Why I LOVE Living In Rockford Illinois

Did you know that the Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin borders are home to one of the best-kept secrets in real estate? In this first episode of Rocky Border, I’m going to introduce you to our channel all about life in and around the Rockford area. I’ll give you a sneak peek at everything we’ll explore on both sides of the border so you can see if this area is right for you.

Welcome To Rocky Border 

Did you know that the Northern Illinois area is one of the best-kept secrets in real estate? Did you also know that Southern Wisconsin bolts the best locally crafted beer, best downtown area, and the most amazing outdoor recreation? It’s true—and we’re going to explore it all on this channel.

I help people buy, sell and invest in real estate here in Rockton, Illinois. You're probably wondering, where the hell is Rockton, Illinois? This is a place where you can get a very spacious house with a generous-sized yard not within reaching distance of or on top of your neighbor. There are lots of jobs, the local economy is doing very well, and there are plenty of outdoor activities like golfing, swimming, kayaking, and fishing. Combine that with award-winning schools and the cost of living and it just can't be beat.

All About Location

Let's first define the area that we're talking about. We're located about an hour away from Chicago and Madison and an hour and a half away from Milwaukee—which means we're only about an hour away from O'Hare International Airport. We’re also only 90 minutes away from Naperville, Illinois, which is rated one of the top suburbs by niche.com. In other words, we're located in the epicenter of two of the largest areas in the entire Midwest.

There are extremely strong ties in the Northern Illinois region to the aerospace industry, such as Woodward Governor, UTC Aerospace, and much more. We have a lot of opportunities and well-paying jobs here. The area is also home to the second-largest UPS hub center in North America, and we also have an Amazon fulfillment center. What does that mean to you? Quick, easy access.

Plenty To Do

Now that you have a better idea of where we're located, let’s talk about what there is to do in the Rocky Borders. One of the most surprising parts of living here is that, yes, there are lots of cornfields, but no, that's not all there is. One of the most popular things to do is go to Rock Cut State Park. Rock Cut State Park is made up of over 3,000 acres of protected land that includes camping, fishing, hiking, and hunting. There are even equestrian trails. It doesn't matter where you are or who you are, there is something for you here.

Another very surprising thing that people don't realize is that we have our own event center here; you don't have to drive to Chicago or Madison. We have the BMO Harris Bank Center from Disney On Ice to mainstream headliners. On this show, we'll also be talking about shopping, restaurants, and meeting the people that work, live, and play here so that you can get an idea of what it's like to live here too.

Everything You Need To Know

If you're like most people that are serious about moving or living here, you probably have a bunch of questions. What's the cost of living? What are my commute times going to be? What side of the border is best for me, North or South? 

On Rocky Border, we'll be giving you all of that community information. We'll also share the good, the bad, and the ugly of Northern Illinois and South Central Wisconsin living. After all, if you're really interested in moving here, you're going to want to get a good idea about what you're going to get for your money.

Now that you have an idea of exactly what this show is all about—and if you love living here as much as we do—then make sure that you subscribe to our channel so you never miss an episode. If you have any additional questions that we don't cover here on this show, I'd love to talk to you! Feel free to reach out to me, and I’ll be happy to connect. Stay tuned to the next episode of Rocky Border to see what we feature next!