Forget the Duplex Down- Buy A 3-Bedroom Single Family Home Instead: 2154 W. Cullom in North Center
This 3-bedroom single family home at 2154 W. Cullom in North Center recently came on the market.
I figured I’d better post on it before it went under contract- as most houses in this price range in this neighborhood seem to be doing.
Built in 1910 on a 25×124 lot, the listing says it has been rehabbed. I apparently has “newer” electrical, plumbing, heat, windows and roof.
The listing also says the kitchen is “gourmet” with white cabinets and white appliances.
Two of the three bedrooms are on the second floor with the third in the newly renovated lower level, along with a wine cellar and study.
There is also a master suite with its own bath, which you don’t normally see in a house built in this era unless it was added later.
At 2000 square feet, it is close to the size of most duplex downs in this same price range.
Is this house a good duplex down alternative?
Donald Tomaska at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here.
2154 W. Cullom: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2000 square feet, 2 car garage
- Sold in March 2000 for $339,000
- Originally listed in May 2012 for $664,900
- Currently still listed for $664,900
- Taxes of $6812
- Central Air
- Bedroom #1: 15×10 (second floor)
- Bedroom #2: 13×10 (second floor)
- Bedroom #3: 13×10 (lower level)
- Family room: 10×10 (main level)
“Is this house a good duplex down alternative?”
It’s also a neighborhood trade, as there are not a lot of duplex downs in the ‘hood.
Would much prefer to be west of Leavitt, on a non-commercial block.
Agree it will likely sell quickly, but seems expensive for what it is.
It’s appealing, but too many tiny rooms that are poorly laid out. I’d pick this over a duplex, but not for this price.
A little pricier , but a home in Bell just came on the market – http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/3832-N-Hamilton-Ave-60618/home/13389211. Looks a bit nicer than this one.
I love nice homes like this with a nice yard. its a steep price for me to swallow considering its next to a apartment and commercial.
“Agree it will likely sell quickly, but seems expensive for what it is.”
Does seem a little expensive, especially compared to hamilton house, but if your budget is really sub $700 (or maybe sub $650), what options do you have in coonley (or bell) e of western at the moment?
“Looks a bit nicer than this one”
Mostly it looks a helluva lot bigger. If you can afford the extra ~$75k, seems like a no-brainer to choose Hamilton over this one.
” if your budget is really sub $700 (or maybe sub $650), what options do you have in coonley (or bell) e of western at the moment?”
Moving in next to HD?
“Moving in next to HD?”
Can’t remember if that’s better or worse than on ashland living.
“I love nice homes like this with a nice yard. its a steep price for me to swallow considering its next to a apartment and commercial.”
me too. reduce it by 40% and i’ll buy it.
OT question for those with kids: does it really make sense to have a cool bar in the basement if you have kids? do you really still have time and opportunities to entertain?
“if your budget is really sub $700 (or maybe sub $650), what options do you have in coonley (or bell) e of western at the moment?”
U/C, so it doesn’t really count, but I like this location better, and for $160k LESS, seems like the sure winner:
http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/1934-W-Belle-Plaine-Ave-60613/home/13389546
ques: Does that set a really bad appraisal comp for this place?
“does it really make sense to have a cool bar in the basement if you have kids?”
Probably not. But I say that mainly from a space (and locking the booze up) perspective.
“do you really still have time and opportunities to entertain?”
Absolutely yes.
“OT question for those with kids: does it really make sense to have a cool bar in the basement if you have kids? do you really still have time and opportunities to entertain?”
Yes, and Yes….
“OT question for those with kids: does it really make sense to have a cool bar in the basement if you have kids? do you really still have time and opportunities to entertain?”
Yes, as long as the kids still have a place to play – in fact you prefer to do your entertaining in your house after your kids are asleep (if they’re really little) or while they run around in another room with your friends’ kids, so having a nice spot for your friends to come hang is perfect.
All i know is this is just a half block from the Pockets on Lincoln. SOLD!
I’ll eat my hat if that house on Hamilton isn’t under contract by Monday. Nice taxes, too.
