23% Off the 2006 Price for This Vintage 3-Bedroom SFH: 3902 N. Central Park in Irving Park
This 3-bedroom single family home at 3902 N. Central Park in the Independence Park neighborhood of Irving Park has been on the market over 2 years.
It has been reduced $200,000 in that time and is now listed about 23% under the 2006 purchase price.
The house was built in 1914 and is on a double lot measuring 50×124.
2 of the 3 bedrooms are on the second floor with the third in the lower level along with an office and a great room. The bedrooms also have ensuite baths.
The kitchen has cherry cabinets, stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops.
The house has central air and a 2-car garage.
What will it take to finally sell this house?
Elizabeth Bleeker at Prudential Rubloff has the listing. See the pictures here.
3902 N. Central Park: 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 3370 square feet, 2 car garage
- Sold in October 1988 for $70,000
- Sold in June 1998 for $222,000
- Sold in December 2006 for $850,000
- Originally listed in September 2009 for $849,900
- Reduced numerous times
- Currently listed at $650,000
- Taxes of $4661
- Central Air
- Bedroom #1: 18×13 (second floor)
- Bedroom #2: 14×12 (second floor)
- Bedroom #3: 12×9 (lower level)
- Office: 11×11 (lower level)
- Great room: 18×12 (lower level)
Sold in October 1988 for $70,000
Sold in June 1998 for $222,000
Sold in December 2006 for $850,000
Wow no bubble here folks. Talk about a terrible decision in 2006. Wow, you can’t get much worse than that. Amazing stuff here.
No decent public school. Far from public trans. Not old irving. Very near Elston ave. craziness.
I live near this house. It is a lovely house, but it is on the worst street (Central Park) in an otherwise great neighborhood.
Public transportation is VERY convenient here. Blue Line is a 5 minute walk away. Elston and Irving cut off this area of Irving Park from a lot of traffic, so it is quieter than the location would imply. Still, Central Park is much less nice compared to even one block west.
You’re right the addison blue line is pretty close, I didn’t realize the house was so far west, it’s a straight shot down. regardless, this is a nice area, but way overpriced, I actually feel bad for teh seller.
850K in 2006 for irving and elston – Holy Phuck
http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/4055-N-Kenneth-Ave-60641/home/13481787
If you rehab it they will buy it….
Sale 10/2011 for $350,000
Mortgage 10/2011 for $347,000
with no money down baby..
I would have thought $650 was the 2006 price. I don’t know what these sellers were smoking in 2006, and I really think they were clueless thinking they’d get it in 2009. I’m just speechless. At least it is beautiful from the outside…
One of my coworkers just bought a slightly larger house in this area for $425,000. This property is cute, but still seems extremely over priced.
“One of my coworkers just bought a slightly larger house in this area for $425,000.”
But on a single lot, right?
In 2006 they were probably thinking “teardowns are selling for $400k, this is a nice house, with two, $400k lots, so it is a total deal”. Now the lots are maybe (maybe) worth half as much, so theyre stuck. Lot speculation is a dangerous game.
My coworker’s place is on a single lot. How much is a lot worth in this area these days?
In that hood they don’t build much so the lots aren’t really the issue. Crapshacks in independence park sell in the 100’s. nicer homes in the. 300s and 400s and up. 3909 kedvale teardown sold for 280k double lot. Double lots during the boom were 400 so its only 25pc off.
Of note I found my house priced at the 1995 price. Honest to god legit 1995 price. Not in old irving, which I’ve been negative on lately due to crappy schools, riff raff and the utter lack of
A lot in that area … 25×125 barebones $150 best case on a tear down maybe less
That 50 lot is probably worth $350
They are hard to find these days on the NW side
400k move in homes. They’re used to be some but they’re all gone now. In fact the 500s have been snapped up in the last month too. Its fucked up and crazy..500k and its guaranteed someone will break into yoour garage.
A double lot with no alley sold today in old irving for 190. The 280 lot has alley access.
But independence park like mayfair missed a lot of the building craze. Only selected areas of the nw side got it unlike the gz where new construction was everyywhere.
Kevdale has some negatives as it basically backs up to the Metra, Blueline, and Kennedy however adjusting up for those negatives I think gives my $350 price on the Lot
This place is like a 450k crib
I’m bearish on this hood though
Thep ublic schhol sux in independence park. Unusable.
