Looking for a 3-Bedroom Greystone Rowhouse? 5252 N. Magnolia in Lakewood Balmoral
This 3-bedroom vintage rowhouse at 5252 N. Magnolia in the Lakewood Balmoral historic district in Andersonville came on the market in August 2011.
Built in 1898 on a 25×123 lot, the listing says it was “gutted” 5 years ago.
The rowhouse has cherry hardwood floors and custom cabinets in the living room.
The kitchen has black cabinets, granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances.
All 3 bedrooms are on the second floor and there is a lower level family room.
The rowhouse has a flagstone patio and a 2-car garage.
It also has central air.
Is this priced to sell for the location?
Edward Hester at Dream Town has the listing. See the pictures here.
5252 N. Magnolia: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 3100 square feet, 2 car garage
- Per redfin it sold in January 1998 for$212,500
- Per refin it sold in October 2002 for $728,000
- Sold in August 2007 for $770,000
- Originally listed in August 2011 for $699,000
- Currently still listed at $699,000
- Taxes of $12,831
- Central Air
- Bedroom #1: 13×15 (second floor)
- Bedroom #2: 11×18 (second floor)
- Bedroom #3: 10×10 (second floor)
- Family room: 21×17 (lower level)
I am not sure about the square footage listed but this calculates out to a reasonable range: perhaps a bit lower would fit the interior more 625K. As for me, I am not sure why they wanted a vintage “Greystone” turned into a rather plain open floor plan standard suburban home.
I agree, don’t like the open plan in front, with that pillar there. I really want to like it, but… I don’t know. I like all the finishes in the kitchen but hate the angle. And the sink is miniscule! Then there’s the downstairs powder room, UGLY! Easy enough to change, but still, hideous.
off topic but has anyone had success simply knocking on the door of a house that isn’t on the market — either at all, or taken off the market recently — and making the owner an offer?
What is this neighborhood like? I know I’m a Northside ‘hater’ but it seems like a lot of money for a sketchy area. But maybe I am wrong? Is this really Andersonville (which is nice) or Edgewater?
Pros of this place – neighborhood is decent, 3 bedrooms are all on the same floor, kitchen is relatively updated and place looks decent overall. 2 bathrooms on second floor is good too.
Cons of this place – Assuming 20% down of $140K, at this asking price would require $559,000 in mortgages which requires a jumbo mortgage and would require a pretty high income to get in here. Uncertain on schools in this area too.
Is this a comp?
http://www.redfin.com/IL/Chicago/1443-W-Catalpa-Ave-60640/home/13401970
I like this better, even though I LOVE greystones.
I actually like this place, it’s too bad the family has to live large in the basement to watch tv though. Anyway, it is also priced in that dead zone above conforming but below the millionaire’s price range so it’s languishes. Otherwise it’s a nice home.
I don’t like whatever picture 13 is, and I agree that it was a mistake to completely open this place up, it may have been better to open the kitchen up to the dining room and keep the smaller living room enclosed. I also don’t like the angle of that kitchen island, I would have done a bigger one and put it straight.
I agree that this is going to be a tough sell in this price range, even if just because of the conforming limit issue.
A lot of time there is little to save in a greystone interior wise and more people are apt to favor an open floor plan.
This is a nice place, but I dont’ think a row house can support over 600k here.
I like the comp on catalpa better eventhought it is frame.
So who is the target buyer here? Assuming it sells for $600-625K, you would have a 40-50 year old couple with one kid in private schools, and a combined income of $200k? Should the fact that it’s a rowhouse discount the price in some amount, or does the additional square footage compensate for that?
Dave: that is the target market, more or less, with either grown children or none at all. Very small little niche with a very high price point. LIke I said though, I think it’s a bit overimproved for a row house in this area where well heeled buyer expects a SFH. Even scarier is that it appears the 2002 buyer lost money if this really sold in the 700’s back in 2002.
The Catalpa house linked by T.S. has two bedrooms on the second floor and the third in the basement. I’d say it’s not a comp. The photo of that basement room shows that the basement ceiling height is not high enough for a livable basement. They spent far too much money on the renovation. The house wasn’t worth it.
