Looking For A 4-Bedroom In Wildwood? This Georgian At 6740 N. Wildwood Fits The Bill
This 4-bedroom single family home at 6740 N. Wildwood in the Wildwood neighborhood of Forest Glen just came on the market.
Built in 1949, the listing calls it a “jumbo Lannon stone Georgian.”
It’s on an oversized 45×152 lot (as are most of the homes in this neighborhood.
Wildwood is a unique Chicago neighborhood with streets with no curbs and handpainted wood street signs.
The Edgebrook Metra Station and the entrance to the North Branch bike trail are nearby.
This house has the preferred layout of all 4 bedrooms on the second level. The listing says a master suite with a bath were added to the house in 2009.
The kitchen has white cabinets, granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances.
There is a family room off the kitchen as well as a lower level recreation room in what looks like a semi-finished basement.
The house has central air and a 1-car garage which the listing says is 30 feet deep.
Can this neighborhood support a price of $749,000?
Linda Kramer at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here.
6740 N. Wildwood: 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, no square footage listed, 1 car garage
- Sold in January 1992 for $200,000
- Sold in July 1994 for $296,000
- Sold in September 1997 for $335,000
- Sold in August 2007 for $665,000
- Master suite addition in 2009
- Currently listed for $749,000
- Taxes of $10,164
- Central Air
- 2 woodburning fireplaces
- Bedroom #1: 22×18
- Bedroom #2: 18×13
- Bedroom #3: 13×12
- Bedroom #4: 12×11
- Family room: 22×17 (first floor)
- Recreation room: 30×22 (lower level)
This is a beautiful house- I love a stone house, and this one has large, comfortable rooms with nice mill work, in pretty much “move in” condition. It’s also in a pretty neighborhood that looks and feels like an old north shore suburb. Whether or not it’s a perfect family home depends on how the neighborhood schools are rated.
But it may not be worth this much money. I’m seeing comparable or even better properties in Lincolnwood for rather less money than this, for example, a 2700 sq ft brick Georgian with even more going for it in the way of appearance and appointments, for $575K, which really surprised me. I believe Lincolnwood is in the highly-regarded Niles/Skokie school district, though I’m not sure. I can’t think that this place would sell for nearly $200K more.
Really think $550K is more like it. We’re still not back to 2007 price levels and won’t be for a while, with credit as tight as it is and even high middle incomes rather precarious.
So they spent $100k+ on an addition and they’d like to see up to 75% of it back. Dont think it will happen, based off of peak bubble price–Think they should be happy to get their purchase price.
Nice looking tasteful home. I suggest it’s worth in th high sixes.
it’s interesting that there is a wood burning fireplace in an unfinished basement.
@tfo, they are probably still paying for that addition.
I remember seeing a WB fireplace in an unfinished basement as well as the living room above, in a house my mother viewed when she was buying in 1970. The house was a 30’s vintage one story, and the original owners had had an extra fireplace opening cut when they had the house built, thinking why not utilize the flue completely and get the extra fireplace put in at the time of construction, which is the easiest time to do it- finishing off the basement could come later. But kids and expenses intervened and the basement never got finished.
The addition is nice but they rarely pay off 100pc unless its a great room and kitchen.
I like the stone front, but it’s weird that bricks are used in the back and sides. I would rather have an all brick house than 75% brick and 25% stone.
Price seems a little steep for the area. What type of income would this buyer need to have assuming it sold at asking price? $175-200k?
Slightly off topic. Okay, very off topic. But there are a lot of multi-unit properties being listed on West Newport St near Boystown. It’s generally a cool area and great rental area. Any thoughts about why so many are being sold right now? Is there an issue there? Crime, sewer issues? Is this just coincidence?
Laura wrote:
“I believe Lincolnwood is in the highly-regarded Niles/Skokie school district”
This is true for high school only, with students attending one of the Niles Township high schools (north by old orchard, west at Oakton/Edens). For elementary, there are a ton of little districts most having only one or two schools. Lincolnwood has its own elementary district. Skokie has (kid you not) *7* districts that serve at least part of it (a couple of those only serve a small bit of skokie but also serve morton grove or niles). A portion of Skokie is in Evanston Township as well (west of crawford, north of howard), so Evanston’s single elementary district is one of those 7.
I’m not too familiar with this neighborhood but it looks like a really nice street and the house itself is pleasant looking on the outside. Not sure people would pay this much to live here considering a few blocks away you’re in Lincolnwood/Park Ridge with suburban schools.
Dave, I’d say more than that! Then again, if you’re in that range without substantial student loans, sure.
