Looking to move back to Chicago after left in 2010. Is it easy to find a job and an apartment these days? (Lincoln: apartments, for rent)

[CaptureCoolThings]

I grew up in Chicago and left one year after graduated from UIC (with a business degree) to pursue my career in the Bay Area. I worked in the Bay Area for 10 years from an analyst to a data analytics lead/application developer, then left to travel for 6 months, finally settled in Taipei, Taiwan for a few years. I am looking to move back to Chicago with my partner after being gone for so long and also to be close with the parents.


My question is, how is the job market for a mid-30 tech in Chicago? And I noticed that apartments' price are increasing dramatically since June 2021, do you think the rent will eventually come down a little bit? My budget for rent is $4,000 USD a month (for a 2 bedroom apartment in high rise in Gold Coast, River North, Old Town) I know I have a lot of options, but giving the space I get vs the price I pay today, I don't know if it is a good deal. And how do people find an apartments in Chicago these days? Via an agent, Craigslist, or other resources?

I guess after being gone for so long, I am a bit nervous moving back, despite missing the City so much (and the brutal winter).

[Gaylord_Focker]

Hey there. I'm another California Asian that may be relocating to Chicago.

[Robert9]

Its not the city it used to be sadly. The summers are still brutal though and winters hardly exist it seems anymore sadly

[personone]

Yes. It is a very good city for mid-30's and tech. Chicago benefits from being the large regional office for many national/international firms. It's why the city has so many F-500 companies. All of those companies need tech.

Being that age, with a salary of $4,000/month to spend on rent, you can live comfortably in a really nice and fun neighborhood. All the usuals- West Loop, River North, Old Town, Gold Coast, Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Wicker Park, etc.

As you already know, you can just use google and all of the usual apartment websites will come up that you can used to search. The only reason anyone would use Craiglist is if they were budget-strapped. To pay a fee for an agent to find an apartment seems a little odd, unless you aren't familiar with the area at all.

When I moved here I was somewhat familiar with a few of the neighborhoods, but just googled about the various neighborhoods, and just used the regular apartment websites to find a place once I narrowed down a few neighborhoods. You have the advantage of being from here, so you should be really familiar and would likely be easy to find a place.

[CaptureCoolThings]

Cool. When is your moving day?

[CaptureCoolThings]

Originally Posted by Gaylord_Focker

Hey there. I'm another California Asian that may be relocating to Chicago.

Originally Posted by personone

Yes. It is a very good city for mid-30's and tech. Chicago benefits from being the large regional office for many national/international firms. It's why the city has so many F-500 companies. All of those companies need tech.

Being that age, with a salary of $4,000/month to spend on rent, you can live comfortably in a really nice and fun neighborhood. All the usuals- West Loop, River North, Old Town, Gold Coast, Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Wicker Park, etc.

As you already know, you can just use google and all of the usual apartment websites will come up that you can used to search. The only reason anyone would use Craiglist is if they were budget-strapped. To pay a fee for an agent to find an apartment seems a little odd, unless you aren't familiar with the area at all.

When I moved here I was somewhat familiar with a few of the neighborhoods, but just googled about the various neighborhoods, and just used the regular apartment websites to find a place once I narrowed down a few neighborhoods. You have the advantage of being from here, so you should be really familiar and would likely be easy to find a place.

Thanks for the info. I lived in the same apartment in San Francisco for 8 years (I am proud to say I was an excellent tenant), and we used only Craigslist over there in the Bay Area. Basically, in my whole life, i have never used a website to find an apartment before, that's why I am trying to get a feel of how people find apartment in Chicago these days. My finance and I we will be moving together, and we will be working 100% remotely, we would like to have nice view in the morning to look at before we start work.

[CaptureCoolThings]

Originally Posted by Robert9

Its not the city it used to be sadly. The summers are still brutal though and winters hardly exist it seems anymore sadly

To be honest, after living in sunny California and 2 seasons Asia, I really miss the brutal winter in Chicago... sigh.

[jasperhobbs]

Originally Posted by Robert9

Its not the city it used to be sadly. The summers are still brutal though and winters hardly exist it seems anymore sadly

The older I get, the more I hate winters in the Midwest.

[Robert9]

Originally Posted by jasperhobbs

The older I get, the more I hate winters in the Midwest.

What winters? We hardly have real winters anymore

[jasperhobbs]

Originally Posted by Robert9

What winters? We hardly have real winters anymore

We still have cold winters. I eventually want to relocate to a place that has milder winters.