Crib Chatter

We last chattered about this famous 5-bedroom contemporary at 1328 N. State Parkway in the Gold Coast in December 2010.

See our prior chatter here.

Since then, the house has been reduced $351,000 and is now listed $231,000 under the 2006 purchase price.

Built in 1938, the house, known as the Florsheim Mansion, was designed by Andrew Rebori and then added onto by Bertrand Goldberg in the 1950s.

There are actually two separate townhouses with a courtyard and a large galley kitchen (designed by Goldberg) connecting the structures.

The listing says there are lake views from the living room and master bedroom.

It also has a 2-car garage on a 18.6×125 foot lot.

Back in December, you could also rent it for $8300 a month but the rental price has also been reduced to $7500 a month.

With the taxes alone at about $2500 a month, is the rental price now a screaming deal?

Watch an interesting video tour of the house with the owners describing its special features here.

Michael Rosenblum at Koenig & Strey still has the listing. See the pictures here.

1328 N. State Parkway: 5 bedrooms, 5 baths, 4500 square feet, 2 car garage

• Sold in July 1998 for $517,500
• Sold in April 2006 for $2.23 million
• Originally listed in February 2010 for $2.5 million
• Reduced
• Was listed in December 2010 for $2.35 million
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $1.999 million
• OR you can rent it for $7500 a month – reduced from December’s rental price of $8300 a month
• Taxes of $31,384
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 19×14 (third floor)
• Bedroom #2: 15×12 (third floor)
• Bedroom #3: 15×12 (third floor)
• Bedroom #4: 11×7 (main floor)
• Bedroom #5: 11×7 (main floor)

This 2-bedroom at City Centre at 208 W. Washington in the Loop has been on the market since June 2011.

It has been reduced $15,000 in that time.

It is bank owned and currently listed $51,600 under the 2002 purchase price.

It is one of the few units in the building with a 20×30 roof top terrace with city views.

At 1200 square feet, I’ve been told the kitchen and bathrooms are intact.

The kitchen has stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops.

The unit has central air and in-unit washer/dryer.

The listing says 1 assigned parking space is available for $121.60 a month.

I’ve been told that a LOT of buyers have looked at this unit since it came on the market in June.

How low will this go?

Jack Lewitz at IL Real Estate Specialists has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #2208: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1200 square feet

• Sold in April 2002 for $366,500
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in May 2010
• Bank owned in May 2011
• Originally listed in June 2011 for $329,900
• Reduced in July 2011 to $314,900
• Currently still listed at $314,900
• Assessments of $566 a month (includes heat, A/C, gas, doorman)
• Taxes of $5877
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Parking available for $121.60 a month
• Terrace: 20×30
• Bedroom #1: 14×12
• Bedroom #2: 12×10

We last chattered about this 3-bedroom single family home at 1509 N. Paulina in Wicker Park in May 2011.

See our prior chatter here.

The agent, Evan Kane, was running a contest to see who could guess the sales price of this house.

Many of you simply guessed the ultimate sales price right on Crib Chatter instead- and from the look of the guesses, nearly all of you were actually too high. (You would have “overbid” as the Price Is Right rules go.)

Listed for $775,000 back in May, which was over the 2009 purchase price, Bob was among the lowest guessers as he used the case shiller index to guess that it would sell for $613,400.

After several reductions, the house is currently listed at $674,900.

If you recall, the house was formerly owned by David Draiman, lead singler for the band Disturbed (the original listing had a reference to “rock and roll”.)

It has soaring ceilings in the living room and skylights.

2 out of the 3 bedrooms are on the second floor with the master bedroom on the third level.

The master bathroom is slate, with body sprays and a Japanese soaking tub.

The second bathroom is not without its own luxury, as it has a steam shower with 8 body sprays.

The kitchen has Viking, Bosch and SubZero appliances.

Built on a 25×125 lot, there is a 500 square foot deck with a hot tub over the 2 car garage.

The house is now listed $20,100 under the 2009 purchase price.

Will Bob turn out to be right on the ultimate sales price on this house?

Evan Kane at RGC Realty still has the listing. See more pictures here.

1509 N. Paulina: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2435 square feet, 2 car garage

• Sold in November 1988 for $35,000
• Sold in December 1998 for $320,000
• Sold in September 2005 for $849,000
• Originally listed in June 2008 for $899,000
• Sold in July 2009 for $695,000
• Originally listed in May 2011 for $774,900
• Reduced several times
• Currently listed for $674,900
• Taxes of $9364
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 18×14 (third floor)
• Bedroom #2: 12×12 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 11×10 (second floor)

We last chattered about this rehabbed 3-bedroom rowhouse at 2501 N. Racine in June 2011.

See our prior chatter here.

It had previously been a 2-bedroom and sold for just $630,000 in February 2011 before being renovated into a 3-bedroom with all new kitchen and baths and then listed for $899,000.

It went under contract in 8 days and sold within 6 weeks for $875,000.

