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Heartland Properties
Heartland Properties
  • ABOUT
  • CHICAGO
  • HOW TO QUALIFY
  • APPLICATION & SURVEY
  • More
    • ABOUT
    • CHICAGO
    • HOW TO QUALIFY
    • APPLICATION & SURVEY
  • ABOUT
  • CHICAGO
  • HOW TO QUALIFY
  • APPLICATION & SURVEY

How to Qualify

Renting an apartment requires a serious commitment.  Our leases last a full year, which means the total money involved could  be substantial. Because we charge an application fee, you’ll save both  time and money by making sure you’re a qualified tenant before you  apply.

Create a budget to determine whether you can afford an apartment with  us. Start with your monthly take-home pay. Subtract fixed expenses such  as credit card bills, car loans, student loans and other bills you have  to pay every month. Next, subtract the cost of living expenses. Include  a realistic food budget as well as the cost of utilities,  transportation, insurance, clothing, cable TV, Internet service and  other necessities. Next, set aside money for an emergency savings fund.  The cash that remains is the amount you can spend on rent. Ideally, it  should total no more than 30 percent of your gross monthly income — that  is, the amount you earn before taxes, health insurance and retirement  savings are deducted.

1 Order a free copy of your credit report to look  for blemishes that might hurt your chances of having a rental  application approved as well as errors that might lower your score.  Bring past-due accounts current. Follow the credit bureau’s instructions  for correcting mistakes.  Highly recommended

2 Gather references. Contact current and past  employers who can verify that you have a solid work history. Ask  permission to use them as references. If you do use them, ask for a  written reference on company letter head. Ask current and past landlords  to serve as references as well.  If you have a pet a written reference  form the current or previous landlord is recommended.  A photo of the pet is required.  It’s important to establish that you have reliable income and, if possible, a history of on-time rent payments. Highly recommended

3 Compensate for a weak application. Find a cosigner  if your income falls short. Reduce debt by paying your bills on time  for several months to boost a low credit score. Prove your value as a  reliable, responsible employee to strengthen your references. If you’re  currently renting, pay your rent a day or two early each month and get  receipts for each payment so you can share them with your prospective  landlord.  Highly recommended

4 Disclose any serious problems with your rental  history for the past three to five years. Primarily this means evictions  or broken leases. Explain the circumstances. Remember, a prospective  landlord is going to run your application with a tenant-checking service  and so will find out about such problems in any case. Your  honesty gives you the best chance of qualifying for the apartment and  saves you the cost of an application fee if not acceptable.

FICO SCORE OF 650 OR ABOVE (WITH EXCEPTIONS) IS REQUIRED FOR AN APPLICATION TO BE ACCEPTED

TO CALCULATE WHAT RENT YOU CAN AFFORD DO THE FOLLOWING:

ANNUAL INCOME DIVIDED BY 40 = MONTHLY RENT YOU CAN AFFORD (APPROXIMATELY)

APPLICATIONS WITH INFORMATION MISSING WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

Copyright © 2025 Heartland Properties - All Rights Reserved.

  • ABOUT
  • CHICAGO
  • HOW TO QUALIFY
  • APPLICATION & SURVEY

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