700k for this? here? LMFAO! Granted its within a mile of the lake, this neighborhood isn’t anything special.
450k tops
This is Lakewood Balmoral proper. I don’t know what you guys are talking about. The neighborhood commands a premium. Dangle family fixer uppersaround here can fetch mid 500s to mid 600s.
Still think this is a bit overpriced but certainly not overimproved for the hood.
You people are f’n nuts. Lakewood Balmoral/Andersonville isn’t a nice area?
Sonies, I know of two duplex condo’s in this area that sold for $500K+ in the last two months.
I was channeling my inner BK lawyer
“450k tops”
550k min
I think $600K minimum.
Sonies-
You really think this nice greystone is worth max $450k, and also think that cinder block 2 BR McCondo on Armitage featured yesterday is a $500k property?
“off topic but has anyone had success simply knocking on the door of a house that isn’t on the market — either at all, or taken off the market recently — and making the owner an offer?”
Yes and no. There was a house that I had been keeping my eye on, and it went in-active — so I knocked on the door. It was an estate sale, and the owner didn’t realize the listing had expired (as it was his brother handling that part of it) and he was happy to show me the home another time. I, ultimately, decided the house needed more re-hab that I wanted to do, and didn’t put an offer in, but I could have. They re-listed it after I decided not to pursue it.
“off topic but has anyone had success simply knocking on the door of a house that isn’t on the market — either at all, or taken off the market recently — and making the owner an offer?”
I would traet you like a jehovah witness.
treat
lollerskates
But its not a very nice greystone, its a converted 2 flat rowhouse with only 3 bedrooms, and some seriously ugly finishes, I mean god what a mishmash of random crap and an awkward layout, not ot mention the basement ceilings look to be about 6′ high or less, useless!
And while some may say that Lakewood Balmoral is the beez kneez, its not Lincoln Park (on armitage) since the schools and walkability are not the same. Oh and lets not talk about how far it is from the loop which isn’t mandatory for everyone, but it certainly is on the fringe of acceptable city living for most folks and doesnt deserve a ridiculous premium some here are placing
okay, maybe a little more formal, like mailing a formal offer?
“I would traet you like a jehovah witness.”
Sonies, put the crack pipe down. This place is about as walkable as it gets. Every amenity you could possibly need is right outside of your doorstep. Starbucks, independent coffee shops, restaurants, useless boutiques, antique stores, cupcakes, etc, etc. All while being pretty close to lake and public transportation.
Yeah, the area isn’t popular with the North Face crowd and little further north, but so what? There is limited inventory in this very desirable neighborhood and absolutely no room to build and more so values reflect the supply/demand for living in the hood. The people that would buy this place most likely aren’t even considering Lincoln Park/Lakeview. When I bought in A’ville, LP wasn’t even a consideration.
The world does not end at Irving Park…
“Oh and lets not talk about how far it is from the loop which isn’t mandatory for everyone, but it certainly is on the fringe of acceptable city living for most folks and doesnt deserve a ridiculous premium some here are placing”
Sonies, welcome to cribchatter, where sabrina cherry picks bland properties in “fringe” and “non-hot” areas in an attempt to prove that homes are languishing. Why not highlight the hot areas and units that ARE selling. Oh – because then she/he/it would have to admit that he/she/it was wrong….
Yeah the world doesn’t end at IPR, but would you really pay 4k a month+ insurance + maintenance + utilities to live in a 3 bedroom row house near a bunch of trannys, lesbians and gays? This isn’t NYC and its not that great a neighborhood
I would much rather live in a community populated by the LBGT community than with those guys in backwards hats and madras shorts and the women with perfectly appointed strollers. Also, homosexuals and transsexuals tend to have far fewer kids (if any) and that means far fewer teens in the neighborhood.
I still think this property is overpriced and the one on Armitage yesterday was ridiculously overpriced.
Good-lookin cornice!
Weird conversation here–at least I find it bizarre that a non-trivial number of folks have no idea of the character of this hood. L-B is not exactly hiding out in an obscure corner of the city, there’s lots of nightlife and attractions from Andersonville to the Bryn Mawr district to the Uptown theaters and Little Saigon/Chinatown/whatever it is. L-B sits at the heart of it, hosting very grand houses, big lots, young kids on bikes… the whole scene is Cosby-esque in its cozy yuppie urbanity.