A lot of the vintage charm has been stripped out, and you’re paying for the OK (but not awesome) updates and addition. Too expensive for what you’re getting, in my book, though the neighborhood is pretty.
That strip of stone on the back of the house is godawful, and I can’t believe the real estate agent didn’t abscond with the wagon wheel from the backyard. That’s not vintage, just dated.
“I like the stone front, but it’s weird that bricks are used in the back and sides”
Why do you think that’s weird? The vast, vast majority of brick chicago homes were built with one sort of brick/stone on the facade, and common brick on the side+back. It’d be “weird” (as in unusual) if it were not.
anon (tfo) is totally right on this one.
Jenny, would you like it better with a stone front and clapboard/siding on the sides and back? That’s common in Milwaukee and tends to look pretty good.
“What type of income would this buyer need to have assuming it sold at asking price? $175-200k?”
Assuming you have the $150k dp? You’d surely qualify for the 80% ltv mortgage at 175-200 (assuming littel/no other debt as Java sez). Now, is that “affordable”? Dunno.
“Assuming you have the $150k dp?”
Russ: Is putting 20% down on this place the way to go? Or, because it’s above the conforming limit, would they be in (almost) as good a shape by putting down $75k? How long of a term can one get on a $750k price, 10% down loan? 10 years?
I’ve seen different types of bricks used for the sides/back and front, but they are both brick, so it doesn’t seem weird to me. I don’t like the use of different materials for this house. Oh, and I really hate houses that have a brick front and then wood/plastic siding. Blech.
“I’ve seen different types of bricks used for the sides/back and front, but they are both brick, so it doesn’t seem weird to me.”
You’ve seen plenty of greystones, too. They all have common brick sides and back.
On a Georgian wood siding would look weird on the sides, but on a 2-story English-style cottage I think it can look lovely!
My big peeve is houses with different material on the front–e.g., brick lower and siding upper.
Laura Louzader – Wildwood is NOT Lincolnwood!!!! Get a clue those 2 neighborhoods only share 1 thing in common and that is Touhy Ave.
“would they be in (almost) as good a shape by putting down $75k?”
With income of $200, I don’t think it would make a difference from a qualifying POV, but at $175, there’s much less margin for other debts/underwriter weirdness.
Now, this ain’t getting $750k, anyway, so it’s all theoretical. $665, and 10% down, leave teh qaulification math cbasically the same as $750 and 20% (ie, $600k mtg).
Lunker, I totally KNOW that Lincolnwood is not Wildwood….. please!
I mentioned cheaper comparable properties in Lincolnwood because Lincolnwood has far superior schools. My point was, why pay more to live in Wildwood when you can have good Niles/Skokie schools in Lincolnwood, which is a very convenient and beautiful suburb?
You need to get a clue.
“My big peeve is houses with different material on the front”
Like the one to the right in Sabrina’s pic!
“Now, this ain’t getting $750k, anyway”
Yeahbut the place nonny buys might. Can he get decent rates w 10 percent down?
Wildwood is a better elementary school than the Lincolnwood elementary schools.
Not a fan of the brick sides and back. I think you can get away with that on the greystones when they’re so close together. Obviously overpriced, but the inside is very nice. I prefer the French Normandy that sold in Saugansh last year for 625k with the 70X266 lot. I know it was a 3 bed- If saug. place could add a master suite for 100k it would blow this house out of the water. $600-650k seems more realistic.
http://cribchatter.com/?p=11487
I’d take Wildwood over Lincolnwood any day. Lincolnwood always seemed ugly to me with large amount of homes built in the 70s and 80s.
Nice photo sabrina with the leaves changing color!
I think Wildwood is much prettier than Lincolnwood, too, but if I had school age kids to think of, I’d feel differently. The quality of the schools would be the first consideration.
Laura, Wildwood Elementary is pretty top-notch and would beat out Lincolnwood… I see what you’re saying for high school options, though.
These days you can get a nice home in Wilmette for about the same price and if schools were a concern, I’d choose to live there instead.
Given the sold comps in Wildwood within the past year…This should get around $685k…could even approach the $700k figure with the right buyer.
What comps are you referring to exactly? Honestly, because I haven’t been paying much attention lately. This four bedroom can’t be one of them.
http://cribchatter.com/?p=15361
Laura Louzader (October 12, 2012, 10:46 am)
Lunker, I totally KNOW that Lincolnwood is not Wildwood….. please!
