2523 Ridgeland Ave in Berwyn: a 4-bedroom brick home with solar, backup power and room to make it yours

Ridgeland Ave is a walk-and-see-it-in-person kind of street: photos can show you the brick home, but they can’t tell you how the block feels to you. If you’re browsing Berwyn IL homes for sale, this one is worth a closer look. It’s a four-bedroom brick home on the market at $275,000 with a distinctive solar-and-battery setup, and a clear trade-off: it’s sold as-is and needs TLC.

What stands out: solar plus backup power

At $275,000, the solar panels and Tesla Powerwall 3 are an unusual feature for a Berwyn listing. The Powerwall stores solar power, and the backup system can keep the house running during an outage. A Tesla Gateway manages the setup.

The listing says the system lowers bills, but it doesn’t provide a savings amount. I won’t guess at one. What you get from the listing is a solar-and-backup-power system, not a promised monthly bill reduction.

A heads-up about Berwyn inspection repairs

Berwyn requires a city inspection when a home sells. For this home, the buyer is responsible for the Berwyn inspection repairs. The city inspection report has 3 items on it; the listing doesn’t spell out what those items are, so don’t assume what they involve.

That responsibility matters. If you’re interested, make sure you review the city inspection report and understand what’s on the list before deciding whether the home fits your plans. The report’s 3 items are a short list, but the details, not just the count, matter.

What you’re really getting

This is a brick, 1.5-story home built in 1919, with 1,500 square feet of interior space, 4 bedrooms and 1 full bathroom. The main floor is described as functional. Upstairs, the expansive second floor includes a large primary bedroom and a second family room that could work as a media room, playroom or home office.

The full unfinished basement is another space to consider. It isn’t presented as finished living space, but it offers potential for additional usable space, depending on your plans and what’s appropriate for the property.

Other listing details include a 2-car detached garage, forced air heat, central air and no HOA. The electrical panel has been completely updated, and the second-floor carpet was replaced about 3 years ago.

An honest fit, not a turnkey promise

The home is sold as-is and needs TLC. That may make sense for someone who wants four bedrooms, a garage and Metra access at this price, and who is comfortable taking on cosmetic work along with the Berwyn inspection repairs.

It’s probably not the right match if you need a fully updated, move-in-ready home or don’t want to take responsibility for city inspection repairs. I’d rather be clear about that now than have you arrive expecting a finished, no-project home.

A simple purchase-cost example

Here’s one way to start thinking about the upfront numbers. This is an estimate, not a quote; actual costs depend on your loan, the property and your financial situation.

• Price: $275,000
• Estimated buyer closing costs at about 3%: $275,000 × 0.03 = about $8,250
• Example 3.5% down payment: $275,000 × 0.035 = $9,625
• Down payment plus estimated closing costs: $9,625 + $8,250 = about $17,875

That example doesn’t include every possible expense, and closing costs are separate from your down payment. The listing shows annual property taxes of $7,146, so include that ongoing cost in your budget as you consider the home.

The block and location

The home is minutes from the Metra station and close to Loyola Hospital and Torres Grocery Store. This is a walk-and-see-it-in-person kind of street: take a look at the home and the block together, and decide whether the location works for your day-to-day life.

Quick fit check

Before booking a showing, consider whether you’re comfortable with:

• An as-is home that needs TLC
• Taking responsibility for the Berwyn inspection repairs
• One full bathroom for four bedrooms
• An unfinished basement
• The listed annual property taxes of $7,146

If the mix of space, location and solar backup sounds worth a closer look, view the live listing and photos. I’m Priscilla Jaimes, the listing agent, and I’m happy to answer questions or arrange a showing. I’m bilingual in English and Spanish. Hablo Español. Call or text me at (708) 613-0588 and mention MLS #12788354.