Blago’s House Is Off the Market, But This One Remains: 4443 N. Mozart in Ravenswood Manor
This 4-bedroom single family home at 4443 N. Mozart in Ravenswood Manor has been on the market for 11 months.
We last chattered about it in October 2011, when former Governor Blagojevich’s house came on the market just two blocks away. See our chatter here.
Some of you thought at $1.235 million that that was too pricey for this neighborhood.
Since then, it has been reduced another $40,000 to $1.195 million.
As you recall, the house was built in 1914.
It is on an extra wide 45×125 lot and has a rare side drive that leads to a 3-car garage.
It last sold in 2007 after having been in the same family for 42 years.
The original May listing said it was a “total renovation.”
The house now has a custom kitchen with Viking and Subzero appliances.
It also has a fully finished basement with an exercise room and one of the four bedrooms.
The other three bedrooms are on the second floor.
Blago’s house has since been pulled from the market so this house now has less competition.
What price will it take to get this sold?
Elizabeth Bleeker at Prudential Rubloff still has the listing. See the pictures here.
4443 N. Mozart: 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 3800 square feet, 3 car garage
- Sold in 1965
- Sold in November 2007 for $780,500
- Originally listed in May 2011 for $1.295 million
- Reduced
- Was listed in October 2011 for $1.235 million
- Reduced
- Currently listed at $1.195 million
- Taxes of $10,506
- Central Air
- 2 fireplaces
- Bedroom #1: 16×14 (second floor)
- Bedroom #2: 14×14 (second floor)
- Bedroom #3: 16×12 (second floor)
- Bedroom #4: 14×10 (lower level)
- Exercise room: 20×11 (lower level)
I still think that this will go pretty close to ask, but we’ll see. There may not be a lot of buyers for Ravenswood Manor properties, but for those who want to be there this is a pretty good specimen. However, depending on how much work the 2008 buyers did, they may be expecting to get back all or all of what they put in, which doesn’t seem realistic. It also looks like it is empty now, and the lack of staging may be hurting is as well.
OH, will there ever be enough millionaires to buy all up all the million dollar homes in Chicago? Not likely, but that aside, this is a nice little area, surrounded by the albany park gangbanging heaven, a handful of decent blocks surrounded by high density, overcrowded lower income tracts. A two block walk down wilson from this property and everything changes dramatically. ANd the school issues, the school issues…
It’s a beautiful house and I like this pocket area. I haven’t been in this area in many years. Ahhh…memories of my very first boyfriend in 7th grade who lived in this area. His house abutted the river and was rather impressive.
However, the surrounding area was a little scary and it doesn’t sound like much has changed, if HD is correct.
This is a gorgeous home! Doesn’t change the fact though that it is still overpriced for the area. I really think closer to or under $1M is more appropriate.
The school issues? It’s in Waters, which is pretty solid. I suppose there’s high school issues, but that’s everywhere.
What’s with all these 600k plus properties.
How about some cribs that use proles can afford Sabrina.
Nice place. Agree with homedelete about the neighborhood. I can’t imagine $1MM to live in Albany Park, basically. There isn’t much retail or services in the immediate area, so this is not Greenzone living.
Maybe $800k makes sense here to me. In all sincerity, the North Shore looks much more attractive at this price point.
” I can’t imagine $1MM to live in Albany Park, basically. ”
its not really different from paying whatever it costs to buy the mansions in Palmer Square in Logan Square.
I live two blocks from this house. Been here for two years and just signed a lease to stay for a third. I absolutely love the neighborhood. RM itself is charming, as are many of the blocks to the east. Unlike in other parts of the city, I know my neighbors. Folks are generally friendly and take care of their homes. Horner Park is a great resource, especially for dog owners. Ethnic food options within a five minute drive are both diverse and great.
I’ll only move if schools become a concern. I have friends who think that Waters is good enough, but I’m not sure it will be for me.
The only think I don’t like about the area is accessibility. It takes forever on the train.
To take a line from a fellow Chatterer; “I want to fuck this house”
And you guys need to hike your skirts up a little bit, this area of Albany Park isnt scary.
Icarus – you think this is a mansion? Beg to differ. It’s a decent Craftsman type house on a larger lot.
And, it this was priced anywhere near correctly, it would have had some action by now.
“this area of Albany Park isnt scary.”
No shit, Sherlock, this area ain’t scary, but go 1 or 2 blocks outside of the defined ravenswood manor neighborhood, and it’s no picnic in the park. The entire point of having a million dollar home is to distance yourself from the riff-raff, not put yourself dead-center in the middle of it.
This is a nice house and all, but for $1.2 mm for a 4 bed, it would seem that buyers have better options in LV/WLP, OP or Evtn/Wtte.
If you want to lump this house into Albany Park, why not let the realtor lump this house into SW Lincoln Square? I think this neighborhood is more similar to Lincoln Square than it is to most of Albany Park.
