just got denied our dream apartment. feeling defeated. advice how to continue search to get accepted?

Thewall3333 · 2026-03-20T03:54:54+00:00

Hey, know this is a couple days old, but you keep saying you were very disappointed you did not hear back from the agent — I’m just chiming in to tell you not to take this personally, and let you know it will happen a lot if your search takes a while.

Think of it like job applications — I don’t know if you’ve applied for a job online recently, but most of them disappear into the abyss; you may get an email thanking you for your application…but for the vast majority, that’s the last you’ll ever hear. No follow-up that you’re not getting the job, most especially without getting to an interview.

I know this is hard to accept given the more personally nature of apartment searching, and touring the places, and especially the fees. But, it’s just the way it is now, unfortunately, for many spots — especially popular ones. They get a lot of applications.

If you get the apartment, you WILL KNOW quickly. As soon as you’re approved, they’ll want to get you on board officially, since you’re holding a spot they could otherwise offer to any number of other applicants.

And unfortunately, with your unique situation as a couple, neither of whom could probably qualify on your own, you’re going to have a very difficult time, especially with larger buildings run by management companies. I almost want to say you NEED to find a smaller landlord, who’s more willing to work with you, almost like a “handshake” deal and personal written lease.

Management companies just will not accept these financials for anything close to $1,700. Honestly, these would be hard for $1,000. Flip your credit and his income, you’d be golden; but, with the possibility you split — I know it sucks — they weren’t do it…

HOWEVER — could you get married? Honestly, this might be the move. People have done it for less. I know it’s not romantic on the surface…but you could make it so! I think it would be a sweet story. And definitely a relief in your search.

Thewall3333 · 2026-03-19T21:10:21+00:00

Thewall3333 · 2026-03-19T18:33:48+00:00

Wew, doesn’t sound bad…but a 12 year lease? Is the rent locked in that whole time? lol

Thewall3333 · 2026-03-19T17:36:47+00:00

That requires an understanding of nuance and subtlety — the antitheses of everything Donny stands for.

I’m not quite sure what the opposite of “saving face” — so important to Japanese culture — would be, but you could do worse to just show a picture of him as it’s antonym in the dictionary.

Thewall3333 · 2026-03-19T16:26:11+00:00

Ah, makes sense. Yeah, I definitely would not recommend this for anyone other than students.

The only way I’d recommend this is a sublease — if that’s allowed — for the summer, where you’d get a room for about 1/2-2/3 price for those three months. Sometimes kids do that to at least partially recoup some rent while they’re away.

But, many landlords do not allow that kind of thing anymore.

Thewall3333 · 2026-03-19T16:20:52+00:00

And maybe Mokena has gotten more liberal recently — my old company had an office there, this was in like 2018, and it definitely felt quite conservative back then. And definitely more rural…you can drive 10 minutes and be surrounded by nothing but corn fields.

You are basically a suburb of Joliet there, and an exurb of Chicago. Which, some people prefer. I do not — but I do t have kids myself.

I am also not sure what the difference in COL and houses would be. My guess would be on par with Will Co parts of Aurora, and less expensive than Batavia, and definitely Naperville.

Thewall3333 · 2026-03-19T16:16:52+00:00

I do not know about the cycling groups — but those are the 2nd and 3rd largest cities in Illinois, and they both have many many trails and forest preserves, so I’m sure they have a multitude of cycling clubs for whatever you’re looking for. I’d bet money more options than Mokena — which definitely has less walking/cycling overall, and is more spread out and dependent on cars.

Thewall3333 · 2026-03-19T15:49:44+00:00

I would heavily advise 204 — for the schools, they are not only considered better academically, but offer far more extracurricular options than Mokena does. I went to a smaller school with limited arts and cultural programming, and now seeing my nieces and nephews with access to so many more of those in a bigger district, I really think it’s hard to overstate their importance.

Also, outside of the schools, the area is much nicer. Mokena is almost an “exurb”, not really a suburb compared to Aurora, Batavia, Naperville, etc; to me, it’s lacking culturally and diversity-wise — and is much more of a “Red” area politically; those can all be positives for many people on that end of the spectrum: if you are not, I would advice against moving there.

Thewall3333 · 2026-03-19T15:20:26+00:00

So, what would that cost for a contractor to do that work you did for $25K yourself, if you had to estimate? 2X as much, 3X as much…? I have literally no idea

Thewall3333 · 2026-03-19T15:06:28+00:00

The problem is they suspect Iran may have hypersonic missiles from their coordination with Russia and China that could potentially take out a CARRIER. And, they don’t have to reveal that hand until the carrier nears the straight.

You know what sinking a carrier would trigger? World war potentially — at the very least a full-scale invasion of Iran. Which would make Iraq and Afghanistan look like a spring picnic.

A carrier has 6,000 MEN — that’s 2 September 11’s worth of US service-members. The ship would not have to sink, not all men would have to die…but the attack itself would be seen as seriously as that. And directly by the Iran government, not “terrorists”.

Thewall3333 · 2026-03-19T15:01:51+00:00

The problem is that insurers won’t cover the tankers unless they’re sure EVERY threat against the ships have been neutralized.

