This 3 bed/3 bath Queen Anne needs help, and not just with its penchant for pink. Fortunately, some good stuff is already in place, like the parquet floors, partly-finished basement and the above-garage loft (a garage in better shape than the house). The Logan Square location (near Fullerton and Kimball) should pique the interest of some. The "priced to sell" $349K ask is down $76K from its '05 sale price, but it hasn't gone yet.
·Listing: 2415 N Bernard St. [Jameson-Sotheby's]
This "fixer-upper" shows few signs of being worse for wear, and yet the listing agent declares it merely livable and in need of work. Perhaps the problem lies with the bedrooms, tellingly omitted from the photo gallery. The 3-bed Lincoln Square bungalow boasts high ceilings, a finished basement, and vintage wooden columns between the living room and parlor. The lot runs 160' deep through the "gardener's paradise" back yard. On the market since October and asking $439K.
·Listing: 2454 W Ainslie St. [Re/Max]
The most affordable of our fixer-upper pics, this 4-bed is also the largest. Billed as an expanded Georgian, it's biggest offense is a mangy carpet or two. Like with the Lincoln Square listing, it's mostly a matter of personal standards, and like the Lincoln Square listing, it has a deep yard. The basement, while not quite finished, has a wood-burning fireplace and wet bar. In a comfy spot between the Sauganash Trail and Peterson Park, this Forest Glen house asks $315K.
·Listing: 6052 N Keeler Ave. [Baird & Warner]