“so it doesn’t really count”
I really did mean someone looking to buy right now. I was going to complain about the 3rd bed being in the basement of your comp, until I took a closer look at this place. Yeah, a little overpriced, but who knows.
I actually prefer the subject to the Hamilton house.
I’m at the point where I can send my kids outside when I’m sick of them being in the house and I don’t see them for an hour or two. So yes – one can entertain with kids. Once they reach a certain age.
Problem is, if it’s other parents you’re “entertaining,” the conversation usually revolves around your kids and theirs. I’m sick of the topic.
” one can entertain with kids. Once they reach a certain age.”
we just had this convo. We decided on 18 years old.
“I actually prefer the subject to the Hamilton house.”
Even considering the location difference and the 30′ v 25′ lot difference?
Anyone seen this?
http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/realestate/sc-cons-0531-umberger-renters-20120601,0,3287057.column
They are looking more at large investor/property management groups, but I can see the appeal of one day renting out our place after the kid is gone, moving around the City for a few years and then returning, just to put some variety into my daily routine.
speaking of basement, were pix included and I just missed them? seems like a nice place, a bit too rich for my blood, but I like it.
“speaking of basement, were pix included and I just missed them?”
There’s a pic of a basement bedroom–the one with the glass block. If there were others, I missed, too.
I personally don’t care for this style of house, certainly not at this price point. When a roof is dormered like this you are bound to have water issues. Even on the side without a dormer the eaves do not overhang and clogged gutters can cause major issues as well. The other issue is it’s a balloon frame which can have fire issues especially with occupied 2nd floor.
We’ve got similar dormers, and no water issues in the 10 years we’ve owned. You do have to get the gutters cleaned every few years at least, but that’s maybe $60 – $70, they just show up, set up a ladder and blast the gunk out.
Despite the Hamilton house being on a 30 foot lot, the bedrooms are especially narrow. 13 x 9 and 14 x 8! Is an 8 ft wide bedroom even functional?
“OT question for those with kids: does it really make sense to have a cool bar in the basement if you have kids? do you really still have time and opportunities to entertain?”
we entertain more now that we have a kid. actually twice as much now.
“You do have to get the gutters cleaned every few years at least, but that’s maybe $60 – $70, they just show up, set up a ladder and blast the gunk out.”
dude do your foundation a favor and clean your gutters at the beginning of the year and twice in the fall. once in the beginning of fall and at the end of fall.
If 1934 W. Belle Plaine is in Coonley and the current owners have kids, why are they moving?
Other reasons, besides, job change/financial position, divorce… Do they want more space?
“If 1934 W. Belle Plaine is in Coonley and the current owners have kids, why are they moving?”
Yes, in Coonley; yes, looks like kid*S*. And I suspect they want separate bedrooms for the kids, and don’t wnat one of the kids two floors away (understandable, imo, at least with pre-teens).
$665k seems like a lot to spend for what is essentially a 2 bedroom house. I hate counting basement living space as bedrooms unless it is strictly for guests.
Can a kitchen be “gourmet” with an overmount sink? I thought overmount sinks in kitchens died in the 80’s.
Looks like low ceilings upstairs! The kitchen is definitely not gourmet (heck, we have a Viking range with a hood in our rental)– but you could live with it for quite a few years. The price tags awfully steep, but I bet it will sell quickly. I might rather do Wilmette at that price.
Houses like this are everything I wanted to escape from when I was growing up. Dull, fuddy-duddy, blue-collar housing.
But it’s a hard choice, between this and a duplex-down cookie-cutter McCondo. Think I’d take the condo, though. Better security and lower heating cost.
“Agree it will likely sell quickly, but seems expensive for what it is.”
Maybe it’s our general malaise at having to fork out well over half a million to live in a modestly sized house with slightly squashed aura. Hey, the market is the market. (And, yes, I would live here, but not for the asking price.)
“I’ll eat my hat if that house on Hamilton isn’t under contract by Monday. Nice taxes, too.”
The Hamilton property is under contract. Decent houses in Bell don’t last long in that price range.