Harvard, Illinois

Last stop on Union Pacific / Northwest Line (Metra)

Harvard is a city located in McHenry County in the northeastern corner of the U.S. state of Illinois, approximately 7 miles (11 km) south of the Illinois/Wisconsin border. The population was 7,996 at the 2000 census. The city is 63 miles (101 km) from the Chicago Loop, and it is the last stop on the Union Pacific/Northwest Line.

Zip code 60033
McHenry County

Yahoo real estate - foreclosures 10/9/2010

Housing sales (public record)

Search strategy

1. map the mile around the train station (define this as a square using screen names - another way to describe the area)
2. visual inspection for aesthetics, service availability (restaurants, etc.).  WALKABILITY.  Access to open roads. 
- identify properties that look attractive; note addresses for later plotting; photos)
3. Free search of properties on the market.  (find an app that will do this)
4. last resort: engage real estate person with specifics.
5. Be ready to buy.
- pay down home equity loan
- have a down payment
6. manage the purchase without a real estate agent (understand what's needed)

cool tool to look at towns

tool

Niles, MI

...based on the data from 1997 / 2002 when the population of Niles, Michigan was 11755 / 11974.

Our Paradise is located 90 minutes from Chicago, 15 minutes from South Bend, Indiana and three and a half hours from Detroit. We grow nearly every kind of fruit and vegetable, (except citrus) which can be purchased in season at our farm markets or U-Picks. You can sample wine at four award winning wineries. You can watch a world-class motor-cross race, fish for your supper, canoe a quiet stream, camp out or stay in a family resort. There are nearly two dozen antique stores and malls.

For the history buff, we have the 1839 Courthouse Museum, the Ft. St. Joseph Museum, the railroad depot, and the Museum at Southwestern Michigan College, as well as places where history began. For the nature lover, there is the beautiful St. Joseph River Valley. Isn't it time for a relaxing drive in the country? We're looking forward to your visit!

http://www.city-data.com/city/Niles-Michigan.html

Amtrak to Niles, MI
map of Amtrak station

Homes in Niles
home prices from $130K to $400K at a brief glance...

New Buffalo, MI

http://www.newbuffalo.com/map.shtml

New Buffalo population — 2,200

New Buffalo, Michigan is situated on the beaches of Lake Michigan, in the southwestern corner of Michigan bordering northern Indiana. This area is sometimes referred to as "Michiana", "Harbor Country" or "Lake Michigan's Gold Coast". Whatever moniker is used, the New Buffalo area is synonymous with fun, rest and relaxation. It has many resort cottages, condos and homes available for rent for a day, a weekend, a week or the entire summer.

Many vacation rental units are located within easy walking distance of shops, restaurants and recreational facilities – others exchange that convenience for solitude or a short walk to the beach. A few of the activities you can enjoy in the New Buffalo area are beachcombing, canoeing, freshwater fishing, hiking, swimming, kayaking, wind surfing, gambling, boating, water skiing, jet skiing, golf, fine dining, sailing, biking and antque shopping. It's just a great place to spend the summer!

Communities immediately around New Buffalo are Long Beach and Michiana Shores (just across the border in Indiana); Michiana, Grand Beach, Union Pier, Lakeside, Harbert, Three Oaks and Sawyer. Larger communities neighboring to the north on Lake Michigan are Bridgman, Stevensville, St. Joseph and Benton Harbor.

Amtrak to New Buffalo

Once the station is complete, non-stop Amtrak passenger service will be available between Chicago's Union Station and downtown New Buffalo.

The new station will be used by the Blue Water Service (Trains 364 and 365) and Wolverine Service (Trains 351 and 354).

Arrival and departure times for the station in New Buffalo have not been announced. However, the Blue Water departs Chicago's Union Station daily at 3:00 PM Central Time and the Wolverine departs Union Station at 6:00 PM Central Time.

Travel-time estimates have been reported between 65 to 85 minutes to get to New Buffalo. Eastern Time arrivals in New Buffalo might be at approximately 5:20 PM for the Blue Water and 8:20 PM for the Wolverine.