Chicago Renting Question (Cicero, Columbus: apartments, home, neighborhood)

[ChicagoMeO]

I looked on Craigslist to see what pops up at $400.. i found nothing. rents in the city for a decent apartment may have to be $700 or $800,,

the only thing you will get at $400 is a flop house.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by ChicagoMeO

I looked on Craigslist to see what pops up at $400.. i found nothing. rents in the city for a decent apartment may have to be $700 or $800,,

the only thing you will get at $400 is a flop house.

Sometimes it's a good base, but you have to realize that many buildings (perhaps most in the city) are actually not online. Sometimes to find the really cheap stuff you have to walk/drive around areas and call the numbers because they won't be online anywhere.

[rparz]

$400 a month just seems really low for anything in a relatively safe neighborhood without roommates.

[emathias]

I won't say it's impossible, but it's going to require extreme persistence and not a small amount of luck to find such a place. Far northwest side might be your best bet.

[bullie62]

$400 a month will get you a horrible neighborhood and roaches.

Having been in property management for many years, I can tell you that you won't find CHIT in Chicago for $400 that you'd want to live. Get a roommate or two, and there are ways to find and screen people, and also agencies that will find you both a good place to live.

Even the far NW side is not gonna get you an apt. for that amount. It's just not doable in this city anymore. Again, unless you want to live with creepy crawlies, and that's not talkin' about the roaches.

Maybe you'll end up finding someone who already HAS a place, and just needs a roomie. Work done!

Screen THEM before you move in. And use a reputable screening agency!!!!



bullie~

[DrEarth]

There is an SRO on near Lake and Central for $400. You're most likely not getting an apartment for that amount.

If that is your budget, you can afford an SRO or live with a roommate. There are plenty of other SRO buildings in better areas than Austin.

[ayoviv]

If you can up your rent budget to $525-600 your options for studios in a variety of neighborhoods generally increases.

[bullie62]

Originally Posted by ayoviv

If you can up your rent budget to $525-600 your options for studios in a variety of neighborhoods generally increases.

Efficiency, MAYBE, but not a Studio..... not in any area I'D wanna live..... And that's ME. I would want safety, clean units, great management, transportation nearby, tons of restaurants/bars/ENERGY around me.


*not NOW.... but, yanno... back "THEN". lol


Hell man..... for anything LESS than $750, yer gonna get what you pay for, IN CHICAGO. And that's not much. Sorry.... *ex property manager here... and HATING to type all this crap out, about the rents in this city.*

GO NORTHWEST in the city.......... near the expressway and the Blue Line and Metra, or part of Rogers Park that you feel safe, ALSO near public trans.... or pay for a cubicle that prolly has to be sprayed for bugs every month.

*OK I just got a shiver up my spine* AUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GET a great REALTOR, NOT an apartment rental service, and find out from THEM, *after schmoozing them a bit, and maybe boozing them a bit*, and then see where you land.

Yup. It's like that.


bullie~

[koctail]

Just some advice, don't use textspeak when inquiring about properties. Nobody is going to take you seriously and reply to you.

[bullie62]

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Originally Posted by koctail

Just some advice, don't use textspeak when inquiring about properties. Nobody is going to take you seriously and reply to you.

Wha? How about the person looking for information actually make a PHONE call, and speak to a representative of the company, before heading out.

And yeah as far as "text speak".... it truly is the bane of my existence. Anyone who feels that is acceptable communication will never get my vote for President.


bullie~