Moving to Chicago within a month! place to live! (Skokie: leasing, home)

[jtinker85]

I didn't come on this board to have someone give me ****. I just wanted some help. I am looking at places with one bathroom, but would prefer two or a larger space as specified above so girls can have a separate make up/hair station area. I lived in 1 bd/1 bath in Bridgeport and I know how big of a pain in the ass it can be to get ready in a dinky bathroom with barely any ventilation.

I also know my budget is not too small because I have found several listings that match my requirements.

[knitgirl]

Where did you find these wondrous 2bd/2ba apts for less than $1500?

[ChiGuy2.5]

Originally Posted by jtinker85

I didn't come on this board to have someone give me ****. I just wanted some help. I am looking at places with one bathroom, but would prefer two or a larger space as specified above so girls can have a separate make up/hair station area. I lived in 1 bd/1 bath in Bridgeport and I know how big of a pain in the ass it can be to get ready in a dinky bathroom with barely any ventilation.

I also know my budget is not too small because I have found several listings that match my requirements.

Bashing aside, I think your budget is too small for what you are looking for. A 2 bed 2 bath is hard to come by in the city. When you do it wont be for any less than 1500 within a 30 minute commute to the loop.

I personally think you should deal with a 2 bed 1 bath so that you can live in a nicer area. If you dont think you can handle that then you should look at rogers park, edgewater, lincoln square and ravenswood. I doubt you will manage to find a place for that price any further south of there. A ride on the L in those areas I mentioned would be about 45 mins. to an hour.

Here is a price comparison. Scroll down to two bedroom and you will see that your budget is on the very low end. This assumes prices based on all 1bath and 2bath apartments. Top Secret Apartment Data | Domu Chicago

P.S Remember that the north side is more expensive then the south side/bridgeport. If your willing to live south of the city, your talking a whole different ball game.

[Aleking]

2/1s in Uptown / southern Edgewater are going for 1,100-1,500 depending on the finishes and desirability of the block..if you go north or are willing to live on a sketchier block, you might find a 2/2 under 1,500 in Uptown, Edgewater, Albany Park or Rogers Park.

you're priced out of Lincoln Square/Ravenswood.

OT but lol @ all the Margate Park listings as Andersonville on Craigslist...that site is full on useless now.

[eevee]

Originally Posted by jtinker85

I didn't come on this board to have someone give me ****. I just wanted some help. I am looking at places with one bathroom, but would prefer two or a larger space as specified above so girls can have a separate make up/hair station area. I lived in 1 bd/1 bath in Bridgeport and I know how big of a pain in the ass it can be to get ready in a dinky bathroom with barely any ventilation.

I also know my budget is not too small because I have found several listings that match my requirements.

Could you find a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment in the Chicago area for $1500? Sure, little to no problem (I've seen them pop up every so often).

Could you find a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment in the Chicago area for $1500 on the north/northwest side within a 30-60 minute commute from the Loop. Sure (Maybe even the oft coveted 3bed/2bath may pop up under this price further north).

Could you find a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment in the Chicago area for $1500 on the north/northwest side within a 30-60 minute commute from the Loop that will also accept a dog under 40lb? Possibly.

Could you find a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment in the Chicago area for $1500 on the north/northwest side within a 30-60 minute commute from the Loop that will also accept a dog over 40lb? It would be tougher, but it could be found in some spots (again, further north like maybe Edgewater or Roger's Park).


Could you find a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment in the Chicago area for $1500 on the north/northwest side within a 30-60 minute commute from the Loop that will also accept a dog over 40lb (or even under 40lb) ALL IN A MONTH? Now you're asking for a lot, possibly too much. Maybe, maybe if you had a realtor with access to a ton of listings, but even with a realtor, it could be a tall order.

ETA: Oy, I didn't even factor in the square footage into the above scenarios. I've seen a lot of 2 bedroom apartments that come in at under 1000 square footage. If you're set on the 1200, that will add in another layer of difficulties (but again, it will still be easier to find a 1200+sqft 2 bedroom/1 bathroom apartment than a 1200+sqft 2 bedroom/2 bathroom apartment)

Honestly, and truly, no one is trying to give you sh*t, just saying that your requirement for a 2nd bathroom is possibly the toughest one on the list and the one that's likely to cross off a good 90% of the open listings out there alone unless you bump up your budget a bit and look at newer buildings. Such apartments are quite rare and really only exist in new buildings and some condos. But I've found from my own experience that newer buildings tend to have pet restrictions and if you have a larger dog, you're at a big disadvantage. And God help you if your dog falls into any of the breeds commonly banned like pit bulls, rottweilers, German Shepherds, Dobermans, even Siberian huskies/Malamutes, Great Danes, and Akitas. Professionally managed, newer buildings of the sort that will likely have 2 bathrooms just don't take in these breeds sadly. I'm a woman and have long dealt with sharing cramped bathroom with as many as 5 other people and you learn to do your makeup in the strangest of places (e.g., kitchen counter/table, the walk-in closet, the back porch on sunny days, and of course, the bedroom). It's a sacrifice I'm willing to make to find the right place.

