Mystery Owners Buy Home Next to Obama in Chicago

(CBS)  This story is by Kristyn Hartman of CBS 2 in Chicago.

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It's a high-profile address on the South Side, right next door to the home owned by Chicago's most famous family. Now it has new owners, which means the Obamas have new neighbors. CBS 2's Kristyn Hartman set out to meet the Chicago family about to live next door to the first family.

Six thousand square feet on lovely South Greenwood, next door to President Barack Obama's Kenwood pad: sold.

Driver Abdin Carrillo asked, "Who bought it?"

Good question. We went to the answer man. Matt Garrison listed the place. He says it went for $1.4 million. As for the Obamas' new neighbors, he couldn't tell us their names.

"The Secret Service says I could tell you, but I'd have to kill you," said Garrison, who also couldn't say what they do for a living.

But he did say, "We looked far and wide for 'em."

And they found them in Chicago. The buyers have big renovation plans, so they won't be moving in right away.

Garrison says they actually had some reservations about buying the home because of the attention the address gets.

"I was just looking to show my son where the President lives," said Marty Burke. "Actually, if you think about it, you can't get too close."

No, you can't. Folks who live in the neighborhood say the signs and the Secret Service keep things pretty private and secure. But they have advice for when Mr. Obama's in town.

"Keep your ID handy," said Jack Wilson.

A Hyde Park resident advised to avoid being too nosy.

Kenyanna Brown said, "I think you have to fight the temptation."

A lot of curious people came through the home-shopping process. The agent says after it went on sale, they got about 100,000 hits on their website, and lots of e-mail - from 12-year-old kids to people from foreign countries. They screened all the potential buyers themselves.

The mystery buyers paid cash.

Local Video from CBS 2 in Chicago

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[tmittelstaed]

"...Wouldn't screening potential buyers and turning down those that fit some secret criteria be discrimination. Yes it would..."

Yes, but it wouldn't be ILLEGAL discrimination.

The law doesen't say that a seller can't discriminate. The law only says a seller cannot discriminate based on a protected class (race, gender, age I believe and maybe a few others)

Remember this the next time you go to buy a used car through the newspaper. If the seller decides halfway through the sale that he doesen't like your attitude, you have no legal rights to buy his car.

[msbuster48]

Wouldn't screening potential buyers and turning down those that fit some secret criteria be discrimination. Yes it would. It's not the White House it is a residential street.

[from_the_north]

How many secret service men are still hanging around the bushies residences? Paid for by? You got it! The american tax payers.

[notdoneyet]

Obozo will not go back to chicago when he's done in 2012 it was like everything eles just a steping stone

[sandy19731]

Stepping has two "p's".

Else is spelled like this. Put a period at the end of your sentence.

One sentence, three errors; were you educated in Texas?

And, who is this "Obozo"?

[run2jazz2]

Probably Cousin Dick Cheney!

[johnny654321]

I don't think it's very nice mentioning the KKK. God made some of us in different colors, but we are still one family.

[msjb1]

I heard It was some one with ties to the KKK

[AtLasOn1Kl733]

Biden.

[sheila2u-2009]

I wonder what his Secret Service contingent costs us taxpayers....

[Gillysdelight]

Did u wonder when Bush was president????????????

[bytheway59]

and what about the secret service We the People are still paying for Cheney?

[Lifeson2112]

This really says something about the state of the media today. Who cares who bought the house next door? This is not news.

[redbluegreen]

Just leave them alone CBS News.

[barcar55]

I think they paid way too much. Not even a nice looking house. Looks old and dated to me.