Shame about the gut job on this place. I thought 1443 Catalpa would move at $600 despite the 2 bedrooms upstairs, figured it was right in the wheelhouse of the 2X professional couple.
“okay, maybe a little more formal, like mailing a formal offer?”
I used to get random contracts in the mail for lots I owned in West Town. Some even sent earnest money checks. I think you would intimidate a non-pro if you sent them a contract on a house that wasn’t on the market, though. They’ll probably think it is a scam.
“its not Lincoln Park (on armitage) since the schools … are not the same”
So, tell me about the radical transformation of Oscar Meyer Elementary…
“would you really pay 4k a month+ insurance + maintenance + utilities to live … near a bunch of trannys, lesbians and gays?”
Better than Bob’s friends, any day of the week.
thanks everyone for humoring me with my questions the last two days. I have the bug to upgrade to a bigger more family friendly home, but cannot do so at this exact moment and its frustrating.
“And while some may say that Lakewood Balmoral is the beez kneez, its not Lincoln Park (on armitage) since the schools and walkability are not the same. Oh and lets not talk about how far it is from the loop which isn’t mandatory for everyone, but it certainly is on the fringe of acceptable city living for most folks and doesnt deserve a ridiculous premium some here are placing”
Not some, a lot of people.
“Is this really Andersonville (which is nice) or Edgewater?”
You can’t afford Edgewater, so don’t even worry about it.
“Yeah the world doesn’t end at IPR, but would you really pay 4k a month+ insurance + maintenance + utilities to live in a 3 bedroom row house near a bunch of trannys, lesbians and gays? This isn’t NYC and its not that great a neighborhood.”
Yes, people pay $1MM to live in this area. Gays are nice, so are all the traditional families with kids in the area.
This is Andersonville.
Icarus, instead of mailing them a full-blown contract, just mail them a letter saying you’d be interested if they’d like to sell.
That’s how my friends bought a 3-Family in Williamsburg, Brooklyn about 15 years ago. They got it for 120K. With that area blowing up, it’s worth well over a million today.
“okay, maybe a little more formal, like mailing a formal offer?”
Why don’t you speak with people who are actually selling their home. Jeez. If I am walking with a half eaten sandwich, and you are hungry, would you shout prices at me to try to save a buck.
” useless boutiques”
good one Russ!
streetview shows a pretty nice looking block, maybe nicer than wobl. how bad is the school and why cant they get their shit together?
Or, Icarus, maybe you can go door to door in neighborhoods you can’t afford and interrupt the lives of all of the residents with your lowball offers.
fwiw. a friend found a condo to rent by putting notes on doors in the building. he was already renting there and wanted to stay but the owner of his unit was moving in, or had to sell, or something.
whatever, you can raise YOUR kids around a bunch of gays and trannys, knock yourself out, free country! I just would rather spend my 700k elsewhere in town, thats all…
But cold calling interrupts lives and is a clear sign you will ask to eat their sandwich, too!!!!
“Or, Icarus, maybe you can go door to door in neighborhoods you can’t afford and interrupt the lives of all of the residents with your lowball offers.”
Yes, that’s *exactly* what Icarus was suggesting.
And, I assume you shoot anyone who dares knock on your door, right? Just as a preventiative measure, because you never know when it might be a zombie.
“whatever, you can raise YOUR kids around a bunch of gays and trannys, knock yourself out, free country! I just would rather spend my 700k elsewhere in town, thats all…”
Best just move to the burbs–hard to get far enough away from tehgays and tehtrannies in the nice parts of the city. Never know when those gay-cooties might spread and turn your kids gay.
Sonies, sounds like you have some kind of pent up homophobia. You can run but you can’t hide from gay folks. They won’t bite you. Sounds like Naperville may be more your speed than city living. I am definitely right of center politically, black, and straight as they come and thoroughly enjoyed the neighborhood and all it has to offer.
