mia748•8d ago

My apartment search fell apart when the broker ghosted me after I sent my deposit

I found this great place in Logan Square last month, 2 bedroom for $1,600. Sent the deposit via Zelle, $500, and then the guy just stopped answering calls and texts. Turned out he was listing places that were already rented out. I had to scramble and found a studio in Avondale for $1,400 instead, but it's way smaller. Has anyone else run into shady brokers around here?

3 comments

3 Comments

emery_lopez8d ago

Honestly, I read that the city's actually started cracking down on fake listings, but they're still all over Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace.

karen_west598d ago

Found a legit spot last year by doing my own digging. I started searching for rental postings from local property management company sites instead of just the big marketplaces. They usually have a "current listings" page that's way more accurate. Also went old school and drove around neighborhoods I liked looking for "For Rent" signs in yards. That's how I snagged my current place - the owner never even listed it online, just stuck a sign out front. Saved me from dealing with all those fake listings on Craigslist lol.

lauras831d ago

I'll admit, I used to roll my eyes at people who said to just "drive around looking for signs" because it felt so outdated. But after getting burned by two fake listings on Craigslist that wanted deposits before even showing the place, I actually tried that method last month. I drove through a neighborhood a few blocks from the coffee shop I like and found a basement unit that wasn't listed anywhere online. The landlord was an older guy who just wanted someone quiet and reliable, no application fees or credit checks. It changed my whole view on how to find a place.