Is Chicago for me and where should I live there? (Lincoln: apartment complexes, condo)

[UP 270]

I'm a 44 yo single black male with no kids. I work from home for the federal government and am trying to find my forever home. I'll make $160,000/year in Chicago. I've lived in and eliminated Sacramento, CA; Washington, DC; Dallas, Texas; Minneapolis, MN, and Phoenix, AZ. I'm currently in Minneapolis but am not as happy as I want to be in the place I decide to buy a house. I think I like extreme cold over extreme heat and that's why I left Texas.

I'm looking for an abundance of single beautiful females in the 35-44 age range--hopetofind a wife; casinos to play no limit poker, decent roads to ride my motorcycle, nice houses in the $350,000 price range(3br/2bath), live theaters, orchestras, museums, culture, not too hot and not too humid, and an all around nice quality of life.

Where would you suggest I live in Chicago? I'll probably have to start going into the office a couple times per week starting mid 2024. I work near 300 South Riverside Plaza.

Thanks and Happy New Year.

[Kmanshouse]

Hey UP 270,

Happy New Year to you too. If you want a single family house with single beautiful females, you are likely going to double your budget. You could get a small condo in the city for that, maybe. In the suburbs, $350K is doable for a house, but you'll be in a family-centric area where most people your age aren't single.

So you'll want to prioritize...if it's more important to get married, I'd recommend moving to the city, and shrink your dwelling. If it's more important to have a house, I'd go 30-40 miles outside the city for that...but the playing field will be much smaller.

[UP 270]

Thanks Kmanshouse.

Can you recommend some specific areas and apartment complexes? I'm looking for a place with a nice gym.

[ToriaT]

You are not going to get a nice house in the 350 K. Range. Unless you are SES, you don't make that much working for the federal government. And if you work from home, and going in a couple times a week you are not SES.

[UP 270]

The median house price in Chicago is 350k according to the net; according to the net, my salary puts me at the ~87th percentile for household incomes so i think I'll be fine when it comes time to buy a house. As stated in the original post, I'm at 160k/year. My no down payment VA home loan with no PMI will also help with buying the house If I must, I could stretch the budget to 450k. I'll probably wait a year or 2 to see what the rates and housing market do before buying.

I plan on moving to Chicago in April 2024 once the snow melts here in Minneapolis. My priority now is finding a nice apartment with a nice gym. I need there to be a nice view when I'm running on the treadmill.

Also, I want the area to be densely populated with beautiful women. I've heard the area west of the city is nice?

[Kmanshouse]

Originally Posted by UP 270

The median house price in Chicago is 350k according to the net; according to the net, my salary puts me at the ~87th percentile for household incomes so i think I'll be fine when it comes time to buy a house. As stated in the original post, I'm at 160k/year. My no down payment VA home loan with no PMI will also help with buying the house If I must, I could stretch the budget to 450k. I'll probably wait a year or 2 to see what the rates and housing market do before buying.

I plan on moving to Chicago in April 2024 once the snow melts here in Minneapolis. My priority now is finding a nice apartment with a nice gym. I need there to be a nice view when I'm running on the treadmill.

Also, I want the area to be densely populated with beautiful women. I've heard the area west of the city is nice?

There are tons of posts about Chicago's neighborhoods. If you are looking for a particular building, that's a realtor's job, and your job to research - many websites available. Nobody can vouch for pretty ladies unless they live right in the building.

Generally speaking, more $$ = better looking people.

I will say I've found the ladies in Wicker Park/Bucktown to be quite attractive. On the young side for you, maybe. These are 25-32 year olds.

West Loop, Old Town, Lincoln Park, or even right downtown/River North is where a lot of the well kept people reside. Lakeview could work - perhaps, but that's also a bit young depending on where.

Of course, these are mostly expensive neighborhoods where your money won't go as far.

But 160k/year with no kids should afford you a decent apartment anywhere in Chicago. Just not a large one.

[Master Jay]

Kmanshouse,

Wicker Park/Bucktown was never my normal stomping grounds..............

until I read your comment about all the attractive ladies in those areas..........

I'm headed down!

[UP 270]

That's exactly the info I'm looking for Kmanhouse. Thanks.

[kyle19125]

OP if you're looking for a diverse neighborhood well-populated with other upscale Black professionals you might consider Bronzeville. It's seen a huge revitalization that continues with opportunity to buy-in and see some aggressive positive equity not seen in most neighborhoods.

https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2...ade-a-comeback

[Kmanshouse]

Yes while the OP is black I purposely did not consider that in my note. He said beautiful women, not beautiful black women.

South Loop might be good for that, if so inclined.