You’d see worse in Boystown than you would in A’ville. Yes, the area is very liberal, but it isn’t like there are party boys hanging out at the corner of Clark & Foster tonguing each other while popping X pills.
always seemed more lesbian than manlovin around here.
NYC, does your health care cover proctologist visits? Seems something crawled up your ass and won’t let go.
maybe half a sandwich
I have no problem with gay people, I just wouldn’t want to raise my kids in a largely majority gay neighborhood, if that makes me homophobic, so be it
” I just wouldn’t want to raise my kids in a largely majority gay neighborhood”
A’ville ain’t “largely majority gay”. Not even close.
sonies is just jealous he wasn’t able to buy my boystown condo before it “sold before print”
I would want my kids exposed to lots of different types of lifestyles, so they would understand it’s OK to be different than the majority.
That being said, I have almost no tolerance for people who impose themselves on the rest of society – smokers, people who blare loud music, people who throw loud parties, etc.
I suppose my ideal neighborhood filled with people who think differently than the norm, but who are also quiet and polite, does not exist.
“Sonies, welcome to cribchatter, where sabrina cherry picks bland properties in “fringe” and “non-hot” areas in an attempt to prove that homes are languishing. Why not highlight the hot areas and units that ARE selling.”
Andersonville isn’t a “fringe” area. It’s one of the hottest neighborhoods in the city and one of the few that isn’t getting totally decimated by the housing bust. You may not agree with it or understand it- but it is what it is.
Also- how many posts on Lakeview and Lincoln Park and Bucktown do I have to do- where the property has been on the market for months, a year, or even years? Those aren’t fringe areas, obviously. What’s the market time in your precious Palmolive Clio? I bet it’s in the years in there now.
Properties are not being priced right for this market. Take the price and lower (again) by 10% to 20% and then maybe the properties will sell quickly. No property should be on the market for a year. It’s all about the price.
“whatever, you can raise YOUR kids around a bunch of gays and trannys, knock yourself out, free country! I just would rather spend my 700k elsewhere in town, thats all…”
” I just wouldn’t want to raise my kids in a largely majority gay neighborhood”
Why? I’m seriously curious. Think it will rub off? Don’t think it’s a good example? I’ve always thought it would be great to raise our kids in the city mainly for the diversity… racially AND otherwise, like gay, lesbian, etc. Kids learn that there are many different kinds of people in this world and not to be shocked/afraid/intimidated when they see someone different. Make sense?
No I don’t think it will rub off, there are plenty of diverse people in many other neighborhoods in the city and would like to expose my children to all of them (well, i’d rather not expose them to the drug and gang infested slums in some parts of town).
And who knows, its not like anyone has proven that being gay is a genetic condition, nobody has proven any cause of it, but would you really prefer your kid to be gay? I’m sure some people will say they don’t care, (I wouldn’t either if that did happen, i’d still love em) but I would imagine that almost everyone would prefer if their kids were straight.
As I would also prefer to spend 700k in a more ‘normal’ setting. Kids are almost guaranteed to be wierd in some way, so why make it easier for them than it has to be?
“its not like anyone has proven that being gay is a genetic condition”
No one has proven we aren’t all just figments of Al Gore’s imagination, either, but that doens’t mean there is any serious question about it.
“A’ville ain’t “largely majority gay”. Not even close.”
This.
well its largely more gay than 99% of the neighborhoods in the midwest.. do you have anything poignant to add or are you just going to nitpick one sentence from my paragraphs?
Well I don’t think being gay is a “condition” at all. It’s just part of who you are as a person. Like being blonde, except you get judged for it.
I would prefer my kid to be HAPPY, who cares what gender they love.
I don’t think living in an area where openly gay people also live would make it easier for my kid to be “weird”. I guess whats weird to someone is normal to someone else.
Some of the last people I care my kids be exposed to are gays.
Not to keen on gay gangbangers though.
“well its largely more gay than 99% of the neighborhoods in the midwest”
So is your current neighborhood.
If you don’t think that homosexuality is genetic, then I don’t know what else to do other than nitpick.
“If you don’t think that homosexuality is genetic, then I don’t know what else to do other than nitpick.”