Yeah I’m not a fan of this neighborhood
And the southern half is way different than the northern half too. Not a fan.
btw I found my 1995 price house. 1/3rd off the neighbor’s 2003 price and $5,500 below the other neighbors 1995 price. An no it doesn’t appear there’s anything wrong with it.
no not in the city either unfortunately but it’s where a lot of former city residents end up.
HD….As much as I hate to hear the suburbs from you…I hope you buy the house. That’ll really make Clio shit his pants!
congrats HD and happy turkey day everyone! I am thankful to whole foods as I have not idea how the heck to make that tasteless lame bird ; )
I don’t know what I’ll buy or when but I do know that I found the house, it’s nothing special, probably below what most people on cribchatter would accept; but at 10% off list it is $5,500 cheaper than the identical house directly north of it.
Over the summer I visited the area and stopped at the downtown deli for dinner. while the wife was ordering food i struck up a conversation with the people in line behind us. They had a young kid, they were in their 30’s. They said they moved to this particular suburb 6 months earlier and were renting out their condo in bucktown b/c they couldn’t sell it.
Good luck HD. Keep us informed. There’s nothing wrong with some of the suburbs. We’re not talking Plainfield here. There are great deals in the burbs and hopefully no one is breaking into your garage!
lol Ben, I think G and Chichow might help HD buy the place just to prove Clio wrong ; )
http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/3755-N-Kildare-Ave-60641/home/13458910
Under contract listed at $435,000 and the assessor thinks it’s under 1000 sq ft. Double lot. Gone in a couple of days. It’s getting ridiculous in some areas of the city because there is just so little inventory. A few months ago $425,000 got you a nice 1500 or 2000 sq victorian and now it buys you this.
I konw the bedrooms are dormered out and the basement is finished so teh usable space is more than 1000 but seriously.
it’s not like I’m buying anything, i just found a house. I’ve got all the time in the world…;)
HD, do you plan to just make an offer on the house you’re talking about when you’re ready to buy even if it’s not on sale anymore?
We raised a big free range Tom turkey and delivered all 37 pounds of him to my sister’s house today. Thankfully, the local Amish did all the processing, but it was hard to say goodbye to the friendly guy. I left dh to take care of the details while I headed back to the burbs. I’m still not sure how I’m going to feel about eating him tomorrow. Hopefully my sister found a big enough container for brining it. We always have so many delicious side dishes that the turkey almost gets lost and my sister’s stuffing is the best.
I hope everybody else can feel as thankful as I do to have a close family to spend the day with, and here’s hoping we get to see Green Bay finally get beat (but don’t bet on it).
“congrats HD and happy turkey day everyone! I am thankful to whole foods as I have not idea how the heck to make that tasteless lame bird ; )”
Oh…poor Tom the turkey! You should have pardoned him 🙂
The thought crossed our minds but the guy was a voracious eater and HUGE. I think if he had gotten any bigger, he would have become immobile. If we do it again we will go with a heritage turkey. They don’t eat as much and will look so much cooler trotting around the farmyard.
“Oh…poor Tom the turkey! You should have pardoned him”
4
I think the 2006 buyers were worried they were “never going to be rich” if they didn’t pay $850k for this. They had the Clio sentiment.
“I have not idea how the heck to make that tasteless lame bird ; )”
Miu, the difference is all in the brining.
Ze misses Thanksgiving. Between now and X-Mas, Ze’s favorite time of the year to be in NYC. Enjoy!
Jenny: maybe. Or maybe not.
Wow, missed this yesterday. when i first started “studying” the market & house hunting in 2008, I really wanted to live in Old Irving Park. I soon realized the type of home I wanted was way out of my budget even before discovering what a liablity my “never should have been converted from apartments” 2/1 condo.
Now I’m over OIP though I am in a position to buy. I wonder if I should wait and see what new inventory comes out post-superbowl.
This is so cute! Great curb appeal.
“Now I’m over OIP though I am in a position to buy. I wonder if I should wait and see what new inventory comes out post-superbowl.”
It’s funny how an interest in a neighborhood can change in just a few years. I’ve found that’s the case with myself as well.
As for inventory- this is the “slow” period. And this year, it seems even more so than years past (but that could just be my own perception.) It ALWAYS picks up in late January (it seems to be getting a little bit earlier every year.) There will be much more on the market next spring than right now.
“Under contract listed at $435,000 and the assessor thinks it’s under 1000 sq ft. Double lot. Gone in a couple of days. It’s getting ridiculous in some areas of the city because there is just so little inventory.”