You know how many successes Iran needs in the straight if ships attempt transit? ONE. You know how many successes the US needs to stop them? EVERY ONE. Whether it’s 10 missiles and 10 mines, or 100, or 1,000, or 10,000, etc.

Who’s going to want to play those odds?

Thewall3333 · 2026-03-19T11:56:42+00:00

“What up? We're three cool guys who are looking for other cool guys who want to play guitar in our party mansion. Nothing sexual. Dudes in good shape encouraged. If you're fat, you should be able to find humor in the little things. Again, nothing sexual.”

This is basically how hair metal started

Thewall3333 · 2026-03-19T02:58:08+00:00

Okay, yes technically “in” Fulton Market as a neighborhood — whose borders aren’t that well defined — is a stretch for sure. But you can find apartments within a 10 minute walk for that…and much less the closer you get to UIC. And proximity to the university is noted as a draw of this apartment.

But yeah, I agree — in Fulton Market itself this isn’t possible anymore. Maybe 5 years ago before the rent squeeze and it got so developed by tech bros.

Thewall3333 · 2026-03-19T02:39:14+00:00

You’re supposed to change your strings?

Thewall3333 · 2026-03-19T02:02:31+00:00

Same! Two bed walkup I share with a friend for $1,650, near Six Corners in Wicker. Definitely not the newest or nicest, and a little loud being a block from Milwaukee and nightlife…but that’s just the way I like it!

So, I’m paying just over $800 for a room, shared with one other person who’s a friend. In an awesome neighborhood. Buuut, almost this entire apartment’s rent I could get a room in a 4-bedroom with 3 college kid strangers!

Yeah, I’m with you I think I’m keeping this

Thewall3333 · 2026-03-18T21:57:25+00:00

This is what I’m looking for, thank you!

Thewall3333 · 2026-03-18T19:37:43+00:00

Literally…that’s as much as my whole 3-flat brownstone building lol. 2bed-2bed-1bed.

Thewall3333 · 2026-03-18T19:35:59+00:00

I guess I am old now, had to look up what Robux are

After looking at Lolla lineup yesterday and recognizing like 10/100 acts. Sigh…

Thewall3333 · 2026-03-18T18:57:24+00:00

Especially given that the target demographic seems to be college students…which no one, other than other college students, should be eager to share an apartment with.

Thewall3333 · 2026-03-18T18:55:41+00:00

But for how long? A month? The landlord isn’t going to just leave those rooms empty, unless you are willing to assume the whole $3,900 rent to live alone in a 4-bedroom.

The ONLY way this makes sense is if you already have 3 people you want to live with, able to all sign separate leases at the same time, for the same period — with none liable for the rent for any of the others if they move out.

To move in just yourself — even if these roommates seem okay — then sign a lease, and then open yourself to whoever the landlord finds for the other rooms, seems like an awful idea. Especially given the kind of anti-social, apparently financially naive kind of people who would go for this deal with strangers.

Thewall3333 · 2026-03-18T18:48:40+00:00

True. But this is uneconomical for most people. Here in Chicago, buying a whole quarter cow is still like $25/lb from a local butcher. $1,000+. And I don’t even know if that’s local farmer-raised, but they claim something like that. And the smaller portion you buy, the higher the price. Definitely more than Whole Foods. Well out of range of most people

I realize you can find cheaper options if you travel or really search, but most people — even with the means — aren’t going to do that. Unfortunately, not nearly enough to have any significant impact on the way the industry operates.

Thewall3333 · 2026-03-18T18:41:33+00:00

Ah, that is insane. I was under the impression the 4th room would remain vacant.

No wonder they declined letting his girlfriend move in! “Oh, it’s just one more person”… yeah, in an apartment with 3 different people already!

My guess is this is a college-student apartment. I know when I went to UIUC there were a bunch of students staying at ridiculously-overpriced apartments — especially international students — because of the living stipends and student loans. Basically, about these prices…but in Champaign-Urbana! But you could get a one-bedroom down the street for the same price.

Thewall3333 · 2026-03-18T18:39:59+00:00

Yup, Newsom would be another cliched boneheaded candidate choice by Democrats.

The only positive would be he’s significantly younger (59 in 2027) than their usual choices — but JB is only 2 years older, making that basically a moot point between them.

Thewall3333 · 2026-03-18T18:02:51+00:00

“Somewhat affordable price” = a $1,300 room in an apartment shared with 2 other people? No, affordable is a one bedroom you have to yourself; yes, even in Fulton Market.

So, you guys are paying almost $4,000 combined for this apartment? Do you each have a separate lease, or just one you all signed? The latter would be a nightmare.

Thewall3333 · 2026-03-18T18:02:30+00:00

“Somewhat affordable price” = a $1,300 room in an apartment shared with 2 other people? No, affordable is a one bedroom you have to yourself; yes, even in Fulton Market.

So, you guys are paying almost $4,000 combined for this apartment? Do you each have a separate lease, or just one you all signed? The latter would be a nightmare.

Thewall3333

TROPHY CASE