Southwest Suburbs
Countryside Real Estate Agents from a Veteran-Owned Brokerage
Comparing a mid-century bungalow, a townhome, or a larger lot on the south end in 60525? We check the elementary district, the city's pre-sale rules, and the house itself before you make an offer.
Living in Countryside
Living in Countryside
Countryside is a small Cook County city of 2.88 square miles, about 15 miles from the Loop by the city's count. About 6,400 people live here (6,420 in the 2020 census). It sits among La Grange, La Grange Highlands, McCook, Hodgkins, Willow Springs, Burr Ridge, and Indian Head Park, and it shares ZIP 60525 with several of them.
The city incorporated in 1960, but its first subdivision, LaGrange Terrace, went up in 1947, followed by the Don L. Dise and Edgewood Park subdivisions in the 1950s. The Stevenson Expressway arrived in the mid-1960s, and retail and industry grew along it and LaGrange Road.
The bungalow blocks on the north end
The city's comprehensive plan describes a north-end neighborhood near Plainfield Road with smaller lots and mid-century bungalows. Remodels and second-story additions are common there, so two houses on one block can differ a lot in size and finish.
The southern tier
On the south end, wedged between the two interstates, the plan describes a secluded neighborhood with large, estate-style properties and some farmland character left. Newer planned subdivisions such as Woodland Ridge fill in other parts of the city.
Townhomes and condos
Countryside's townhomes sit in subdivisions such as Clocktower Pointe, Country Estate, and Countryside Meadows. The Country Club and Forest Villa condominiums sit on Brainard Avenue south of Joliet Road, Countryside.
The city runs its own parks. Countryside Park covers 11 acres between 59th and 61st Streets, with ball diamonds, tennis courts, a skate park, and summer concerts. Carl W. LeGant Memorial Park, at 55th Street and Plainfield Road, Countryside, holds the clock tower and carillon the city built for its 40th anniversary. Flagg Creek Golf Course is a city-run nine-hole course, and Arie Crown Forest, a Cook County forest preserve, is the largest open space inside the city.
Highways and buses
Getting around Countryside
Countryside has no Metra station, and its comprehensive plan says most residents drive to work. I-55 (the Stevenson) and I-294 (the Tri-State) are the city's expressways, and LaGrange Road (US 12, 20, and 45) and Joliet Road, part of historic Route 66, are its main streets.
Pace route 330 runs along LaGrange Road and connects Countryside Plaza and the Quarry Shopping Center with the La Grange Road station on Metra's BNSF Line in La Grange. Pace route 392 runs on weekdays to the CTA Green Line at Cicero. If you'll take the train, drive or ride to La Grange from the house at your commute hour before you buy.
Check the address
Countryside schools
Three elementary districts serve Countryside, so the address matters. La Grange School District 105 serves most of the city, and its Countryside students attend Ideal Elementary School on 58th Street, then Gurrie Middle School. La Grange Highlands School District 106 serves the northwest edge, north of Plainfield Road and west of Brainard Avenue. Pleasantdale School District 107 serves the south end, south of Joliet Road and west of Brainard Avenue.
All three feed Lyons Township High School District 204. Check the exact address with the elementary district before you write an offer.
What buyers and investors see
Countryside's housing stock
Countryside's comprehensive plan found that 47.3% of the city's homes were built between 1960 and 1979, about 30% before 1960, and about 20% in 1980 or later. Single-family detached houses are the most common type. Townhomes, duplexes, condos, and apartment buildings are mixed in through the residential areas.
That gives you a spread of choices in a small city. You can buy a remodeled bungalow on the north end, a 1960s or 1970s house, a townhome, or a condo. Buyers who want room should look at the south end's larger properties.
Before any Countryside home changes hands, the seller has to apply for the city's pre-sale permit, and the city runs a pre-sale inspection program. Ask the seller whether the inspection has happened and what it found.
For veterans and military families
Buying in Countryside with a VA loan
Dorazio Real Estate is veteran-owned, and our managing broker is a former U.S. Army officer and West Point graduate.
