As other reviewers have already said, XL's management team responds quickly to maintenance requests, and the fact that they perform due diligence with all potential renters means you're less likely to have noisy or disrespectful neighbors. XL Properties is the best apartment management company I've dealt with in my 20 years in Chicago. read more

I loved living in Catalpa Gardens and stayed there for four happy years. The buildings may not have all the bells and whistles like the larger property managers but what the buildings lack in luxury it makes up with its professionalism, it's cleanliness, and by being well maintained. The staff is extremely responsive and knowledgeable. They are there if you need them (typically very shortly after submitting a request) but they are by no means breathing down your neck. I appreciated the protected bike parking, the wood floors, the new kitchens, and the air conditioning the most. Oh! And the laundry facility on the first floor is clean and I don't think I ever saw another person there in the three years I lived there. read more

I lived at 1022 W. Catalpa Avenue for 5 years and it was one of the Best Properties I've lived in. The property is well taken care of and if you have a problem in your apartment, it will be resolved within 24 hours. My neighbors were friendly and respectful. The only reason I moved was because I wanted a larger apartment. Thanks again to the XL Properties Management Team, Great Job!!!! read more

I have lived all over the country and XL Properties is by far the best management team I have rented from. Steve and his team do an excellent job of working with their tenants. If you have an issue, it gets resolved in a timely manner. All their properties are well maintained and it was a pleasure renting from them for 3 years. I had to leave on a short notice and they worked with me on everything. Bravo Steve and team!. read more

There is something really wrong and mentally off with the people at XL Property Management. Steve is mentally unstable, and Gabriel is his wanna-be yes-man. At first Steve was nice enough, professional, but talked too much, and threw a fit if you interrupted him to ask a question. But, BEWARE, you do one lil thing that ticks him off, and he becomes a giant a**-hole! He acts like he was beaten up as a kid and now he wields all this power as a landlord, so he abuses it if he dislikes you. Once you get on his bad side, he will do his best to get you out in any "legal" way possible. You can't even look him in the eye when you talk to him b/c you don't know which way to look since he's cross-eyed. He's a giant cross-eyed evil, angry bear! They're usually responsive, but if you phrase the question and ask something slightly different, he will never respond and just ignore you. Then he accuses you of "harassment" if you keep calling to get an answer. Since he wasn't responding, I stopped by the office. DON"T EVER STOP BY THE OFFICE W/O AN APPT. He will HATE you, which is so weird, b/c hello it's a MANAGEMENT office FOR TENANTS. He threatened to call the police when I stopped by to make peace with a slice of pie b/c his belly looks like it needs more. I've never been so humiliated in my life. I cried in my car for 15 minutes b/c I've never been treated that way. He let me "break" my lease, that's his way of telling a tenant he wants you to leave, if you sign a "Lease Modification Agreement," which he leaves at your door unexpectedly with bright BOLD CAPPED letters. He left me a 3-page single spaced letter saying he wanted me to leave, and how there's no way he would renew my lease with me next yr.. He's so psycho. So after that happened, I left and moved the next month. I didn't want to give money to these terrible people. Here's my fair assessment: Pros: They fix things fast. Clean. Very well kept. I loved my apt at Wolcott. It had vintage stuff with updated appliances. Cons: They're just BAD, EVIL people. They treat you terribly if you do one thing to tick them off. And you won't even know what it is b/c it wouldn't piss off the average stable person. Even the lady who lived in house was a lil strange and fearful of the cocky rich "owner" who talks to you condescendingly and Steve, the evil land-overlord. The Mexicans that fix the place also stay quiet b/c that's the only way Steve will like you. It was the most unpleasant experience I've ever had with someone I PAID money to. Plus, water pressure sucked! P.S. I've never EVER had any issues with any landlord I've ever had and always paid my rent on time. read more

Okay, seriously, if there's an issue with these folks that would make you give them less than 5 stars, I'd be willing to bet you didn't speak to them about your concerns. Steve and Gabriel are undoubtedly the best property management team in Chicagoland. But let me step back and provide you, the savvy researcher, a little bit of background as to why I say that. First, I am writing this review from Hawaii. Why you ask? Because I just got a phone call. My rent checks never showed up. Oh geez, what a great way to start 2010 right? Here I am, about to enjoy sunbathing and a Mai Tai, and now I'm thinking about my rent. Panic ensues (but I still want that Mai Tai). I log into my bill pay account only to find out I have the WRONG address - hey, look at the address Yelp has on here. W. R. O. N. G. Thank Yelp. You really screwed the pooch on that one. So I call XL back and tell them I'll FedEx Overnight a money order because I don't have my checkbook with me in Hawaii. I was put to ease and told that they're not terribly concerned about getting it ASAP because I was acting in good faith*, but just to get it to them however it is easiest for me. Obviously we're no longer dealing with the mega-behemoth property management companies that just think of you as a check. These folks are understanding, know me by name and face, and are a genuine pleasure with which to deal. That says a LOT given the main dialogue between us is me forking over some greenbacks. All this aside, I had a heating issue one time. I called to basically say I was "a little concerned" at best. Well the same evening they came to my place, took temperature readings, and brought me a space heater. They kept me informed of the updates they were going to make to resolve the issue, and by golly, I think they've already improved it significantly. Their follow through and customer service just can't be beat. Rent with XLPM (esp Winthrop Station) and see if you're not just as delighted as I am. If you're not, I'll buy you a Mai Tai. Well, I guess a Hot Toddy since we're in a midwestern tundra. ;) *Disclaimer: Terms such as "concern", "ASAP", and "good faith" are subject to XLPM discretion. I, nor XLPM, are responsible if you're just a lazyass and can't get your check in on time. read more

