It was his first home in Chicago, and his mother lived there until her death, and in 2019, you could own a slice of Al Capone history for practically a song.
“I came to Chicago with $40 in my pocket,” Alphonse Gabriel Capone said once, and not long after that he began working for mobster Johnny Torrio. Not long after that, he and his family moved into the six bedroom, two apartment Park Manor home located at 7244 South Prairie Ave.
“This was the Chicago home of Al Capone and Family. Al Capone and family began to move into the place on August 8,1923,” explained listing agent Ryan Smith with Re/Max Properties. “The ownership was under Mae and Theresa Capone.”
Not everyone can spend $1 million or more on a second home, even if it’s with the idea that eventually you’ll retire there. So when MoneyWise’s list of 40 places to retire that are more budget-friendly came out, we were curious — what kind of homes could you find in these towns?
Last week, we looked at the 27th city on the list — Charleston, South Carolina. This week, we look at Springfield, Missouri, and found three great homes — all for less than $350,000.
“Springfield is an inexpensive place to live: the median income is around $34,000, and rent can be less than $700 per month,” MoneyWise said. “Median home prices come in at just over $100,000.”
“You will see some snow in the winter and summers can be hot, but not extreme. The city has three hospitals, as well as extensive home care offerings.”
Want to see examples of what you can find in Springfield? Let’s jump!(more…)
Not everyone can spend $1 million or more on a second home, even if it’s with the idea that eventually you’ll retire there. So when MoneyWise’s list of 40 places to retire that are more budget-friendly came out, we were curious — what kind of homes could you find in these towns?
Before the holidays, we looked at the 33rd city on the list — Lakeland, Florida. This week, we look at Overland Park, Kansas, and found three great homes — all for less than $500,000.
“If you want to live in the American heartland, this is the place for you,” MoneyWise said. “The cost of living is slightly higher than some of the smaller locales on our list: you will need an income of about $72,000 to live here.”
“Overland Park is close to Kansas City, so health care options abound,” the story continued. “It is a low-crime city and residents consider it to be a nice, quiet place to live. The weather can be cold in winter, but summers are mild and sunny.”
Not everyone can spend $1 million or more on a second home, even if it’s with the idea that eventually you’ll retire there. So when MoneyWise’s list of 40 places to retire that are more budget-friendly came out, we were curious — what kind of homes could you find in these towns?
Last week, we looked at the 36th city on the list — Augusta, Georgia. This week, we look at Metairie, Louisiana, and found some great options from anywhere around $50,000 all the way to $549,000.
“Despite having less than 150,000 residents, Metairie is a very diverse place,” MoneyWise said. “This town offers a robust nightlife and a very low cost of living. The median household income is around $52,000. Locals consider this town to be a good compromise between big-city and suburban living.”
“Metairie is located just a 15-minute drive from New Orleans, so you can get a taste of the city any time you want,” the entry adds. “There is one healthcare center in Metairie, but access to New Orleans gives you a wide variety of healthcare providers.”
SPACIOUS CONDO WITH SURPRISING PRICE
Price: $50,000
Our first example of what you can find in Metairie if you’re really, really wanting to be frugal. And surprisingly, we found that being on a budget doesn’t have to mean borderline livable.(more…)
In our quest to find the most interesting historical shelters, we fully admit to being suckers for a good school house conversion, and this example in the historic mining village of Hillsboro, New Mexico, does not disappoint.
The school was built in the 1800s, listing agent Crystal Lay with Steinborn & Associates Real Estate said, and it taught generations of elementary school students in the mining town.
More recently, it’s been beautifully renovated, and the sellers took pains to incorporate wonderful details into that renovation.
“The amazing original details including the interior tin roof tiles, the chalkboards, and the windows have been preserved and keep the authenticity of the school that is incorporated into the ample living space,” Lay said. (more…)
Not everyone can spend $1 million or more on a second home, even if it’s with the idea that eventually you’ll retire there. So when MoneyWise’s list of 40 places to retire that are more budget-friendly came out, we were curious — what kind of homes could you find in these towns?
Last week, we looked at the 37th city on the list — Torrance, California. This week, we look at Augusta, Georgia, and found some great options for — get this — less than $300,000.
“Augusta is a gem of Southern living. It is an inexpensive city, with a median household income of about $38,000,” Moneywise said. “Augusta’s crime rate is low and the town is rich in Southern history, and offers a wide variety of shopping and nightlife options.”
“With its warm weather and two medical centers that focus exclusively on women’s healthcare, Augusta sets a high standard for retirement living on this list,” the article added. (more…)
Executive Editor Joanna England, Founder and Publisher Candace Evans, and Columnist Jon Anderson
When searching for a ranch property as a second home, there’s often a laundry list of “must haves” that buyers prioritize. While they may rank in different order, they usually include luxury amenities, nearby recreation, and incredible views. As attendees at the recent SecondShelters.com preview of Alpine Mountain Ranch & Club found out, this fantastic development in Colorado has everything — and then some!
When Philadelphia lawyer Joseph Hopkinson and his wife Emily settled into their home on Spruce Street in 1794, the country was still in its infancy. Construction on the home itself had been completed just three years prior, by cabinet maker Jesse Williams.
Hopkinson saw the country grow from a collection of colonies that banded together for independence from England to a country, watching his father, Francis, sign the Declaration of Independence. Francis Hopkinson was also credited with designing the first Stars and Stripes during the Revolutionary War and later served as governor of Pennsylvania.
But the junior Hopkinson would forge his own place in U.S. history, penning the lyrics to “Hail, Columbia,” the first national anthem — a song that would remain so until the 1890s — at his home in 1798, using a melody written by Philip Phile 10 years prior.
They would raise their 14 children in the home, which also has its place in the Library of Congress, where one can read about the composition and use of “Hail, Columbia,” and also see photos of the home from decades ago.
Nowadays, the song is still in use as the official anthem for the Vice President, but before that, it was the anthem for the President, before it was replaced by “Hail to the Chief” officially during the Truman administration.
And now, 227 years later, the home is for sale, ready for its next family of history lovers to come in and continue to maintain and love the home.
The 4,100-square-foot, five-bedroom, five-bath home has been so well maintained (and its history honored), that you can fairly envision Hopkinson putting quill to paper.Three stories high, plus a dormer fourth floor, the home immediately signals its history with a historical marker just to the left of the blue front door.
A 30-foot long hallway leads to two sitting rooms with wood-burning fireplaces surrounded by floor-to-ceiling moldings. That hallway ends with what Williams called “the piazza,” back in 1791.
It was his first home in Chicago, and his mother lived there until her death, and in 2019, you could own a slice of Al Capone history for practically a song.
