the touches of the country. You see farms and nature areas, but don’t feel like you are driving through endless miles of nothing but fields. Lake County has some great examples: Antioch, Beach Park, Lake Villa, Wauconda, Wadsworth to name a few. Even parts of Gurnee are still very country.
Not ready to move that far, but still looking for space? Try Grayslake, Mundelein, or Libertyville.
Need more convincing the Exurbs are the place to be?
Check out this August 1, 2021 article from Business Insider. According to the article,
These areas — characterized by more affordable housing and greater distance from cities — emerged as the districts du jour for well-to-do Americans during the Great Migration of the pandemic. The biggest population shift was from urban areas to rural neighborhoods and exurbs, Jefferies analysts said in a note citing USPS mail-forwarding data. Areas like Kenosha County, Wisconsin, likely benefitted from people leaving Milwaukee and Chicago, which sit 40 and 66 miles away, respectively. Similarly, Sussex County, New Jersey, is an exurb 55 miles from New York City.
Want to read the full article: Go to www.businessinsider.com/moving-from-suburbs-to-exurbs
Are you ready to see the Exurbs and test the country waters?
Call or Email Daina today!
Daina Jacobson is a REALTOR® with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago who helps buyers and sellers navigate the real estate markets in Northern Lake County, Illinois, and southern Kenosha County, Wisconsin. Based in Wadsworth, Illinois, she specializes in homes with land, acreage properties, and homes served by private wells and septic systems.
Before entering real estate, Daina spent two decades working as a certified interpreter fluent in American Sign Language, a background that shaped her ability to listen carefully and guide clients through complex decisions with clarity.
When she’s not assisting clients, Daina devotes time to animal rescue as one of the co-founders of Two Furs Rescue. At home in Wadsworth she enjoys caring for her many animals, including cats, a dog, chickens, and ducks, while also planting and preserving native plants and trees around her property.