I'm not sure what these other two people are talking about. I've been in an XL-managed building for two years, and it's been a positive experience all around. When my refrigerator broke, I called at 11 p.m. and left a message for Steve, and five minutes later he had sent my landlady upstairs to help me carry my food to a different refrigerator in an empty unit. They replaced it the next morning. Steve is one of the most competent, attentive and well-versed property managers I've ever met. None of my messages or requests have ever gone ignored or unfulfilled, and although I'm currently breaking my lease to move to a larger apartment with my fiance, it will be tough to find a better management company. read more

It's Chicago, your landlord is going to suck. Unless it happens to be with XL. I most often dealt with Steve and Gabriel, both of whom were incredibly responsive and helpful. Steve will go -ridiculously- far out of his way to make sure you're treated right - he's totally by the books. Sometimes this is a little frustrating: he explained EVERY single item on the lease . . .yeah, I know that lead paint is bad. But he was accomodating and flexible when I needed him to be. He takes good care of the places and is invested in maintaining them/filling them with good people. So, if you're an irresponsible or disruptive tenant, you probably won't get along. Gonna trash the place because it's your first out of college? Keep walking. I'd rather have a landlord who is overinvolved, he's there to protect you. I really appreciated working with them, ESPECIALLY in comparison to the crap floating around elsewhere. If I could have them follow me to the rest of my apartments, I'd be a happy camper. These people give a damn. read more

I lived at their 4440 N Wolcott Ave location for 3 years in a studio. Apartment and building were in great condition, whenever I had a maintenance need they were there within 24 hours to fix it. I had a persistent leaking shower head all of last summer and their team was there every week to tighten it until they found a shower head replacement that solved the issue entirely. You could not ask for a friendlier administrative team, super kind and approachable. I left only because of availability for one bedrooms in the area but I miss them greatly, my new place could learn a thing or two from them about acting with a sense or urgency! They even called offering to forward my mail after I moved out. Classy! read more

My first apartment in Chicago has been with XL and I am so so so happy! I renewed my lease for a second year, and the only reason I probably won't renew again next spring is because I want something with more natural light, and my studio is a bit dark because of its location. Steve and Gabe are super nice and beyond helpful. They return messages immediately and go out of their way to get things done for you. I have had a few minor issues over the last 14 months and they have all been taken care of without even batting an eye. Being new to Chicago laws, they explained everything in WAY more detail than I really probably needed, but it was awesome and put me at ease. In my first few weeks, I had a lot of questions about city life and they never failed to answer them. I only wish they offered month-to-month leasing once your original lease term is up, but apparently that isn't very common in a place like Chicago? I guess in my small town that's normal, but here you have to not only renew a yearly lease, you have to do it long before your current lease expires. read more

First off, I feel bad it took me this long to write this review, almost a year. Second, these guys were great, and this apartment was, by far, the best experience I had living in Chicago. I was very, very sad to leave when I got the Job Offer of a Lifetime that sent me to Vegas. Steven and Gabriel are incredibly nice, friendly, and (gasp) honest. They routinely went above and beyond what they needed to do, just because it seemed like the right thing to do. The best example of this was our move out date, when our movers...decided to just sort of ignore Steven and his requests, and lie to me about the size of their truck. That's for another review, but while Steven had every right to be a jerk, he was nothing but kind, patient and "don't worry about it, we will take care of it." Our building was always safe and clean, there was always some little project being renovated, since, you know, it's an older Chicago building. The neighborhood was quiet, my neighbors nice, and the doors always locked. To the guy who was like "auuugh, he wouldn't let me in to see my girlfriend!"; um, GOOD. You don't live here? I don't really want you wandering around my building. How is a landlord supposed to know you're not a creepystalkerbreakupman!? I appreciated the secure atmosphere of the building. That being said, if your neighbor; or Steven or Gabriel see you waddling down the stairs with a hamper full of laundry, someone is sure to hold the door for you. I seriously would not have felt weird knocking on my neighbor's door for a cup of sugar. Additionally, I'm pretty sure my apartment was lucky. I mentioned that Job of a Lifetime thing? Well, the couple who had it before us had to break their lease early because one of them ALSO got offered crazy out-of-state Job of a Lifetime. So if you want the Job of a Lifetime to inconveniently but excitingly fling you across the country just after you get settled into a cozy XL property, ask if you can live in 408. Lucky. read more

