Help find a chicago apartment!

I'm moving to Chicago in 5 weeks. This is really short notice and I need to find a place to live by then. I'd like my place to be near the Moody Bible Institute, if you know where that is. If it's a ways out, that's okay, b/c I'll have a CTA pass and my school is right along the redline.

I'm looking to spend less than $800/mo, if possible. I'd like to have a 1BR, but if it had to be a studio, that'd be fine too.
Most important to me is that it be in a safe area (if they have those in Chicago) where I won't be afraid for my life everytime I step outside. So don't set me up outside of U.S. Cellular or anything.

Do any of the Chicago-ites know of a good source for apartment searching in chicago? I know of all the apartment sites for nationwide searches, but I didn't know if there would be a more local search engine in the Chicago area.

I've also heard about chicagoreader.com and will be checking it out. Any suggestions and also tips for finding a nice, suitable place would be greatly appreciate.
TIA.

Looks like papa Wilkinson OK'd the 65k?

Originally Posted by GoSurface

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Looks like papa Wilkinson OK'd the 65k?

Yeah but it took a lot of convincing.
The idea of co-signers pisses me off. Why won't they just loan me 65k on my own with my poor credit?

Screw Sallie Mae.

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

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Screw Sallie Mae.
Agreed. BTW, kw, I'm really glad for you. I don't know if you're making the 'right' choice or not, but I think you're making a good one. I had a choice between culinary and engineering when I started college. I think I made a mistake. I've always wanted to go to Chicago for some unknown reason. Just one of those things. If I make it out there; drinks on me at Violet Hour. ~ Huntsman

Dang, that place looks incredible.


Thanks for the encouraging words. I hope it's the right decision as well. God knows I'm going to work my tail off to make sure it is.

P.S. Definitely head toward Chicago. World class city at its finest!

Damn dude, that was fast. Just think, now you can go to that Tina Turner concert with connieboy. Things must be looking up already!!

I'm not a local, but I was checking out the Wicker Park neighborhood at one point for myself. 2.7 miles from where you wanted to be and a good amount of young people, music, art, bars, etc. A bit of a hipster spot from what I've gathered, but I don't find that to be a negative thing personally.

Originally Posted by jkennett

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I'm not a local, but I was checking out the Wicker Park neighborhood at one point for myself. 2.7 miles from where you wanted to be and a good amount of young people, music, art, bars, etc. A bit of a hipster spot from what I've gathered, but I don't find that to be a negative thing personally.

Yeah, Wicker Park would be a great place to live. Sadly, 2.7 miles is way too far for me. I'd have to rely on the CTA and I'd rather not have a 75 minute El ride in one direction every single day.

G33k, don't be so jealous. You can come if you want! Tina Turner, my apartment, sleepover and ice cream afterwards. Good times to be had.

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

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Yeah, Wicker Park would be a great place to live. Sadly, 2.7 miles is way too far for me. I'd have to rely on the CTA and I'd rather not have a 75 minute El ride in one direction every single day.

G33k, don't be so jealous. You can come if you want! Tina Turner, my apartment, sleepover and ice cream afterwards. Good times to be had.

maybe if you cook for me as well.

Geek would love to have some of kwilk's thick and creamy vanilla ice cream.

Why does everything have to be a gay joke? I thought he was offering Haagen-dazs.

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

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I'm moving to Chicago in 5 weeks. This is really short notice and I need to find a place to live by then. I'd like my place to be near the Moody Bible Institute, if you know where that is. If it's a ways out, that's okay, b/c I'll have a CTA pass and my school is right along the redline.

I'm looking to spend less than $800/mo, if possible. I'd like to have a 1BR, but if it had to be a studio, that'd be fine too.
Most important to me is that it be in a safe area (if they have those in Chicago) where I won't be afraid for my life everytime I step outside. So don't set me up outside of U.S. Cellular or anything.

You apartment does not exist. You can pay close to $1k for a tiny studio and walk to Moody or get a shithole in Humboldt Park and spend a lot of time on the Chicago bus in order to meet your budget. Both options suck.

Try Craigslist and the Reader for roommate listings.

Originally Posted by unpainted huffheinz

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You apartment does not exist. You can pay close to $1k for a tiny studio and walk to Moody or get a shithole in Humboldt Park and spend a lot of time on the Chicago bus in order to meet your budget. Both options suck.

Try Craigslist and the Reader for roommate listings.

I'm not going to MBI, thank God. I'll be going to CHIC.

Anyway, you seem to be right. Gold Coast and River North are fuckin nuts. I'm findin some decent apartments between 600 and 1300 on Dearborn, for around $1k (most utilities included), but nothing much better than that.

You seem to know the city pretty well. Happen to have a spare room you'd loan out?

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

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I'm not going to MBI, thank God. I'll be going to CHIC.

Anyway, you seem to be right. Gold Coast and River North are fuckin nuts. I'm findin some decent apartments between 600 and 1300 on Dearborn, for around $1k (most utilities included), but nothing much better than that.

You seem to know the city pretty well. Happen to have a spare room you'd loan out?

I lived on LaSalle and Oak in 1996 and paid $600 for a tiny place, but the commute to the loop was 15 minutes door to door. Don't live in that area though.

I pay just over your limit for a one bedroom in a very nice area on the north side.

Originally Posted by unpainted huffheinz

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I lived on LaSalle and Oak in 1996 and paid $600 for a tiny place, but the commute to the loop was 15 minutes door to door. Don't live in that area though.

I pay just over your limit for a one bedroom in a very nice area on the north side.

I'd like to go up to north, because I've seen some pretty nice deals up there, but I would really dislike the inconvenience of taking the El for that long everyday twice a day.

Why do you say not to live on LaSalle and Oak?
One of the places I was looking at, but was unimpressed with, was a building on the corner of LaSalle and Oak, possibly the same one you're talking about.
You don't like the area? The extreme convenience of having an 8 minute walk to school would be hard to beat.