I recently moved to the City of Chicago as a result of a job transfer. I was from a very small rural town and completely naïve when it came to living in a large metropolitan area. I decided that it would be in my best interest to rent an apartment for at least six months upon my initial arrival before purchasing a condominium Chicago had for sale. I figured that I needed the time to gain knowledge about the city and its real estate market.

This was a very smart decision on my part. My office was located in a more expensive neighborhood that would have caused a financial strain if I had purchased a condo within its immediate vicinity. Luckily, after a few long walks around the neighborhood I found that property a few blocks to the west was significantly cheaper to buy.

I then realized the importance of living close to public transportation. Driving around the city was stressful, and finding parking was near impossible at some locations. If I wanted to get out around the city I needed to be close to transportation so that I could shop and find entertainment with ease.

When winter came I realized that it was imperative that I found a condominium Chicago had with indoor parking. Spending two hours digging my car out of a snow drift was enough winter fun for me.  I needed to find a condo that offered indoor parking.

Then I decided to visit some of my co-workers condos so that I could see firsthand some of the options that were available. One of my co-workers had a great outdoor balcony that offered a spectacular view of the city. Another co-worker had a huge master suite with a walk-in closet and master bathroom. I loved the idea of having a great master bed/bath inside a condo.

So, in those six months I learned a lot. I knew that I could get a bigger condo for less money if I looked in different outlying neighborhoods. I knew that I needed to find a condo within walking distance to public transportation that offered indoor parking. I also knew what kind of lay-out and interior features that I wanted. I’m so glad that I took the time to move into the neighborhood and explore it before I purchased anything. I was able to find the perfect condominium Chicago had on the market to suit all of my needs.