I have lived at 5423 N. Winthrop Ave. for two years. I wrote a stellar review when I moved in two years ago (I don't know why it's no longer posted?), but I wrote it because I've never had a better experience as a renter with a move in. They were so completely professional and thorough I couldn't believe it. Let's face it, it takes effort to write one of these reviews so I wouldn't take the time if I hadn't been compelled to give a little something back to a team of people who made my life so much better. Two years later, I'm still loving my home here! If you need something fixed- within 24 hours has always been my experience. If you have a concern or question- they return your call unbelievably fast. This building is ALWAYS clean. It is always safe. It is managed so efficiently it almost feels as if they are anticipating your needs. It is a building full of diversity and happy tenants that make you feel safe and comfortable in every way. It's a place for quiet people who respect one another's privacy and yet seem to always nod or smile to each other in the hallways. I've made friends in the building too. If you're looking for a home and not just "another apartment" this is a true value. Put XL property management on your short list of great management companies. Look how old and outdated any bad reviews below are. I don't even think the people mentioned in those reviews are still around. You've got to respect and appreciate Steve and Gabriel as managers. The maintenance team and cleaning lady are stellar. The owner is often involved on site as well. They take pride in their work and it shows. There is nothing not to LOVE about living in one of this management team's buildings. read more

I loved my apartment in Ravenswood. It was so quiet ... the walls must have been super thick. I almost never heard my neighbors, unless someone had some loud shoes on. It was a quick three-minute walk to the brown line, with a Starbucks on the way. Beautiful and laid-back neighborhood. Less than 15 minute walk to Jewel or Marianos, with some great bars and food options nearby. I appreciated having a property manager who is very clear about the rules and is quick to get things fixed. If you're looking for an apartment to party in, I'd recommend looking elsewhere. I've had a few terrible landlords in Chicago, and this was definitely one of the best companies I've dealt with. When I moved out to live with my boyfriend, they were really great about working out a solution that satisfied all of us. One thing I wish they had was the ability for tenants to pay rent or any other fees online. Granted, this isn't a huge deal if you are good about planning ahead and dropping a check in the mail on time. Still, so many other things in life are digital now ... it's time to join in, XL. Thanks again for a great living experience. Wish you all the best. read more

Steve and Gabriel are awesome. I have lived in an XL-property building for a year now and haven't had a problem. I would not give them anything less than 5 stars. The only time I had a minor issue was when my A/C started making a rattling sound. I called up Steve and he came in some time to check the problem. While he was checking it he broke a plank of my bed by accident. It was a small thing and I didn't really affect anything, so I didn't care and we didn't talk about it then. He checked the problem with my A/C and sent a technician the next business day. The technician came and fixed the A/C while I was out, obviously with my permission. The next day while I was just cleaning my bed I saw that the broken plank had been replaced! I knew only Steve could have done it. So, I called him up and thanked him for fixing the A/C and the bed, without me even asking. He got the bed fixed along with the A/C. In fact, even after fixing it, he never called me. While, I was talking to him he just said "Well, I broke it so, I had to fix it". That's how great of a guy he is. They don't make them like him anymore. I didn't have a Yelp account. I just created one, to write about them. That alone should say it all. read more

XL Properties was our first experience with Chicago apartments--management, apartments, the whole deal. And Steve and Gabe were fantastic to work with! Being new to Chicago (and apartment hunting), Gabe was helpful in answering all of our questions, and Steve was more than generous in getting us situated into our first apartment rather quickly! We were even able to move from a studio to a 1-bedroom (in the same building) when it became available. My girlfriend and I enjoyed living at Kenmore Manor for 3 years. The building was well-maintained, very clean, pest/rodent-free, the location was ideal (close to the lake and the Red Line), and management was a pleasure to work with. And XL Properties didn't require us to pay any ridiculous "move-in fees", "holding fees", "administrative fees", or even a security deposit! All you have to do is pay for a background and credit check. Also, we appreciated Steve's thoroughness with discussing lease-related materials, and any pertinent information that arose. On a side note, XL Properties does require you to notify them of your intent to either renew your lease, or not renew your lease, roughly 2-3 months prior to your lease expiration date. Plans can change during those 2-3 months! Initially, we had decided to move out-of-state, so we notified them of our intent to vacate the apartment at the end of our lease agreement. Long-story-short, we decided to actually stay in Chicago, but it was too late to nullify our non-renewal decision... And the first person who viewed our apartment ended up renting it on the spot! Basically, we gave up a very great apartment! Thank you Steve and Gabe for great, courteous service! Best, Travis & Ashley PS: If you own a vehicle, you should probably invest in a garage or parking spot. You will spend 30 minutes to an hour trying to find street parking. No joke. Luckily, Kenmore Manor rents out a gated garage spot that is relatively affordable! read more

