Wanted to say thank you to everyone here for posting articles and responses. After 16 years at Columbus Plaza and a 230% rental increase over what I paid when I arrived, I decided to leave the corporate managed dormitory Columbus Plaza's become and move to the Belmont Harbor neighborhood.

I'll miss a few things about the neighborhood: the Illinois Center concourse and shops, being close to work (while they were open and kept me employed), my gorgeous view of the Wrigley Building and Michigan Avenue, and a couple of my neighbors who've been genuinely friendly.

It's time to move into an established neighborhood, time to save $600/month in rent and time to explore new adventures. Wish me luck.

__________________
Robert Salm
16 year resident of Columbus Plaza
New Eastside

Bye Robert! Will you have a longer commute?

Eric

Just think if you would have bought instead of rented on a 15 year mortgage you would have owned that by now...

I don't know.. we moved from a rental to a condo about a year and a half ago, between the mortgage, taxes, and assessment we pay more than three times as much per month! Owning in this area is not cheap - rent can be a better option.
Eric

You are correct if you bought before the bubble popped. Back in the 80's I picked up a condo on 777 Michigan Ave for $55,000.

Right now is another good time to buy but when it's a good time to buy most are cash poor unfortunately...

My wife is an agent
American Invsco Realty

She mentioned some ridiculously low prices on the periphery of the loop like a two bedr. at River City for less than 200k. There are a lot of short sales right now.

Eric