Live Your East Lakeview Greystone Dream: A 4-Bedroom Row House at 639 W. Surf
This 4-bedroom Greystone row house at 639 W. Surf in East Lakeview came on the market in May 2018.
Built in 1886, it’s an attached brick and stone row house on a 19 x 116 x 39 x 82 lot which still has some of its vintage features such as 10 foot first floor ceilings and pocket doors.
It has two gas fireplaces, one in the living room and one in the master bedroom.
The listing says it has been “extensively renovated.”
We actually chattered about this property back in 2012 when it was bank owned.
Back then, it was a 2-bedroom but already had the finished basement. Ivy covered the outside of the greystone so much of the chatter was about the damage (or lack thereof) which can be caused by ivy.
We also chattered about this being located on the alley and the preponderance of, gulp, rats.
Was it a deal in 2012? See our chatter here.
There’s now an eat-in kitchen with dark wood cabinets, granite counter tops, 48″ Viking double oven with grill and griddle, a Subzero refrigerator and a large pantry.
It has the preferred home layout, with 3 of the 4 bedrooms on the second floor.
That includes the master suite which has an attached bathroom with a walk-in shower as well as a claw foot tub. A second bathroom is shared with the other two bedrooms.
The lower level has a family room, a bathroom, and a guest bedroom, along with a laundry room.
The property has a small one car garage but also a second exterior parking space.
In addition to the front yard, there’s a private roof deck and a rear balcony.
This is a fee simple property.
It has other features buyers look for such as central air.
It’s in the Nettelhorst school district and is surrounded by the shops, restaurants and the cinema of East Lakeview.
Originally listed in May 2018 for $1.195 million, it has been reduced $245,100 to $949,900.
With many new construction duplex downs listing around this price, is this row house a deal?
Mitch Gordon at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.
639 W. Surf: 4 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, 3400 square feet, row house
- Sold in April 1998 for $570,000
- Sold in August 1999 for $655,000
- Lis pendens foreclosure filed in July 2011
- Bank owned in July 2012
- Sold in December 2012 (when it was listed as a 2-bedroom) for $660,000
- Originally listed in May 2018 for $1,195,000
- Reduced several times
- Currently listed at $949,900
- 1-car small garage plus second exterior parking spot
- Taxes of $14,949
- Central Air
- 2 gas fireplaces
- Bedroom #1: 18×12 (second floor)
- Bedroom #2: 16×8 (second floor)
- Bedroom #3: 19×9 (second floor)
- Bedroom #4: 16×13 (lower level)
- Family room: 14×13 (lower level
- Laundry room: 16×10 (lower level)
At almost $1MM, there shouldnt be any ACT in the home
Kitchen layout is off and the choices feel like circa 1999. Not a fan of the steps from the eating area to the kitchen
The person who bought this out of foreclosure did really well.
Main issues are that the first floor layout isn’t the most functional (I don’t mind the kitchen, I assume that part of the house is an add on), and there’s no lot. Unfortunately, even if I could afford/was willing to spend $1 or close, no lot would be a killer. A greystone in that area is something I would like, though, and the exterior is really charming.
Beautiful home inside and out. Looks like a great deal to me.
There will be an open house here on Sunday December 9th from 12-2pm. Please feel free to stop by to tour this house.
This row house sold in Feb 2019 for $887,500.
It came back on the market in October 2022 at $1.15 million and is already under contract. With mortgage rates at 7%.
Just goes to show you, you don’t know what is going to sell out there with inventory near record lows.