Here’s what $250K buys in Chicago right now

Welcome to Curbed Comparisons, a weekly column that explores what you can buy for a specific dollar amount in various Chicago ‘hoods. We found five homes at or around today’s price of $250,000. Vote for your favorite below.

Gold Coast

VHT Studios, Compass

Specs: One bedroom, one bathroom, unspecified square footage
Cost: $259,000 plus $1,264/month HOA fees
Details: In the former Churchill Hotel building, designed by architect H.L. Stevens in the 1920s, you’ll find this attractive corner unit. Considered roomy for a one-bedroom, the space was recently repainted and boasts vintage moldings, tons of light, and an updated bathroom. Even with its somewhat steep HOA fees, the property offers a considerable bang for your buck at a desirable downtown location.

North Center

VHT Studios, @properties

Specs: Three bedrooms, one bathroom, 1,100 square feet
Cost: $250,000 plus $252/month HOA fees
Details: Enjoy exposed brick and sturdy stone walls in this surprisingly bright garden unit located on the lower level of a North Center building. The condo is big on character and sports a newer kitchen with stainless appliances and hardwood floors. There’s a private outdoor space off the kitchen and a common backyard courtyard shared by other residents in the building. The Brown Line and Lincoln Square’s shopping district are both a short walk away.

East Garfield Park

Redfin

Specs: Three bedrooms, two bathrooms, 1,794 square feet
Cost: $249,900 plus $200/month HOA fees
Details: This roomy top-floor condo in a vintage 1915 building along California Avenue recently received a gut rehab. It includes an open-plan front room with a fireplace, renovated kitchen, and a custom built-in entertainment center. The home’s rooftop terrace provides skyline views of downtown, and the location is convenient to both 290 and the Forest Park branch of the CTA Blue Line.

Logan Square

Redfin

Specs: One bedroom, one bathroom, 800 square feet
Cost: $249,900 plus $269/month HOA fees
Details: A buyer seeking the rustic appeal of a classic Chicago timber loft (but not a ton of space) should look at this cozy example in Logan Square’s Artist Village Loft. The compact one-bedroom-plus-den layout feels much larger than 800 square feet thanks to its open floorplan and soaring 13-foot ceilings. The property is close to the Blue Line and The 606 and includes a gated parking space and access to a communal rooftop deck.

Scottsdale

VHT Studios, Baird & Warner

Specs: Five bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms, 1,467 square feet
Cost: $269,900
Details: Need room to spread out? Check out this single-family home with two bedrooms on the main level, two bedrooms on the second floor, and a fifth bedroom (along with a family room) in the fully finished basement. Located in Scottsdale community of the greater Ashburn neighborhood, the Southwest Side property includes hardwood floors, a detached two-car garage, and a fenced-in backyard with a brick-paved patio.