When this came on the market, I thought of you HD. Wasn’t it the cheapest home on the market in the “prime” area of OIP? That’s why it sold so fast. It’s kind of funny because that bungalow on Tripp that we chattered about for years just sat and sat and sat. It was just a few blocks away.
Yeah- there is very little inventory. If you are looking and have to buy right now- then this is what you get.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Good luck with your turkey cooking.
Anyone going to help the economy tomorrow with Black Friday shopping? I actually do need a few things, like flannel sheets, so I’m hitting the sales.
I’m over old irving too now that I have a little one. My main issues are: 1) lack of a decent public school (despite what everyone’s anecdotal stories say about how easy it is to get in, there are 800 applications for 40 spots at disney II) – I don’t want to be forced into the private school option especially if I lost my job or had a bad year; and 2) the riff raff, the garage break-ins, the random muggings, the burglaries, the nonsensical property crime that others just accept as city living is really starting to get to me.
HD, are you just over OIP or city living in general? I’m really torn. Part of me thinks just go ahead and get the house in the burbs. On the other hand the part of me that grew up in the city says we could find a house we like and live there for a decade and be able to still move to the burbs after that if needed.
Stay in the city, you will be much happier.
I lived in the suburbs, I will never go back.
I like the city, I’ve lived here since I was17 and I’m in my 30’s now. But I’m not willing to spend the money it takes to get a SFH in the handful of neighborhoods where there are decent public schools and I’m not willing to pay for two kids or more in private school. I’ve seen attorneys in my profession making in the $100’s and $200’s who do that and the bills, even if they can cash flow it, keep them up at night. The guy I answer to now is in teh same position. He’s got 3 or more kids in private school, a $500,000 house a stay at home wife, two new cars, etc, and he knows that if he loses the lucky strikes account (using a mad men reference) he is totally screwed and the house of cards comes tumbling down. I want a little more security that than so I”m purposely keeping my lifestyle low. I cannot do that in the green zone on my household income.
There are more than a handful of neighborhoods with good schools. I still don’t know the definition of GZ, my guess is you don’t have to live in the GZ for those schools. I am pretty sure we’re not in the GZ and our neighborhood school is good.
“the nonsensical property crime that others just accept as city living is really starting to get to me.”
There are two different types that accept this, and they are completely discrete segments:
1) salt of the earthers who have benefited enormously from property price appreciation in the past 15 years. they are used to increased property crime vs. the suburbs and its still likely lower than it was vs. the heyday in their hood & their equilibrium has only gotten better as their house, if they owned it, is worth so much more now.
2) transplants from Big10/other MW school who think living/owning in Chicago is/was “hip”–I’m talking about the couple that purchased that tiny house that needed work featured on here for 450k a couple months ago after living in RN. These people, accustomed to the suburban living of their upbringing of their youth, likely have never or seldom been crime victims. Maybe their bike was stolen in Wicker Park, in their minds that makes the city “more authentic” and “edgy”. These people are the idiot lemmings keeping the ponzi pyramid afloat (that and extensive government intervention). And they aren’t long for these neighborhoods just like they weren’t long for their initial Chicago neighborhood.
You can immediately differentiate between the two typically based on how they dress, what they drive, etc. But if there is any ambiguity say something un-PC. The former won’t be surprised at all, might laugh or flat out agree with you. The latter will either be appalled or hide their reaction entirely and think that you are one of the “wrong kind of white people”.
Great insight Bob…then again, maybe some people are just willing to put up with a certain amount of crime in exchange for being close to city attractions?
One thing I will never understand about this site is the disdain for big ten grads who invest in the city. Isn’t it these types of people who have been responsible for such an urban renaissance over the last several decades?
Nah I’m sure you guys are right. All Big Ten grads are the same..evil and preppy.
Listening to all this talk about city vs. suburbs, why not make a compromise and choose Oak Park or an Evanston? For those with kids, you get good schools, semi-urban living, diversity. I don’t see too much of a downside/
Bob hates big ten grads, and it’s pretty much just him. but they are an easy target.
Icarus – stay in the city! People like you are exactly the kind Chicago – or any city – needs to have sticking around in order to improve.
Sounds like Baby Boomerette bought her place with a low cost basis and wants one from a younger generation to give her a windfall via outsized appreciation. We’ll see how that strategy will pan out.
Chicago real estate prices are going to go down for _years_ yet.
