I HIGHLY RECOMMEND URBAN ABODES for finding your next dream apartment!! I worked with Mary Ann De La Cruz and let me tell you! She was amazing! The most sweetest, kind and reliable woman ever!! :) If you're like me and have no idea about the ins and outs about finding an apartment! You need Mary Ann! We spoke for hours on the phone and she was there with me every step of the way! She sent listings of apartments in my price range, areas of interest, and gave her honest opinion about the listings without being biased! She was very responsive with every question I had, and took the time out to call me with accurate information regarding my questions!( and I had many lol) She was even available on the weekends and on her breaks from her online classes! Mary Ann went above and beyond to help me find my dream apartment! Other agencies weren't as responsive and didn't respond to emails or text messages and pretty much left me hanging. The first apartment that I viewed with Mary Ann, WAS my dream apartment! This was possible because my time wasn't wasted with links to listings that weren't in my budget and Mary Ann listened and knew exactly what I wanted in an apartment, and only sent listings accordingly! I really appreciated this because I work 50hrs a week and do not have time to be going around looking at places that doesn't interest me! Urban abodes was also there through every step of my application process and they were reliable and quick in sending emails and updates about the process and they worked hand in hand with the apartment management and made everything easy an effortless! YOU NEED URBAN ABODES FOR FINDING YOUR DREAM APARTMENT!! read more

First, please note: this "Urban Abodes" is formerly known as "The Homestead Group." It appears as though only their positive reviews moved over on Yelp (conveniently), so be sure to read the reviews for The Homestead Group also, since it is still the same management. If you love deception and condescension, then you will love this place! If you're delighted by rudeness, be sure to visit with the woman in the back called "Dee" or "Bees" or something like that. Here I am shopping for an apartment for around $3k per month. Bees pulls one up for $3,200 and says "Oh come on, is $200/month really that big of a deal?" Now, she wasn't up-selling or trying to convince me that it was worth it. Rather, she was simply rude and condescending and someone who couldn't care less about what I was looking for. But, when it comes to her precious $70 application fee? Well, then apparently money IS a big deal because she won't forget that for even a moment. I finally settled on a place and begrudgingly did business with these people. Turns out, after moving in, a lot of the information with which I was provided was WRONG. But boy did they cash their check the moment I wrote it. On top of that, the communication post-sale was horrendous. They communicate non-stop before you've committed. Then, once you've signed and need something, gone! They're ghosts. Best you can hope for is another rude response from Bees. My advice? Simply avoid this horrible place at all costs and work with people who are both honest and understanding of what you actually want versus what inventory they have to move. read more

I am generally pretty hesitant about working with rental agencies, especially new (to me) companies. My experience with them had been middling to terrible. I am happy to say my experience with Urban Abodes was pretty top-notch. I found an apartment online (ZIllow) and contacted the listing agent via email. I received a callback rather quickly, and was informed that the unit had already rented. However, Jennifer (rental agent) told me she had a few different listings and would let me know if anything else came up. A day or so later, Jennifer reached out about a unit in Avondale that had just become available. We made arrangements to see it that evening. I loved it. It was an older building, but it was in great shape, the unit was freshly painted, and the size (about 800 sq. ft) was more than right for the price. Luckily, the building manager was close by, so we were able to start the application process rather quickly. All the paperwork took about a day to complete, then we waited on the management company to approve the application/lease. Unfortunately, it took them almost 3 days to approve it. However, Jennifer was very communicative during that time, letting me know that everything was good on their/my end, and that sometimes management companies take a bit longer to follow through. The day of, Jennifer emailed me pretty early in the morning to let me know everything was approved. I am all moved in, and quite happy to have worked with Urban Abodes to get what may well be the best apartment I have ever had living in Chicago. read more

If you're as lucky as I was to work with Ryan, then you're in the best of hands. He was prompt, knowledgeable, and kind. Apartment shopping can be stressful and nerve-racking, but Ryan made it a fun, vibrant, memorable experience. I felt like a star throughout the day. I had a long list of criteria to be met and deep down I knew meeting all of them was unrealistic. So after searching hard and long on the internet, I put together a list of apartments and called Ryan. He got back to me within the hour and was resourceful enough to arrange showings for my top 3 listings. Never did he complain or show frustration as I pestered him with questions. He was always cordial and polite. I had high hopes I'd find a place that day but all three places were a letdown. It checked multiple criteria but none of them felt like home. I had given up and was ready to call it a day but Ryan was optimistic and hopeful so we went back to the office, where he searched through his database. We found a potential match and decided to check it out. The second I walked into this new place, I could not believe my eyes. It had things I did not even know I wanted. The location, amenities, space, view, etc. It had it all. This place was a rare jewel and by some miracle well within my budget too. Nowadays, most mornings when I wake up and look out at my gorgeous view, I am grateful for Ryan not giving up on me that day. TL;DR: Ask for Ryan Howard at Urban Abodes and you'll be living in your dream home next! read more