Is this a mansion? I wouldn’t quite go that far, but at 4 bedrooms/3.5 baths and supposedly 3800 sq. ft. it is certainly larger than the average house in Chicago. It even has enough bathrooms for Jenny. (I think)
http://homicides.redeyechicago.com/search/?d=1&address=4443+n+mozart
There’s been a fair number of homicides in the last five years in an 8 block vicinity. Cross lawrence to the north, or go east of the river for a few blocks and it starts to get sketchy. That’s just too close for comfort for me. I understand that’s just City Livin’ !!! but it’s too close for comfort, for me. listen to the police scanner for the 16th precinct and you can hear the stories of gang banging beat downs, muggings, diffuse tagging and generally hoodlumry and thugery.
TB, Someone said that Ravenswood Manor is essentially Albany Park so what I meant was that in Logan Square, which is probably a fair base-line comparision for Albany Park, you have Palmer Square within, which is considered a step-up from the macro neighborhood it is inside.
As for the price of the house, a house is really only worth what someone will pay for it, unless they pay more than the Chattari think its worth, then they are knifecatchers.
This is more like Lincoln Square than Albany Park. All of Albany Park has had 19 murders since 1/07. Lake View had 10 in the same time frame. Not really a big deal in the scheme of things.
I know the area as well. Although I love this house, it is way too much to pay to be quite close to (but not in) a sketchy area. Even a couple of blocks east (or across the river) would help.
Just read that Waters, the neighborhood school has had to eliminate tuition based pre-K due to huge enrollment increases from neighborhood kids. The school seems fine and getting better all the time.
Beautiful house, appears overpriced though.
Ravensood Manor IS in Albany Park. Just sayin’.
http://www.city-data.com/neighborhood/Albany-Park-Chicago-IL.html
How much would this house go for in Wilmette, a few blocks west of the lake? I would take this house in Wilmette for the same price. I love the city, but if I was going to deal with a long commute to downtown, I may as well live in Wilmette (slightly longer commute, but much better area).
It’s funny how little people know about Ravenswood Manor. Maybe all the bankers, lawyers, hedgies and finance folks who live there should check in with you guys.
The bankers, heges and lawyers make up a tiny fraction of the total number of people who live within a 1 mile radius of the house. Stop being so naïve.
“its not really different from paying whatever it costs to buy the mansions in Palmer Square in Logan Square.”
Exactly. There are actually two differences from Logan Square, RM is nicer and not hip.
“Exactly. There are actually two differences from Logan Square, RM is nicer and not hip.”
Or that they’re both little pockets of expensive homes surrounded by high density, higher crime areas directly to the west and the north? Yeah, that’s what I think he meant when comparing the demographics and pricepoints of the two neighborhoods.
Ravenswood Manor is not a pocket. 20 years ago maybe, but not today.
“Vlajos (April 4, 2012, 1:53 pm)
This is more like Lincoln Square than Albany Park. All of Albany Park has had 19 murders since 1/07. Lake View had 10 in the same time frame. Not really a big deal in the scheme of things.”
God damn vj, all of albany park has 51,000 residents whereas lakeview has nearly 100. There have been twice as many murders in the last 5 years in albany park, as compared to lakeview, with twice as many people.
So, yeah, it kind of is a pretty big deal in the scheme of things.
http://homicides.redeyechicago.com/neighborhood/east-garfield-park/
but that’s nothing compared to east garfield park with 53 murders and a population of 20,935 (-53).
RM is nice, but I find it hard to justify putting up with the surrounding sketch when you can buy large homes/lots surrounded by similar large homes/lots for similar money in areas like Old Norwood that are not surrounded by marginal areas, have better CPS (Waters is OK but it’s no Norwood Elem) and about the same downtown commute time on Metra.
Love the house, but at this price point you can get better schools, same style house and renovation and better access to amenities in Oak Park, North Shore, Evanston, and other inner burbs.
I mean for this kind of money, you could get a pretty nice SF in bucktown, lakeview, etc.
It just seems there are better alternatives. Not knocking Ravenswood Manor, but having a hard time wrapping my head around the price relative to other arguably more desirable hoods. Heck, if schools don’t matter, I’d rather get a place over in Lakewood Balmoral/Andersonville.
I think the main thing though is that people tend to look to live only in certain nieghborhoods. The majority of people shopping RM are not going to cross-shop it with OP, LP, LV and Bucktown. They probably should, but most people say, “I want to live X” and only look in that neighborhood.
“As for the price of the house, a house is really only worth what someone will pay for it, unless they pay more than the Chattari think its worth, then they are knifecatchers.”
It’s that “worth” that they paid for in recent years that made them knifecatchers. It still is, too.
