A fake listing on Zillow claimed that Frank Lloyd Wright's Walser House in Chicago was for sale for $350,000, prompting widespread attention. The Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy investigated and confirmed the listing was fraudulent, warning it may have been an attempt to defraud potential buyers. The 123-year-old house, which is uninhabitable and requires at least $2 million in restoration, is actually owned by Fannie Mae after a foreclosure and is not currently on the market.
This incident matters because it underscores the vulnerability of historically significant but neglected properties to online scams, and highlights the ongoing challenge of preserving Wright's architectural legacy. The Conservancy's intervention prevented a possible fraud, while also drawing renewed attention to the urgent need for a qualified buyer who can restore the landmarked house, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.