Get 4-Bedrooms in East Lakeview for Under $400K: 2948 N. Pine Grove
This 4-bedroom duplex up at 2948 N. Pine Grove in East Lakeview has been on and off the market since August 2009.
After several reductions, it is now listed for $69,600 under the 2006 purchase price.
Built in 1922, this vintage property has 3 bedrooms on the second floor and a formal dining room and the fourth bedroom on the first.
There is a unique 2-story living room with spiral staircase that leads to an open family room.
The kitchen has maple cabinets, granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances.
There is an in-unit washer/dryer but there is no deeded parking and no central air (window units only.)
If you don’t want to buy it, it is also available to rent for $2750 a month.
What will it take to sell (or rent) this property?
Theodore Argiris at Koenig Strey Real Living has the listing. See the pictures here.
Unit #2: 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed
- Sold in May 1992 for $207,500
- Sold in June 2000 for $318,000
- Sold in July 2006 for $469,500
- Originally listed in August 2009
- Was listed in June 2010 for $469,000
- Reduced
- Currently listed for $399,900
- Assessments of $519 a month (includes heat, cable)
- Taxes of $8104
- OR rent it for $2750 a month
- No central air- window units only
- Washer/Dryer in the unit
- No deeded parking- rental in the neighborhood
- Bedroom #1: 15×10 (second floor)
- Bedroom #2: 14×12 (second floor)
- Bedroom #3: 12×8 (second floor)
- Bedroom #4: 12×10 (main floor)
- Family room: 15×12 (second floor)
I could do without the A/C but not the parking. No parking is a killer in this neighborhood. Although, the Redfin listing says there is rental pkg ‘nearby.’
http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/2948-N-Pine-Grove-Ave-60657/unit-2/home/13373231
Granted, it could be considering O’Hare long-term parking lot as ‘nearby’ especially since the realtor’s page doesn’t even mention it!
If you are able to get this place for say $325-350k what are the chances you can appeal taxes?
As long as you have an appraisal with comparables from the local market supporting your purchase price, you will be a winner. Appeal deadlines might preclude seeing the reduction in your first year’s bill, though.
I used to live a block from here, loved the neighborhood. If you work downtown and take the Sheridan express bus you really don’t need a car to live here. I don’t think no parking is a deal breaker in this area. If you do need parking there’s a garage on Broadway/Barry that’s $175 a month.
It’s a little hard to tell, but are there two dishwashers in the kitchen (see white appliance on lower left and stainless steel appliance next to range).
Also: any experiences with or thoughts about how much of a pain and expense it would be to replace the spiral staircase with a non-spiral one?
I’m guessing that white appliance in the kitchen is a all-in-one washer/dryer.
A couple more thoughts from me. It’s a nice place. It’s just the lack of parking and central A/C are killing it. You may not need parking to get to work, but what about errands like grocery shopping. That’s no fun on a bus. And, god forbid, what if you wanted to leave the city? I suppose maybe nearby rental parking could do. The A/C is probably more of a vanity thing. Who wants to spend $400k and have a window unit like they’re in a college apt?
I also don’t get how useful opened up second floor living spaces are. You may not see each other, but the noise is still going to travel and that would drive me nuts. Seems like wasted space. Although you’d lose the windows, I think you’d be better off walling it off and making it an office.
Lastly, the spiral staircase also seems like a remnant of college living.
I want to rent in this neighborhood – is a 2k budget unreasonable for something this close to the lake with similar amenities? I have a car though so it might be tough.
“It’s a little hard to tell, but are there two dishwashers in the kitchen (see white appliance on lower left and stainless steel appliance next to range).”
It seems to be laundry: see “Redone kitchen with stainless appliances, washer/dryer, maple cabinets, granite countertops, custom backsplash/tile.”
“Also: any experiences with or thoughts about how much of a pain and expense it would be to replace the spiral staircase with a non-spiral one?”
Biggest pain would be the lost floor area. Expense would be substantial, but not outrageous, unless you did something funky like floating stairs.
Relatedly, does this place have an entry door on the upper level, too, or not? That would make a big difference to me on the acceptability of the spiral.
Oh, just saw in the realtor’s notes. There’s no need to worry about groceries, there’s a “NEW TRADER JOE’S GOING UP NEARBY!” Whoopee!
First of all, by leave the city, i hope you mean “fly to new york or london or LA” and not “drive to the suburbs”
Secondly, you can take the bus to the blue line or cab it to the airport.
what’s the old joke, manhattanites use their passport more often than their driver’s license? that’s of like living in ELV.
“And, god forbid, what if you wanted to leave the city?”
novice, you should change your username to re_expert
I saw this unit at an open house last year. It’s two 2BRs made into one unit, and if I recall correctly you can access the second level from the common stairs. What turned me off about the unit wasn’t the lack of parking but the completely uninspired way in which the two units were brought together. Why would you want to live in an East Lakeview prewar that feels like a bad ’90s rehab? But for the architecturally blind, it’s a lot of space for the price and area.
“First of all, by leave the city, i hope you mean “fly to new york or london or LA” and not “drive to the suburbs” ”
i think by leave the city he means, cross western ave.
thank you folks i will be here all week, please tip your waitress
I agree with Chris this is ALOT of space for the price and area. There are 2 bedrooms going for the same amount.
I dont like this house and I dont like the crazy price either. I think all this houses are gona be obsolete in a couple of years.. we need more efficient and sustainable houses. That means small place for less maintenance and heating cost and with ability to use solar energy and be abel to garden organic food.
the value of the house is in the position with respect to the sun and the land for gardening..living space should be the last thing
rng, there is nothing more sustainable than reusing existing housing stock.
do some research on the concept of “embodied energy,” tearing down useful structures completely goes against the grain of sustainability.
and what good is land for gardening if nobody can live close by? you’re describing a rural area, I’m afraid.
“rng, there is nothing more sustainable than reusing existing housing stock.”
I think that may have been a misfire on the property, as the density in the featured building is rather admirable from the “sustainability” perspective and doesn’t rely on an elevator.
This is a big place. Overall is nicely done, with vintage features in the DR, unusual spaces (2-story), well done baths and kitchen. Although not my type of place, this is a good value as long as one is a bit fluid on “must haves” or necessary criteria. I’m a little curious about the initial price, does that include one or two units, as this is a combined unit?
rng,
You really don’t understand the efficiencies of density or the sustainability of repurposing existing structures do you?
I do I just think there are cheaper properties that will offer u the same..but everybody use ther money they way they want its only paper anyway
“I do I just think there are cheaper properties that will offer u the same”
That’s not at all what you said, and which three of us questioned.
I like this property. It seems nice to me and for this price, I expect a Home Depot grade kitchen.
However, I wouldn’t even consider a place that didn’t have parking.
I would not feel comfortable parking in a public lot late at night. I barely feel comfortable parking in the private lot of my friend’s Lake Shore Drive condo (the attendants are super creepy). I also wouldn’t want to drag groceries from a public lot to my house.
For the price, I would much rather have a townhouse with an attached garage. Maybe that doesn’t exist in this neighborhood though.
Jenny,
You are entitled to your opinion, but unless you live in ELV and feel that way, you might be a little misguided. Start walking more, the city isn’t so scary once you get out of your car.