The Ultimate Chicago House Types Tier List

[@gooondie]

The raised ranch is the real hero here, half the damn city lives in those little shoeboxes, I love them

[@davidw7]

They were a quality home and best darn construction you could have. Options of even polished steel storm windows. Those that did... never regretted it. I too love this pale pink brick used, real plaster, platinum woodwork many had and basements with a Chicago DIY basement bar that then have it finished as another level. That added Sq footage too. I FULLY DISAGREE with they get a D review here. They even have a steel-bean incorporated in them ... awesome... no new-builds can match that.

[@OhJodi69]

What about the 2-Flat and 3-Flat??????????????

[@hamburglar83]

Greystone is great cuz you convert bottom to a rental and pay off your mortgage.

[@ThomasPH123]

The bungalows I think are beautiful, but all of them need a full second story because the second story as built were only a loft which was for storage. The second story is unlivable.

[@davidw7]

Sorry but most got a 1/story finished just fine. Idea was kids bedrooms were there. It worked in the era created bought unfinished as the basement was. Sure a addition to make it more a full 2nd floor added to it. Still many still just have that 1/2 or just a partial added pop top. This size home still works as their construction tops any new builds in the sunbelt cardboard wraps are now used and approved. I rather a smaller quality build vs a shoddy McMansion.

[@mic1240]

No two or three flats, Georgians, Tudors, Colonials, Queen Anne (smaller ones)? oddly all missing and very common throughout the city

[@kendigjl]

This was REALLY helpful and informative. I've been looking at all these cheap Chicago places, and have had no idea what would make one better than another (from an investment perspective). I look forward to watching more of your videos!

[@debbiehagan1727]

Sorta wish there was a part 1, explaining all the layouts and designs and then the rating of your opinion about each as part 2 or the ending of the video. But did find it informative and appreciate your video.

[@a.j.9843]

You didn't mention the Georgian styled home.

[@piapadmore430]

My first house was an American four square…I still have dreams about it✨

[@Bobscott1972]

What about the Georgian? Plenty of them in Chicago.

[@willyjoerockhead]

Stop adding second floors without keeping in character of the original house - "Stop the pop!"

[@hjxb]

great video. would like to see more. may want to check chapter timestamps

[@mattyoutube4190]

"Who doesn't want a spire?" Answer: the guy that owns one. What IS the practicality of a spire? Many practical advantages to a raised first floor with accessible basement. Natural light, more accessible infrastructure & utilities, exits or oxygen in an emergency (don't laugh). It's still a basement, yes. If you're willing and able to convert it they can be quite livable with modern techniques- think: heated floors, window upgrades. I have a urinal in my basement bathroom but only because it's practical, and adds to the "charm" of the layout. Can you install a urinal in a spire? who would use it- bats? I ask: Who wants a raised ranch? Answer: the guy in a ranch with the inaccessible cellar. Have to agree about stucco.

[@BellaBellaElla]

"dream of converting a classic Chicago greystone into a single family" 🤢🤢he's probably right, and THAT'S one of the biggest problems with Chicago realtors these days, destroying so much housing stock and history. We NEED more two/three/four flat units, not less.

[@Jay-ut4eu]

Similar to what was mentioned about the worker's cottage, the average person/family just wants/needs more space these days. A 2 unit (3 with a garden) greystone works best for college kids/couples or 1 kid families. They are most deserving of being turned into single family homes. At the same time, new multiunit flats (3-6 units) have been popping up (whether these are condos or rentals) which has managed to fill these holes. I would be curious about the rate or multiunit conversion vs new multifamily builds though.

[@MikeyLikesIt89]

Actually those greystones were originally built as single family homes and when the population boomed in Chicago they were mostly split. My aunt has owned an original greystone for over 50 years in Bromzeville that was never split. She is only the 3rd owner so she still has the original blueprints.

[@BellaBellaElla]

@MikeyLikesIt89 Actually actually. SOME greystones were single family. But also, many were 'single family's but still multiple units. As in, one generation above, one below. Most were not single-family-single-unit. :) source: I got a cousin that's a landlord

[@piglet7943]

You’re not familiar with Chicago architectural history are you? Most of the greystones were built as single family homes. They were converted into multi family buildings whenever the population was booming but now that the population has been on the decline for decades many people are converting them back into what they were originally built for.

