Will 2011 Be the Year This Lakeview Vintage But Modern House Finally Sells? 1722 W. Wellington
We’ve chattered about this 2-bedroom single family home at 1722 W. Wellington several times before.
See our last chatter in July 2010 here.
On and off the market for nearly 2 years, it was recently reduced another $49,000.
It is now listed $35,000 under the 2004 purchase price.
The house is somewhat unusual in that it has an 1880 vintage facade but inside it has been updated with a contemporary interior including timber beamed ceilings and slate floors in both bathrooms.
It also has an updated kitchen with stainless steel appliances and calacatta marble counter tops on an oversized kitchen island.
In the two years it has been on the market, we’ve seen some changes in the house including a spiral staircase replaced with a conventional one.
The house, on a 25×125 lot, has a deck, a 2-car garage and central air.
In 2009, some of you thought this would sell for $525,000.
In 2010 at least one of you thought it would sell in the $400,000s.
Will this house finally sell in 2011?
Monique Crossan at Koenig & Strey Real Living still has the listing. See the pictures here.
(There is finally square footage listed again- of 2100 square feet.)
1722 W. Wellington: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2100 square feet, 2 car garage, backyard
- Sold in May 1994 for $84,000
- Sold in February 1995 for $113,000
- Sold in July 1998 for $310,000
- Sold in June 2004 for $610,000
- Was listed in April 2009 for $724,900
- Reduced
- Was listed in June 2009 for $699,500
- Withdrawn
- Was listed in July 2010 for $624,000
- Reduced
- Currently listed for $575,000
- Taxes of $9724
- Central Air
- Skylights
- Bedroom #1: 17×12 (second floor)
- Bedroom #2: 19×14 (second floor)
- Office: 10×13 (second floor)
I am not a big fan of all white kitchen, but this is an example of a place where it works (for me). I don’t like the exterior though. Chicago is a cold place, I feel brick or stone exteriors are so much more area appropriate.
BTW, just out of curiosity, how much does it cost to change the exterior of a place, say one like to stone?
I think the real problem with this place is that no matter how well it is finished or staged, it’s still only a 2 bedroom with no affordable way to add a 3rd. There’s no hope to convert the “office” into a 3rd because it’s basically an open hallway area.
Back to demographics, how many folks out there that don’t have kids and never plan to have kids can afford a 575k home? Not enough folks.
From the outside, this could be my house. What kind of rough dimensions of the lot and exterior, I wonder? 21 x 50? Lot of 25 x 125?
How’d they make it so big inside? Not a fan of the beams, but in my hood this house would list at probably $100k less.
LS:
From the very first comment on this house, the footprint is about 55×20. Lot is definitely 25×125.
as to how?, not a lot of walls, all white paint, and a ~15′ addition on the back that has a flattish roof, to avoid the pitched roof problem.
A lot to like about this home… facade looks to be in good condition, interior design is remarkable for this price point, kitchen/great room space looks very appealing, nice lawn space, garage, central air and whats most surprising… the rooms upstairs look to be quite spacious, which you don’t usually see in gable roof homes. Given all of that, I don’t see many comps in the area that are as attractive… they might have an extra bedroom or two, but lack much of the quality present in this home.
However, being located right behind the big box retail on Ashland just kills this place… its really unfortunate. If only it was two blocks further west.
“However, being located right behind the big box retail on Ashland just kills this place… its really unfortunate. If only it was two blocks further west.”
Those are fighting words for many here (or at least in prior discussions of this area). I agree with you, tho–hate this little area, but this is a nice little house.
The most interesting (to me) comment from the priors is this one [para breaks added]:
“The 1995 – 1998 owner on April 14th, 2009 at 6:00 pm
Well all … I can answer some of your questions as my wife and I did all the refurbishment except for that hidious kitchen.
We bought this when it was size was 1800 sqft; we designed and project managed the entire build … also did a hugh amount of the demo and some of the build and finish.
Unless added to since we did the refurbishent it is closer to 2200sqft … we completely demo’d approx 400 sqft as it was unsafe and rebuilt on 2 levels 800sqft.
THE SPIRAL STAIR – yes space saving and headroom issue / loss of floor space at upper level. My first son was born when we lived in the house … in fact I finished tiling the upstairs SHOWER the evening before he was born … No the stair is not a problem with a baby.
It is narrow because it is a traditional Chicago 25? x 125? lot.
There is a two car garage off a rear ally – in brick if it has not been torn down.
There is a toilet and shower in the bathroom upstairs … the toilet is in a seperate room in the bathroom … with it’s own handwash basin – allowing two intimate adults to not disturb each other.
There is a shower in the ground floor water closet.
Room sizes are big … and if we had stayed we had planned in the original design to do a simple dormer to the front west and create a third bedroom.
The front fence and fireplace is an addition from our orginal refurbishment/rebuild.
All is new externally down to barge board and internally down to exterior stud frame – high levels of insulation, low-E double glazed, new oak floor; complete new heating and cooling system; upgraded electrical incoming main and all new wiring with hard wired fire alarms (all in hardwall conduit).
But $725k … I could not say
My wife and I loved the house and the project
We did not want to do another 3000sqft McMansion is such a great neighbourhood … it would seem at that price that there is no diversity left in the area … the people made Lakeview great when we lived there – not the houses.”
wait if i am reading this right anon, the 95-98 owner did the bulk of the work? and the 98 buyer made the most profit? and the 2004 buyer is getting the shaft?
and that area was way more neighborhoodly back in 95-98 than it is now.
