Chicago Fire defender Rafael Czichos paid $785,000 in April for a four-bedroom, 2,480-square-foot contemporary-style house in Indian Head Park.
Raised in Germany, Czichos, 32, played center back for several years for a soccer team in Cologne, Germany. The Fire acquired Czichos in January, and he is signed to a contract with the club through the 2024 season.
When he began looking for a Chicago-area home earlier this year, Czichos had a good idea of what he wanted, said Oana Sirbu of Jameson Sotheby’s International Realty, who represented Czichos and also has represented other Fire players.
“When I met Rafael for the first time, he made it perfectly clear that he (wanted) to be in the suburbs, have a backyard so he can play soccer with his son and be close to the training facility (at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview),” Sirbu told Elite Street. “He was also looking for a modern, European vibe house. When we found (the house he bought), we knew right away this is the one. The white kitchen, the backyard, the basement, everything was exactly what he was looking for. It took a while until we found it, but I think it was worth it and he is very happy with his choice.”
Built in 1976, Czichos’ two-story house was completely remodeled in 2020 with many interior and exterior upgrades added in 2021. It has 2½ bathrooms, hardwood floors throughout, a dining room with skylights and a vaulted ceiling, a loft overlooking the dining room, a family room with a new fireplace, a mud room, a fully finished partial basement and an eat-in kitchen with stainless steel appliances and quartz countertops. Outside on the 0.26-acre property are professional landscaping, a new porcelain paver patio, a custom gas fire pit and a garden wall.
The house sold for above its $749,000 asking price. It had a $10,531 property tax bill in the 2020 tax year.
Bob Goldsborough is a freelance writer.
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