2-Bedroom Duplex Up with Huge Deck for $529,900: 2121 W. Division in West Town
This 2-bedroom duplex up at 2121 W. Division in West Town came on the market in October 2022.
2121 W. Division was built in 1999 and has 6 units including commercial space on the first floor. It has garage parking behind the building.
The listing says this unit was “recently updated.”
The first floor is open concept with the living and dining rooms and the kitchen. It also has a half bath and a fireplace.
It has a boxed ceiling and there are oak hardwood floors.
The kitchen has “high quality” cabinets, stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops along with a large island.
The unit has a “huge” front balcony off the main level that overlooks Division Street, including all the restaurants, coffee shops, bars and shops there. The listing says it is a new composite deck.
The second floor includes both bedrooms and a den or office and both full bathrooms.
The primary suite has a walk-in-closet and en suite bath with jacuzzi tub.
The listing says the unit has been freshly painted.
It has the features buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and one garage parking space is included.
This building is in the middle of the Division Street action and is near shops and restaurants of Ukrainian Village and Wicker Park.
Listed in October 2022 for $549,000, it has been reduced to $529,900.
Is this a townhouse alternative?
Jennifer Ublasi and Stephanie Juckem at Jameson Sotheby’s have the listing. See the pictures here. (sorry, no floor plan)
Unit #4: 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, duplex up, 1650 square feet
- Sold in December 1999 for $245,000
- Sold in May 2005 for $405,000
- Sold in September 2014 for $390,000
- Originally listed in October 2022 for $549,000
- Reduced
- Currently listed at $529,900 (garage parking included)
- Assessments of $275 a month (includes exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
- Taxes of $11,505
- Central Air
- Washer/dryer in the unit
- Fireplace
- Bedroom #1: 14×11 (second floor)
- Bedroom #2: 25×10 (second floor)
- Living room: 21×14 (main floor)
- Dining room: 10×11 (main floor)
- Kitchen: 11×12 (main floor)
- Den: 8×6 (second floor)
- Laundry: 6×8 (second floor)
- Deck: 24×32 (main floor)
Appears to be off Redfin, wtm. Zillow link:
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2121-W-Division-St-APT-4-Chicago-IL-60622/58365447_zpid/
Not much I like about the finishes–hate the kitchen, even tho it’s ‘nice’, main bathroom really needed a new floor and the vessel sinks are awful. Coffered ceiling feels *very* heavy–would work w/ 10’+ ceilings, but not here.
Deck is nice, and I like the trex (or ‘trex’) thay chose–railing needs touch up.
What’s the cut off duct in the laundry room??
Dec-99 + CPI = $432
May-05 + CPI = $620 (nice reminder of how huuuuge the bubble was)
Sep-14 + CPI = $487
Priced right for the lack of inventory and the recent maintenance/updates (assuming you like the kitchen), I’d say.
Thanks for posting link, Anon.
I kind of like it. Seems way too expensive for what you get and location, but if were less I could see taking a look. Needs a floor plan. Looks small but hard to say for sure.
Looks like its for rent at $3300/mo – https://www.apartmentguide.com/apartments/Illinois/Chicago/2121-W-Division-St-4/4496846/
So rent for $3.3k or $4k/mo + $100k DP. Decisions, decisions…
The only way this is a buy is if you really, really like the unit + location and will continue liking it for another 10+ years
“What’s the cut off duct in the laundry room?”
Combustion make up air
Now zillow showing as ‘off market’, and different pix than earlier (no laundry room pic).
Someone must have signed a lease.
I think this place would make a good rental given the location. I would very quickly get tired of living on Division, but the location would be great for someone in their 20s who is willing to put up with the traffic noise and idling cars waiting for a car wash. $3300 for rent seems reasonable.
“I think this place would make a good rental given the location.”
There have already been a bunch of new apartment buildings built on Division in the last half dozen years. There is nothing available in nearby 1846 w Division, but I doubt one of their larger 1500+ square foot units is renting for as low as $3300.
https://www.1846wdivision.com/
1819 Lofts, just down the street from this building, has 1227 square foot 2/2s starting at $3360 a month. There’s a waitlist, apparently.
https://www.rent1819.com/floorplans
This is why I’ve been saying for several weeks that it’s cheaper to buy than to rent, even with 6.5% mortgage rates. If you can come up with the down payment, and are going to live there for a while, buying is attractive again.
Buying will come back in favor again as rents continue to soar. The pendulum will swing back.
“So rent for $3.3k or $4k/mo + $100k DP. Decisions, decisions…”
The rent is a STEAL. Good job whomever got this huge unit with updated kitchen and baths at this price. Imagine what all those living in a much smaller unit just down the street are thinking?
No building amenities though such as an exercise room, party room or rooftop deck. But who needs a deck when you have your own that fronts Division?
