Get an Italian Villa Bungalow in Indian Boundary Park: 2721 W. Morse
This 3-bedroom Italian bungalow at 2721 W. Morse in the Indian Boundary Park neighborhood of West Ridge came on the market in May 2017.
Built in 1922 on a larger than standard Chicago lot of 37×124, it has the architecture that has made Chicago famous (sorry I don’t have a picture- but I wanted to cover it anyway.)
The house has 3 unique arched front windows with Corinthian columns and a Spanish tile roof.
The front of the house has retained its vintage character.
The living room has 11 foot beamed ceilings along with the original wood burning fireplace with a unique mantel and 2 oak built-in bookcases.
The formal dining room has 9 foot coved ceilings.
It appears the back of the house was added/changed at a later date.
There’s an open style kitchen open to a family room.
The kitchen has white cabinets and stainless steel appliances with a built-in hutch.
There’s one bedroom on the main floor with two others, including the master retreat, on the second level.
The basement is finished and has an office and a recreation room along with what the listing says is a newer full bath and a laundry room.
There’s a 2-car garage and space pak cooling.
Originally listed for $599,000 in May 2017, it has been under contract once and has been reduced several times.
It’s now listed for $149,000 under the original list price, at $450,000.
Is it a deal at this price?
Denis Girard at Keller Williams Platinum Partners has the listing. See the pictures here.
2721 W. Morse: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2457 square feet, 2 car garage
- Sold in January 1990 for $328,000 (I feel like this might be a typo in the records and it is really $128,000)
- Sold in April 1995 for $212,000
- Sold in June 2000 for $345,500
- Originally listed in May 2017 for $599,000
- Reduced several times
- Under contract once
- Currently listed at $450,000
- Taxes of $6219
- Space pak cooling
- Wood burning fireplace
- Bedroom #1: 27×12 (second floor)
- Bedroom #2: 13×12 (main floor)
- Bedroom #3: 15×15 (second floor)
- Office: 11×22 (basement)
- Recreation room: 19×23 (basement)
- Family room: 13×21 (main floor)
Great place, needs lots of work but plenty of potential. I’m not really familiar with the area but it doesn’t feel like a “bargain” yet, despite the price drops.
It’s a really cool house, but this area is just so far from everything.
very cool house with a lot of interesting character, great find sabrina
probably needs some maintenance and I know nothing of the neighborhood but its not insane priced I don’t think
It seems consistent with the area prices, but I agree it’s great, and while it does need work it would be fun to make it what it could be. I found it on redfin (at $475K then, I think) soon after I was under contract on another place, and wasn’t looking in that area anyway, but I would have loved to look at it if I’d discovered it sooner. It is amazing that such a cool place is available for what seems to me such a reasonable price. Transportation from the area seems like it would be a pain, though.
Not as unique (and still much higher), but I also wished I’d had a chance to look at this place in Rogers Park, which does seem convenient to transportation and is quite close to the lake: https://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/6732-N-Newgard-Ave-60626/home/13568684
Work needed, but I love the look.
Stephanie, that is my kind of house. What work is needed?
My wife would love the commute to her work but the schools leave a bit to be desired and at that price point, we couldn’t afford private tuition.
Wow- Stephanie. Thanks for the link.
Built in 1891! That area would have been the “suburbs” for sure. Great bones.
I really like this house. Just a bit too far from transit.
I want to chime in here because I live in this neighborhood, just a few blocks west of this house on Morse. The area bounded by Western/California and Pratt/Lunt is a hidden gem–a 1920s historic district (Rogers Park Manor) with some of the best values in the city. I initially hesitated on moving up here from Logan Square a few years ago due to the commute concern but it’s worked out to be just a bit longer than what I had when I lived in Logan. I commute in the warmer months via bike to downtown (approx. 45-50 mins) but otherwise I walk to the Rogers Park Metra (a 15 min walk) and am then downtown in about 20 mins. Indian Boundary Park is awesome and the neighbors around here are cool–a mix of Loyola professors, creative types, and professionals. All very down to Earth. Block parties and neighborhood summer/winter socials are commonplace. We often reflect on how this neighborhood probably lives like old Chicago, with kids playing our front, multiple generations within blocks of each other, etc.–the type of thing you don’t run into much in most North Side hoods. This particular house is on the western end of the neighborhood, so it is a bit further of a walk, but in general the area has been great to us and we recommend.
Whoops–typo above. We live in this neighborhood just a few blocks EAST of this house. We’re just south of the cultural center in IBP. I prefer being on the eastern edge but whole neighborhood is homey and great.
I live in this area, and have been watching this great house for awhile, wondering at what price it will finally sell.
The area around here is great, as Chris M states. Very safe, very neighborly, with beautiful architecture, many trees, Indian Boundary Park, and a lot more urban amenity that people give it credit for. You can take the Lunt bus over to the Rogers Park METRA stop, or the Morse el stop, and an express runs on Western Ave. Many families have lived around here for 3 generations or more. There are a number of great, moderate-priced restaurants, and you easily get to Evanston, Skokie, or the Old Orchard and Lincoln Town Center malls.