north side price range (Chicago, Norwood: maintenance, apartment, condos)

[anic13]

I hate to be another person posting a "where should I live" question....but I've read all the threads and I just have a simple question regarding the best neighborhood for my price range...I may be moving to Chicago rather suddenly, so I need to narrow down my neighborhood list before this apartment search drives me crazy.

Here's the situation - I'm going to be working in the loop, so that gives me a lot of neighborhood options, public transportation-wise. However, my husband will be commuting to the north suburbs for work, so we'd like to live on the north side. I'll be working in the non-profit sector so we'd like to keep the rent low for the first year or two - $1000 or less unless utilities and parking are included (for a 1 bedroom)....but I also want to live in a neighborhood where its safe enough to go running by myself in the early mornings or early evenings. Last, but not least, my husband is very protective of his car and refuses to live anywhere that doesn't have off-stree parking.

Given those variables, do you have any suggestions on one or two neighborhoods where I can focus my apartment hunt?

Thanks a million!

[chet everett]

Your request is kind of unique -- generally you are not going to find too many affordable places with offstreet parking. Similarly there are hardly any landlords that "throw in" any utilities except for maybe places that are 'quasi legal'.

Your best bet may be a "heard it through the grapevine" kind of thing with an older couple who lives in a building with one or two flats/garden apartment, odds are better that they'd have a garage. If you can help 'em out with a little lawn mowing or other maintenance they might knock down the rent a bit. In my experience there are still quite a few places like these in Norwood Park, Jefferson Park and Edison Park, but you are certainly not going to find 'em on-line, maybe not even the 'regular' newspaper. Best is "I know a guy who knows a widow who won't rent to nobody she doesn't know". Second best is to check out bulletin boards at the grocery stores up there, church news and the smaller papers.

These locations are pretty much ideal for commuting to the north burbs and you can take Metra or the Blue line into downtown with ease.

[anic13]

Thanks for your response. As for the utilities issue - I just mentioned that as a factor in my price range, as in I would consider paying more than $1000 for rent if heat were included.

Is it the general consensus that I'm crazy to hope for finding a place with off-street parking? And if so, what would be the best neighborhood within the above price/safety/location parameters for finding a place with easy to find street parking?

[chet everett]

It is not impossible at all, in a high rise building they can charge a lot for offstreet parking. In building that back up to the El there might be a paved pad with designated spaces. More than a few funky low rise/mid rise condos have offstreet parking too.

In the grand scheme of "any old apartment" in the city you are not going to find many that are cheap and have off street parking.

Heat is one of those things that if it is included it is a real good bet that the place is older and has hot water heat and you probably are "saving" a minimal amount, probably less than $50 per month when you average out the warm months...

In my experience if you want safe, quiet, good commute downtown and north 'burbs with decent affordability your best bet is the areas I mentioned, and the best deal, with a offstreet parking/garage is going to be with an older couple/widow.