You Can Purchase Pope Leo XIV’s Childhood House, however There is a Catch

Folks bidding to purchase Pope Leo XIV’s modest childhood residence in Illinois may face some stiff competitors — from the native authorities.

The innocuous three-bedroom, three-bathroom residence within the Village of Dolton was thrust into the highlight when Pope Leo XIV turned the chief of the Catholic Church.

The present home-owner bought the property in Might 2024 for $66,000, listed it for $219,000 in January, and dropped the worth to $199,900 in February.

After the pope’s appointment on Might 8, the proprietor, inundated with presents and new choices, delisted the house till final week when it was put up for public sale by Paramount Realty USA. The reserve worth is $250,000, and potential consumers have till June 18 to bid.

“It is like a collectible automotive they solely made one in all,” Steve Budzik, the home-owner’s actual property agent, advised BI earlier this month.

Potential consumers, nevertheless, will probably be going up in opposition to the Village of Dolton, which has stated by its legal professional that it plans to amass the house both by direct buy or eminent area legal guidelines. Eminent area legal guidelines permit governments to make personal property out there for public use.

“If a direct buy from the vendor can’t be negotiated, the Village will trigger Eminent Area proceedings to be filed in Courtroom and take the property by the authorized course of,” Burton S. Odelson wrote in an e mail to BI. “The Village hopes a direct buy is accomplished with out courtroom motion.”

Odelson, who’s been in touch with the itemizing dealer, stated the Village of Dolton is working with the Chicago Archdiocese to find out the perfect use of the area.

Though counting on native eminent area legal guidelines is an possibility, Odelson stated it is a final resort. That course of entails litigation, which suggests legal professional charges, courtroom prices, appraisal prices, and time.

Below eminent area legal guidelines, the Village of Dolton must compensate the house owners for the house. Negotiations between the Village of Dolton and the present proprietor are ongoing.

The hype round Pope Leo XIV’s childhood residence spurred instant fanfare, prompting information vehicles and curious locals to go to. One lady even advised an area information outlet that she made the four-hour drive from Louisville, Kentucky, simply to go to the impromptu holy web site.

Representatives for Paramount Realty USA and the home-owner didn’t reply to a request for remark from Enterprise Insider.