Roommate Finder in Edgewater, Chicago, IL

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• Why do people in Edgewater use a roommate finder instead of renting alone?

  Because Edgewater's housing is built for sharing. Many of its apartments are two- and three-bedroom units in courtyard buildings and lakefront high-rises, and a studio alone now has a median near $1,438, so splitting a larger unit is often the only way to get a bedroom with a door, a lake view or in-unit laundry on a single income. A roommate finder helps you find someone with the same budget and move-in date before a lease comes up. Edgewater roommate profiles on Roomster right now: 3. The people searching include recent graduates, Loyola students, people moving to Chicago for work and newcomers like actors arriving for the city's theater scene, with budgets mostly between about $550 and $1,400 a month. Search Uptown and Rogers Park too if you want more matches.

• What do Edgewater roommates pay to split, and how can each person pay less?

  In a Sheridan Road high-rise, a private bedroom and bathroom in a two-bedroom, two-bath unit commonly costs about $1,300 a month plus a share of utilities, so a pair of roommates is paying around $2,600 together for doormen, a gym and a lake view. In the courtyard buildings and walk-ups inland, rooms in larger shared flats run closer to $1,000 each. The way to lower your share is to add a roommate rather than give up a neighborhood: three- and four-bedroom apartments near Loyola on Kenmore and Winthrop often include heat, which matters through a Chicago winter, and split three or four ways they can bring each share near $1,000 or below. Agree on how you split electricity, internet and any parking fees, and put it in writing before you sign.

• Is Roomster a good roommate finder for Loyola students in Edgewater?

  It suits them, because Loyola students tend to search as groups for specific blocks. Many want a three- or four-bedroom flat between Thorndale and Devon, within walking distance of the Lake Shore Campus, and need to fill the last bedroom or two with someone they have not met. Roomster lets you list your program, class schedule, study habits and whether you want a quiet place or a social one, and look for compatible roommates who list theirs. Most student leases in Edgewater start in summer or right before the fall semester, so start your roommate search in spring. If you are graduating, a roommate finder is also a good way to find a replacement for your bedroom rather than paying rent on an empty room.

• Can I find a roommate in Edgewater who works in Chicago theater or keeps night hours?

  It works well, and Edgewater is a practical base for theater work. The neighborhood has its own stages, including the Neo-Futurists in Andersonville and Raven Theatre on Clark Street, and the Red Line and Clark and Broadway buses reach theaters across the North Side and downtown. Actors and stage crews often work evenings and weekends and take day jobs or rehearsal schedules that change week to week, so the most important thing in a roommate match is agreeing on noise, sleep hours and guests. Say in your profile that you work nights or keep irregular hours, and look for a roommate with a similar schedule or one who is out during the day. Budgets in this group are usually modest, so a three-bedroom walk-up share is often the best fit.

• Which part of Edgewater is best for my roommate search: Andersonville, the lakefront or near Loyola?

  Each part attracts a different kind of roommate. Andersonville, around Clark Street south of Bryn Mawr, is known for its independent shops, restaurants, the Swedish American Museum and a large LGBTQ+ community, and its walk-ups and garden units suit young professionals who want a lively street. The lakefront along Sheridan Road, including the Edgewater Beach area, has the high-rises, with more amenities and higher rents. The north end, near Granville and Devon, is the closest to Loyola and has the most student shares. The quieter west side, near Ashland and Ravenswood avenues and streets such as West Edgewater Avenue, has more two-flats and smaller buildings. Choose the area that fits your routine, then compare budgets and move-in dates within it.

• How do I safely take over an Edgewater lease or move in with a new roommate?

  Lease takeovers and sublets are common in Edgewater, so check the paperwork as well as the person. Before you agree, get the landlord's approval of the swap in writing, and in a Sheridan Road high-rise call the management office yourself to book the elevator and confirm that your name will be registered. On Roomster, any member can choose to complete the free ID check and address check, and a profile shows which ones a person has finished, so you can start with those. Once Roomster has validated your email and phone, you can send that person a first message for free. Meet in person or on a video call inside the unit, and never pay a deposit or first month's rent to someone who will not show you the apartment and the landlord's approval.