 The Benefits of an Illinois Location:
1. St. Louis is an easy drive from most cities in Metro-East. 20-30 minutes or less, even during rush hours, will get you to downtown St. Louis. North and south counties are close, too, with the Chain of Rocks Bridge on the North, on interstate 270, and Jefferson Barracks Bridge on the South, on interstate 255.
Some exit distances....(from the Poplar Street Bridge..downtown...the exit numbers mean "Miles from Downtown".)
| O'Fallon |
Exit 14 |
Interstate 64 |
| Edwardsville |
Exit 18 |
Interstate 55/70 |
| Troy |
Exit 17 |
Interstate 55/70 |
| Glen Carbon |
Exit 16 |
Interstate 55/70 |
| Collinsville |
Exit 8 |
Interstate 55/70 |
2. Illinois is on the "sunrise-side" of the city...the sun is always at your back while commuting...going and coming....a significant daily amenity sometimes completely overlooked..sort of the "don't know what you're missing" quality.
3. The interstates are far less congested.....call it more "civilized"! Only the Poplar Street Bridges is a problem, and that can be circumvented with good timing. Sometimes, the Martin Luther King Bridge can be used as a reliever, and it's preferred if your work location is on the north side of downtown. Of course, the Chain of Rocks Bridge on the north (IS 270) and the Jefferson Barracks Bridge on the south, (IS 255) are hardly ever congested. Metro-Link, public light rail public transport is already extended from downtown into E. St. Louis, and under construction through Fairview Heights to Belleville. It's already a great alternative to downtown parking.
4. Residents of Illinois have access to all of St. Louis' cultural and recreational features, just as any other "St. Louisan"....on any given day or evening.
5. Even the most popular cities, along the crest of the bluffs, still have small town livability...a highly prized quality of life factor for most families...a quality simply unavailable on the other side within the same easy commuting distances.
6. Schools are highly rated in scholastics, arts and sports. Faculty, students and parents have pride and involvement, another example of high levels of plain old citizenship.
7. Illinois' own institutions add immensely to the quality of life: Southern Illinois University, McKendree College, fine hospitals, YMCA's, parks, Illinois State Parks....and on and on.
8. There's great shopping available at major malls, and local support services everywhere...and of course, the whole St. Louis marketplace is close.
9. Home inventories are rich and varied, and come in a broad range of styles, historic to new, small to large, in broad price ranges.
10. The quality of construction is generally better in Illinois, and prices are generally a bit lower, a function primarily of lower land costs.
11. So there's generally a little more land with homes in Illinois, even newer ones, and there's lots more open space generally.
12. Illinois and Missouri are nearly on a par when overall taxes are considered, although at first blush, real estate taxes appear slightly higher in Illinois. (We have detailed comparison sheets, and examples...please ask for them.) 
13. Illinois is certainly not in second place when it comes to beauty....the beautiful rolling topography along the bluffs is stunning, with some of the finest home settings anywhere....(said admitting Missouri is beautiful, too.)
14. Because of all of the above features and benefits, and expected future growth, resale should be excellent.
The overall quality of life in SW Illinois can't be beat! |
