An American Four Square Listed at $350K in Ravenswood Manor: 3007 W. Wilson
This 4-bedroom American Four Square at 3007 W. Wilson in Ravenswood Manor came on the market in July at the price of $350,000.
It is an estate sale and being sold “as-is.”
The house has some of its vintage features intact including the hardwood floors and wood trim.
All four bedrooms are on the second floor.
It also appears to have some kind of finished basement.
There is no central air and the heating is by radiator.
The house has a 2-car garage and is on a 30×125 lot.
It is also just 4 blocks from the Francisco Brown Line stop which makes it “true” Ravenswood Manor.
Is this a deal given its location?
John Quill at Keller Williams Gold Coast has the listing. See the pictures here.
3007 W. Wilson: 4 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, 2 car garage, no square footage listed
- Sold before 1987
- Originally listed in July 2010 for $350,000
- Currently listed for $350,000
- Estate Sale
- Taxes of $4467
- No Central Air
- Bedroom #1: 11×15- hardwood floors
- Bedroom #2: 9×12- vinyl floors
- Bedroom #3: 11×12- hardwood floors
- Bedroom #4: 8×10- vinyl
Looks like someone removed a fireplace or something…check out the marble tiles in the first few pictures. Looks decent. Depending on the shape, I’d say $275 – 300K gets this deal done.
That’s a really short house–check the aerial.
love the vynil tile on the walls of the kitchen, thats a nice touch and really goes well with the oddly placed brand new stainless steel fridge
gah stupid ie no spell checker… i mean “vinyl”
Also i think this place is grossly overpriced considering its condition
That basement is hella retro
Funky vintage light fixtures and the basement looks like a tavern in northern Wisconsin. What’s not to love?
$350K seems like a deal to me.
This is on the other side of Sacramento so not really “true” Ravenswood Manor and it’s outside of Waters School District. It would take a lot of work but it seems like a good deal.
If you don’t mind that the balconies of the multi-unit building next door have a full view of your back yard, then this is the place for you!
“$350K seems like a deal to me.”
I wouldn’t call it a “deal”, but–assuming structural/plumbing/electric soundness–it is certainly reasonably priced. It’s a much better value than the nearly identical one (but with many more updates) across the street for $569 (which was $505 in ’04):
http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/3024-W-Wilson-Ave-60625/home/13488759
Nice catch Anon (tfo)
So the question is, how much does it cost the average person to make this place look like the one across the street? By average I mean a DIY handy person but not an actual professional contractor with contacts and connections.
“It is also just 4 blocks from the Francisco Brown Line stop which makes it “true” Ravenswood Manor.”
Is this really Ravenswood Manor? Seemed a little bit west to me. And looking up a couple sites just now suggests Sacramento is viewed as dividing line by some/many.
like the house,and thats a cool little neighborhood.but the balconies next door looking over your yard would be pretty annoying.especially if you have some partying neighbors.maybe a fence and planting some nice sized trees would make it more private.
The basement rec room/bar/tavern is pretty cool retro-tastic, though.
How much could this rent for? The mortgage calculator says a 30-year would cost around $1400 a month, with taxes, insurance, etc., it might be a decent rental investment.
The deal breaker for me is that this house is not in the Waters Elementary boundary lines. And, I would consider this side of Sacramento more Albany Park than Ravenswood Manor. Noting that the Kedzie brown line stop is also just 4 blocks away.
“the mortgage calculator says a 30-year would cost around $1400 a month, with taxes, insurance, etc., it might be a decent rental investment.”
I am not sure what mortgage calculator you are using, but the true costs (including taxes) would be closer to 1750/month. Plus you have to add in the cost of repairs, etc. (which could run pretty high!!). Then add in the cost of being a landlord of a low end rental unit – it becomes less and less appealing!!!
I used to have pink plastic tile in bathroom of one of my old houses. And then it began falling off the wall after I started using the shower.
it would be 1400 if you put nearly 50% down. not a bad place; but to renovate it would cost $$$. i’d say it nearly break-even with regard to rent prices. 300K would do it.
Oh man that series of recessed Hawaiian murals in the basement is amazing.
At last, the tiki room of my dreams would be realized.
(Except no deal, due to location.)
This is Albany Park, not Ravenswood Manor. Listing sheet also states that it is in Albany Park. Not a really great location, though conveniently close to the Brown Line.
It’s a comfortable, commodious house, but it most likely needs a lot of winterizing to reduce the heat bill. But it has a lot of ugliness, and not all of it is in that basement. The kitchen will need a complete do-over.
$300K tops, due to location.
Sabrina, speaking of American four-squares, look at 1225 W Pratt, 60626 (Rogers Park). It is hilarious.