Icarus –
I agree. Please stay in Chicago. You need to consider your own identity for a happy life. Not solely what’s best for your future kids. I can tell you would be an involved parent. Your kids would be just fine if they attended CPS. You have strong emotional ties to the city. Plus doesn’t your mom still live in Humboldt Park? In the burbs I think you would eventually feel as if you had sawed off your own arm with a dull plastic knife.
“A few months ago $425,000 got you a nice 1500 or 2000 sq victorian and now it buys you this.”
HD – So prices have gone up and supply has gone down in Irving Park?
“I still don’t know the definition of GZ”
Or you do have a grasp of what is meant by GZ on this site, and you are trying to diminish it, because you don’t live in it.
“There are more than a handful of neighborhoods with good schools. I still don’t know the definition of GZ, my guess is you don’t have to live in the GZ for those schools. I am pretty sure we’re not in the GZ and our neighborhood school is good.”
The top grade schools are NOT in the GZ. That would be Edgebrook Elementary, Edison Park etc. The real problem, in my opinion, is the high school. Most kids won’t get into one of the magnets and then you’re stuck.
“The top grade schools are NOT in the GZ. That would be Edgebrook Elementary, Edison Park etc. ”
For what its worth; according to the CPS Performance Policy, Blaine and Bell score higher than the two you listed.
“HD – So prices have gone up and supply has gone down in Irving Park?”
Yup. Crazy to think that there are so many people underwater that it reduces supply and raises prices.
Happened across this on Huffpo yesterday (I don’t endorse the website’s partisan politics, so please no ad homs). It makes moving back to the city sound less inviting, to me. I’m beginning to consider moving out of the region entirely and am grateful that I have no mortgage.
“Back in Illinois, Gov. Pat Quinn (D) recently signed a new law that will require convicted drug dealers to reimburse the police agencies that arrested and prosecuted them. The law will provide even more incentive for departments to devote time and resources to drug crimes — and that shift comes at the expense of solving more serious crimes.
The bill does not require reimbursement from convicted rapists or murderers.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/21/drug-war-incentives-police-violent-crime_n_1105701.html?page=2
Here’s a list of Chicago’s top schools from Chicago Magazine (last year’s list.)
http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/October-2010/Best-Elementary-Schools-City-of-Chicago/
You can see that the top 9 schools are schools mainly out of the GZ.
Which neighborhood are these schools at?
how do you figure out what is a good school? And what exactly is the green zone
“Which neighborhood are these schools at?”
The top nine that let your kid in if you live across the street are 4 in the GZ, 5 on the far(ish) NW side:
Bell, Blaine, Burley, Lincoln.
Edgebrook, Oriole/Norwood/Edison Park, Sauganash.
I wouldnt call that mainly, but mainly is a nice weasal word, so hard to argue its wrong.
For folks who get their kids into a good CPS for grammar school, but then find Chicago HS alternatives to be a problem, I wonder why they aren’t planning ahead for that day for the 8 years the kid is in grammar school, to send them to a private/parochial? Or is that too burdensome while trying to also put some money aside for their college education as well?
I went to CPS for grammar school, but the HS choices were unacceptable (well, their was Lane Tech, but too big, and too many boys back in 1971…) so they whisked me off to Catholic girl’s HS. Or do all the precious snowflakes have to go to Francis Parker or nothing?
Things change logansquarean. Not so sure Catholic schools can still pick up the slack for middle class families any more. From 2007:
“Nicholas Wolsonovich, superintendent of schools for the archdiocese, called the exodus from Chicago’s Catholic schools “mind-boggling.” In 1964, he said, some 500 schools were spread across the diocese, with about 366,000 students. Now, the system has 257 schools and fewer than 100,000 students. Over the last decade statewide, the number of Catholic schools has dropped from 592 in 1997 to 510 this year, according to figures released at the conference.
Participants said a main reason for the decline is affordability.
Decades ago, it was not unusual to go to Catholic school for free around the country. With nuns and clergy doing most of the work, payrolls were a fraction of what they are now, and parishes often picked up the tab.”
Nicholas Wolsonovich, superintendent of schools for the archdiocese, called the exodus from Chicago’s Catholic schools “mind-boggling.” In 1964, he said, some 500 schools were spread across the diocese, with about 366,000 students. Now, the system has 257 schools and fewer than 100,000 students. Over the last decade statewide, the number of Catholic schools has dropped from 592 in 1997 to 510 this year, according to figures released at the conference.