Beautiful house and a beautiful block. A little pricey, but Ravenswood Manor is a lovely neighborhood and Waters is a great school. I’ve lived in the neighborhood (more on the Albany Park side) for 8 years and it has a good community and neighborly vibe. Yes, there are gangbangers around but there are gangbangers everywhere, even in the burbs. And four of my immediate neighbors are lawyers. And my kids go to Waters.
Here is a place that sold in a month at list. Needs some work, but nice. Implies the subject needs to come down a bit.
http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/4529-N-Sacramento-Ave-60625/home/13489290
This is among the best-looking houses I’ve ever seen on Crib Chatter. Although the price seems high for this neighborhood, I might be willing to pay it.
I’ve lived in AP (outside the Manor area) since 1997 and I’m still alive! Yes there’s some gang activity (a lot less than in 1997!) but I don’t live in fear at all. I actually kind of like it. It is a truly diverse area with lots of racial/ethnic make ups and socio-economic levels sharing the same area.
After reading all these wonderful comments.. Opened the pictures expecting something special.
Ze disappointed. Going to go eat more Nutella and make Ze happy again.
that’s got to be the coolest garage we’ve seen on CC.
PS nice MLS photos, check’em out in full screen! Can anyone figure out the file size of them in MBs?
Alley and driveway access to the garage is nice….
Never got the Ravenswood Manor buzz, sorry. Plenty of architects migrated here to do the semi-affordable full house renovation, but neighborhood still lacks certain amenities and Albany Park unruliness lurks nearby. This house looks like it could be an advertisement for Lowes, particularly that vinyl siding and faux stone base. This is a $750,000 house for a dual-income montessori-destined couple, but not necessarily a good buy.
With three true bedrooms this is no “mansion”. If we’re endorsing suburbs, for $1.2 million you can buy yourself a very serious house-mansion in River Forest, with a shorter commute to downtown, better schools, far more lawn, know all your neighbors, walk to Trader Joes/Whole Foods, et al..
Trader joes is extremely overrated. Brown line is two blocks from here. Lincoln Square is all of a 10 minute walk. To fatties, I understand that’s much too far.
Regarding living next to lower income tracks, it doesn’t seem to be affecting many homes. Look at the $4 million dollar home sold in River North on curbed.com yesterday. Its 2 blocks from the Cabrini Row homes. This house is no different. $1 million several blocks from a not great neighborhood.
“Lower income tracks” – the Green Line through Englewood.
“Higher income tracks” – the North Shore Metra line.
“Lower income tracks” – the Green Line through Englewood.
“Higher income tracks” – the North Shore Metra line.
I’ve rode both. Definitely very different experiences!
Nice try. Cabrini is a little pocket of low income in neighborhood of wealth, yet RM is a pocket of wealth in a neighborhood of lower income. Hey, I like RM, it’s a nice place, and plenty of people live there. However, its not for a lot of people, and that’s OK.
“a local (April 5, 2012, 8:45 am)
Regarding living next to lower income tracks, it doesn’t seem to be affecting many homes. Look at the $4 million dollar home sold in River North on curbed.com yesterday. Its 2 blocks from the Cabrini Row homes. This house is no different. $1 million several blocks from a not great neighborhood.”
Lincoln Square is poor?
“buy yourself a very serious house-mansion in River Forest, with a shorter commute to downtown, better schools, far more lawn, know all your neighbors, walk to Trader Joes/Whole Foods, et a”
and three times the property taxes that are not ever getting lower
“and three times the property taxes that are not ever getting lower”
You would have to appeal, since that indicates they would be over assessed.
Effective residential tax rate as % of market value (2010 pay 2011, no exemptions):
Chicago 1.6%
River Forest 2.5%
Oak Park 2.9%
Evanston 2.3%
Wilmette 2.0%
“Lincoln Square is poor?”
No but you hit the ravenswood gardens headed east before you hit lincoln Sq.
Ravenswood Gardens is not poor either.
““and three times the property taxes that are not ever getting lower”
Effective residential tax rate as % of market value (2010 pay 2011, no exemptions):
Chicago 1.6%
River Forest 2.5%”
1.6 to 2.5 doesnt have the same dramatic effect as 3 times more even if mine is not factual 😉
still 1% on 1.2mil home is 12k a year home and ends up being 360k over 30 years.
and in the end the HS between the two are not that much different? why pay 360k more?
still if the choice between rave manor or river forest, one should always choose RF.
groove, were you gone for a while?
you know rf better than me. looks like you can get more house for $$ there, no?
http://www.redfin.com/IL/River-Forest/1339-Monroe-Ave-60305/home/13342988
CH,
there is a cheaper and IMO better place a center georgian south on Monroe closer to lake st. for 549k i think.
its only only downfall is that it shares a driveway with the house next to it.
there is also a sweet prairie style home on quick for 799k
only strikes against it is the Mc Dee’s behind it (doesnt share the alley) and too close to harlem ave