Renting Near O'hare (Chicago, Arlington Heights, Palatine: apartment complex, rental, townhome)

[ShelliF]

DH was recently transferred to O'hare & we will be moving up from TX. We are completely unfamiliar with the area, so please give major landmarks when making suggestions. We are looking to rent a minimum 2/1 (would prefer 2/2 or 3/2) E/SE of the airport as close to the el as possible. Rent in our area is very affordable & we expect sticker shock, but would like to stay under $1000/mo for a 2/2 or $1400/mo for a 3/2. If we could stay around $850, which is what we currently pay for a 2/2, that would be fabulous! We are open to apartments, town homes, & rental houses alike.

Thanks in advance for your advice!!

[cubssoxfan]

Is your husband working AT O'Hare or nearby? Are schools important? What else do you need close by?

[ShelliF]

Yes, my husband is a pilot & woul be flying out of O'hare - we are also hoping to use a 2nd (&/or 3rd) bedroom as a "crash pad" for other visiting pilots, which is why proximity to the el is so important. We are a very quiet couple with no children, but will be looking to start a family in the next year or so once we settle in. We prefer book stores & thrift shops to bars & clubs. Mostly we just want something cozy, quiet, & nice (but not extravagant) that can be made to feel homey.

[KBJB070304]

I don't want to sound like Debbie Downer but you are probably going to be hard pressed to find anything near O'Hare at your desired price range. I would be very surprised if you could find a house or townhome but possibly an apartment. Most of the area right around O'Hare is pretty commercial and industrial.

I used to live in an apartment complex called Linden Towers in a town called Bensenville. It is not east or southeast of O'Hare so it does not meet your requirements but might be worth your time to look it up. Bensenville is just west of OHARE, literally 5 minutes from the OHARE terminals and right next to Metra train line and Interstate I-294. You wouldn't need the L-train, it was only like a $10 cab ride. Mapquest it. Bensenville is pretty low key. Schools are not great but it sounds like you have time before you need to worry about schools. Linden Towers was clean, safe and reasonably priced. I paid $800/Mo for 1 bed, 1 bath but that was 6yrs ago.

[chet everett]

The rents within "crash pad" distance of O'Hare tend to be disproportionately high due to folks knowing that "sharing" is common. If you go just a little bit further (south of Irving Park Blvd) you will likely save a lot, but the trade off is that distance / travel options is a negative...

[sprtrpr]

Originally Posted by KBJB070304

I don't want to sound like Debbie Downer but you are probably going to be hard pressed to find anything near O'Hare at your desired price range. I would be very surprised if you could find a house or townhome but possibly an apartment. Most of the area right around O'Hare is pretty commercial and industrial.

I used to live in an apartment complex called Linden Towers in a town called Bensenville. It is not east or southeast of O'Hare so it does not meet your requirements but might be worth your time to look it up. Bensenville is just west of OHARE, literally 5 minutes from the OHARE terminals and right next to Metra train line and Interstate I-294. You wouldn't need the L-train, it was only like a $10 cab ride. Mapquest it. Bensenville is pretty low key. Schools are not great but it sounds like you have time before you need to worry about schools. Linden Towers was clean, safe and reasonably priced. I paid $800/Mo for 1 bed, 1 bath but that was 6yrs ago.

Yeah, I would not want to live in Bensenville with kids. Without kids would be fine.

The Blue Line would be what you are looking for. The Rosemont to Harlem stops are what I would consider "close."

Possible places/cities being Rosemont and Chicago (Norwood Park and O'Hare). Still, like others said, finding a place may prove difficult.

[cubssoxfan]

I would look in Des Plaines, Mt. Prospect, Arlington Heights or even Palatine near the Metra line. Even from Palatine, if you know the back roads when traveling during rush hour you can make it to O'Hare in 30-35 minutes. You can take Metra and transfer to the CTA Blue line in Jefferson Park or take Metra all the way downtown.
Of course your rent parameters may be an issue, things are more $ than Austin area.