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2007-02-27/news/0702270220_1_catholic-schools-catholic-education-parochial-schools
“I went to CPS for grammar school, but the HS choices were unacceptable (well, their was Lane Tech, but too big, and too many boys back in 1971…) so they whisked me off to Catholic girl’s HS. Or do all the precious snowflakes have to go to Francis Parker or nothing?”
sheesh, sorry for the sloppy editing. too many distractions around me. have to remember I can’t be sloppy here, like other places where I can edit three times.
“The top nine that let your kid in if you live across the street are 4 in the GZ, 5 on the far(ish) NW side:
Bell, Blaine, Burley, Lincoln.
Edgebrook, Oriole/Norwood/Edison Park, Sauganash.”
anon(tfo): Bell, Blaine, Burley and Lincoln were NOT in the top 9 on the list. Most of the schools that are are in neighborhoods outside of the GZ. Bell is #10 on the list.
That’s the misconception that is out there (and that Groove and HD and others keep trying to remind people.) The “best” elementary schools aren’t in Lincoln Park and Lakeview.
“The “best” elementary schools aren’t in Lincoln Park and Lakeview.”
The best elementary schools aren’t near 20-something hookup spots, bars and starbucks? *shocking*
I thought $4 lattes, plentiful cabs, overpriced grocery stores, within a half mile of fixed rail and easy boozing coincided with all things superlative in life? I am utterly shocked at this.
Ohhh Erin Burnett looks all pretty and you actually thought you were getting news from her and being informed?
I love this thread: it’s when the SWPLs find out their worldview is utterly stupid and wrong.
Sabrina,
What anon tfo is saying is that the top 9 or 10 schools on the list are SELECTIVE ENROLLMENT ( R.S.G. or Classical). Kids from all over the city have to TEST IN with very high scores. Neighborhood proximity, having a sibling enrolled, or clout WILL NOT HELP YOU. (Bell is partially neighborhood, partially RSG and has a deaf program.)
So it’s not really a fair comparison.
Sorry for the all caps-I’m usually not so obnoxious…
Thanks anon, Sabrina and Dahlia (BTW, your name is very beautiful). I googled some on the list and was surprised at their location, hence asked the question. Now I get it. So basically if the kid is super smart, there are other options beside neighborhood schools.
“or clout WILL NOT HELP YOU”
if you believe that I can also sell you a bridge on Wacker Drive….
I see clout all the time, everywhere I look, and yet transplant parents try and deny that it exists. This is Chicago and this is the Chicago way. Short of burning down the city again there will always be clout.
HD- can you point to any example in the last 3 years where a kid got into a test-in elementary school with Clout?
Yes. But not here.
Thanks dahliachi. You are right. Several on that list are NOT neighborhood schools (so good luck with that.)
Why take the risk? Just move to the suburbs and get your kids into some of the best schools in the state. Heck, you can even, gasp, just rent in those suburbs and your kid will have all the same advantages.
It’s truly amazing that with all of these SFHs on the North side of the city (and some on the south side) selling for over $500,000- that there are few decent schools. It’s almost shocking, actually.
Seems to me that if you can get a kid into a school where > 80% are meeting or exceeding standards, you’ve got your pick of almost 100 CPS schools, out of the 488 listed in the chicago mag link. Is 80% setting the bar too low?
Another idiotic notion; “my kids have to go to one of the top 10 schools”.
Sabrina,
There is no shame in moving to the suburbs-go ahead when your kids reach school age.
Most of my friends have school age kids (in the city) and have found a mix of public magnet, gifted, parochial and private schools to their liking. Their kids are happy and thriving. Granted, figuring it all out is stressful.
The doom and gloom on this site a tends to be from:
-people who don’t have kids
-people who have very young babies
-people who live in the suburbs (and think you should, too)
Personally I don’t believe in the “I moved to a ‘good’ school district so everything is fine and I don’t have to worry bout my kids’ education til college mentality”.
When I hear comments like, “your child can get into U of I from Lane Tech”- (which I have heard in the past from random people at the beauty salon)- then it’s kind of scary (not that there is anything wrong from U of I. Not at all.) But they are saying it like that is a HARD thing to do from most CPS high schools.
I just go off of what Groove and others on this blog say- who have attended CPS schools. My relatives attended CPS schools in the 1950s and 1960s- which was a whole different animal. Everyone else I know who grew up in the city in the 1980s and 1990s all went to Catholic schools so they have no experience with the current system either.
