Crib Chatter

We last chattered about this 3-bedroom  vintage rowhouse with good bones in the West Loop near the United Center at 25 S. Oakley in March 2009.

See our prior chatter here.

It had been a foreclosure in October 2007.

Originally listed last December, it recently reduced by $30,000.

The listing says it has been completely gutted. There are marble tiles in the kitchen and baths.

Jake Sapstein at D’Aprile Realty has the listing. See the pictures again here.

25 S. Oakley: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 1792 square feet, 2 car garage

• Sold in January 1990 for $3600
• Sold in October 2000 for $100,000
• Sold in May 2001 for $171,000
• Sold in May 2005 for $395,000
• Sold in March 2006 for $690,000
• Bank-owned as of August 2007
• Sold in October 2007 by the bank for $225,500
• Originally listed in December 2008 for $379,900
• Was still listed in March 2009 for $379,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $349,900
• Taxes of $5,388
• Bamboo floors
• Full basement

We last chattered about this 1-bedroom unit in the Hermitage at 70 W. Huron in River North in April 2009.

See our prior chatter and pictures here.

Since then, the unit has been completely repainted and the price has been reduced by $25,900.

Or you can now also rent the unit.

Will it finally sell at this new price?

Nick Patterson at Kale Realty has the listing. See more pictures here.

Unit #803: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, over 900 square feet

• Sold in September 1996 for $138,000
• Sold in November 1998 for $147,000
• Sold in May 2004 for $252,000 (looks like it included the parking space)
• Originally listed in February 2009 for $274,900 (parking extra)
• Reduced
• Was listed in April 2009 for $258,500 (parking $35,000 extra)
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $249,000 (parking $35,000 extra)
• OR
• Available for rent for $1600 a month (plus $250 for parking)
• Assessments of $445 a month (includes heat, air conditioning and cable)
• Taxes of $2838
• No in-unit W/D

We’ve chattered about this terrace unit in the Churchill, at 1255 N. State Parkway, in the Gold Coast several times over the past few years.

We watched it sell in November 2007 and then come back on the market again.

See our most recent chatter and pictures here.

It’s been reduced another $15,900.

It’s also now listed $31,500 under the 2007 purchase price.

The unit is a 1000-square foot one bedroom with not only a private terrace but also a small balcony. The bathroom has been completely renovated with a marble shower and heated floors.

Johnnye Paige at Sudler Sotheby’s now has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #2J: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 1000 square feet

• Sold in May 1988 for $99,000
• Sold in January 1995 for $91,500
• Sold in November 1998 for $174,000
• Sold in March 2001 for $240,000
• Sold in January 2004 for $278,000
• Sold in November 2007 for $330,500
• Was listed in August 2008 for $360,000
• Reduced
• Was listed in March 2009 for $314,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $299,000
• Assessments have also changed since the last time we chattered: now $911 a month (were $861 a month). It includes everything except the phone.
• Taxes of $3,597
• No central air- window units
• No w/d in the unit
• No parking
• 12×4 private terrace
• Balcony
• Bedroom: 16×12

We chattered about the investment potential of this 585-square foot studio at 330 W. Grand in River North in early April 2009.

See our prior chatter and pictures here.

It went under contract about 2 weeks after our chatter and closed in June for $2,000 over the list price.

Unit #1605 with the same square footage is currently on the market for $173,900 but it includes a parking space (whereast #1305, which just sold, did not.)

Unit #1305: studio, 585 square feet

• Sold in March 2006 for $194,500
• Was listed in “short sale” in April 2009 for $129,000
• Sold in June 2009 for $131,000
• Assessments of $283 a month
• Taxes of $2020
• Central Air
• In-unit W/D
• No parking
• Nicholas Katsafados at R.E.I.T. Homes had the listing.

Do you like homes big on character and history?

Then this grand 3500 square foot bungalow at 5501 W. Cullom in Portage Park is for you.

It’s almost unfair to call it “just” a bungalow.

The listing says it has french walnut walls, traycery ceilings, carved woodwork and stained glass.

The lower level has a 1950s lounge, a wine cellar, a walk in meat smoker (which apparently still works) and a full shuffleboard court in the basement floor.

It was built in 1926, according to a tipster, allegedly by an attorney to the mob who deeded the house in his girlfriend’s name with the intent to use it as a home “outside” of  the city.

For those of you inclined to figure out appreciation, it apparently cost $12,000 to build when other homes in the neighborhood cost $3500 due to steel I beam construction, all face brick and floor joists every 12” on center.

The kitchen and baths were remodeled in the 1950s in the art deco style, in which they remain today.

Heather Lange at Koenig & Strey has the listing. See more pictures here.

5501 W. Cullom: 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2.5 car garage, 3500 square feet

• Sold in January 1995 for $293,000
• Sold in December 2002 for $525,000
• Currently listed for $750,000
• Taxes of $5001
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 15×13
• Bedroom #2: 14×12
• Bedroom #3: 10×10
• Bedroom #4: 12×9

Century Tower at 182 W. Lake in the loop is an American Invsco conversion circa 2006-2007.

