Real Estate and Mortgage Guide for Normal, IL

In McLean County, Illinois is the town of Normal. It is a part of the Bloomington metro area.

Population and Number of Homes

According to a census completed in the year 2012 the town had 53,837 citizens. There are slightly more than 16,000 housing units making the density of people approximately 3,300 for every square mile.

Due to the presence of a major University the average age of the citizens skews toward the young adult range. About 17% of the people are under the age of 18 but 38% are between the ages of 18 and 24 while another 23% fall in the 25-44 age bracket. 13% of the people are between ages 45 and 64 and another 7% are over the age of 65

Local Economy

Normal has a handful of companies that employ the majority of the citizens. The top companies, by number of employees, are:

  • Illinois State University
  • State Farm Insurance (the headquarters of the company is located in Bloomington)
  • Country Financial
  • Unit 5 School district
  • Mitsubishi Motors North America

Average Weather

The weather in Normal is quite mild and enjoys 4 true seasons. The warmest temperatures occur in July when the thermometer can reach 85 degrees. At the other end of the spectrum, the coldest temps of 15 occur in January.

During the course of the year rainfall is common. Approximately 39 inches of rain will fall on Normal in any given year. In addition, snowfall of about 20 inches across the winter months is common.

Universities, Colleges and Junior Colleges

The state’s oldest university open to the public is located in Normal. Illinois State University is a 4 year school that provides degrees in over 160 disciplines. There are also Master degree programs available in 38 fields of study along with 7 doctoral programs.

Heartland Community College is also in Normal. This school has approximately 4,900 students. The school provides training to a variety of technological and blue-collar fields.

There is also the private school, Lincoln College. This college has a variety of degrees and currently has 600 students.

Public School System

McLean County Unit District 5 is the primary public school organization. There are two high schools, Normal Community High School and Normal Community West High School. There are also 4 Jr high schools and 15 elementary schools.

Private Schools

Two faith-based schools provide classes to the people of Normal. Epiphany Catholic School has classes from kindergarten through middle school. Calvary Christian Academy offers kindergarten to 12th grade.

Important Stats for Level of Education

Here are the important stats for people above the age of 25

  • 95% graduated from high school
  • 47% have earned a bachelor’s degree
  • 15% have earned a graduate or professional degree
  • 6% of the adults are unemployed

Transportation Options

Along with public interstates and US highways, Normal is part of the Bloomington Public Transit System. 11 different routes serve the area.

The Central Illinois Regional Airport is in Bloomington and has service from 4 different airline companies.

Popular Restaurants and Other Hot Spots

Normal has some great restaurants that are sure to fill the appetite of almost any preference.

  • The Rock Restaurant – serves a mixture of Greek, Mediterranean and American dishes
  • Swingers Grille – grille and wine bar that offers food based on seasonality
  • Flat Top Grill – Asian Fusion
  • Maggie Miley’s – Irish cuisine
  • Los Potrillos – Mexican dishes
  • Medici Restaurant – Breakfast, brunch and sandwiches

In addition to great restaurants, there are other attractions for entertainment.

  • Illinois State University Planetarium has astronomy and other science exhibits for children as young as pre-school all the way to high school.
  • Children’s Discovery Museum has classes as well as hands-on demonstrations for kids throughout the year. The museum takes up 3 floors plus the agriculture exhibit that spans 2,000 square feet.
  • Challenger Learning Center is located in Heartland Community College and is committed to attracting students to math, technology and science.

Hospitals

Advocate Bromenn Medical Center is an acute care hospital with an emergency room located in Normal. There are also 2 home health care facilities and 3 nursing homes in Normal.

Outdoor Activities

24 different parks located in Normal offer a wide range of activities to the citizens. Depending on the park, it is possible to enjoy swimming, skating or skateboarding, dog park and even a tri-cycle roadway designed for pre-schoolers.

Constitution Trail is a large park that has a 24 mile track open to cyclers, joggers, rollerblading and walkers. In the winter months, when snow has accumulated, skiers and sleds are welcome on the trail.

There are wonderful golf courses in the area. Back in the Golf Digest Rankings of 2005 Normal was listed at #5 of best cities for Golf. The courses include:

  • Weibring Golf Club at Illinois State University – 18 holes covering 6,730 yards
  • Ironwood Golf Course 18 holes spanning 6,960 yards
  • Golf Learning Center – one of the best 100 golf ranges according to Golf Range Magazine

Why Choose us as Your Normal Mortgage Lender?

We are a Mortgage Lender specializing in mortgage loans since we first opened our doors. With licensed offices in 47 states, we have the staff and the experience to meet any home loan needs.

We were named to Mortgage Executive Magazine's list of Top 100 Mortgage Companies in America. In 2018 we were awarded as a Top Mortgage Lender in Top Dollar Volume by Scotsman Guide. We were also named a Top Workplace by the Houston Chronicle for the 5th year. Finally, we were named to Inc. 5000 list of Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America.

Besides these accolades, we are proud that President Ron Zach was named to National Mortgage Professional Magazine’s list of the 40 most influential mortgage professionals under 40.

How to Buy a Home in Normal with Little or No Money Down

Of course you want to buy a home in Normal with no down payment. Who doesn’t?

Here’s how you do it:

Many people never buy the home of their dreams simply because they don't think they have enough money for the down payment. They have been told through the years that they need 10% or 20% of the purchase price in order to buy a home. Well, this is true for the conventional/conforming loan programs but not for Normal Government loans.

So why have so many Lenders told them this?

It’s because selling homes to people with 10% or 20% down is easier than selling homes to people who have little or no money for a down payment. Most mortgage loan officers would rather go after the "easy sale" than try to help people who would rather save the down payment money for a rainy day or for current and future repairs/upgrades.

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