“The only way this is a buy is if you really, really like the unit + location and will continue liking it for another 10+ years”
Not sure the length of time you’d have to live here but rents continue to rise at about 5% a year in Chicago. But you had better stay longer than 5 years. That has almost always been the case in Chicago. Simply too many transaction fees to make it worthwhile otherwise.
Also, what’s the calculation if you’re an owner?
Do you rent it out thinking things will be better a year from now? Could be a recession. But maybe you will now just be a landlord for several years?
“rents continue to rise at about 5% a year in Chicago”
ah yes the never ending “rent now or be priced out forever!”
wait, what?
“The rent is a STEAL. Good job whomever got this huge unit with updated kitchen and baths at this price. Imagine what all those living in a much smaller unit just down the street are thinking?”
Tell me you havent looked at rents in the area without telling me you havent looked at rents in the area
“1819 Lofts, just down the street from this building, has 1227 square foot 2/2s starting at $3360 a month. There’s a waitlist, apparently.”
You are really trying to compare 1819 property with the subject? Brand spanking new vice some cobbled together, lipstick on a pig 2Br
Embarrassing…
Looks like (from the mortgage) the carry cost (PITA) is almost exactly $3300. Kicking the can while (basically) breaking even isn’t the worst idea.
Looks like (from the mortgage) the carry cost (PITA) is almost exactly $3300. Kicking the can while (basically) breaking even isn’t the worst idea.
Maybe but it looks like he’s been renting for around 5 years – its kind of best case scenario that the owner is breaking even (Maint, unoccupied, etc). Also would be interesting to see these “improvements” and when they were made
Looks like the owner tried to sell in 17 for $549k and couldnt get it done in a 4% rate environment.
Seller is delusional needs to list it at $499k if they want to sell
“You are really trying to compare 1819 property with the subject?”
It’s 400 square feet smaller, but it’s the best I could find that was nearby. And yes, someone looking to rent in this area is certainly looking at all of the buildings on the street, of which there are now several. It’s a popular place to live.
So yeah, $3300 for 1650 square feet is a STEAL. Wow. What a deal. Even includes a parking space. You are paying over $4k for the equivalent space in any of the apartment buildings.
“ah yes the never ending “rent now or be priced out forever!”
Like I said, eventually, it will make much more financial sense for people to buy than to rent. Everything goes in cycles. In 1998, the rentals were so dumpy, everyone couldn’t wait to buy something to upgrade their lives. Now, the rentals are so small and expensive, they will “upgrade” to buying something that gives them more room, locks in their monthly payment, and is cheaper, on a monthly basis, than it costs to rent.
“It’s 400 square feet smaller, but it’s the best I could find that was nearby. And yes, someone looking to rent in this area is certainly looking at all of the buildings on the street, of which there are now several. It’s a popular place to live.”
But everyone wants new…
And of course realators are bastions of truthfulness when it comes to documenting sf
“So yeah, $3300 for 1650 square feet is a STEAL. Wow. What a deal. Even includes a parking space. You are paying over $4k for the equivalent space in any of the apartment buildings.”
Its not
Newer, nicer and cheaper (not sure if were still deducting points for being West of Western
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1318-N-Western-Ave-5B-Chicago-IL-60622/2069907120_zpid/?
Here’s a nicer 4 Br for essentially the same price
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1214-N-Damen-Ave-Chicago-IL-60622/2080623916_zpid/?
Do you even know Chicago real estate?
“not sure if were still deducting points for being West of Western”
Whether or not we are, we are certainly deducting points for being ON Western.
” a nicer 4 Br”
Nicer than…other 4 bedroom units?
“Whether or not we are, we are certainly deducting points for being ON Western.”
Whats the Western penalty vice Division?
“Nicer than…other 4 bedroom units?”
Nicer than the subject property
“Nicer than the subject property”
As noted, I don’t like the subject property much, but I don’t see how that rental is “nicer”. Looks like the rentals that everyone didn’t like much in the 90s.
Yep- HUGE steal. Good for those renters. If I could get a duplex up like this with all the amenities for that price, I’d be renting it too. Wow.
Also, for anyone just reading this blog and not commenting (I know many of you are out there), remember that most of the people posting comments here don’t even live in Chicago. JohnnyU hasn’t lived in Chicago for decades. Nor even visited. Many of the posters really have no clue what is going on in Chicago real estate about pricing, demand, hot neighborhoods etc.
I just saw a young couple buy a house in the Austin neighborhood on House Hunters. They were looking at completely renovated SFHs under $400k. And yes, they were newly married young Millennials who wanted to have kids soon. Lol.
“Whats the Western penalty vice Division?”
You know someone isn’t from Chicago if they are honestly comparing living on Western versus Division as if that would even be a thing.