Dude, overbearing mothers? what world do you live in? hahahah
Dude, the city isn’t ‘diverse’ at all. Neighborhoods in the city actually very homogenous. Move to a subdivision in plainfield or schaumburg and you’ll see diversity, where you have a better chance of having a non-english speaking neighbor, or an indian family, or a polish family, or a gay couple. Funny how ‘diversity’ for some people, ironically, is an excuse to become less diverse. Diversity more than just seeing or passing a black guy or mexican or indian guy on the street.
Dude,
http://media.apps.chicagotribune.com/chicago-census/less-than-five.html
look at this map of children under age using census data compiled by the trib.
look at the stark contrast in colors in teh city. Look at the blending of colors in the suburbs, especially in the north and NW suburbs.
You all sound like complete idiots when you talk about diversity in the city, because all I see is segregation.
GD
“Dude, overbearing mothers? what world do you live in? hahahah”
See, you can’t even joke about it being caused by having tehgays in the neighborhood.
“If you don’t think that homosexuality is genetic, then I don’t know what else to do other than nitpick.”
well thats a pretty piss poor gene because how on earth would it get passed on to subsequent generations unless it was a recessive gene found in both straight parents, but the essence of it being passed on genetically would certainly make it less frequent over time, and eventually extinct well before our current modern generation, no?
I think it could be partly genetic, partly chemical, partly upbringing by parents, and partly environment. I don’t think its “just” one thing, as it is a complicated matter the likes of which won’t likely be solved by finding a ‘gay gene’…
and for the record I don’t think you can “catch gay” either, but bringing up a child throughout his childhood in a homosexual environment (such as two gay parents) it wouldn’t surprise me if those children, as they grow up, were gay more often than the children of two straight parents.
Jeebus these cats need to get out more.
HD did you take a close look at the dots around the top of Lake Shore Drive? They’re as close as anyplace on planet Earth to being scattered randomly in equal quantities green/orange/purple/red. Yes Andersonville and L-B are pretty white but you would be mistaken to imagine the homogeneity of, say, Old Irving applies in CA 77.
Actually wait a minute, what are all these under-5yo kids doing in this overwhelmingly swishy neighborhood anyway?
how many tourists hang out in schaumburg, or plainfield, HD?
“I think it could be partly genetic, partly chemical, partly upbringing by parents, and partly environment. I don’t think its “just” one thing, as it is a complicated matter the likes of which won’t likely be solved by finding a ‘gay gene’…”
And this is what most new research tells us. In some cases it is indeed genetic, and may involve levels of testosterone/estrogen and brain development, in other cases it is linked to environmental causes/upbringing.
Regardless, it would be dishonest for most of us to say we ‘didn’t care’ if our kids were gay or not. I have no problem with gay peeps and my brother is homosexual, but life is definitely tougher for him. At the end of the day, gota love your kids for who they are , regardless of their sexual orientation or whatever.
What a nice map. It looks like tract 3204 only has 7 kids. I wonder if that’s correct. I would like to live in the area with the fewest kids.
“I have no problem with gay people, I just wouldn’t want to raise my kids in a largely majority gay neighborhood, if that makes me homophobic, so be it.”
Haha. What an ignorant SOB. Replace “gay” with “black” and I think you’ll be embarrassed about your ignorant post (or at least you should be).
“I have no problem with black people, I just wouldn’t want to raise my kids in a largely majority black neighborhood, if that makes me racist, so be it.”
“tract 3204”
12 blocks of office buildings, very large failed condo conversions, dorms for the downtown colleges, plus Grant Park. Not necessarily the peace and quiet you might be seeking.
Well me being a white guy… no, i wouldn’t really want to do that since I would be an outcast as would my child… shockingly billions of other people on planet earth feel the same way and want to live with people of similar races, does that make them racist? Dumbass
Why is it when i’m in woodfield mall no one seems to speak english?
“Sonies on October 19th, 2011 at 3:03 pm
how many tourists hang out in schaumburg, or plainfield, HD?
“
“HD did you take a close look at the dots around the top of Lake Shore Drive? They’re as close as anyplace on planet Earth to being scattered randomly in equal quantities green/orange/purple/red. ”
duh, you point out roger’s park, one of the most diverse place on earth and somehow that negates the vast vast vast tracks of black and yellow on the south and west sides? what are you smokin’ I want some!
