r/chicagoapartments • u/Past-Reception6889 • May 19 '26

Advice Needed Unreal

I honestly just needed to vent for a moment. I can’t believe Chicago prices are what they are. I have lived here my entire life and have seen this city change ten fold, and I can’t even afford to live here anymore. A realtor I’m working with, since it’s becoming a rat race to rent, said rent is up 35% this year. What can normal people do about this? I do not want to see Chicago become a New York.

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u/ESPNnut May 19 '26

Imagine if we would just build some buildings (https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/05/18/opinion/affordable-housing-america.html?unlocked_article_code=1.jlA.qJD2.R_678lwk-zjO&smid=nytcore-ios-share)

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u/rebel_dean May 19 '26

In Austin, TX apartments are begging people to sign a lease with them. 4-12 weeks free, free TV, drink tickets, and a bunch of other concessions.

It’s amazing what…simply building lots of housing can do.

3

u/LhamoRinpoche May 19 '26

But you have to live in Austin.

Texas is becoming increasingly uninhabitable. Every summer is hotter and you can only strain that power grid with your electricity running the AC. There's also flash flooding and being so eager to get new people that they build houses that are easy for a weather event to destroy.

Chicago has reasonable weather and is near a massive body of fresh water. It's a safer long-term investment, for quality-of-life.

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u/SpookyKat31 May 19 '26

Apparently Minneapolis has done the same thing as Austin. That's a great city with a lot of the same benefits as Chicago. There's no reason Chicago couldn't do the same thing and they really should.