Consider a family that has immigrated from Korea and has been in the U.S. for less than a year. They have no issues with income verification, but when they check their credit report, it is almost empty. The first obstacle they face when trying to find an apartment in Arlington Heights is the credit score.

Arlington Heights is a suburb northwest of Chicago, and there are not many management companies that publish their own credit standards, so it is practical to refer to the standards of the nearby Chicago metropolitan area. According to data from Domu (domu.com), the typical credit score range in the Chicago area is between 650 and 700, and if the score is below 650, a cosigner or additional documentation is often required. If the score is between 580 and 620, conditions such as having a guarantor or increasing the deposit are frequently attached.

Rent costs also need to be considered. According to RentCafe (rentcafe.com) data from June 2026, the average rent for a one-bedroom in Arlington Heights is $1,851. The income requirement is typically 2.5 times the rent, so for a rent of $1,851, the baseline monthly income would need to be at least $4,628.

For the family mentioned earlier, this is where their options diverge. If they have no credit history at all, they can consider using a service like Nova Credit to transfer their credit history from Korea to U.S. standards. Alternatively, they could get a cosigner or enroll in a rent guarantee insurance program like The Guardians or Insurent. These guarantee insurances work by having the company guarantee payment to the landlord on behalf of the tenant, with costs typically ranging from 4.5% to 10% of the annual rent. In some cases, negotiations can lead to paying several months' rent upfront.

The state of Illinois requires written consent to be obtained first during the tenant screening process and mandates that the screening criteria and related fees be clearly communicated in writing. The security deposit must be returned within 45 days after the end of the lease, along with a detailed itemized statement. Cook County, where Arlington Heights is located, also has separate fair housing ordinances, so the specific conditions may vary by city and county, so it is advisable to check again before signing a lease.

For families moving to Arlington Heights from other states, it is also wise to consider that Illinois often has higher property tax rates than their previous residence. When choosing school districts preferred by Korean families, it is advisable to refer to ratings from GreatSchools or Niche, but since school district boundaries often change, it is safer to verify the assigned school directly before signing a lease.

For the family mentioned earlier, it is prudent to explore both the option of transferring their Korean credit history through Nova Credit and obtaining a cosigner simultaneously. This way, if one option is rejected during the screening, they still have the other as a backup.

Before looking for listings, it is also recommended to check their credit report for free at annualcreditreport.com. Even if their credit history is short, they can check for errors or old delinquencies in advance. Large management companies tend to apply standardized criteria with few exceptions, but for properties managed by individual landlords, there have been cases where income verification or employment history is given more weight and considered more flexibly.

Arlington Heights is a popular area for Korean families due to its better school districts compared to downtown Chicago. Many families start by renting to get familiar with the neighborhood before transitioning to buying, and in this case, managing their credit score from the rental stage can also help with future mortgage applications.

It is also good to keep in mind that building a credit history takes time. Consistently making timely rent payments from the first rental contract helps create a favorable condition for the next contract.

This article is not investment or legal advice, and it is recommended to verify the management company's standards and Illinois rental laws with a professional before entering into any contracts.