CHICAGO-Young lady looking for apartment help! (Cicero, Addison: budget, apartments, rental)

[CaycisinKansas]

Hey everyone! I'm moving to Chicago (or surrounding suburb) next summer. Can you please give me some insight to what might suit me? I'd appreciate it, and hopefully I can help you with some non-important Kansas information!!!!

I'm 24, not yet a college graduate still two years left. I own a dog-walking/sitting business, I coach High School athletics, and I'm single and straight. I want to be a songwriter, I love lakes, water, nature, music, creativity, and ethnic surroundings. Uptown sounds so fun, however, I don't want to necessary live in it I'm social, but I like living alone and having some peace and quiet. If I want noise and craziness, I can go find it. I plan to live alone, and hopefully for monthly rent around $300-$500 for a nice place. I'm easy to please and it doesn't have to be beautiful. But nice, quiet, safe, friendly, and easy transportation access (I have a good car, but I'm a gas safer) would be awesome. I know this is what everyone wants and I'm no different!

Maybe some insight to what suburb may suit me, and if there are jobs available in certain places? Again, mucho appreciated! I'll be back to check!

Email: Cayci_3@yahoo.com
Yahoo: Cayci_3

[eevee]

I'm not a Chicago resident, but will be moving there soon. anyways, when I was looking for apartments, I had a budget of about $600-$650, and I had a tough time looking for affordable apartments. I saw a few so-so studios in Roger's Park, but in the end, I opted for a room share closer to the city. a $500 budget may not get you far (maybe in the burbs, but not sure). it might be worth it to find some decent roommates to lower the costs

[Visvaldis]

Finding an apartment in the range of 300 to 500 will be very tough, especially when closer to the lake. You will have to up the amount considerably, start at $500. Get out your city map. The cheaper places are usually west of Western Avenue, where maybe you can rent a studio or small one bedroom for 500 to 600. The Northwest side has many apartment buildings in neighborhoods which are quiet and, for a big city, relatively trouble free. Many building owners don't place their rental apartments in the newspaper, but merely tape a FOR RENT sign at the building entrance. So it would also be a good idea to drive around in a neighborhood which you like and look for these signs. I lived near the intersection of Addison and Cicero, where the rents are reasonable. I paid $630 for a four room (1 bedroom) apartment. Also, parking is still not a nightmare. The Northwest side has many Polish people, and there are many Polish delis which have terrific food.
You can read the apartment rentals in the Chicago Tribune, which is online. The Chicago Reader, an alternative paper, also lists apartment rentals, but most of these are closer to the lake, in trendy neighborhoods, and much more expensive.
In the mid 70s Uptown was known as the highest concentration of white poverty in America. But that area has changed very much with many yuppies moving in. And the rents are continually climbing. I don't think you'll find much in your range.
Being interested in music you could also check out The Old Town School of Folk Music, in the 4500 block of Lincoln Avenue. You may make some useful connections there.
Chicago is a fine city with much to do and I hope you like it. I wish you much luck with your move.

[Neoaqua17]

Hi if you are only looking to pay around 300-500 you might be able to find a place in Pilsen. Pilsen is a great neighborhood with a lot of restaurants and cafes. The public transportation is always nearby. You should check out craigslist.com Choose chicago and start searching. Hope that works.