Quote:
Originally Posted by bkgrinder
can i bother you for some more advice? i've looked at both condo/loft buildings as well rental only buildings. rental buildings seem to be much more expensive while not offering anything extra in terms of amentities.
also many listings don't explicitly say that heat and ac are included in rent. if it's gas/steam heat and central ac i would imagine it sould be included... am i wrong?
i found a beutiful 1 bdrm in south loop close to the park 1150 square feet with a balcony and parking included for $1800. i think that's an unbelievable deal, but i'm afraid of moving forward without personally looking at the property. the agent says it will most likely be off the market by the time i get out there (2wks).
what neighborhood would you recommend for a single guy in his 30's? choices are: loop, west loop, south loop, river north, gold coast, streeterville.
any help is appreciated.
You will get more amenities from the condo/loft building, but obviously never gonna find utilities included in those.
As for rental only, your price range is for rehabs, high rises, and new developments. Those apartments all have their own furnaces and AC units that you control. Places where utilities are included are places where the landord controls the heat. There are great places like this in Lakeview and Wicker Park, which are excellent areas for a single guy in his 30s.
The areas you're looking are very good, but more congested/touristy. Chicago really isn't a downtown-centric city for your leisure. Basically anywhere near the lake from Wrigley to the Loop are fantastic areas for your (our; I'm 28) demographic.
Personally, $1,800 for a 1br feels steep. The 1150 sq. ft. with the balcony and parking make it more reasonable.
For perspective, my girlfriend and I are interested in a 2br or 1br+den when we decide to move, and our max after parking+utilities is $2k. Craig's List constantly has interesting listings at $1,400-$1,700 for what we're looking for. I'm renting out my 1,000 sq. ft. 1br condo to a young couple for $1350 that includes a balcony, parking, hot tub, in-unit laundry a block from the lake. When I had multi-units, I was renting out similar 1brs with less perks for about $900-$1,150.
Not saying you're getting ripped off; I'm saying that it isn't a steal, so it'll likely still be available and if not, you'll find something comparable for one person.
Just my $0.02.