[@MikeyLikesIt89]

@@piglet7943 exactly

[@hamburglar83]

My number 1 style is prairie home of oak park. With original stain glass.

[@davidw7]

I always loved the 50s 60s pickish brick bungalow with light decorative brick fronts are as classic as the traditional bungalow IMO. Pretty unique to Chicago also. This name raised ranch or just ranch I never got for these mostly square homes...as it is the same footprint of a Chicago 20s 30s traditional bungalow and most are not this overly raised kind given a [D]. The thumbnail of one you used is NOT RAISED any more then the traditional bungalow? They all were well built and generally have a steel beam across them. Most are not this kind overly raised kind unless my memory is terrible....They are timeless in exterior look of mid-century modern many originally built with platinum woodwork. IMO they rate tiers higher than a [D] for sure. I have also seen some gorgeous full basement finished homes... even on older bungalows as a good basement waterproofing seems to work. ALSO MISSING IS THE TUTOR style (especially more Gingerbread kind) adding it to the Cap Cod makes little sense to me. Tudors are not Cap Cod's. Maybe just me? I do love a more peaked ornate brick Gingerbread ...despite the sloping upper floors and their value proves it even vs the bungalow that is also rarer and therefore prized.

[@sky_funworld9741]

You’re on the money.

[@richarddibattista-g2x]

Grew up in the1950, s in a Greystone and never thought of it as being cool.

[@aajtrdd]

Georgian and Tudor

[@davidw7]

Loved them Tudor Gingerbreads and also so well built like a cathedral

[@jamaalfridge]

Frank Lloyd Wright's Prairie houses are absolutely beautiful -- on the outside. The insides... not so much.

[@mattyoutube4190]

HOW DARE YOU (just kidding)

[@davidw7]

I think they are still great. Guess it's suggestive. Even the classic Chicago bungalow had Frank Lloyd Wright inspired interiors and all that use of oak woodwork. The bit higher-end even more and more stained glass inspired by Tiffany glass and wood in ceilings .... that was quality as hardwoods are so rare in new homes built with minimums even cardboard-like materials. No in the city. Sunbelt.... oh for sure. Terrible, but looks good till all its flaws show their repair bills. Those that still have these original features.... all the wood, fireplace even if fake and built in Dining cabinets are awesome...

[@Nunya_Bidness_53]

Like the vid but disagree with your rankings. Prairie style is top tier for me.

[@timward3116]

I enjoyed this. Tiered lists can be hard to do and I suppose a lot depends on one's individual needs and priorities. A big need (and priority) for me is easy, affordable upkeep - so I invariably have chosen homes that were more practical than beautiful. Having grown up in the Chicago area, I have a great appreciation for the variety and beauty of Chicago's architecture. However, I have spent most of my life staring at almost-identical dirt-colored stucco cubes on small gravel lots in Arizona. Fortunately, I now live in an older neighborhood in the Phoenix area that actually has grass, large trees, and BRICK homes... but, for several hundred square miles in the metro area, the architecture is cheap garbage. So sad. All Chicagoans should savor the history and variety of the residential architecture in Chicagoland! It all is truly fantastic!

[@InvestAndGrow2020]

The Chicago Graystone does always go on top. Period. Lol

[@jeremyrhodes1180]

Queen Anne is the dream, worker's cottage or chicago bungalow is the goal

[@Chicagoathletics]

The greystones unfortunately in shitty neighborhoods. I can see how if they are restored they are beautiful

[@mrnasty02106]

I hate Chicago architecture. You didn't stop using windows (on the sides), with the vertical bricks and arches, until after WWII. I don't like the "common brick" either. It took until the 1970s to end its use. I live in a 1956 ranch house that had it. At least it was a lighter color (and not black or dark brown). It started crumbling a few years ago. Don't get me started on what was built before that. The Cape Cods, Tudors, and Georgians are creep me out too (especially the ones built between the late 20s and late 40s).