Good catch Laura–this house indeed is in Albany Park. This house is west of the river. “Ravenswood Manor” sounds like some realtor term invented to describe houses near the Francisco stop. Big deal.
Bob – Though it sounds like realtor speak, Ravenswood Manor (the neighborhood and the name itself) is over 100 years old. Check this out from the neighborhood association website:
“The Manor was a planned development laid out in 1909 by pioneer real estate developer William E. Harmon. The Manor was an early success in what became the City Beautiful Movement. Built up from primarily Chicago Bungalows and American foursquare houses, the Manor features mature trees, inviting sidewalks, popular parks and relaxing gardens. By April 1910, Ravenswood Manor already had a population of 60.”
It is a really peaceful neighborhood with lots of nature around the river, plenty of parks, and access to great Middle Eastern and Korean food. Ravenswood Manor is next to Albany Park, which is also a lovely neighborhood and I’m not sure why people sounds so down on it. There are a plethora of city park district facilities, the Galter Life Center, and it is one of the most ethnically diverse neighborhoods in the entire United States. Walk down the street and you hear dozens of languages spoken. The biggest downside to both of these neighborhoods is that Ravenswood Manor is home to Blagojevich and he and his hair can be seen jogging through the hood regularly.
When grandma’s house at 300k is considered a ‘deal’ its no wonder the market is the slowest its been in years. The CS index may say Chicago had had price declines but nobody wants to believevthat in their neighborhood.
“This house is west of the river. “Ravenswood Manor” sounds like some realtor term invented to describe houses near the Francisco stop. Big deal.”
Half of Ravenswood Manor is west of the river. The Rockwell and Francisco stops are definitely in the Ravenswood Manor neighborhood.
Thought this neighborhood boundary are pretty accurate:
http://www.chicagohome.com/NHDetails.cfm?NH_ID=41
What are the commonly accepted north/south boundaries for Ravenswood Gardens, Ravenswood Manor, and Albany Park?
“Thought this neighborhood boundary are pretty accurate:”
Which places this house 2 house + the width of Sacto outside of R’wood Manor.
Still, Bob was wrong on this one. Real neighborhood and west of teh river, tho part of the Albany Park “Community Area”.
“[Albany Park] is also a lovely neighborhood and I’m not sure why people sounds so down on it”
Probably the [many} reports of gang activity which often include (13/14 yo) kids getting beaten and/or shot. And more than a few random muggings, etc. And, of course, Blago.
“Sabrina, speaking of American four-squares, look at 1225 W Pratt, 60626 (Rogers Park). It is hilarious.”
That used to be a multi-unit rental, no? Pretty sure I knew folks who rented the 2d floor in the mid-90s.
I assume what you find hilarious is the white-boxing and the price, but I must say I love the yard. Too bad the ‘hood is what it is.
Anyone above who wrote that this is a bad location, or that Ravenswood Manor isn’t real, or that Ravenswood Manor only exists east of the river, etc., etc., should refrain from ever commenting on Chicago real estate ever again. Clearly no idea what you are talking about.
I don’t live in this neighborhood, but I have friends that do, and I’ve personally shopped for houses here. It is a nice neighborhood. A very nice neighborhood, with some beautiful, well maintained homes. And, while this particular house is not technically in Ravenswood Manor, it is close enough (i.e. 100ft).
Assuming it is structurally sound, from personal experience looking in this area, I would say this house is well priced.
But whatever. This is cribchatter. Maybe I’ll just join the fun: “I think $100k gets it done. I didn’t even know there was a river in Chicago. But, assuming that’s true, nobody’s going to pay more $100k to live west of it. Unless they pay with funny money.”
Speaking of Albany Park – how does a neighborhood get “park” in its name when in fact there is no park named Albany?
There IS a “Hyde Park” on the South Side but it’s nowhere near the neighborhood by that name btw.
But I know quite well why “RAVENSwood” is so named. Especially at dawn.
“how does a neighborhood get “park” in its name when in fact there is no park named Albany?”
Why is Greenland called that when it’s so icy? It’s all real estate marketing.
Actually, 1225 W Pratt was a Montessori school until a couple of years ago. The school moved and left this house behind. It was remodeled last year after being placed on the market in 2008 0 2009. I know the original listing agent.
The houses on either side are used as SF homes and occupied by owners who’ve lived in them many decades. The large vacant lot just to the west, at 1233, was occupied by a synagogue that burned a few years ago and was finally torn down.