Can you call me 847 868 5047 James Montgomery I'm looking for 2 bedroom apartment in Rogers Park $1200 or $1225 or $1250 move in date August 31st 2018 and do you take catholic charities subsidy and can you work with me low credit score read more

Fantastic property management company. I decided to rent from them after seeing they had the best reviews out of everywhere else in Chicago. The apartment I have is incredible. I rarely hear my neighbors, the water pressure is great, and the kitchen is big. The lease signing did take some time because they go through the paperwork, describe things they find necessary and go through some of the finer legal details. They're looking out for themselves, which in turn, shows the level of responsibility they hold for themselves and other renters. I highly recommend this company. read more

I lived at 5958 N. Kenmore for 5 years and loved it. Gabriel and Steve was very nice, and nice. They took great care of the building and were extremely conscientious managers. I highly recommend renting from XL. read more

My husband and I just renewed our lease for our 3rd year in our apartment which is managed by XL Property Management. We absolutely LOVE living here and by far has been The Best rental experience we've ever had. Steve and Gabriel are super friendly and have always been available or gotten back to me right away when I had a question. Our apartment is gorgeous - tons of natural light, hardwood floors, tons and tons of closet space (!!!), great AC and heating -- the building has been very well maintained, and they continue to do a great job in managing the building. As an example of how incredible and fast-acting the management company is, Gabriel called one day because the apartment below ours was having a minor issue and they needed to flush our sink in order to finish the job downstairs. He called to ask permission to enter our apartment which of course was no problem. While I had him on the phone, I mentioned that our air conditioner had started making some funny noises recently, one of our closet doors had become unhatched and also it had been a couple of years and I was wondering if we could get a new toilet seat cover. This call took place right before noon. When I got home around 5:30, we had a new toilet seat cover, our closet was fixed, they fixed our AC AND they went above and beyond and cleaned out all of the filters in our AC units. They seriously do an above-and-beyond job at managing the building, keeping everything clean and beautiful, and above all - keeping us safe. I've never been worried about random people accessing the building because of the system of double doors in the front of the building and the security cameras. If you're looking for an apartment and want a great rental/management company, they are by far a great one to partner with. I highly, highly recommend them. read more

All the great reviews of XL properties backed up my decision to see one of their properties in Chicago. However, whenever I'd follow up a call with Gabriel about my application, I can't help but notice how rude he is in answering my calls. I understand that they're dealing with a lot of things with their job but in no way is that an excuse for rude unprofessional behavior. A friend that lives in one of their properties also complained of the same issue when I opened up to him. As a prospecting tenant, I don't think i'd even proceed with my application knowing this is what I'd have to deal with for a whole year. read more

I've been living in the 5958 property for a little less than a year now, and I am absolutely enjoying it here. Management Steve and Gabriel are both on top of their s***, which is a refreshing change since I know a lot of sketchy management companies. Recently, I wanted to move to a bigger unit and really wanted to remain within the building so I expressed my wishes to Gabriel and Steve. As soon as a bigger unit became available, Steve reached out to me first. I've been out of town for business and extremely busy these past couple of weeks so I've been hard to get a hold of, but Steve persistently contacted me. I really appreciate this about XLPM. read more

I've lived in an XL-managed building for 6 years and I couldn't have asked for more. I feel that my apartment is more than just a rental and it feels like home to me. The building is always kept in topnotch conditions and updates over the years, such as the landscaping and remodeled lobby have helped keep the building fresh. All maintenance requests are handled promptly and usually the same day or within 1-2 days after the request. Management has always been accommodating any time I had suggestions or concerns. I highly recommend XL Property Management to anyone looking for rentals in Chicago. read more

I do not live in property managed by XL, but my best friend does. We have been friends while he has lived in several different places, all managed by different companies. What I have seen of XL Property Management would cause me to contact them first if I were looking for a place to live and to be horribly disappointed if forced to live in property they did not manage. They are completely professional, and extremely customer oriented. The building is excellently maintained. My friend moved in at the beginning of November, 2011, and reps from the team stopped by 3 times during the move in process to make sure things were going well. They provided us with 2 days of off street parking to make the move easier for all concerned. They checked to be sure the temp was not too warm in the apartment(they were quite concerned with this), and when we had a problem getting the cable connected, they came by within 15 minutes of being called to assist the cable service person. They have always been accommodating to whatever needs we had. I highly recommend using them if you are looking for a good renting experience in Chicago. read more