Does Parking Matter? A 2-Bedroom Cottage at 3908 N. Paulina in Lakeview

Even though this 2-bedroom cottage at 3908 N. Paulina in Lakeview has been on and off the market for about 2 1/2 years, we actually haven’t chattered about it.

3908-n-paulina.jpg

Originally listed in February 2009, it has been reduced $117,900.

The house has hardwood floors throughout the first level.

The bedrooms are split, with one on the main level and the master bedroom on the second floor.

There is also a den on the second floor.

The listing says the kitchen has been “renovated’ and has maple cabinets, granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances.

The house has central air and a full basement with a laundry room.

Heck, it’s also located in the much-sought-after Blaine school district.

The one thing it’s missing is parking as it’s built on a smaller than average Chicago lot of 25×60 which does not back up to an alley.

How much does parking matter?

Federick Carmean at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

3908 N. Paulina: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed

  • Sold in August 2000 for $252,000
  • Sold in April 2006 for $430,000
  • Originally listed in February 2009 for $517,900
  • Reduced numerous times
  • Was listed in April 2010 for $464,900
  • Withdrawn
  • Currently listed for $400,000
  • Taxes of $4605
  • Central Air
  • No Parking/Garage
  • Bedroom #1: 14×11 (second floor)
  • Bedroom #2: 10×10 (main floor)
  • Living room: 13×13
  • Dining room: 13×13
  • Kitchen: 8×10
  • Den: 8×13 (second floor)

23 Responses to “Does Parking Matter? A 2-Bedroom Cottage at 3908 N. Paulina in Lakeview”

  1. I think it’s more than just the lack of parking – It’s that the house seems to almost abut an apartment building in the back.

    Is street parking plentiful in this area?

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  2. what and odd lot. looks like someone took 2 lots that faced byron and subdivided. I’ve seen that elsewhere with townhouses, but not SFH’s.

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  3. Didn’t the agent say anything to the seller about curb appeal? They need to put a quick coat of paint on the lower area brick and add a little color to the landscaping and maybe stain the wood gate. Either that or just use Sabrinas photo, it makes the place look much more appealing.

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  4. This place is no better than a duplex condo, and the sale price will reflect that.

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  5. “looks like someone took 2 lots that faced byron and subdivided.”

    Same thing at Hermitage/Byron, down the alley.

    Also, see Paulina & Barry, just south of Barry, both sides of the street.

    And Greenview just south of Byron–tho those are deeper than 60′, so likely 3 lots.

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  6. This place is worse than a duplex condo. Frame houses are expensive to upkeep. I’d take a condo or duplex over this any day.

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  7. A family would outgrow this quickly.

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  8. I’m a little bit shocked this hasn’t yet sold. $400,000 for your own little piece of land in Chicago in the Blaine dist, in a good location, near the el, cafe 28, walking dist to all that north center has to offer (short walk to TJ’s anyone?)- this seems like a great buy to me. i’d consider it myself but i can’t afford the mortgage on it so I’m going to continue renting for at least 3 or 4 more years and hope for a raise (or a new better job!!!) somebody will buy this soon, it’s a deal. it’s difficult to find single family structures in locations like this at this price. this is ‘entry’ level.

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  9. “Same thing at Hermitage/Byron, down the alley.

    Also, see Paulina & Barry, just south of Barry, both sides of the street.

    And Greenview just south of Byron–tho those are deeper than 60?, so likely 3 lots.”

    I saw the one on the same block but not those others too. How old is this place? Maybe the original developer did lay it out that way?

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  10. “Same thing at Hermitage/Byron, down the alley.

    Also, see Paulina & Barry, just south of Barry, both sides of the street.

    And Greenview just south of Byron–tho those are deeper than 60′, so likely 3 lots.”

    I saw the one on the same block but not those others too. How old is this place? Maybe the original developer did lay it out that way?

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  11. http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/3001-N-Christiana-Ave-60618/home/13449106

    $379,000 walk to Belmont el subway

    STEAL

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  12. “I saw the one on the same block but not those others too. How old is this place? Maybe the original developer did lay it out that way?”

    These and all but one of the ones on Hermitage appear to be old–about the same age as the apartment buildings on Byron in between.

    The others I mentioned are much newer–last 15-20 years, I think.

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  13. “$379,000 walk to Belmont el subway

    STEAL”

    How does this price relate to the other, substantially identical, houses from the same builder? I don’t recall.

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  14. “http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/3001-N-Christiana-Ave-60618/home/13449106

    $379,000 walk to Belmont el subway

    STEAL”

    Jun 20, 2011 Listed (New) $379,000
    Jan 26, 2011 Sold (Public Records) $59,500

    5 months to finish, wow! They must be trucking in the house like a double wide mobile home.

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  15. “Jun 20, 2011 Listed (New) $379,000
    Jan 26, 2011 Sold (Public Records) $59,500

    5 months to finish, wow! They must be trucking in the house like a double wide mobile home.”

    Note that (1) the pic is of another house (3001 Christiana is on a corner, the pic is not) and (2) the open house is at 1429 N Rockwell (which I noted after my question, and thus answered it).

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  16. it’s 1429 N. Rocckwell with 2 c’s. i can’t find that street anywhere in Chicago. Maybe it’s in the suburbs somewhere? The rocckwell house is under k at $350,000. STEAL. I love it.

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  17. This house is tiny, has almost no lot and no parking. The price reflects that a condo is better.

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  18. Speaking of Rockwell,

    In the Best Listing Pics category:

    Why spend the time and effort to write a listing description for each of your foreclosures?

    http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/2157-N-Rockwell-St-60647/home/13417105

    pic 5

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  19. “5 months to finish, wow! They must be trucking in the house like a double wide mobile home.”

    Note that (1) the pic is of another house (3001 Christiana is on a corner, the pic is not) and (2) the open house is at 1429 N Rockwell (which I noted after my question, and thus answered it).’

    They have built 5 to 10 of these houses now (at least)- all on the west to northwest side of the city. They buy a foreclosure for $30k to $60k and build the same house over and over (listed anywhere from $375k to $450k- depending on how “good” the neighborhood is.)

    We chattered about one of these in East Humboldt Park on Rockwell. Most of the other ones have been selling because it’s a SFH and “new” for a condo/townhouse price.

    If you see them- let me know. I’ll do another post on them.

    Is the one on Christina even built?

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  20. Nope, lot is vacant. This is by me, we hassled the city for months to get the old crapshack torn down, local “youth clubs” were showing a little too much interest in it.

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  21. Thanks for the update Skeptic. I would have gone over there to take a pic- if the house was there. So that’s why they have the open house on Rockwell. They’ll only build the other ones – probably- once it goes under contract.

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  22. That would be my guess, they have had a sign advertising the Rockwell open house for a month or so.

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  23. I wonder if you could finish the basement to create a family room/3rd bedroom. Then at least you have a bit more living space, though i guess it would cut down on storage.

    I love the area though. I grew up on the next block south.

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