[rparz]

Originally Posted by eevee

Could you find a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment in the Chicago area for $1500? Sure, little to no problem (I've seen them pop up every so often).

Could you find a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment in the Chicago area for $1500 on the north/northwest side within a 30-60 minute commute from the Loop. Sure (Maybe even the oft coveted 3bed/2bath may pop up under this price further north).

Could you find a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment in the Chicago area for $1500 on the north/northwest side within a 30-60 minute commute from the Loop that will also accept a dog under 40lb? Possibly.

Could you find a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment in the Chicago area for $1500 on the north/northwest side within a 30-60 minute commute from the Loop that will also accept a dog over 40lb? It would be tougher, but it could be found in some spots (again, further north like maybe Edgewater or Roger's Park).


Could you find a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment in the Chicago area for $1500 on the north/northwest side within a 30-60 minute commute from the Loop that will also accept a dog over 40lb (or even under 40lb) ALL IN A MONTH? Now you're asking for a lot, possibly too much. Maybe, maybe if you had a realtor with access to a ton of listings, but even with a realtor, it could be a tall order.

ETA: Oy, I didn't even factor in the square footage into the above scenarios. I've seen a lot of 2 bedroom apartments that come in at under 1000 square footage. If you're set on the 1200, that will add in another layer of difficulties (but again, it will still be easier to find a 1200+sqft 2 bedroom/1 bathroom apartment than a 1200+sqft 2 bedroom/2 bathroom apartment)

Honestly, and truly, no one is trying to give you sh*t, just saying that your requirement for a 2nd bathroom is possibly the toughest one on the list and the one that's likely to cross off a good 90% of the open listings out there alone unless you bump up your budget a bit and look at newer buildings. Such apartments are quite rare and really only exist in new buildings and some condos. But I've found from my own experience that newer buildings tend to have pet restrictions and if you have a larger dog, you're at a big disadvantage. And God help you if your dog falls into any of the breeds commonly banned like pit bulls, rottweilers, German Shepherds, Dobermans, even Siberian huskies/Malamutes, Great Danes, and Akitas. Professionally managed, newer buildings of the sort that will likely have 2 bathrooms just don't take in these breeds sadly. I'm a woman and have long dealt with sharing cramped bathroom with as many as 5 other people and you learn to do your makeup in the strangest of places (e.g., kitchen counter/table, the walk-in closet, the back porch on sunny days, and of course, the bedroom). It's a sacrifice I'm willing to make to find the right place.

This is what the suburbs were made for; have it your way.

[jtinker85]

The dog is less than 15 lbs, so that isn't an issue. I don't mind living in Edgewater or Lakeview. A lot of my friends live up there. However, I also found some places in Bucktown, Lincoln Square, etc that were the right price. Thanks for the neighborhood suggestions. I think I will be fine. There are quite a few rehabbed places that allow pets.

[aragx6]

Originally Posted by jtinker85

The dog is less than 15 lbs, so that isn't an issue. I don't mind living in Edgewater or Lakeview. A lot of my friends live up there. However, I also found some places in Bucktown, Lincoln Square, etc that were the right price. Thanks for the neighborhood suggestions. I think I will be fine. There are quite a few rehabbed places that allow pets.

I'd be curious to know the whereabouts of these. A lot of listings will say Bucktown when they mean Logan Square or even Humboldt Park. If you found 2/2s there in your budget, that's a great price and congratulations. That said, it doesn't seem like you know the northside all that well yet, so just be cognizant of realtor/landlord neighborhood stretching.

[Aleking]

Are there really 1,200 sqft 2/2s in Bucktown for under 1,500?

[aragx6]

Originally Posted by Aleking

Are there really 1,200 sqft 2/2s in Bucktown for under 1,500?

According to a quick search on Padmapper there's not any 2/2s in Bucktown under $1,500. Not one. There's a couple in Humboldt Park and a few more down in Noble Square.