Is Avondale the Next Hot Neighborhood? 3122 N. Spaulding Sells for $385K
We last chattered about this rehabbed 4-bedroom vintage home at 3122 N. Spaulding in Avondale in July 2011.
See our prior chatter here.
If you recall, this house was once a 2-bedroom bank owned property that was rehabbed into a “new” 4-bedroom home.
Many of you thought it would sell close to its list price of $399,000.
It recently sold for $385,000.
The house was built in 1888 on a standard 25×125 lot.
The 2010 listing said it was the “ideal handyman’s special”.
After it was rehabbed it had 3 new baths with granite counter tops and Grohe faucets.
There were skylights in both upstairs bathrooms.
The kitchen had dark custom cabinetry, what look like stone counter tops and GE stainless steel appliances.
Three out of the 4 bedrooms were on the second floor, with the fourth on the main level.
The listing said the house has a new roof, windows, Hardie fiber-cement siding, furnace and a/c.
It is located just a few blocks from the Belmont blue line El stop and is near the Kennedy Expressway for an easy commute.
This is the second most expensive house to sell in the immediate area in the last year.
Is Avondale the next “hot” neighborhood?
Piotr Hadlaw had the listing. You can still see the pictures here.
3122 N. Spaulding: 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2700 square feet, 2 car garage
- No history in the public record of prior sales
- Originally listed in October 2010 for $120,000
- Sold in November 2010 for $80,000
- Re-listed in June 2011 for $449,000
- Reduced
- Was listed in July 2011 at $399,999
- Sold in September 2011 for $385,000
- Taxes of $1,838
- Central Air
- Bedroom #1: 18×16 (second level)
- Bedroom #2: 10×14 (second level)
- Bedroom #3: 10×13 (second level)
- Bedroom #4: 12×8 (main level)
- Family room: 22×18 (lower level)
Hmmm….west of Western. According to the cribchatter pundits (criberatti? cribmasons? fraternal order of cribberbuffalo?) these buyers will be knife catchers both figuratively and literally.
It appears that there isn’t a gutter on the house next to the apartment building. So is the house leaning on the apartment building or is the apartment building leaning on the house?
Living a few streets down from there, I’d say the reputation for danger is highly overrated. Maybe west of Kimball…
@ A*Man- HA!
I looked at SFHs in Avondale earlier this year, but determined that the neighborhood was a huge NO for me.
http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/3353-N-Avers-Ave-60618/home/13454697
Avondale 2 flat, half off the 2005 price. last year this would have been 60% off the 2005 price.
Avondale is cheap, and it’s up coming as a steady stream of hipsters move up milwaukee ave.
You would be surprised at the number of young families in the area. Not sure what they’re going to do if they expect a public education option or if they have already considered other options.
“Avondale 2 flat, half off the 2005 price.”
What would those 3/1s rent for? 1,000/mo? And the illegal basement unit would at least cover the taxes, right?
That one goes under contract *fast* assuming there isn’t a bank approval issue.
Maybe to the junior trump who bought this one:
http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/3352-N-Avers-Ave-60618/home/13455426
My sister lives there. Kids go to Catholic school. I’ve never seen any gang activity, although supposedly the MLDs are in the area. She’s east of the highway, which might help.
I think the real question is how desirable is close proximity to the Blue Line and expressway – for those of us in the area, that trumped any geographic issue related to “west of Western,” you could be east of Western and need another 20 minutes to get to work if you don’t have good access to transportation.
There are definitely still MLDs in the area, I just phoned in some graffiti blaster requests this morning. That’s what is changing this neighborhood, a fairly small but very committed group of people that see no reason why an otherwise great neighborhood should be besmirched by a group of idiots.
Public schools have a way to go in the area, but again, the transit options make it fairly painless to go outside the immediate neighborhood (really, is a few miles away not “local” enough for people?).
“really, is a few miles away not “local” enough for people?”
Isn’t that what people in St Charles say?
@Skeptic – well said, I’ve lived in Avondale (eastern portion, by Hot Doug’s, Kuma’s, Pork Shoppe) since 2003 and I think it’s migthy safe.
The housing inventory is substantially more affordable than other neighborhoods on the North Side, and you’re nto that far from those areas. I find the location, for me, is actually centrally located as it puts me close to suburbs.
The deals for rehabbed Single families are great, $350-400K (take that same house in, say, Lincoln Square and it would be $500+.
Multi units, however, are the best deal – 2 beds will rent from 1000-1300, depending on condition. If you’re looking for solid investment real estate, pick up a 2 or 3 flat for under $300k, live in it, and have your tenants pay your mortgage for you.
right, I mean, it’s all relative to some degree – I totally understand the value-added of being able to walk to school, but that strikes me as more of a fantasy than reality for the vast majority of Americans.
“Isn’t that what people in St Charles say?”
‘West of Western’ greatly outnumbers the GZ uppity snobs who think their shit doesn’t stink. Newsflash, you do stink and you are not idolized.
One ‘society lady’ on here suggested that the city will/should ‘push the poor out’. How? What is ‘poor’?
And does she really think there are enough ‘people like her’ to do so? Get a $!##!# life g-dammed GZ $!#$!@)(#U~!’s
One day the 99% will rise up against the 1%, our voices will be heard and their Starbucks will burn. The oppression of the GZ against the masses will not be tolerated. We will have our West of Western Spring*
*not to be confused with the beautiful suburb of Western Springs
tomm: “And does she really think there are enough ‘people like her’ to do so? Get a $!##!# life g-dammed GZ $!#$!@)(#U~!’s”
You sound at least as unpleasant as the uppity old ladies that post here. Yuck.
tomm = envy. No tomm, you can’t come in.
tomm can’t afford to rent at EnV.
Avondale is definitely on the rise. East of the express way is getting better and safer each year. MLD is still somewhat of a factor but the residents/home owners are pushing back more and more. From the Orbit Room, Kuma’s, Urban Belly and some great ethnic joints, simple dining and places to hang are plentiful. Being close to the Kennedy is a plus. Blue Line’s proximity not a negative either. Oh and did I forget the hipsters are on their way in?
I’ve lived west of Western and east of California, just off Diversey, since 2000. It’s a great area – easy access to public transit, a short walk to three different grocery stores, a couple of parks, and houses under $300,000 with actual backyards.
I will say that the area is CRIMINALLY underserved in terms of a local public school, but we (and most families I know) have sent our kids to private/Catholic schools, entered the lottery for CPS neighborhood schools, or applied to magnet schools.
Sure, there’s occasional trouble with gangs and violence. Just like there is in every other neighborhood in Chicago, and in most of the suburbs, too.
As the description says this might be a “One of a kind home…” but it sure has everyman easy financing…
Executed Recorded Document Type Amount
09/16/2011 10/27/2011 MORTGAGE $367,650.00
It’s still amazing to me that people are able to buy a large asset with just 3% down. They are underwater within just a few months in the market!
We need to go back to the 1930s regulations that mandate 20% down. It would be painful right now but it would “right” the housing market for the future.
I am a local Realtor and I moved to Avondale last July. I think the neighborhood is great. My wife works downtown and the Blue Line access is great. I work all over the Northside so it is conveniant to get around. We moved from Lincoln Park and although we miss being so close to the lake we love our new house. We paid for a single family house what a small condo costs in LP. As anywhere in the city you need to be aware of your surroundings and take precautions. We are just west of the expressway and walk all over the neighborhood. When you do find teh rare occassion that the Kennedy is not backe dup you can get into the city in less then 10 minutes. Plus anyone working towards O’Hare has a good commute. I see the area as moving up, since homes are becoming less affordable in Logan Square.