Palos Park Homes for Sale

Palos Park Real Estate Offers Beautiful Rural Living

Let’s be clear from the outset, homes for sale in Palos Park IL are probably the least diverse of all the south suburbs. It is the most affluent of all the surrounding towns so homes for sale tend to be on the expensive side. There are a few affordable sections but affordable is a relative term. Its history is rich and very different from other towns in the area.

Palos Park is 19 miles southwest of downtown Chicago. In the beginning farmers farmed flatter areas of Palos and used the wooded areas for lumber and fuel however, it’s purpose quickly changed with the construction of the railroad in 1883. This connected Palos Park il with downtown Chicago.

Because the town is surrounded on three sides by forests and hills it is naturally isolated and it became a retreat for artists, writers, retired theater performers. Many wealthy Chicago businessmen began building second homes in Palos Park to escape the daily hustle of Chicago. In fact Cook County began buying parcels of forested land surrounding the town ensuring its insulation and isolation.

Palos Park is relatively small in population holding steady at 4800+. This is mostly due to the fact that is landlocked by forest preserves and Orland Park to the southwest and Lemont to the west. This keeps real estate values high and limits new construction. New construction is mostly limited to tearing down older smaller homes to make way for large custom homes. Palos Park is home to some of the largest and most expensive real estate in the south suburbs. Just take a drive down 123rd Street east of LaGrange Rd. and you’ll get glimpses of truly magnificent executive home sites.

That isn’t to say you can’t find a relative bargain in Palos Park however with a median home value of $431,000 it is almost $100,000 higher than that of Frankfort another fairly affluent town. The subdivisions of Mill Creek and Sandburg Glen off of 131st and LaGrange Rd are the most affordable but if you take a drive through those neighborhoods you’ll begin to see evidence of improvements to the homes that were new 30 years ago. Subdivisions of Misty Harbor, Shadow Ridge and Ramsgate feature homes well north of $1,000,000 dollars.

How Is The Shopping In Palos Park 

Shopping in Palos Park is almost non-existent. There is some shopping along LaGrange Rd and 131st St. but you don’t move to Palos to shop. The great thing about Palos Park is that it is very close to the bustling communities of Orland Park and Palos Heights. Both have bustling commercial areas, which cater to every need. As we’ve done for several other historic businesses in other towns we must give a special shout out to the famous Plush Horse Ice Cream Shop. The Plush Horse has been serving homemade ice cream since 1937. It’s not uncommon for families to travel from Chicago or surrounding suburbs for a taste of this gourmet ice cream. It’s a Chicago gem.

How Are The Schools In Palos Park IL? 

District 118 serves Palos Park IL. The district is comprised of Palos East, Palos West and Palos South Junior High and all three are excellent. Their scores reflect what you would expect from a community with it’s resources. Stagg High School serves most of Palos Park’s teenage population however there are a few areas that can choose between Sandburg High School and Stagg High School. Both schools compete at the highest levels of sports and extracurricular activities and boast state of the art facilities.

Q & A About Palos Park Real Estate 

Q: Are there homes for rent in Palos Park Il?
A: For sure, however they tend to be on the expensive side and as soon as they enter the market they are quickly rented because of the desirability.

Q: Can you find townhomes for sale in Palos Park?
A: Yes. There are several older townhome developments in Palos Park. Once again they tend to be rather expensive and just like the older homes quite a few of the townhomes have been completely gutted and remodeled.

Q: Does Palos Park have condominiums for sale?
A: Yes but the availability and inventory is very limited.