Most Countryside houses went up between the late 1940s and the 1970s, so we review condition at the first showing. Peeling paint, worn roofs, missing handrails, and aging mechanicals can all come up in a VA appraisal. Catching those items during the search leaves you room to shape the offer.
A VA loan can also buy a building with two to four units, as long as you live in one of them. If you find a duplex or another small multifamily building in Countryside, you can live in one unit and rent the others. The Country Club and Forest Villa condominiums need VA approval before a VA loan can buy in them, so check that first.
Illinois offers property tax exemptions for veterans with a service-connected disability. Countryside sits in Cook County, so you apply through the Cook County Assessor's Office.
Our VA loan page covers the benefit, the appraisal, and buying a 2-4 flat. If PCS orders bring you here, our relocation concierge can tour homes for you by video before you arrive.
For investors
Buying a Countryside rental or multifamily property
Countryside's plan places multifamily buildings, including apartments and condos, through the residential areas, and the city runs a rental property inspection and licensing program. Ask the city what a rental license requires before you buy, and build the inspection into your timeline.
Price each property against the tax bill, insurance, and a repair reserve for a house built in the 1950s through the 1970s. For a building with two or more units, our multifamily investment analysis covers the rent roll, operating expenses, cash flow, financing scenarios, and value-add potential before you commit.
Our multifamily and investment property page covers 2-4 flats, larger buildings, and house hacking with a VA or FHA loan. We also help investors buy mixed-use buildings, fix and flip projects, and furnished rentals. Read our property management page to see what our sister company manages.
For sellers
Selling a Countryside home
Start with the city. Countryside requires a pre-sale permit when you sell, along with a final water read and a transfer fee declaration, so file the permit with time to fix any inspection item before closing. Then price the house against the homes buyers will tour the same weekend: a north-end bungalow, a 1970s house, and a south-end estate lot compete for different buyers.
Start with a free comparative market analysis for your address. When you list, we can add a measured 2D or 3D floor plan, and our photo prep guide walks you through getting each room ready.
See how our listing agents price a home for its first weekend and get it ready before it goes live.
Comparing towns
Nearby areas we serve
Countryside buyers often compare La Grange, Indian Head Park, and Burr Ridge next door. We also help clients compare Willow Springs, Hickory Hills, Bridgeview, and Elmhurst.
Questions people ask
Countryside real estate questions
Does Countryside have a Metra station?
No. Countryside's own plan says the city has no Metra station. Pace route 330 connects Countryside Plaza with the La Grange Road station on the BNSF Line in La Grange.
Which school district serves my Countryside address?
Three elementary districts serve Countryside. District 105 covers most of the city, District 106 covers the northwest edge north of Plainfield Road, and District 107 covers the south end south of Joliet Road. All three feed Lyons Township High School. Check the exact address with the district.
What do I need to do before selling a Countryside home?
Apply for the city's pre-sale permit, request a final water read, and complete the city's transfer fee declaration. The city runs a pre-sale inspection program, so leave time to fix anything it flags.
Are there condos and townhomes in Countryside?
Yes. Townhomes sit in subdivisions such as Clocktower Pointe, Country Estate, and Countryside Meadows. The Country Club and Forest Villa condominiums sit on Brainard Avenue south of Joliet Road, Countryside.
What should veterans know before buying in Countryside?
Review condition at the first showing, since mid-century houses can raise VA appraisal repair items such as peeling paint, roofs, and handrails. Dorazio Real Estate is veteran-owned, and we flag those items while you still have room to shape the offer. For a condo, confirm that the VA has approved the building.
Can I buy a multifamily property in Countryside with a VA loan?
Yes. A VA loan can buy a building with two to four units as long as you live in one of them. The city licenses rental properties, so ask what the license requires before you write the offer.
Start with a conversation
Ready to talk Countryside?
If you're buying in Countryside, selling a house there, or comparing it with La Grange and the southwest suburbs, send us the address or the budget. We'll talk through the school district, the city's pre-sale rules, the house's condition, and what to check before you make a move.
Or send a note through our contact page.