The rowhouse, built on a 19×84 lot, had no backyard but there was a deck over the highly sought after 2-car garage.

It also had central air.

You can see what it looked like BEFORE- here.

Ryanne Bumps at @Properties had the listing. You can still see the interior pictures here.

2501 N. Racine: 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, no square footage listed, 2 car garage

• Sold in April 1993 (no price given)
• Originally listed in October 2009 for $849,000
• Reduced
• Sold in February 2011 for $630,000
• Was listed in June 2011 for $899,000
• Under contract within 8 days
• Sold in August 2011 for $875,000
• No Assessments
• Taxes of $9958
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 16×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 11×11 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 12×14 (second floor)
• Family room: 16×18 (lower level)

We actually chattered about this Victorian 3-bedroom rowhouse at 2408 N. Burling in Lincoln Park all the way back in July 2009.

See our 2009 chatter here.

At that time, some of you thought this was priced to sell at $775,000- even without the parking.

But it never sold and was withdrawn from the market.

It has returned to the market this summer priced at $759,000, or $76,000 under the 2006 purchase price.

It has some of its 1891 vintage features including crown molding and the ceiling medallions.

All 3 bedrooms are on the second floor and there is a lower level family room.

The kitchen has white cabinets, stainless steel appliances and a black and white checkered floor.

It has space pac cooling but no parking. There is only rental parking in the neighborhood.

How important is parking for a property at this price point?

Jennifer Ames at Coldwell Banker now has the listing. See the pictures here.

2408 N. Burling: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2334 square feet

• Originally sold in 1986 (couldn’t determine a price)
• Sold in October 2006 for $835,000
• Originally listed in May 2009 for $849,000
• Reduced
• Was listed in July 2009 at $775,000
• Reduced
• Was listed at $749,000 in September 2009 before being withdrawn
• Re-listed in June 2011 at $759,000
• Withdrawn and re-listed in August 2011 still at $759,000
• Taxes of $11,370 (was $8226 in July 2009) 
• Leased parking nearby
• Space pac cooling
• Bedroom #1: 17×13
• Bedroom #2: 10×11
• Bedroom #3: 11×11
• Living room: 12×13
• Kitchen: 12×12
• Family room: 16×20
• Dining room: 14×13

When this 2-bedroom at 2034 N. Seminary in Lincoln Park first came on the market last February, some of you commented on it in one of the threads.

7 months later, it is still on the market and has been reduced $26,000.

The top floor unit has seen much of the original 1891 woodwork restored and has built-in bookcases.

It has a fireplace and hardwood floors throughout.

The unit also has stained glass windows and high ceilings.

The kitchen, however, has been renovated with stone counter tops and stainless steel appliances including SubZero.

It used to be a 3-bedroom unit, but it appears that one of the smaller bedrooms is being used as a walk-in closet.

The unit has a washer/dryer in the unit and a private garage however it does not have central air.

It is located near the shops and restaurants on Armitage and is just a few blocks from the Brown Line stop.

Now listed $16,500 under the 2004 purchase price, is this a deal?

Neringa Northcutt at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #3: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, 1400 square feet

• Sold in August 1999 for $308,000
• Sold in December 2004 for $425,500
• Originally listed in February 2011 for $435,000
• Reduced in July 2011
• Currently listed at $409,000 (parking included)
• Assessments of $110 a month
• Taxes of $3033
• No central air (window units only)
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 16×14
• Bedroom #2: 13×10
• Walk-in closet: 9×9 (was bedroom #3?)

Why didn’t anyone tell me that our favorite 6000 square foot West Town penthouse at 1715 W. Ohio had returned to the market?

Back in 2009, we had several fun chatters about this penthouse as it was then listed at $2 million.

See our November 2009 chatter here. (ah- the good ole days)

Some of you thought the list price was crazy and that it wouldn’t sell for anything over $1 million.

Others thought it would sell closer to ask.

The penthouse was reduced to $1.799 million by November 2009 wherein it then went under contract.

Many of those who thought it would sell closer to the ask felt vindicated that it was under contract.

But wait!

It never sold.

The listing was withdrawn.

A few months ago, it returned to the market, reduced to $1.73 million.

If you recall, the unit is no ordinary penthouse.

The 3-bedroom duplex has 14 to 17 foot high ceilings and a private high speed elevator to take you to your unit.

The 30×20 master suite is on the second floor and has a fireplace.

The other two main floor bedrooms aren’t too shabby on space either at 29×21 and 20×13.

The unit also has a 1700 square foot cedar rooftop deck with gas fire pit and views of the city.

The kitchen is “gourmet” with an oversized Brazilian granite island and SubZero and Miele appliances.

With the upper bracket market seeing some life, will 2011 finally see the sale of this penthouse?

And at what price?

Chaz Walters at Coldwell Banker has the listing once again. You can see the pictures here.