This is an owner living in an alternate reality prone to delusions as to what their investments are worth. No 2011 will not be the year this finally sells.
What is crazy is the huge spike in activity (showings) and buyer interest that my own company has seen in the past 3 days. Seriously, my broker has gotten all of 10 calls in the month of January for showings. In the past 3 DAYS, he has fielded well over 25 calls. Who knows if that will translate into actual sales, but at least we know that there is incredible interest out there (any realtors care to chime in? – or maybe they are too busy answering calls!!).
“What is crazy is the huge spike in activity (showings) and buyer interest that my own company has seen in the past 3 days”
Chicagoland RE is very seasonal. Two weeks ago we had a blizzard, one week ago we had a subzero cold snap. This week we’re going to have a 60 degree days Not surprising at all. People don’t like going to see properties in blizzard/undrivable conditions or subzero cold snaps.
um clio, after the super bowl, selling season starts
“However, being located right behind the big box retail on Ashland just kills this place… its really unfortunate. If only it was two blocks further west.”
I live in this area and would disagree that the big box presence kills this. Wellington here is a busy street as it’s used as an alternative to Belmont, but there are a number of homes in this block (1700-1800) that have sold or would sell well north of this price. The area is overrun (in a good way, in my opinion) with young families. One block proximity to Jewel, one price cleaners, Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robins, LaGondola, St Alphonsus (2 blks), a new city park, etc. make this a very livable location. I had hesitations about moving to this area, but now that we’ve been here for a while, I really like it. Between Diversey and Wellington (N/S) and Paulina and the Metra tracks (E/W) is a nice little enclave that provides a good mix of city living with some conveniences not found east of Ashland in Lakeview. The subject property seems like a really nice condo alternative.
Following up, the biggest negative here is if you rely on the el. No matter how you cut it, it’s not the easiest of commutes. You’re 4+ blocks to the Paulina stop, or 2.5 blocks to the Diversey bus to the Diversey stop. Doable, but both are just long enough of a hassle to be annoying. Most of my neighbors either work in the burbs or drive into the city.
“wait if i am reading this right anon, the 95-98 owner did the bulk of the work? and the 98 buyer made the most profit? and the 2004 buyer is getting the shaft?”
That’s how I read it.
“and that area was way more neighborhoodly back in 95-98 than it is now.”
If you like industrial uses (and vacancies) for neighbors. It’s nicer, as a residential area, now, but definitely a different mix of residents.
“If you like industrial uses (and vacancies) for neighbors. It’s nicer, as a residential area, now, but definitely a different mix of residents”
a best friend in HS used to live over by diversy and ashland, we would romp from wrightwood park to st. al’s rec room it was a very gritty but welcoming area as i remember it. we did much graff along the tracks west of here and would drink just off the track by the industrial buildings.
Im actually thinking of putting my place on the market at the start of the summer. I think this summer will be exciting for real estate
“You’re 4+ blocks to the Paulina stop”
Oh Noes!! A 12 minute walk! So faaaaar! My little hobbit legs can’t make it!
That said, I *hate* walking the opposite direction of my destination to get to transit.
Groove: were you guys in the Simon City Royals?!!
“Oh Noes!! A 12 minute walk! So faaaaar! My little hobbit legs can’t make it!
That said, I *hate* walking the opposite direction of my destination to get to transit.”
That’s the frustrating part. You live on Wellington but have to work back 3 stops to board at Paulina. I agree it isn’t a long walk, just annoying to start your day by walking the “wrong” way. Also, if you work on the west side of the loop, you can’t just hop on the purple line and enjoy the ride. You have switch to the brown before belmont. If the CTA is a must, the best plan is to ride a bike to the Wellington station.
@clio,
I only list my own projects but I have experienced the same rush of activity. I listed my RN condo (645 N Kings) on January 20th heard virtually nothing for a week then had at least a showing a day for 10 days after the Super Bowl. I accepted an offer near asking and after 2 other buyers came in to show offers including one all-cash quick-close. For all the down talk and the structural problems that persist, there’s no doubting that there are lots of people out there with money (or at least the belief they can borrow money) looking for places. Now if I can just find someone who wants my Oak Park condo I’ll also be fueling this thing from the underside buying more foreclosures for rehab.
“Groove: were you guys in the Simon City Royals?!!”
groove never did the gangbangin thang, i really dont remember anybody using the full name just “oh shit its some royals RUN” or “stupid f**K royals F**king it up for the rest of us again”
“Oh Noes!! A 12 minute walk! So faaaaar! My little hobbit legs can’t make it!”
to far just cab it to the station. walking it on a nice day is to faaar cant imagine doing that twice a day during snowmageddon
lol, SCR was the weakest gang on the north side. the white kids in my LV hood laughed at them, being in a gang was something for sissies who needed strength in numbers. they had a small stronghold further north from here, but when I say small, I’m talking small. there may be a few holdouts in Albany Park as well.
“lol, SCR was the weakest gang on the north side”
they gave me a shiner and one time i dove behind a car and cut up my elbow cause i thought they were pulling out a gun, it ended up being butterfly knife, i wasnt crocodile dundee so i ran away anyways.
Under contract-Let’s see what happens….