CHICAGO — If you have the money, you could be President Barack Obama’s Chicago neighbor.
The 17-room house next door to his home in a ritzy neighborhood on the city’s South Side is on the market. It doesn’t have a price tag yet, but the listing agent expects the “Obama factor” to play a role. Homes in the area usually go for between $1 million and $2.5 million.
“We’re looking for the people that want to live next to the president, and they’re willing to pay a premium for it,” said listing agent Matt Garrison.
The owners bought the 6,000-square-foot home for $35,000 in 1973. It has eight bedrooms and 3 1/2 bathrooms, Garrison said.
Living near the Obamas isn’t without its hassles. The block is barricaded even when the Obamas aren’t home, and getting on the street means being on a Secret Service list. The Secret Service will screen prospective buyers.
Prospective buyers shouldn’t expect to run into the first family very often. The Obamas have spent little time at their Chicago home since moving to the White House in January.
