Wash. Park? Hilltop?

[tfox]

Originally Posted by pittnurse70

Which you may have to pay $100,000 to renovate. My nephew lived in a duplex there that was built in the 1920s and had original wiring, plumbing, etc. It needed a lot of work, to say the least.

You may, or may not. These days more and more places come on the market which have already been renovated or at least had wiring, plumbing modernized. Those places tend to be more $$, but there are plenty of them there in Wash Park.

I wouldn't shy away from Wash Park just because you don't want to do renovations -- you can find one that's already had the heavy lifting done for you.

[dj32]

Yes, but the adage location, location, location will hold true- YOu'll continue to get great appreciation in Wash Park, and I believe Platt Park as well. these locations are continuing to outperform most suburban markets given the location. 400K may buy you a fixer upper (or a scrape depending on the lot) but for 475-500 you'll get something that has been improved. On every block in my neighborhood there is a scrape, pop top in progress or renovations being done to existing homes. You can't go wrong.

[JakeDog]

I'm not interested in cookie cutter burbs- I've done that and deeply regreted it. Sounds like I should be OK at low $500s. I'm also reasonably handy.

[BlueWillowPlate]

Go for it, Jake. We don't like cookie cutter either. We spent 18 years in that house and loved every minute of it. I'd go for Wash Park over Hilltop, but that's just me. Let us know what you end up doing.

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by JakeDog

I'm not interested in cookie cutter burbs- I've done that and deeply regreted it. Sounds like I should be OK at low $500s. I'm also reasonably handy.

Not all burbs are cookie cutter. In fact, in a few years, they start taking on their own character. Many houses in Wash Pk look exactly alike architechtureally (sp?), but the landscaping, paint colors, etc make them all look unique.

[tfox]

Originally Posted by pittnurse70

Not all burbs are cookie cutter. In fact, in a few years, they start taking on their own character. Many houses in Wash Pk look exactly alike architechtureally (sp?), but the landscaping, paint colors, etc make them all look unique.

Wash Park was a suburb in the 1890s and onward when it was built, so you do have a point, and certainly popular designs (e.g., Craftsman Bungalows) are repeated all over the neighborhood. However, you have to remember that around the turn of the century homes were all custom built with lots of intricate woodwork, brickwork, stonework, etc. You can't build houses like that anymore, certainly not for ordinary people.

So, I don't want to sound like I'm trashing the burbs, they do offer good alternatives to neighborhoods like Wash Park and offer their own advantages. But OTOH I really find it a stretch to claim that "the burbs have as much character as Wash Park."

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by pittnurse70

Not all burbs are cookie cutter. In fact, in a few years, they start taking on their own character. .

I did not say "the burbs have as much character as Wash Park". I said the above. Just to set the record straight.