Chicago
As America’s third largest city, Chicago fosters a unique persona with a wild, colorful history that’s earned it a string of nicknames: Second City, Chi-Town, and of course, the Windy City. Countless songs have been written about Chicago, a legendary musical group is named after it, and endless movies and television series are set in it. Chicago is one of the most ideal cities for renters with its blend of affordable and luxury apartments, waterfront views, and abundance of entertainment opportunities. There is something for everyone for every kind of budget in Chicago! So what is it like living in Chicago? Well, first off the architecture is stunning, ranging from the John Hancock Tower to Tribune Tower and Willis Tower. Residents and visitors alike enjoy watching a Cubs game at Wrigley Field, visiting the Lincoln Park Zoo, taking in the views from Grant Park, admiring the Bean at Millennium Park, hopping aboard a dinner cruise at Navy Pier, and gazing at the designer stores along the Magnificent Mile. This city is home to some of the nation’s greatest artistic and cultural attractions, from the Art Institute of Chicago to the Chicago Cultural Center. Summers are spent relaxing on the beach, whether it be 12th Street Beach or Oak Street Beach. Locals can be found dancing the night away at one of the many jazz and blues clubs. Chicago is home to a top-notch public transit system, so commuting is a breeze for any renter.
Dallas
Dallas is one of the largest cities in America, combining urban sophistication with an incomparable Texan personality. Dallas is an altogether unique blend of cultures, styles, and flavors, with more than one million people calling the city proper home. Living in Dallas puts you right in the thick of it all, with endless options to customize your experience. Corporate professionals seeking to avoid long commutes may want to look for apartments in Downtown or Uptown, which are both home to major business centers as well as residential communities, affording many residents walkable access to work. Culture enthusiasts should consider apartments near the Dallas Arts District, which is home to the Nasher Sculpture Center, the Dallas Museum of Art, the Winspear Opera House, and more. Creatives may enjoy places like Old East Dallas and North Oak Cliff, where artistic pursuits abound. Dallas offers some of the most diverse nightlife in Texas, from laid-back lounges to thumping night clubs. Dallas residents also enjoy some of the best shopping in the Southwest, from Galleria Dallas to downtown’s independent boutiques. A fast-growing light rail system, major highways, and busy airports connect Dallas and the surrounding Metroplex to the rest of Texas and beyond.
Austin
Although it is the state capital and located deep in the heart of Texas, Austin generally has more in common with places like Portland, Oregon rather than other large Lone Star State cities like Dallas or Houston. Consistently named one of the best places to live in America, Austin combines passions for food, live music, entrepreneurship, iconoclastic attitudes, and Texas traditions into a wholly unique cocktail that people just can’t get enough of. The expansion of the tech industry and the wild popularity of music festivals like Austin City Limits and South by Southwest have boosted Austin’s profile as one of America’s most in-demand communities of the 21st century so far, attracting people from all walks of life and every corner of the world. Regardless of their atypical culture, Texas pride runs deep in Austinites. Many of the city’s hip, young entrepreneurs are more than happy to deal in classic regional staples like Tex-Mex food, cowboy boots, and country music. Austin is also home to one of the top public universities in the state, the University of Texas at Austin, lending the entire city the vibrant energy of a college town. Austin contains a broad range of apartments, condos, townhomes, and houses available for rent in its many diverse neighborhoods. Wherever your dream rental is located in Austin, you’re sure to be within driving distance of signature attractions such as Barton Springs, Lady Bird Lake, Zilker Botanical Garden, the Domain, Bullock Texas State History Museum, Blanton Museum of Art, Sixth Street, and the Texas Capitol Building.