Urban abodes was my Saving Grace! I found them completely by accident, I was contacting every property in my budget on apartments. Com trying to get showings set up because I was moving from Alabama, and I really needed a realtor who knew what they were talking about and was going to be real with me and not just get me to sign a lease. My realtors name was Dan and let me tell you he put in so much work to help me find the perfect place! he even knew that I was interested in applying for an apartment that was not even available through them and he continued to show me other listings in case it fell through, even though he knew if I did sign that other least he wouldn't make any money off of the entire afternoon that he's been showing the apartments. Luckily the apartment did end up falling through, I ended up having to go back to Dan and find a back up apartment to apply for in the matter of a day or two. The reason I say luckily I had to go back is because Dan found me a steal!! The building that I ended up signing for are going for $1, 150 and we found mine for $895! it did not cost me anything extra to go through a broker like Urban abodes and it was very helpful having someone who would go the extra mile and answer all my questions. And trust me I asked a lot of annoying questions. 10/10 would recommend Dan at Urban abodes! read more

I was in a really tough spot, where I had just found out that the apartment I was supposed to be moving into, as I arrived there from a 5-hour drive in a rental truck full of everything I own, was a complete scam. I had no choice but to stay at a hotel, hope the rental truck would be safe in the parking lot, and look for somewhere else to live. The next day, Urban Abodes saved me. When I saw one of their listings online, I called and was greeted by Tara, who not only listened to my situation, but set aside time to meet me for a viewing that same afternoon. By that evening, I had submitted an application, paid first month's rent, and was assured that as long as my application was approved, I'd be signing a lease the following morning. By noon the next day, the lease was signed, and I was immediately put in contact with the building's management. As I write this, I'm moving into my new apartment tomorrow, THREE DAYS after being scammed out of a place to live, and left literally homeless. Other agencies I've dealt with in the past have taken up to two weeks to process rental applications, let alone schedule a move-in date. This experience, which was pretty awful, was made a LOT less awful thanks to Urban Abodes. When it comes to efficiency and direct support, I can't recommend them enough. read more

My boyfriend and I have been absolutely STRESSED with our apt search-- The rental market is competitive, the listings are misleading and there are plenty of brokers who do not have your best interest in mind. Then there is Jennifer Bartosz who descended from the rental heavens to assist us. This woman is amazing. She gave us a call when we had shown interest in one of the listings under Urban Abodes, and just knew exactly what we were looking for. She insisted (and I am grateful she did) that we see this apt listing that had just become available ASAP. At first we were weary, we had heard this many times from others and have been led to dead end after dead end. Let me tell you- Jennifer delivers. She showed us an AMAZING unit that was an absolute steal and checked off all our requirements. It was better than we could have hoped for. We jumped on it right away and she made it a seamless process and we knew within 24 hours that it was ours. I felt like I could be honest and transparent with her and she delivered the same. Brooke was also SUPER helpful and just all around accommodating and sweet. These guys are the real deal- I have lived in Chicago my entire life and will never use another service again. I could not recommend them more. read more

Working with Matt Byars from Urban Abodes was an absolute pleasure! From the moment I reached out, he was incredibly attentive and went out of his way to ensure all my leasing needs were met. We tried to fit so many puzzle pieces together. Matt was not only helpful but also patient, settling any confusion I had with ease. Despite ultimately choosing a different property, it had nothing to do with Matt's professionalism and everything to do with the property owner of the complex I was scouting. He made the signing process seamless and stress-free. I highly recommend Matt Byars to anyone in search of a dedicated leasing agent and broker! I'd also like to add in addition to Matt, I had the pleasure of working with George, the broker at Urban Abodes. George's expertise and dedication were truly remarkable. He took the time to understand my specific requirements and tried options to resolve any issues quickly. His knowledge of the market and people skills are hard to find. George went above and beyond. I can't thank him enough for his support throughout. Without a doubt, George is a top-notch broker who I would wholeheartedly recommend to anyone in need of expert guidance in the real estate world or if you'd like to play it safe. Thanks guys! read more

I was looking to move into an apartment asap because my current plans fell through. I found a listing that seemed promising on Zillow or hot pads, or one of those apartment apps. I requested info and I was contacted by the leasing consultant, Hayley Frazier. She was able to meet me right away at the time I requested to show me the listing in person. Upon arrival, we were a little bit early, the key was not available in the lock box so we assumed someone was currently showing it. She offered to drive me to another showing close by and drove me back to the original one. I loved it and decided I wanted to apply. She was very friendly, knowledgeable, and patient with my questions, (I ask a lot of questions lol). I expressed the sense of urgency to have a decision about my application being accepted because I had to move out of my place in less than 2 weeks. The application process was seamless. I went into the office and filled out the application and submitted the proper forms and received a response the next day! The only thing I will point out and she emphasized this as well, be prepared to pay the first months rent and a security deposit equal to one months rent upon applying. At least that was the case with my apartment. read more

