Real Estate Buyer's Guide to Aurora Illinois

The City of Aurora, Illinois has many different sections that are perfect for home buyers of all types. It's this great diversity in the kinds of homes in Aurora that make it a popular place to own a home. In Aurora, Illinois home buyers can find representative specimens of almost every major home style from Victorian to Prairie as well as any size or type of home from studio condos up to estates.

One of the most popular features of Aurora is the good value many of these housing options provide. While the average price of a home in the united states hovers currently around $250,000, homes in Aurora currently average around $230,000 and many can be found under this price point. If you are starting your search for a home in Aurora, it's important to understand the basic geography of the city in order to assist you in finding a place to live.

Aurora Illinois is divided into two main areas - the east side and west side, both divided by the Fox River which can be found directly in the middle of both sections. Both areas feature areas of historic homes on the National Register of Historic Places. Well-known residential historic districts in Aurora include the Palace, Tanner, Riddle Highlands and Near Westside Historic Districts on the west side and the Near Eastside Historic District on the east side of the city. The middle of the city itself is dominated by the Fox River and includes the business district of the City of Aurora. This is centered on Stolp Island as well as along both banks of the river.

Real estate on the west side of Aurora includes a couple well-known areas including the Aurora University area centered around a college of the same name. The west side also plays host to the beginning of the Randall Road Corridor that leads north into some of the west suburbs' biggest shopping districts. The far west side of the city is dominated by new home communities and also includes the Orchard Valley Golf Course as well as several hiking and biking trails including the Virgil Gilman Trail and part of the Illinois Prairie Path. School District 129 and West Aurora High School is the primary school district for the west side as well as the majority of zip code 60506.

The east side of Aurora is almost double the size of the west side and is usually divided into the "near" east side closer to the center of the city and the "far" east side closer to the Fox Valley Mall. The "near" east side consists of mainly zip code 60505 whereas the "far" east side contains some of 60505 and the majority of 60502, 60503 and 60504 zip codes. The entire east side includes several well-known areas including Pigeon Hill, Oakhurst, Stonebridge as well as others. The east side of Aurora is made of largely residential areas including several new home developments and active adult communities. It is also home to the Stonebridge Country Club as well as School Districts 131 and 204.

Aurora features great local transportation. A Metra train station can be found on the near east side next to Walter Payton's Roundhouse - a historic structure that has been meticulously restored and now houses a restaurant and museum - as well as easy access to I-88 and other major arteries.

Understanding real estate in Aurora usually requires the help of a local real estate expert. You can find great deals and great homes in all areas of Aurora, but helping buyers know where to look is an important part of what your local Realtor can assist with. Because of the tremendous variety in home styles and price ranges, helping buyers narrow down their choices based upon their requirements is an extremely important service. If you are just beginning your search for a home in Aurora, it's advised that you contact your local real estate professional for information on how to begin.

Eric Rogers is a local real estate agent with Century 21 Pro-Team and specializes in homes in the Fox Valley area of Illinois