Chicago winters are notoriously cold, but your Oak Park apartment doesn’t have to be. When the temperature drops, your instinct may be to crank up the heat, but if you want to keep your energy bill down, consider giving some – or all – of these clever hacks a try. Put Your Beach Towels to […]
Category: Apartment Finances
6 Ways for Renters to Save Money
If you’ve been living in a college dorm or your parent’s house, renting an apartment can feel like an insurmountable expense. Even if you’re already a renter, you may have yourself convinced that you’ll never be able to save enough to make a down payment on a house. But the fact is, with a few […]
How to Budget for Your First Apartment
Whether you’re moving out of your parent’s house or leaving behind a college dorm, getting your first apartment is a pretty big deal. It can also be an expensive endeavor, which is why it is so important to create a budget to determine how much rent you can afford. How Much Apartment Can You Afford? […]
6 Things to Consider When Looking for Your First Apartment
Whether you just graduated from college, landed your first full-time job, or are just ready to move out of your parent’s house, getting your own place is a big step. Looking for your first apartment is exciting, but it can also be a little scary. To help you make a smart decision, keep these 6 […]
Tips To Establish A Solid Credit Score – Renters 101
Tips To Establish A Solid Credit Score – Renters 101 Establishing a solid credit score is important for many reasons. Whether you are buying a car, getting a job or even renting an apartment, your credit score will have an impact. But, what if you are a new graduate or young adult living with your […]
How To Secure An Apartment In A Competitive Market
The American dream of home ownership has changed. Renting, rather than buying, is now the norm. Why the shift? Three important reasons: Flexibility. Being able to go where the job offer is with ease is valuable. Expense. Renting is less expensive than owning. Maintenance. Plumbing, heating, lawn care and more are all the landlord’s responsibility. […]
Renting Your First Apartment
You have your first job out of college and are moving out of your parents house and/or college housing. You are looking to rent your first apartment – a definite rite of passage, but renting an apartment is different when you are not in a college setting and living on mom & dad’s dime. Apartment […]
To Renew or Not to Renew
Your lease is about to end and you must decide to renew or start looking for a new place to call home. The best place to start when making this decision is by asking yourself a few key questions. Has my rent increased and if so is it a reasonable amount? What are comparable apartments […]
Do I Need Renter’s Insurance?
Yes! Because, quite simply, stuff happens! Fire, flood, theft or vandalism all can occur whether you own your own home or rent an apartment. Renters insurance is a tenants way to protect, repair or replace personal belongings that are damaged, destroyed or stolen. Just like someone who owns a home is responsible for his or […]
Renting vs. Buying – What Makes Financial Cents 4 You!
Homeownership has been a part of the American dream for decades but OakParkApartments.com wonders, “Does owning really make more sense then renting?” When making the decision between buying vs. renting here are some financial reasons that might sway you to remain a renter. Maintenance. Leaky roof, not your responsibility. Refrigerator goes on the fritz, not […]
