| If you are looking for real estate in | | | | westward growth of Chicago. Real estate |
| Northern Illinois, you can choose to | | | | prices are also significantly lower in |
| settle in an environment as lively and | | | | Rockford. |
| busy as Chicago or as scenic and | | | | For example, the median price for a |
| historical as Rockford. | | | | single-family home in Rockford is |
| Even though both of these places rank | | | | $93,000. This figure is lower than both |
| within the three largest cities of the | | | | the national median cost for |
| state they definitely have different | | | | single-family homes and the median cost |
| attractions to offer home buyers. | | | | for Chicago homes. From its nickname as |
| Chicago | | | | "The Forest City" to local attractions |
| In addition to housing the second | | | | like the Anderson Japanese Gardens, |
| largest business district in the U.S., | | | | Klehm Arboretum and the Botanical |
| Chicago is ethnically diverse, | | | | Gardens, Rockford is also famous for its |
| culturally rich and full of lively | | | | natural beauty and park systems. |
| entertainment. The Chicago real estate | | | | Its location makes it a valuable refuge |
| market is also huge and diverse since it | | | | from the city, but you can commute into |
| accommodates millions of people with a | | | | Chicago for a day of sightseeing in less |
| broad range of small and large budgets. | | | | than two hours too. |
| As a result, buyers can choose to invest | | | | Sorting through the Real Estate |
| in anything from a single-family home or | | | | Whether you prefer Chicago or Rockford |
| mansion to condos, penthouse apartments, | | | | living, there will be a lot of real |
| townhouses, and loft apartments when | | | | estate listings to go over before you |
| they shop for a home in Chicago. The | | | | find the home of your dreams. One of the |
| Loop and northern neighborhoods have | | | | best ways to make the home-buying |
| always been popular for their lakeside | | | | process faster and less stressful is to |
| views, harbors, parks and nightlife, but | | | | hire a knowledgeable Realtor who is |
| West side neighborhoods like Bucktown | | | | familiar with the local area. |
| are also rising on the home value scale. | | | | That way you can have a guide to show |
| As a result, the best place to look for | | | | you through the houses as well as access |
| affordable Chicago homes are southern | | | | to the most up-to-date listings and all |
| communities like Englewood, Riverdale | | | | the neighborhood statistics. If you're |
| and Chicago Lawn. | | | | working with a Realtor you can also hold |
| Rockford | | | | them to the stringent ethical standards |
| By comparison, Rockford is a smaller | | | | required by the National Association of |
| city with an economy that relies heavily | | | | Realtors. |
| on high-tech businesses, tourism and the | | | | |