The Hyde Park condo once owned by former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, the former first lady, is back on the market for the first time in nearly 20 years.
Sellers Kurt and Jennifer Elling have listed the four-bedroom condo at 5450 South East View Park for $550,000, almost double the $278,000 the Obamas purchased it for in July 1993, Crain’s reported. The property is being marketed by @properties Christie’s International Real Estate’s Maureen Murnane and India Whiteside.
The condo is situated in a gated block-long row of brick and limestone six-flats that run south from 53rd Street and face the lakefront park and Lake Shore Drive. The first-floor unit sits in a quiet, tree-lined enclave, and includes features like a green-tiled fireplace, wood trim, ceiling beams and a built-in dining room sideboard.
The property is one of the few four-bedroom units in East View Park, where sales are infrequent but highly sought after due to its proximity to Hyde Park’s shops, dining and the lakefront.
In 2022, a four-bedroom unit across the hall sold for $578,000, while three-bedroom units in the area have sold for prices ranging from $410,000 to $469,000. The listing is expected to draw significant interest, as the unit’s history and vintage character add to its appeal.
After a decade-long stay and a rising political career, the Obamas sold the condo in 2005 and moved into a Kenwood mansion purchased for $1.65 million.
Kurt Elling, a Grammy-winning jazz vocalist, discovered the unit’s notable history when he and his wife attended an open house. They noticed a family photo and learned that Obama, who had just been elected to the U.S. Senate lived there.
After purchasing the condo, Barack Obama personally stopped by to share a few tips about the home’s quirks, such as a tricky doorknob and a drawer that needed a little extra care. The Ellings lived in the unit for a few years before relocating to New York and renting it out. Now back in Hyde Park, they’ve decided it’s time to sell.
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