I mentioned cheaper comparable properties in Lincolnwood because Lincolnwood has far superior schools. My point was, why pay more to live in Wildwood when you can have good Niles/Skokie schools in Lincolnwood, which is a very convenient and beautiful suburb?
You need to get a clue.
why move to Wildwood when you can move to Lincolnwood
I’ve bit my tongue on alot of your comments but this once is completely ignorant.
I’ll spell it out – 1. Its a friggin awesome neighborhood vs Lincolnwood. 2 what your not getting is the NW factor which is city employees. I looked into this subject in the MLS and there is a note from the Patrolman’s Credit Union. Making any sense now? Get why Edison Park, Wildwood, Edgebrook have held prices? We’ve only talked about it 100 times here on Cribchatter
Its a bit rich at 749K though in my opinion
People who can spend this much won’t spend it in Wildwood, as pretty as it is. Why spend so much and then have to worry about where your kid is going to go to high school?
If I had $750K for a home, I’d buy somewhere where I could settle for the long term. It wouldn’t be Lincolnwood, either, which I agree is unattractive, and I doubt the schools there are any better (nor are the Niles high schools).
I agree with Jenny, it would be Wilmette or north of there, though I’m not a huge New Trier fan, either, mainly because of the snob factor. If it had to be NW, maybe Park Ridge, though there aren’t too many options. Or, if I could afford private schools, Lincoln Park or North Center. From a neighborhood character standpoint, Wildwood might as well be the burbs, and while it makes sense if you’re a city employee, I can’t imagine many city employees have this sort of $ to spend.
“I doubt the schools there are any better (nor are the Niles high schools)”
“I’m not a huge New Trier fan, either, mainly because of the snob factor”
For some reason, I find this amusing.
Dan #2 — while Wildwood has a ‘burbs feel, I’d argue that it’s very convenient for a couple that commutes in opposite directions, more so than many ‘burbs (like my situation, for example). I do think not being near much in terms of mid- to upscale shopping/restaurants/coffee shops/pubs would be annoying — while it’s technically Chicago and it’s convenient for getting into downtown or one person driving NW and the other S or W, it doesn’t feel very “city.”
Thats not true, I know a guy who just sold his house (a few north of this one) for 1.05 million before print
“I do think not being near much in terms of mid- to upscale shopping/restaurants/coffee shops/pubs would be annoying ”
Depends what you mean by “shopping” and mid. Definintely not a lot of boutiques, non-chain eateries etc, in immediate area, and anyone concerned about proximity to “upscale shopping” has a very limited world to consider.
“@tfo, they are probably still paying for that addition.”
Checked–$83k 2d mtg. Face on the 2 mtgs is ~80% of purchase price.
E.g., a mid-scale neighborhood like Lincoln Square or Andersonville that has a mix of both casual and nicer eateries, plus coffee shops beyond just Starbucks or DD, a few boutiques (not Barneys or truly upscale fancy shopping), bookstore, gym, etc.
This is in Chicago proper, the school district is 299. Elementary school for this address is Wildwood World Magnet – an excellent IB school (my 3 kids go there but we do not live in the beautiful neighborhood). The High School for the address is Taft, which is not a school I would choose to send my kids to as it stands now.
You know, Lunker, I’ve bitten my tongue on a lot of people’s comments in here, because I believe in maintaining a minimal level of civility and “agreeing to disagree”, and where I disagree, I manage to do so without becoming abusive and calling people names.
But I’ll call YOU what you are- a loud-mouthed, arrogant, overgrown adolescent whose mother didn’t slap his snotty little face often enough.
Laura, I never knew you were so…spicy!
I’m seeing a whole new side of you this week.
Wildwood looks like a great place for kids. My buddy said recently, that if a neighborhood has a good “trick , or treat” atmosphere, it’s a good proxy for knowing if the hood is good for familes and kids. Now, in Lincolnwood, you have such a hodge-podge of people, it strikes me that some of these Pakistanis, Armenians, Hindus, Russian Jews, etc. that have hit-it-somewhat-big as immigrants, that these people don’t know what they’re all doing together as neighbors.
Oh, and I forgot the Levantines too.
Laura Louzader (October 13, 2012, 8:32 pm)
You know, Lunker, I’ve bitten my tongue on a lot of people’s comments in here, because I believe in maintaining a minimal level of civility and “agreeing to disagree”, and where I disagree, I manage to do so without becoming abusive and calling people names.
But I’ll call YOU what you are- a loud-mouthed, arrogant, overgrown adolescent whose mother didn’t slap his snotty little face often enough.
Been called worst. Who compares to Wildwood to Lincolnwood. Enough said.