As easy as it it is to buy a home today, in Granite City, might I suggest you take a closer look around. While I understand you don't want you kids going to the high school, one of the catholic schools in town, might be cheaper than the extra property tax on an equivalent property else where. Providing a better education to boot. (although, higher taxes do keep the undesirables away, and I'm no fan of the catholics)
I plan to buy a house in a year or so, I DO NOT want to live in Illinois any more, but it's hard to find a better all around deal than I can get in GC.