Unit #PH: 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 6000 square feet, 2 car garage, duplex

• Sold in August 2004 for $1.2 million
• Was listed in May 2009 for $1,999,000
• Reduced
• Was listed in November 2009 at $1.799 million
• Under contract
• Withdrawn
• Re-listed in May 2011 at $1.73 million
• Currently still listed at $1.73 million
• Assessments are $900 a month
• Taxes aren’t listed (but in the prior listing they were $8000) 
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• 1700 square foot deck
• Bedroom #1: 30×20 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 29×21 (main floor)
• Bedroom #3: 20×13 (main floor)
• Media room: 15×16 (main floor)

We last chattered about this 2-bedroom townhouse at 2052 N. Larrabee in Lincoln Park in May 2011.

See our prior chatter here.

Priced at $329,000 at the time, at only 1000 square feet on two levels, most of you thought it was too small to sell for over $300,000.

It recently sold for $316,000, or $24,000 under, the 2008 price.

If you recall, it was an end unit with its own private patio.

The 2-bedrooms were on the second floor with the living areas on the main floor.

The listing said the townhouse had been renovated.

The kitchen had stainless steel appliances, granite counter tops and a tile backsplash.

It had central air and a private parking space.

Are townhouses (even small ones) more in demand that you thought?

Andrew Glatz at Crown Heights Realty had the listing.

2052 N. Larrabee: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, 1000 square feet

• Sold in December 2004 for $302,500
• Sold in October 2008 for $340,000
• Originally listed in February 2011
• Was listed in March 2011 for $345,000
• Reduced
• Was listed in June 2011 for $329,900
• Sold in August 2011 for $316,000
• Assessments of $180 a month (includes cable)
• Taxes of $4463
• Central Air
• Parking
• Bedroom #1: 14×10 (second level)
• Bedroom #2: 14×9 (second level)

You all have been chattering about this 3-bedroom single family home at 3134 N. Oakley in North Center in some of the comments of other threads.

It was previously a bank owned home that sold in late June or early July for $285,000.

Just weeks later it returned to the market listed for $134,000 more than the previous sale at $419,000.

It has since been reduced $20,000 to $399,000.

We have chattered about many homes that were bank owned, rehabbed and then re-listed for much more.

Only the listing on this home doesn’t say it was rehabbed.

It just says: “Fresh paint throughout. Refinished hardwood flooring.”

The kitchen has the same cherry cabinets, stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops as when it was bank owned.

The living room curtains even appear to be the same ones from when the house was previously on the market.

The house was built in 1902 on a 26×120 lot (per the prior listing.)

It has central air but only a one car garage.

2 of the 3 bedrooms are on the second floor with the third one on the main level.

The sign in the window of the home that you can see in the picture above reads something like “security camera in use.”

What will this house ultimately re-sell for?

You can see the prior pictures when it was bank owned here.

Tom Witt of Executive Realty Consultants has the listing. See the current pictures here.

3134 N. Oakley: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 1861 square feet

• Sold in June 2001 for $220,000
• Sold in March 2003 for $390,500
• Sold in April 2006 for $583,000
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in January 2010
• Bank owned in March 2011
• Listed in June 2011 for $245,000
• Sold in June/July 2011 for $285,000 (I can’t tell which month for sure it sold in)
• Re-listed on Aug 2, 2011 for $419,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $399,000
• Taxes of $6767
• Central Air
• 1-car garage
• Bedroom #1: 13×12 (second level)
• Bedroom #2: 13×12 (second level)
• Bedroom #3: 12×10 (main level)
• Living room: 15×12
• Dining room: 19×15
• Kitchen: 13×12
• Family room: 20×15 (lower level)

We last chattered about this 5-bedroom single family home at 5692 N. New Hampshire in the Old Norwood Park neighborhood in October 2010.

See our prior chatter here.

Since then, the house has been reduced another $100,000.

On and off the market since February 2009, it has now been reduced $596,000.

Located in the Old Norwood Park circle, it has all the finishes of new construction but is set amidst an established neighborhood.

Built in 2007, the house has 12-foot ceilings and 5 fireplaces.

There are Brazilian walnut wood floors throughout as well as a 12 seat home theater complete with leather reclining seats.

The kitchen has unique stone work, custom cabinets and onyx counter tops.

Built on an oversized 50×200 lot, it has a rare city 4-car garage with a 600 square foot attic.

Is the lack of a sale on this home signaling that the days of million dollar homes in Old Norwood Park over?

JoAnn Casali at Koenig & Strey Real Living now has the listing. See the pictures here.

5692 N. New Hampshire: 5 bedrooms, 5 baths, 4 car garage, no square footage listed

• Sold in September 1994 for $240,000
• Built in 2007
• Originally listed in February 2009 for $1.895 million
• Reduced
• Was listed in October 2010 at $1,399,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $1.299 million
• Taxes of $5540
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 24×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 14×14 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 14×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 14×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #5: 18×12 (lower level)