Columbia, IL 317 Apartments for Rent

Located on the Kaskaskia-Cahokia Trail, the first road in Illinois, Columbia has prospered since its incorporation in 1859. Its prosperity is a result of balancing a strong work ethic with the enjoyment of life, perfectly captured in its motto "good for business, good for life, good to visit."

Columbia is located 12 miles south of St. Louis, just east of the Missouri border and the Mississippi River. Luckily for the people who live there now, the founders built Columbia on high bluffs to protect it from the occasional flooding of the river. There are just over 9,700 people living and working in Columbia, a community that has a lot to offer new residents.

Moving to Columbia

Columbia is a suburban community with a stable population of homeowners and renters. Many find the close proximity of St. Louis to be a major influence in choosing to settle down in Columbia. St. Louis is close enough to visit easily, but it's far enough that Columbia retains its feel as a comfortable place to live away from city life. There may be some competition from others deciding to move from the city, so be sure to start your search for property rentals in Columbia early.

Types of Housing

Apartment complexes and rental homes are plentiful in Columbia. Whether you are looking for two bedroom apartments for rent or rooms in single family homes, Columbia has something suitable for a variety of needs. Duplexes for rent may be harder to find, but not impossible! Keep your options open when you first start looking, you may be surprised at what you find.

Choosing the Right Rental

A crucial step in your apartment search is to take tours of the various available units. You can get all the basic information you need from a listing on the Internet and from speaking to the owner, but the only way to test your gut feeling about the property and the neighborhood is to head out and take a tour. This is the fun part! Make sure you bring a list of all the things you need with you, such as minimum number of bedrooms and bathrooms, or whether you'd prefer a ground floor or upper unit. Also be sure to look at the common areas if you are touring an apartment building or complex. Check for laundry facilities, on-site pool and fitness center, and security features like locked gates. Once you have found the apartment of your dreams, it's time to sign that contract!

Signing the Contract

Before signing the contract, review it carefully and make sure you understand all of its terms. Rental agreements can be month-to-month, one year, or another length of time set by the landlord or owner. Make sure you know when rental rate increases can occur. If any of the terms cause you concern, try to negotiate with the owner before walking away. Other things to be aware of when reviewing the contract is whether or not utilities or a parking spot are included in your monthly rent payment. When you sign the contract, you will be required to pay the first month's rent and a security deposit. You will also likely be required to provide proof of income to prove you're good for the monthly rent, as well as a list of personal references.

Columbia Neighborhoods

Although Columbia is a fairly large town, it isn't divided into distinct neighborhoods. At the north end of town you'll find Columbia Lakes Apartments, which offers one, two and three bedroom apartments. It is very close to South County Shopping Mall and is also very convenient to St. Louis. Perfect for those who want to get into the city as much as possible!

Closer to the center of town you can tour Hawthorn Place Apartments, which are located in a residential area just off of Interstate 3. Edelweiss Apartments is another apartment complex located off of Interstate 3, and other apartment complexes and property rentals can be found on Main Street, which is convenient to many local restaurants and businesses.

Living in Columbia

Wherever you live in Columbia, you won't be far from good food and fun. Hit the greens at your choice of three golf courses in northern Columbia, and then head to Main Street for Southern comfort food at Who Dat's or brick oven pizza at Reifschneider's Grill & Grape. Get all your shopping done at Schnucks, and head out to the Mississippi River for a fun and relaxing swim.