Steger, Illinois is home to newspaper columnist and U.S Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson.
Steger is a village located on the border between Cook County and Will County in Illinois with a population of 9,570. It's a little over an hour outside of downtown Chicago, and a lot of people love being so close to the city (but not being right in the middle of the action). The city began in 1893 when John Valentine Steger opened a piano factory alongside the railroad. The company eventually led to the town becoming "the piano capital of the world," because it was producing more than 100 pianos per day! The town continued to grow and started to blend into the rest of Cook County and the neighboring Chicago suburbs. The town has two beautiful parks that are popular with local residents -- Harold Hecht Park and Veterans' Park.
Moving to Steger
If you're thinking about renting an apartment in Steger, you shouldn't have any trouble finding a great place. There are plenty of places for rent in town, so the only thing you have to do is get started on your hunt! Before you head here, ask yourself some questions about what you're looking for in an apartment.
Find the Perfect Fit
Do you want to live in a big apartment complex or in a single-family home? Do you want to live near a park? Do you need to be near the highway or public transportation to get to work? Once you've figured out these questions, you will be able to narrow down your search so you can find a house rental that you really love. Make sure to allow at least 4 to 6 weeks for your search for apartments. You might find something right away, but you don't want to risk not being able to find anything! Also, its best to look in the summer or fall, when a lot of people are moving around and transitioning. That way you'll also avoid the frigid Chicago winters, too.
Getting Prepared
If you're heading here to hunt for apartments, you're going to need to start calling around to landlords and realtors to make appointments to see different places. Try to visit apartments on all sides of town to make sure that you get a feel for what the town is like. You might decide you really like one area much more than another and that it's worth holding out for an apartment in that neighborhood.
What You'll Need
Once you've set up some appointments, you'll want to make sure to get all your rental documents in order. This means a copy of your ID, your credit report, bank statements, pay stubs, letter of employment, references and anything else you think your landlord might require in order to get the rental process rolling. There is usually a fee in order to process your credit report, so be prepared to pay for that upfront for any apartments you decide to apply for. You'll also want to bring your checkbook along in case you want to put down a deposit if you see an apartment you really love.
Neighborhoods in Steger
Steger is a small town, but you will find that it does have a few distinct neighborhoods within it. Here's a little more info about them!
East Steger: The east side of town is right next to the Sauk County Trail Woods (Cook County Forest Preserve). It's less populated over here, and the homes and properties are much bigger and a bit more expensive.
Town Center: The center of Steger is where you'll find plenty of restaurants and shops, like Raspberry's Pancake House and Pepe's Mexican Restaurant. It's the commercial hub of the town and is where E. Sauk Trail and Route 1 intersect. There are a lot of rental properties available in this part of town.
East Steger: This part of town is purely residential outside of the few business and restaurants you'll find on 231st Street. It's a great place to look for single-family homes, though there aren't many rental properties available here.
Life in Steger
Living here will feel like living in a distant suburb of Chicago. The cost of living is on the low side and the cost of new homes is super low, so you are likely to find yourself saving quite a bit on rent! There are plenty of restaurants and shops in both local and nationwide chains. The Cook County Forest Preserve is a beautiful place to spend time getting some exercise and enjoying the outdoors! If you like golf, you can venture over to the Lincoln Oaks Golf Course for a game on its beautiful course. A lot of people live here and commute into Chicago for work, as the windy city is only about an hour away. There's plenty to do in Chicago, too, if you're interested in heading into the city for fun! You can catch a Cubs game, see a show or just enjoy some of the awesome food and drinks you'll find there!