It’s a huge house but very ugly. The best thing about it is the location, close to the beach, and within easy traveling distance of two really great private schools. Lake Shore School is right down the street and Sacred Heart in Edgewater is a short bus ride away. The 400 Theater and a few coffee houses are right around the corner, in addition to a number of other nice businesses.
I haven’t checked the zoning, but know that the whole block is zoned R4 or higher. It might take a couple of decades, but my belief is that that side of the street will eventually be redeveloped into high density, preferably a really attractive mixed use 4 story with retail on the ground floor. But that obviously won’t happen anytime soon.
To be completely fair: the listing agent said house is “NEAR” Ravenswood Manor. Sabrina said it was IN Ravenswood MAnor because it is 4 blocks from Francisco stop.
Even if house is not technically in RM, it is damn close and the price looks pretty good for a livable house with a lot of potential.
This house is not cheap enough for me as a rehabber to have any interest, but I think a handy DIY homeowner could make this into a great place with some strategic efforts.
But, the deal breaker for me is the school district.
That 100 ft from Sacramento puts you out of Waters Elementary boundaries lines, and into Bateman, which is a decent school, but definitely has not seen the same improvements as Waters.
“‘[Albany Park] is also a lovely neighborhood and I’m not sure why people sounds so down on it’
Probably the [many} reports of gang activity which often include (13/14 yo) kids getting beaten and/or shot. And more than a few random muggings, etc. And, of course, Blago.”
I don’t deny that there is gang activity in Albany Park, however, random citizens are also being brutally beaten in Lincoln Park, Lakeview, and Edgewater (I personally know of 2 who are currently in rehab at RIC recovering from their assaults) and there is plenty of gang activity around my friend’s home in Ravenswood near Montrose and Wolcott, yet nobody is slamming those neighborhoods…
“I don’t deny that there is gang activity in Albany Park, however, random citizens are also being brutally beaten in Lincoln Park, Lakeview, and Edgewater (I personally know of 2 who are currently in rehab at RIC recovering from their assaults) and there is plenty of gang activity around my friend’s home in Ravenswood near Montrose and Wolcott, yet nobody is slamming those neighborhoods…”
Just speculation from one of the (apparently few) city denizens who’s more interested in the reality of crime than the perception–I’m not being stupid or pollyanna-ish about the crime problem in Chicago (or, really, any large city) and the chance of being an intended target for a mugging or a burglary, but the one thing that always concerns me–and is something that is both a perception issue and genuinely changes based on what ‘hood you’re in–is the chance of being collateral damage in a drug/gang related shooting, and the *perception* of the increased chance of that in Albany Park, as compared to Ravenswood or Lincoln Square, is real.
umm, yeah, what anon said. there is no street gang “presence” in Lincoln Square or Ravenswood to even remotely rival Albany Park.
I mean, pbbth – I’d bet I could go go through Lincoln Square block by block and not find a handful of serious gang tagging – gang tagging as in what we get out west, the upside down symbols & names leaking tears to rub in that someone actually got killed.
Ravenswood? Same deal. There isn’t the cheap housing available in bulk that is where the recruits grow up. 25 years ago there was a small contingency of Simon City Royals that was no match for the Latin King factions that had plenty more kids to recruit, and there were more street altercations, but at this point, crime, yes, serious organized street gang presence, no.
The hard core stuff isn’t just a Wire episode, that is how the big gangs roll – big money is involved with having drug-dealing turf, and they do not play games, it is literally their livelihood. You’ve got 3rd, 4th generation gang families at this point, they don’t know any other lifestyle.
My nook of Avondale has improved tremendously in that regard in the 8 years I’ve been there. I live along an unwritten fault line between the MLDs and the LKs, and the LKs periodically try to horn in, but it consists largely of some pathetic graffiti.
The MLKs are largely smart enough that they don’t attract attention (unless it’s seen as necessary due to rival gangs), and I’ve seen older guys disciplining the younger ones when they’re stupid and loitering too close to the local school. That’s bad business, and recognizing that is why the MLKs have had a lock in my hood for over 30 years.
And to be clear, while some gang members are bona fide thugs, the vast majority are a bunch of sallies who largely need safety in numbers or the cover of darkness to do anything. Really, that’s why they join a gang in the first place, protection. The really tough kids never need to, they gain respect simply by projecting confidence and power – it’s those little squirts who have something to prove you have to watch out for, they’re usually the ones who get guns in order to feel more manly.
At the end of the day, as long as we have a black market for drugs and insanely inflated profits due to that, the gangs will continue to be a huge problem in the city, as they infiltrate the schools both physically with kids, and culturally as well – I knew lots of kids growing up in Lincoln Park who (at least briefly) loved to brag about how they were getting dope from some gang or another.
Sold on 09/01/2010
$317,500