Wow truly I couldn't me more effusive about my experience working with Jackie Smook at Urban Abodes. With the ferocity of the rental market in Chicago reaching a record height matched with the ferocity of the representatives we had formerly worked with looking at other rentals, I was immediately relieved and set at ease working with Jackie. She arrived on-time for our showing (a rarity in the past showings I'd attended) and had all the listing information prepared to disperse. Upon the tour of the unit, she and I were completely on the same page with asking tons of important questions and ensuring we saw every inch of unit. Every instance of her communication was impeccable, from answering late night questions via text to calling to congratulate me when we finally got approved. She was advocate for us from the moment we had our first call! Melissa was also extremely helpful once we got on the same page and acted as a wonderful liaison between us and the owner of the building. She also ensured the correct documents were sent to us promptly. It's a rarity to feel like you have someone in your corner as a renter in Chicago but this experience definitely reinvigorated some hope that maybe things are changing! read more

I was in need of a studio apartment on short notice and Molly Parshall with Urban Abodes was an absolute BLESSING in helping me find an apartment that was perfect for me. She helped facilitate every step of the way. When my elderly grandfather cosigned for me and had trouble filling out the online forms, who was there to help him through to the end? That's right, Molly Parshall. Whenever I had a question myself, no matter how small or stupid, who would answer my call with an unwavering cheerfulness in her voice? You guessed it, Molly Parshall. I was in a very stressful situation when I found out I needed to be out of my old apartment on a week's notice and Molly had my back every step of the way, even going as far as asking me to call her once I was settled in to the new place just so she knew not to worry about me going forward. She was very attentive to detail, polite (she always ended phone calls asking me to say hello to my mom and grandpa for her), honest, and engaged throughout the entire process. I, without a shadow of a doubt, will be reaching out to Molly Parshall with Urban Abodes next time I need to move and will be recommending her to all my friends in the area! read more

I reached out to a number of agencies about different apartments and Tim from Urban Abodes responded quickly, enthusiastically, and was immediately ready with viewing options and assistance. It was a relief to have a showing on the books without a lot of back and forth phone calls. The first unit I saw wasn't quite what I was looking for so he encouraged me to search through the listings and send him any others I might be interested in. When, a few hours later, I sent him NINE more that I wanted to see, he replied right away and had me scheduled to view them all in no time. I am a planner and felt very reassured by his rapid and thorough replies, even down to being sent google calendar invites for showings and a friendly check-in the night before to make sure the time & place was still convenient. Usually apartment hunting is a burden but I found both the Urban Abodes website of listings, and their excellent communication and friendly assistance, input, and personal touches made the whole process far less painful. I felt very well taken care of by Tim and the agency overall. Their services put them ahead of the curve and top of my list for any future home-hunting needs. read more

I found my apartment through Urban Abodes a couple of weeks ago and had a surprisingly pleasant experience. The moving process can be quite a headache but working with Urban Abodes definitely made it all a bit easier. Our leasing agent, Natalie, was very responsive and straightforward with us throughout. She was able to answer all of our questions about two apartment units that we saw, and communication afterwards as we were deciding between the two was prompt and efficient. Urban Abodes also seems to have properties from smaller landlords which aren't always listed on all of the apartment searching sites. We had two options to pay our first month's rent and move-in fees either through Zelle or by dropping off a check at their office. Unfortunately we didn't already have a Zelle account, so we had to drop off a check. I wish there was another option for payment such as Venmo, Paypal, or another type of secure online system; however, stopping by the office was fairly efficient and we were able to get our application processed right away. The staff were friendly there as well. Overall, would definitely recommend working with them for an apartment search! read more

So, here I am looking for a nice new place for my wife and I to live. We've decided on a neighborhood and budget and we're looking for someone to help. Unfortunately, we wandered into this place and worked with the old lady in the back. Man, talk about rude...She was LOUDLY disrespectful regarding our budget (which was $2,600/month, mind you). Literally, being loudly obnoxious...how embarrassing in any scenario! So, I essentially spent 20 minutes being talked down to by this woman and was then reminded not to forget to pay her precious application fee should we like a place. And, she's the managing partner! If that's how she acts, how is her team going to act?? They could be delightful people for all I know. But I do know that when your management acts like a child, I have no faith in your business. I encourage anyone reading this review to simply go elsewhere and avoid the headache and chastising from someone who clearly cares only about sales and not about you finding a new home. ALSO, please note: there are several very helpful reviews below that are "not recommended." Who knows why, but be sure to read those, as well. read more

I initially called about an apartment listing online and was connected with leasing agent Hayley. She not only helped with the specific inquiry, she offered to send me more units in a similar price range/neighborhood she thought I'd like! One of those units ended up being the perfect fit! She worked quickly to get our application promptly sent over, which I sincerely appreciated, as we had looked at dozens of apartment listings for weeks. It's great to have the expertise of a local Chicagoan to help out someone new to the area like myself. Kudos to Hayley! Melissa was also a huge help with the application process and my (many) lease questions -she had thorough and knowlesgable answers for my questions. Melissa even works weekends so was always available to help! Overall, the team takes pride in their work. Urban Abodes is a broker for private landlords, which I didn't know initially, only after applying. I am typically hesitant of private landlords, given past experiences. But I'm told they are here to address any issues that may arise with my new private landlord in the future! read more