Real estate agent Steve Budzik has revealed what the owner of Pope Leo XIV’s childhood home plans to do with it. The options include transforming it into a museum or selling the property for more money
A home owner was left stunned after he discovered Pope Leo XIV grew up in his property – and could now hike up the sale price following the development, with the real estate agent revealing “there is no way” the price will stay the same.
The new Pope was brought up in the humble home located in Dalton, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. The property was only on the market for 100 days, but when Leo was announced as Pope, the listing was taken down, so the owner could have some time to think. According to the owner’s real estate agent, Steve Budzik, they became inundated with interest following the news. He explained: “It’s like a winning lottery ticket. What are the chances?”
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The house was initially listed for $199,000 (£150,830) and the owner received four offers the day it was announced that Robert Francis Prevost, 69, was made the new Pope.
And now that the announcement has been made, and it’s known that Pope Leo is from Chicago, the owner’s plans have changed. His real estate agent told New York Post: “There is no way [the owner is] going to sell it for 200 [thousand dollars] with all the value it has now. I’m sure people have a similar idea to make it for tours.”
It may not be the best sales tactic to announce that you’re going to price gauge customers because the home is attached to a famous person, but this is the route the agent has gone.
According to the publication, the owner may decide to keep the home and turn it into a museum or historic landmark versus trying to make a profit off of the former resident, how was a child and spent his formative years in the home, and is now… the Pope.
We like the latter, it is the more honourable path, and we have a feeling the Pope would give him his blessing. It is not yet clear where Pope Leo will soon live. The Pope traditionally lives in the grand Apostolic Palace, although Francis chose to stay in the far humbler Domus Sanctae Marthae guesthouse on Vatican grounds.
Pope Leo’s predecessor, Pope Francis, refused any form of income throughout his time in the role. Despite this the Pope is entitled to a modest salary, estimated to be around $2,800 (£2097.200) a month.