House Hunting on the Internet

I know I’m not alone. Sitting at the computer searching online for houses. I tried Realtor.com, Trulia, Zillow, and Redfin. I had so many saved searches and receives tons of alerts every time a house was listed. Every keyword combination I could think of I would try: estate, farmhouse, farmette, 1/2 acre, 5 acres, rural Chicagoland, hobby farm, chickens, bees, rural Northern Illinois…. I would even just search Google for things like, “rural house with land in lake county IL”. I knew what I wanted and I had a great realtor, but the houses of my dream seemed so elusive. Plus, when I found possibilities, there was so much we didn’t know about them.

I had an experienced Realtor, but a string of bad luck. I wanted to someone to tell me it would all work out. That my dreams were not unrealistic. I felt like there was no one I knew who understood or could help. I didn’t know anyone who had chickens or bees. No one I knew was used to well or septic. Taking care of acres of grass or woodlands. Another strike.

I wish there was someone out there who understood my dreams

Dreams do come true

Despite this all, my dreams did come true. I found my land, my acres, my house. Remember that Google search? Well, I found my rural house with land in Lake County IL! It took time and patience and the biggest reward besides the house? I realized there are people out there like me….And I could help!

The birth of My Own Green Acres

First, I started my blog. I thought I could share pictures of my adventures with family and friends. As a bonus, I could share my real estate knowledge and my experiences to save others from some of the heartache I experienced. I hoped to help others realize that there is help out there! I started blogging about my experiences and sharing some real estate advice.

My second child: CityHouseCountryhouse

My wonderful mother, and mentor, had the idea we could share our ideas in a blog. She would share her experience as a successful suburban realtor and I could share my rural experiences! It was brilliant. “Cityhouse Countryhouse” was born. I moved my real estate blogs to this site in hopes of reaching a wider audience.’

Finding your “Rural house with land…”

Whether it’s an idyllic white farmhouse, a little privacy between you and your neighbors, county living or 10 acres of land, I am here to help! I will share my experiences on our four acres in Lake County. I love the Chicagoland area and want others to enjoy it. Want to hear more about our house hunting escapades? Read Rural House Hunting: My Story.