Irving Park Raised Ranch - A Diamond in the Rough?

In March 2016 my partner and I decided we were tired of condo living and set out to find a single family home on the north side of Chicago. We were moving from an 1100 sq. ft 2 bed/2 bath condo and frankly, all we really needed was perhaps a third bedroom and a garage. We wanted a "condo alternative" in a single family home without neighbors above and below and most importantly, without an HOA. We must have looked at over 30 houses and were growing frustrated that we weren't finding anything in our budget. We fell in love with Chicago Bungalows but most required extensive rehab and we could not find one that was within budget and close enough to public transportation. We also quickly learned the costs of renovations and the peculiarities one finds in older Chicago bungalows, such as old wiring, plaster walls and ceilings etc...all of which are costly to repair. 

By May were were still without a new house and our condo closing date was creeping up on us. Time was ticking away. One particular house kept nagging at me. We viewed it at the beginning of our search and at the time were underwhelmed. It seemed the ideal size to me. About 1200 square feet, 3 bedrooms and 2 baths with a full finished basement. A single level raised ranch built in the 1990's. However, it showed terribly! It was occupied by renters and therefore was not staged well at all.

Below are some of the photos from the MLS. These reflect the condition of the home when first viewed it in in March. It was challenging to find the potential in its current state.