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(Reminder: Real Estate "For Sale" signs are not allowed in Oak Park. So if you don't see any don't panic.)
Oak Park is the very first suburb directly west of Chicago as you are heading out 290 the Eisenhower expressway. Oak Park residents take great pride in their diverse population and small town feel. Oak Park is the closest suburb to Chicago where you can find condos starting in the $100k range to starter single family homes in the mid $250k to grand estate homes reaching more than $3.7 million.
When talking real estate I like to think of the village as being divided into 4 corners. The horizontal divider is Lake Street with Ridgeland Ave cutting down the middle to create the four sections. The village center is not really located in the crosshairs but more to the west around Lake Street and Oak Park Ave. The NW corner is a very desirable location with its quiet streets and larger lot sizes. Homes here can normally range from the mid $400k (for something that needs work) to the mid and upper $1mil level. There is the Frank Lloyd Wright historic district in the NW corner that holds the estate homes I mentioned above. These particular homes are in their own price category going up to and past the $3 million mark. Some styles of homes in the NW corner will be Victorian brick and frame homes, brick and frame center and side entrance Colonial, brick and frame Tudor, and traditional stucco 4-square and 3 bedroom homes. As with all the corner sections of the village, the closer you get to the center of the village the older the homes. This section is also home to one of our most beautiful parks, Lindberg Park.
The NE corner contains some magnificent Victorians and the farther you get from the center of town you will see a good number of large brick Chicago bungalows and many California or Craftsman frame bungalows. Homes here will range from the low $300k to the upper $800k range. The NE corner has its share of large lots similar to the NW corner yet travel out from the center and you will see the houses get a little closer together.
The SE corner of Oak Park is home to our Harrison Street art district. The whole entire corner is a very popular place to live for small new families. There are rumors that there are some blocks south of Madison street that can have as many as 40+ children between the ages of newborn and 9 yrs old. Now that is one heck of a block party!!! This community is grounded by two of our greatest Catholic Parishes (Ascension and St. Catherine/St. Lucy's) yet many denominations and beliefs are spread throughout our entire village. Homes here can range from mid $200k to $1.5 million closer to the Lake Street divider. More Craftsman bungalows, Victorians, and Prairies will be had here.
The SW corner is an older part of the village with large Victorians and Prairie style homes expanding south away from the village center. This corner also contains a large portion of our rental property mainly in the form of vintage apartments and condos. It is in this area that Oak Park has a very large population of young single professionals. Single-family homes in this area can be 4 bedrooms starting in the low $400k. Three bedrooms can be had for the low $300k and closer to the Lake Street divider you will find some pretty amazing Victorians that are catching over a million dollars when they come on the market.
Oak Park Village Stats
Population = 52,524
Land Area = 4.7 square
miles
Average Age of the Population = 35.9
yrs.
% Of Homes That Are Single Family
Structures = 79.7%
Average Age of the Homes = 61
yrs.
Median Income = $59,183
Average Income of Households w/ Families
= $112,566
Home Inspections >If It Is Broken Fix It
Most houses have a few "little" problems, like leaking faucets, a stove burner that won't light, or electrical outlets with too much "spark". These defects may not seem very important--unless your house is about to go on the market.
We rarely have difficulty getting sellers to agree to paint, replace worn carpets or plant a few flowers in the front yard. These kinds of repairs obviously increase the overall appeal of the property. However, if any of the major systems in your home need maintenance, it is also prudent to have the necessary repairs made. Have your furnace, central air-conditioning system, plumbing and wiring checked as part of your pre-marketing efforts. The best rule is--if it's broken, fix it!
The purchase agreement requires that a house be conveyed with all the systems in working order, and most buyers will bring in a home inspector to identify any potential problems. During the period of time between the "meeting of the minds" and the removal of the inspection contingencies, the buyers are the most vulnerable to an attack of buyer's remorse. This is also the time when anything that hasn't been repaired could become a major issue.
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Steve Scheuring Baird & Warner 7375 W. North Ave. River Forest IL 60305 Primary: 203-982-3511 Office: 708-697-5946 Fax: 708-383-0790 Steve@OPRFHouse.com
My clients choose me because I am committed to serving their needs. My actions are timely. My advice is objective. My assistance is un-intimidating. My service is complete. My drive is your success.
It is a well-known fact that I utilize more technology-based marketing tools than any other area agent or firm! Digital photography, website advertising, and 24-hour availability are key elements to getting a home sold in today’s market. When you begin your search to buy a home or prepare to list a home, it makes sense to have somebody help you that knows homes. My wife Julie and I have fully restored two homes. Our first was a Chicago Bungalow on the North Side; in 2000 we complete and sold our English Cottage on the 900 block of Marion in Oak Park. These homes were not quick rehabs to make money. They were our homes filled with hard work (more than 50% of the labor was our own), fun memories, and quality finishing. We have recently embarked on a restoration that will (hopefully) be our last. We purchased a Victorian at 320 N. Euclid and estimate a restoration process of more than seven years. Taking care of my customers’ needs is job #1 and leads to long workweeks. This is all I do, everyday, seven days a week. Let me help you learn what to do and what NOT to do in order to get your home sold. If you are buying a home, your job is just as rigorous. I can help you with everything from home inspectors to mortgage brokers. Selling or buying… I help you with every detail to get you to that closing date.
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brought to you by Steve Scheuring NUMBER1EXPERT in real estate
for Oak Park and River Forest, Illinois, Vintagevictorians,
Colonials