Choosing a Neighborhood

Thinking about buying a house in Aurora Illinois? One thing you may have heard is that residents usually divide the city into three different sections to define where they live. Agents who have received real estate training in Aurora can tell you that these sections, and the neighborhoods which make them up, are often determining factors in a buyer's purchase decision.

The dividing line between the two major sections of Aurora is the Fox River. Predictably enough, the area to the west is known as West Aurora and to the east of the Fox is referred to as East Aurora. Simple, right? There's also a third distinct area of the city in local vernacular, known as Fox Valley (although the name is in fact not related to Fox River).

Both of the major sections of Aurora have their appeal. The downtown area is one of the oldest sections of the city, and it is located on the west side, to the north. As with many older cities, the downtown experienced a downturn for several years. Today, however, rejuvenation efforts have seen the developments of several high-end condo and loft developments in the downtown core. This means that residents can enjoy cutting-edge city living, within a few blocks of major vendors selling Alfred Sung wedding dresses, sporting goods, and all sorts of food.

West Aurora also contains the neighborhoods in which the major centers of upper level learning in the city can be found. Newport Hill is home to Aurora University, a major educational provider for the entire state. With degrees from the institution, many have gone on to develop online collaboration software, begin successful businesses, and generally contribute to improving the world around them. The middle class neighborhood of Foxcroft contains the Illinois Math and Science Academy.

Finally, West Aurora contains the wealthiest part of the community in the neighborhood of Sans Souci. This is the area where you will find residents with burgeoning gold mutual funds, large houses, and distinguished careers.

Some of the newest neighborhoods in Aurora are located in East Aurora. Of particular note is the planned community of HomeTown Aurora. This neighborhood is the America you see in movies, complete with calm streets and white picket fences.

East Aurora is also the place to look if you are interested in living in a neighborhood with a large element of multiculturalism and history. The Near East side is one of the oldest communities in the area, with many turn of the century and earlier houses on display. Uptown is the center of the Hispanic culture of Aurora, and also includes several large, beautiful homes.