A comment by Unhappily Married (I had a friend like that once) on our post on rising rents mentioned that there are “hundreds of rentals for under $700, including one-bedrooms on the NW side.” He added that “renting is like throwing your money away,” which sparked a heated debate. The argument got me thinking about rents on the Northwest Side, specifically in Mayfair, where I live.
A friend of mine once described the neighbohood as “not feeling like Chicago,” which I assume means it has easy parking and quiet streets. It also has Little League games, ice-cream men, lots of single-family houses and plenty of options for the budget-conscious renter. I trolled Craigslist for deals.
– For $650, a one-bedroom at 4413 N Kenneth is available June 1. The ad doesn’t mention the square footage, but it looks like a big enough place, and the kitchen is complete with a newer-looking dishwasher. The rent includes heat, water and trash (tenant pays electricity and gas). The unit is also close to the Montrose Blue Line. Laundry is on site.
– For $900, a two-bedroom located at Kedvale and Lawrence is available. No pictures are included with the post and the list of details is short: second floor in a vintage two-flat, hardwood floors, an apparently “huge” front balcony. It’s close to both the Kennedy and the Edens for any commuters out there. However, this one is “tenant heated” and that could be costly if the space actually is huge.
– For $1,150, a three-bedroom at Tripp and Lawrence is available the first week of June. There are no pictures of the inside of the unit, but the listing describes a “large separate living room, dining room” as one of the features. Heat, laundry, water and storage are included, but there’s no indication of whether the apartment includes an actual washer / dryer or just the hook-ups. Garage parking is available for an additional cost, but I’ve found street parking to be fairly easy in Mayfair. As a bonus, the apartment has an ADT security system. Though Mayfair is relatively safe, it doesn’t hurt to have a little added protection.