$550,000 Homes in Massachusetts, Illinois and Virginia

Sheffield, Mass. | $549,000

A 1955 house with three bedrooms and two bathrooms, on a 1.3-acre lot

This house is about five minutes from a library, a pizza parlor and several antiques shops in the center of Sheffield, a Berkshires town near the New York and Connecticut state lines. It is about 20 minutes from Great Barrington, a popular shopping and dining destination, and 40 minutes from Lenox, home to the Mount, Edith Wharton’s country estate, and the Tanglewood Music Center.

Albany, N.Y., is about an hour away. Driving to Hartford, Conn., takes about 90 minutes. New York City and Boston are three hours away.

Size: 1,506 square feet

Price per square foot: $365

Indoors: The house sits back from the road, at the end of a long driveway.

The front door opens into a bright living room with multiple windows and a fireplace with a stone chimney flanked by built-in cabinetry and shelves. This space is open to a dining area in front of a large window with a view of mature trees.

The adjoining kitchen has stainless steel appliances, wood cabinetry and access to a screened porch that can also be seen through a window over the sink. A laundry room and a pantry are off the kitchen.

A hallway extending from the center of the house leads to two bedrooms, including the primary bedroom, which has large windows and an en suite bathroom with a glass-walled shower and a new floating vanity. The other bedroom has the use of a full bathroom off the hall.

The third bedroom, which could be used as a den, is off the living room.

Outdoor space: The screened porch off the kitchen can be used for dining in three seasons. From there, a door opens to the backyard, which is landscaped with grass and mature trees. The property has direct access to Berkshire Trout Pond, and there is room to add a dock.

Taxes: $3,024 (estimated)

Contact: Karen Climo and Maggie Merelle, William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty, 413-429-6732 or 413-717-0717; sothebysrealty.com

Chicago | $545,000

A two-bedroom, two-bathroom condominium in an 1892 building

This condominium is in a building designed by Edmund R. Krause, a German-born architect responsible for a number of apartment buildings, theaters and offices in late 19th- and early 20th-century Chicago. It is in a bustling neighborhood within walking distance of Lincoln Park and many bars, restaurants and coffee shops.

Walking to Chicago History Museum or the well-known Second City comedy club takes about five minutes. Oak Street Beach, on the banks of Lake Michigan, is about a five-minute drive; North Avenue Beach is 10 minutes away. Driving to Wrigley Field takes about 15 minutes. Chicago O’Hare International Airport is a half-hour drive.

Size: 1,500 square feet

Price per square foot: $363

Indoors: The apartment’s front door opens into a foyer with hardwood floors. The living room beyond has a fireplace with a simple mantel and a bay of windows overlooking the street. Off this space is a small room the sellers use as a home office.

On the other side of the living space is a windowed dining area with a wrought-iron chandelier. The adjacent kitchen is connected to the dining area by a doorway and a pass-through window; it has stainless steel appliances and a glossy tile backsplash.

A hallway off the kitchen extends to the bedrooms on the other side of the apartment. The primary suite, at the far end, has a bedroom big enough to hold a king-size bed and a bathroom with a walk-in shower. The bedroom next door has the use of a bathroom across the hall with a combined tub and shower. Additional closet space and a washer and dryer are also off the hall.

Outdoor space: This apartment has access to a communal roof deck with grills, dining tables and views of Lake Michigan and the city skyline. Residents also have access to a bike room and a storage area.

Taxes: $8,844 (estimated) and a $584 monthly homeowner association fee

Contact: Giovanni Leopaldi, Compass, 708-935-1983; compass.com

Richmond, Va. | $549,500

An 1889 Italianate townhouse with three bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms, on a 0.04-acre lot

This house is in the Fan District, a neighborhood known for well-kept late 19th- and early 20th-century townhouses. It is a few blocks from a number of buildings on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University, including the main library, the W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts and the Altria Theater, a popular venue for concerts and other live performances. A coffee shop, a rooftop restaurant and a musical instruments store are within a five-minute walk.

The Virginia State Capitol complex is about 10 minutes away by car. Driving to Washington or Virginia Beach takes two hours.

Size: 1,990 square feet

Price per square foot: $276

Indoors: Steps lead up from the brick sidewalk to the home’s covered entry, trimmed with intricate wood detailing, next to an uncovered porch with room for a small table and chairs.

The mint-green front door opens into a long entry hall with hardwood floors and a staircase to the second floor. The living room, to the right, has floor-to-ceiling, street-facing windows and a fireplace with a soapstone surround. Original wood pocket doors separate this space from the dining room, which has its own fireplace.

The updated kitchen off the dining room has glass-fronted cabinets, granite counters, enough room to hold a breakfast table and outdoor access. A windowed powder room with a porcelain pedestal sink is also in this part of the house.

All three bedrooms are upstairs. The primary suite, directly off the landing, has a sunny bedroom with a decorative fireplace, two large windows and a bathroom with a combined tub and shower. The other two bedrooms also have decorative fireplaces; they share a bathroom with a claw-foot tub.

Outdoor space: In addition to the uncovered porch in front of the house, there is a deck off the kitchen with enough space to hold a table and a grill.

Taxes: $6,708 (estimated)

Contact: Andrea Levine, One South Realty Group, 804-647-2828; forsale.onesouthrealty.com

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