Sonies, your grasp of genetics and homosexuality are both pathetic. What chemical causes homosexuality? And statistics (read “proof”) show that children of homosexual couples are no more likely to be gay than those of straight couples. (Read this if you don’t believe me: http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/parenting-full.pdf.)
However, people who have a strong opinion of something rarely have that opinion changed when faced with not just a different opinion but facts.
As far as diversity goes within the city, I think I live in an extremely diverse neighborhood (Rogers Park).
The top of LSD is not in Rogers Park smart guy, and the whole thread has been about a house at 5252 N. Magnolia, in Edgewater, and a genuinely diverse ‘hood by any metric. You’re changing the subject.
“it would be dishonest for most of us to say we ‘didn’t care’ if our kids were gay or not. … life is definitely tougher for [tehgays]”
Right. I don’t want my kids to be gay because I *do* want them to avoid hardship in their lives. But if they are, I don’t want *any* of that hardship to be because they think *I* am disappointed they are gay, or would prefer if they weren’t.
Just like I don’t want them to be nearsighted.
Roger’s Park is a few blocks north of edgewater, come on’. They’re both at the top of LSD. I lived there for many years.
The fact of the matter is taht chicago is far more segrated than the suburbs, this isn’t rocket science.
I do not think that map shows what you think it shows.
The fact of the matter is *some parts* of Chicago are very segregated, yes, that’s obvious; equally it’s obvious that there are *some* diverse suburban communities.
What I don’t get is why you plant your flag for this hobbyhorse at 5252 N. Magnolia. This neighborhood is not segregated, it’s not rocket science.
“welcome to cribchatter, where sabrina cherry picks bland properties in “fringe” and “non-hot” areas in an attempt to prove that homes are languishing. Why not highlight the hot areas and units that ARE selling. Oh – because then she/he/it would have to admit that he/she/it was wrong….”
It should be pretty obvious that Sabrina picks properties to demonstrate her viewpoints and/or things that she thinks are interesting or serve some sort of purpose. If you don’t like the properties she shows, just go away. These “anecdotes” aren’t going to prove anything, but they might be interesting to talk about. You sound like Glenn Beck and I imagine you wearing a stupid pair of glasses and trying to twirl things around to try to show how smart you are. No one cares what you think, go away.
“What I don’t get is why you plant your flag for this hobbyhorse at 5252 N. Magnolia. This neighborhood is not segregated, it’s not rocket science.”
It has nothing to do with this house, it has to do with the earlier portion of the thread where everyone was saying that live in Chicago for diversity. Which outside of a handful of neighborhoods, chicago is segrated.
wow Rcheli, so they did a sample size of a whopping 24 kids and found no difference… wow that must totally be the honest truth from an unbiased organization for sure
Long-time Listener, First-time Caller: You my friend, must be liberal.
sonies, it is quite obvious you may harbor some homoerotic fantasies and therefore are experiencing reaction formation. That is OK – some guys ARE very good looking. If you are attracted to them, it doesn’t necessarily mean you are gay. There is a spectrum. Embrace who you are…… (and Bob, that goes for you too)
Clio you are not a counselor, stick to reading charts.
HD – you are not a real estate expert, stick to the losers you advise…..
hmmm. this makes the GOP debate in LV seem tame.
1. Chicago is diverse. The neighborhoods, themselves, however, are less so. CPS teaches over 30 languages in its schools. That is diversity.
2. Sonies is just the kinda homophobe that will have a gay kid. And his explaining that it wasn’t parenting that caused it will be all the karma we need. What a freak!
I think this is in the Eugene Field school district which I understand is quite good.
“I think this is in the Eugene Field school district which I understand is quite good.”
Really? You think it’s in Field, which is over 2 miles away? Based on … what?
Try Trumbull, which is 2 *blocks* away.
That Magnolia St. seemed to be most unkept in that general area. Broken porches, trees/bushes in need of trimming, trim unpainted, old windows. That street seemed to be right about where the vagrants crossing over from Broadway used to kick-in too. Sorry.