Love and marriage at Butterfield Oaks

YOUR HOME | He met his future wife at Aurora apartment complex

'If I hadn't rented an apartment here, I would have never met my fiancee."

That's the No. 1 thing renter Greg Boerner loves about Butterfield Oaks, a 336-unit rental development in west suburban Aurora. The 20-acre lushly landscaped rental complex has 336 apartments in 21 two-story buildings. Rents for 1-bedroom apartments range from $825 to $980 and 2-bedroom units range from $1,049 to $1,250.

The 41-year-old Boerner has been renting a 1-bedroom apartment at Butterfield Oaks for more than four years. Shortly after moving in, he met his future wife, Rebecca Leksell, at the development's business center. They began dating and eventually got engaged. Now, they're planning an early spring wedding. (Two years ago, Leksell moved from Butterfield Oaks and bought a condo in Naperville. Boerner plans to move into Leksell's condo after the wedding.)

"The reason I stay here is the [management] staff. They're just great to me and are very friendly and helpful. Any time I had a problem, it was fixed in a reasonable amount of time," said Boerner, who is a musician and songwriter.

Boerner also says he enjoys the development's amenities. Renters at Butterfield Oaks enjoy a heated outdoor pool, large sundeck, fitness center and clubhouse. The business center is complete with fax machine, copier and computers with Internet access.

"I don't own a computer, so I really like being able to walk to the business center and use the computers and Internet. It's a real plus for me," Boerner said. "I also like the fitness center. "