The building sold-out quickly in the heyday because of an innovative 1-day auction where they were going to let buyers/investors put bids in via hand-held devices.

See the press release for a blast from the past describing how the building sold out at the event, the ”buyer’s market”, and how it was a “fantastic real estate wealth building opportunity.”

This 3-bedroom unit on the 27th floor is in the prestige part of the building because of the view and the fact that it could have in-unit laundry (as units below floor 20 or 21, I believe it was, could NOT have in-unit laundry.)

First listed for sale in July 2008, it is now a “short sale” and has been reduced $179,900.

It is also listed $105,000 under the 2007 purchase price.

The unit has east, south and west exposures and, according to the listing, overlooks the “site of the Dark Knight” (not sure what that means.)

Sherine Azzam at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #2701: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in February 2007 for $455,000
• Originally listed in July 2008 for $529,900
• Reduced several times
• “Short Sale”
• Currently listed for $350,000
• Assessments of $944 a month
• Taxes of $5375
• No parking- leased nearby
• Central Air
• In-unit washer/dryer
• Bedroom #1: 11×10
• Bedroom #2: 11×8
• Bedroom #3: 11×8
• Living room: 16×12
• Dining room: 13×8
• Kitchen: 11×11

We chattered about this “soft loft” 2-bedroom unit at 936 W. Madison in the West Loop in April.

See our prior chatter and pictures here.

It is still available and has been reduced by $1,000 (the parking is now “extra” instead of being included in the price.)

The terrace runs the length of the unit and there is no one above you (so nothing can get tossed down on you.)

Both bedrooms also have windows.

Ron Knoll at Saffron Realty has the listing. See more pictures here.

Unit #5F: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in October 1998 for $291,500
• Sold in April 2002 for $380,000 (parking included)
• Sold in April 2006 for $405,000 (parking included)
• Was listed in April 2009 for $430,000 (parking included)
• Currently listed for $399,000 (parking is $30k extra)
• Assessments of $380 a month
• Taxes of $5577
• W/D in the unit
• Central Air
• Bedroom 1: 15×13
• Bedroom 2: 14×11

Why go out to the movies when you can comfortably enjoy them in your own home theater such as that in this single family home at 6043 N. Kilpatrick in Sauganash.

The 4-bedroom French Provincial style house was built in 2002 and features hardwood and marble floors as well as oversized windows.

Listed since September 2008, it has been reduced by $250,000.

Alla Kimbarovsky at Prudential Preferred has the listing. See more pictures and a virtual tour here.

6043 N. Kilpatrick: 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, 2 half baths, 2 car garage, no square footage listed

• Last sale I could find was in December 1991 for $240,000
• Originally listed in September 2008 for $1.875 million
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $1.625 million
• Taxes of $13,240
• “Motivated seller”
• Bedroom #1: 21×18
• Bedroom #2: 15×13
• Bedroom #3: 13×12
• Bedroom #4: 11×10

We last chattered about this 5-bedroom rowhouse at 2545 N. Burling in Lincoln Park in February 2009.

See our February chatter here.

It is still on the market and has been reduced another $150,000.

In the winter, the seller was offering a $10,000 purchasers credit if under contract by the end of January 2009. Now, the listing says the lower level could be 2-bedroom rental or live-in quarters.

Mary Beth Smith at Rubloff still has the listing. See the pictures and a virtual tour here.

2454 N. Burling: 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, no square footage listed, 2 car garage

• Sold in May 1999 for $1.13 million
• Sold in July 2003 for $1.55 million
• Was listed for $1.599 million
• Reduced
• Was listed in February 2009 for $1.499 million
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $1.349 million
• Taxes of $20,641
• Central Air

This 4-bedroom single family Victorian farmhouse at 4841 N. Leavitt in Lincoln Square is finally under contract after 9 months on the market.

That was only after being reduced $150,000.

It is also now listed at the same price it sold for in July 2004.

The listing says it has newer mechanicals, roof, kitchen and bathrooms. It also has some vintage built-ins as well as hardwood floors.

The listing doesn’t mention a basement, so I’m assuming it doesn’t have one.

Regina Correa Cartright at Prairie Shore Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

4841 N. Leavitt: 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, no square footage listed, 2.5 car garage

• Sold in June 1997 for $185,000
• Sold in July 2004 for $549,000
• Originally listed in September 2008 for $699,000
• Reduced several times
• Currently listed for $549,000
• Under contract
• Taxes of $6023
• Central Air
• Living room: 14×10
• Kitchen: 14×9
• Dining room: 13×12
• Sunroom: 11×8
• Bedroom #1: 13×10
• Bedroom #2: 11×10
• Bedroom #3: 10×8
• Bedroom #4: 10×8