A Vintage 2-Bedroom With a Remodeled Kitchen for $350K: 527 W. Surf in East Lakeview
This 2-bedroom in 527 W. Surf in East Lakeview came on the market in July 2022.
Built in 1920, this building has 24 units, a laundry room, a bike room and private storage.
This unit has many of its original features including the hardwood floors, crown moldings throughout the living and dining rooms (unpainted), huge vintage windows and 10 foot ceilings.
It has a foyer and separate dining room.
The living room has a wood burning fireplace with wood mantle and built-in bookcases.
The listing says the kitchen has been “completely remodeled” in 2021 and has gray and white cabinets with gold finishes, a white farmhouse sink, white subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and a 2-seats at a counter.
It leads to a private deck.
While the building has a laundry room, this unit has washer/dryer in the unit.
There’s no central air but there are window units. It doesn’t have parking but the listing says there are public garages nearby.
This building is in a prime East Lakeview location near the shops and restaurants at the Diversey, Clark and Broadway intersection, the Landmark movie theater, Trader Joe’s, Mariano’s and Walmart.
It’s near buses, Lincoln Park and the lake front.
Buyers love “new.”
Listed at $350,000, is this a better deal than renting?
Chris Stockwell and Michael Laubach at Compass have the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.
Unit #2: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, 927 square feet
- Sold in April 1993 for $119,500
- Sold in September 1997 for $139,500
- Sold in July 2006 for $283,000
- Sold in June 2012 for $250,000
- Sold in July 2017 for $309,000
- Currently listed at $350,000
- Assessments of $331 a month (includes heat, cable, exterior maintenance, scavenger, snow removal)
- Taxes of $6461
- No central air but window units
- Washer/dryer in the unit
- No parking but available to rent in the neighborhood
- Wood burning fireplace
- Bedroom #1: 11×14
- Bedroom #2: 12×13
- Living room: 14×12
- Dining room: 11×10
- Kitchen: 15×9
- Foyer: 10×6
- Deck: 5×16
Lived on Surf for a year or so, loved it. I memory serves the building to the east of this building isn’t the greatest.
seems like a good deal and a nice place despite being only one bath and no parking (not really needed here), I’m sure including the renovation its actually less than the 2017 price in nominal dollars
Well over 2k a month and no central AC or Heat. No Parking. 1 crapper. PASSSSS
“the building to the east of this building”
It’s mixed income *senior* CHA:
https://www.thecha.org/residents/public-housing/find-public-housing/britton-budd-apartments
“no central AC or Heat”
No ac is a bummer, but listing sez HOA includes heat–did I miss something?
8×10 storage room is an underrated amenity, imo.
And I know most are tired of it, but–wouldn’t this range have looked a lot better (with tile adjusted apppropriately), for only ~$400 more:
https://www.abt.com/Whirlpool-ADA-5-Cu.-Ft.-Stainless-Steel-Gas-Range-With-Frozen-Bake-Technology-WEG515S0LS/p/169569.html
If the HOA includes heat and has radiators in the pictures, it’s heated via the building’s main boiler and not an in-unit HVAC system.
Radiator heating can be quieter. If they make a lot of noise when they come on it’s due to air. We need heat more than we need a/c in Chicago, so I’d prefer to to have to listen to my in-unit HVAC all the time.
“Lived on Surf for a year or so, loved it.”
Great street. Lovely location and cool neighborhood, especially for young people. So much to do, affordable restaurants, good grocery stores, lots of public transportation.
“Well over 2k a month and no central AC or Heat. No Parking. 1 crapper. PASSSSS”
What would you pay for a rental with these finishes in this neighborhood?
Down the street you can rent a 2/1 in 2828 N. Pinegrove starting at $1895. No dining room, WBFP, or washer/dryer.
https://bjbproperties.com/east-lakeview-apartments/2828-n-Pinegrove/
In the housing boom years, many people bought condos because they were so much nicer than the rentals that were available. To compete in this market in 2022, condo owners have to update to the level of the newer rentals.
This unit has a new kitchen with all the trendy features. It blows away most of the vintage rentals in the neighborhood.
Cute unit. I like the wood molding, the W/D in unit, and the layout. Lack of parking isn’t a big surprise considering the neighborhood, but it’s definitely a strike against. I’d definitely prefer this to the unit on the 1000 block of Barry featured Thursday on CC.
No one seems to want to live here for more than five years however. That vanity in the bath has to be on it’s last legs….been there since at least 2011 based on pasty listing photos and if memory serves of when that particular vanity / sink combo popped up in a lot of condos, it is from Home Depot.
Deck completely blows.
I too used to live in this area — – great location. No need to own a car. In fact, I had a car that I sold because I barely used it when I lived here….and that was pre-advent-of-ride-shares.
I wouldn’t choose this but the current owners have definitely made it the most appealing it has been…..possibly ever….based on the history of listing photos in Redfin.