All anecdotally, parents who work in my beauty salon are stressed beyond belief about getting their kids into a magnet high school. Of course, for them, it can mean the difference between success and failure for their child (as they are the hair washers/nail technicians and are not financially able to pay for private schools). They are pushing their child HARD by the time of the 6th and 7th grade. No texting. No going out with friends etc. And absolutely no girlfriends who could distract them from their grades and the task at hand (and good for them for being so involved.) It’s a shame it has to be like that though. No parents are pushing like that in the suburban school districts. Your enrollment in New Trier or Hinsdale Central is guaranteed.
And, actually, just because you have money doesn’t mean it’s any less stressful once they get to high school. One parent I know with a son in Latin was stressed beyond belief about her daughter (who was applying to the magnets and the private schools.) How she was going to get her from Lakeview down to the south side (some of the catholic schools in Beverly) every day when she worked full time was beyond me (I didn’t ask how that worked.) She didn’t get into a single one of the magnets (no surprise there.) But due to legacy issues- she DID get into Latin so they were shelling out for both of their kids to go there by that point.
Again- I would admit I don’t understand that world. If you live in the school district in the suburbs, your child goes there. No questions asked. Oh- and just because you have the money to pay for Catholic schools doesn’t mean your child gets in (or stays in.) Plenty of “problem” children are kicked out of Catholic schools every year in the city and suburbs. They are private. They don’t have to deal with your trouble maker child or your child with special needs or whatever. Then what do you do? It seems to be a HUGE risk when you can just move to the school district you want to move to and know it is settled.
“Yes. But not here.”
And you know that clout was the reason the kid got in? E.g., you know that the kid’s test scores would not have qualified in the absence of clout? I don’t have much of a view one way or the other, but curious what the basis for your belief is.
Also- why are there no middle class or upper middle class parents who speak up about this issue on this blog? I’m talking about the people who make, say, $130k a year in income which is well off but not well off enough to pay for private school for a couple of kids. What are they doing?
“Also- why are there no middle class or upper middle class parents who speak up about this issue on this blog? I’m talking about the people who make, say, $130k a year in income which is well off but not well off enough to pay for private school for a couple of kids. What are they doing?”
I agree v much with Dahlia’s comment that most have figured something out and that the process is v stressful for most. Many got into selective or magnet elementaries. Catholic school, if that’s an option the family is interested in, is affordable for a $130K a year family. I know a couple families who I’m pretty sure make under $150K who send their kids to Catholic.
But it is absolutely stressful before you’ve figured it out. And I do know one approaching school age family, who don’t want to do Catholic, who can’t readily afford most other private, who need to remain in the city for work, and who have a house they can’t easily sell, who are beyond stressed.
“All anecdotally, parents who work in my beauty salon are stressed beyond belief about getting their kids into a magnet high school. Of course, for them, it can mean the difference between success and failure for their child (as they are the hair washers/nail technicians and are not financially able to pay for private schools).”
Have you asked them why they don’t move?
“Have you asked them why they don’t move?”
Born and raised on the south side of Chicago. Work in Chicago. It would never occur to them to move to the suburbs. Although, if their kids don’t get into the magnet schools (we’ll find out soon enough) -maybe they will move. I’ll have to ask them the next time I go in.
Moving for those salon folks could be close to impossible. Do they depend on public transit? Does a nearby family member look after some of their kids after school? Are they on a lease? I doubt these folks own, yes?
And, which suburbs, with good schools, have rental units available for folks with kids? How do they save up a security deposit and moving costs, on a nail salon wage? What about the commute to the city each day after they move?
In a perfect world, the question, “why don’t you just move?” seems reasonable and doable. But in the real world, there are a lot of impediments to that, if you are not earning in the upper brackets, and can afford to pay the costs involved in uprooting and moving.
“anon(tfo): Bell, Blaine, Burley and Lincoln were NOT in the top 9 on the list. Most of the schools that are are in neighborhoods outside of the GZ. Bell is #10 on the list.
That’s the misconception that is out there (and that Groove and HD and others keep trying to remind people.) The “best” elementary schools aren’t in Lincoln Park and Lakeview.”
And moving to Cambridge means your kid gets to enroll in Harvard, right?
$593,000. Getting closer…
SOLD!!!
11/15/2012 $565,000
That’s a hell of a loss from the $850,000 sale price in 2006. OUCH!!!