Get a 2-Bedroom North Center SFH for Under $380,000 With 2-Car Parking: 1808 W. Diversey Parkway
This 2-bedroom single family home at 1808 W. Diversey Parkway in Lakeview has been mentioned several times in the comments but we’ve never actually chattered about it.
It is bank owned.
Built in 1996, it is located in the gated community next to the railroad tracks north of Diversey, but this house appears to NOT be on the railroad track side of the development.
However, unlike a traditional Chicago single family home, it doesn’t seem to have any backyard.
From the listing pictures, the kitchen appears to be intact with maple cabinets, granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances.
It also appears the bathrooms are intact but there seems to be 2.5 baths instead of just 2 as the listing indicates.
The two bedrooms are on the second floor but in the listing pictures there is a mysterious third room with only a concrete floor. Could this be a first floor den/family room of some kind?
The 1959 square foot house has a rooftop deck, central air and a rare attached 2 car garage.
The house was originally listed for $450,000 in March 2013.
It has been reduced several times and is now listed at $379,900.
How low will this go?
Is this the deal of the year?
Saul Zenkevicius at Goodwill Realty Group has the listing. See the pictures here.
1808 W. Diversey Parkway: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1959 square feet, 2 car garage
- Sold in June 1997 for $295,500
- Sold in June 2002 for $431,500
- Sold in October 2006 for $528,500
- Lis pendens foreclosure filed in December 2010
- Bank owned in September 2012
- Originally listed in March 2013 for $450,000
- Reduced several times
- Currently listed at $379,900
- Assessments of $160 a month (includes snow removal)
- Taxes of $8677
- Listing says “60 day deed restriction”
- Central Air
- Bedroom #1: 14×11 (second floor)
- Bedroom #2: 12×12 (second floor)
I think the mystery room is a family room behind the garage. This seems like a decent price but not the deal of the year to me as it looks like it needs work. The question is, do the pictures make the place look worse than it is, or do they not show the full extent of the work needed? It is always hard to tell with these crappy foreclosure listings!
Not bad if you can pick it up for $350k, but some money into those bathrooms to update. I am guessing that living room off the garage got some water in it or something, so they just took the floors out?
Decent townhome alternative.
I’d think all those stairs to get in the front door would be annoying. I suppose as an owner you’d be going through the garage, but still there must be nearly as many if not as many from there too every time you come home.
Isn’t this the North Costco neighborhood? I thought that was a no-buy zone.
“Isn’t this the North Costco neighborhood? I thought that was a no-buy zone.”
It’s *definitely* NoCoCo. There’s no real reason to not buy there; I’m not a fan tho (which might be a reason *to* buy there).
There is a tiny amount of backyard on the west ones (like this one), like maybe 10-15 feet beyond the house (some have decks). I looked at one of these 3-4 years ago and the community just had an odd feeling to me. Partly because it’s NoCoCo, partly because of the train proximity, partly because the houses are just JAMMED in. I guess the developer wanted to differentiate this from the zillion other THs within 2 blocks of here with SFHs, but it just doesn’t feel like a “real” SFH. As noted, very little land (not even sure the land was deeded and not association owned like a TH), the gaps between houses is only a couple feet, so not any more private or quiet than a TH, etc.
“I guess the developer wanted to differentiate this from the zillion other THs within 2 blocks of here with SFHs, but it just doesn’t feel like a “real” SFH.”
This one (and many/most of the other ‘sfh’ in the association) appears to be around 23′ wide; not a lot of THs that wide, which is a bona fide differentiation. Personally, I’d much prefer the 4-side windows, too, but know it’s not as big a thing for many.
“As noted, very little land (not even sure the land was deeded and not association owned like a TH),”
Listing has an individual pin and sez fee simple with association, so seems pretty clear it’s deede land, but prob the HOA is as strict as a condo regime.
I love that BOA puts zero work into doing anything with these, but is still SO concerned that someone is going to sell it to someone else right after buying it. They’ve already discouraged everyone from buying these places, now they don’t want cash-only investors who are going to sell it right away. Who gives a shit?
So, two small bedrooms, a good sized living room and a long, narrow kitchen are the only listed rooms and that’s almost 2k sq ft? Sounds more like 1,200. It’s a given that they’re counting the garage, which would be another 400. Maybe the deck is in there too. They really need to appeal their taxes. A lot of the million dollar places that show up here are paying less.
JJJ – You think that’s the bank’s restriction? Seems really odd.
The public record info in the redfin listing says 1348 sq. feet.
“They really need to appeal their taxes.”
2012 assessors value is $455,480
Most recent tax bill is $7,725.66
That’s how much taxes are when properly assessed.
Assessor calls it 1,959 sf. which might be disputable–does the assessor really consider attached garage space as part of the sf?
“JJJ – You think that’s the bank’s restriction? Seems really odd.”
Seems like it as Google says it’s a recent BOA thing for its REO.
“I guess the developer wanted to differentiate this from the zillion other THs within 2 blocks of here with SFHs, but it just doesn’t feel like a “real” SFH.”
The interesting thing to me is that this is a gated community. Back when they built it in 1995- that was probably a selling point (or a necessity???).
Now- not so much.
“2012 assessors value is $455,480
Most recent tax bill is $7,725.66
That’s how much taxes are when properly assessed.”
Yes, that seems reasonable and proportionally in line with my 2012 tax bill. $8,677 on a place selling for $380,000 sounded rough.
Diversey has forever become “Diversity” for me cuz ‘a Danny-Hammy!
I’ve hated this development from the day it was built (and I remember when it was being constructed). The location sucks, the buildings are ugly and look cheap, it’s next to the Metra tracks, there are no backyards, no shade, you can’t walk to anything and you’re living on an alley. You might as well live in Naperville for all the charm and convenience this complex has.
Even at $379,000 I think it’s overpriced. There must be a multitude of 2-bedroom walk-ups in ELP, WLP or Lakeview with some vintage charm that would serve better for someone who’s looking for a 2 BR. Why buy a “single family” home when it has none of the benefits of single-family living?
Of course, I realize not everyone likes vintage or needs to be near the lake. So maybe someone who doesn’t care about that stuff and wants an easy drive to Menard’s will buy this place.
@Dan#2 – That should be in the listing: “Walking distance to Costco, Menards, and Starbucks!”
One of my very good friends lives 2 houses over and you can actually see his steps in this photo. I know the CC folks hate this area but it is a convenient city location if don’t need access to public transportation. Nothing is out your door, but lots things are nearby. The houses here are filled with families, probably 70% of your neighbors have kids and most love the park that is on the other side of the train tracks.
That aside, the story here is that the previous owner died and the house went into foreclosure. Then a pipe burst in the winter and flooded the whole lower level and out the garage. (side note: it was quite crazy b/c I was over watching football and there was an ice rink in the driveway). There was also supposedly an auction a few months ago but I’m guessing they did not get their minimum bid.
The positives about this place relative to the other houses are that it has a 2 car garage (some only have 1) and the layout allows for you to close off the lower level to make a 3rd BR. Also, being on the west side, you really cannot hear the train. It blows by at 50mph at this spot. The downside is that there is no bathroom on the main floor so you have to go up or down to use one.
This place also has a roof top deck, which is very rare and in my opinion, the best point. I know all the neighbors are jealous of this feature. Only like 2 other houses have them.
I’d just be weary of the bones given the flooding damage, re mold.