Crib Chatter

Interior designer (and talk show host) Nate Berkus’ 3-bedroom Gold Coast unit at 1325 N. Astor was recently reduced for the second time since coming on the market in January 2011.

See our prior chatter here.

It has now been reduced $251,000.

Berkus renovated it but kept the original St. Charles metal cabinets in the kitchen and the Samuel Marx paneling.

According to the listing, there are new hardwood floors, a rehabbed master bath with custom English tub and a reconfigured master suite.

It also has two-zone air conditioning and new electrical.

The unit has an in-unit washer/dryer and a coveted deeded parking spot.

It’s been featured in Elle Decor magazine.

How healthy IS the upper bracket market?

Katherine Chez at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See the listing here.

Unit #8: 3 bedrooms, 4 baths, 3980 square feet, 1 car parking

• Sold in June 2003 for $1.5 million
• Currently listed for $2.65 million
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $2.399 million
• Assessments of $3816 a month (includes heat and doorman)
• Taxes of $29162
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 14×20
• Bedroom #2: 14×11
• Bedroom #3: 17×12

This 7000 square foot loft mansion at 2118 W. Van Buren in the West Loop recently came on the market.

The listing says the building was formerly a print shop and statue factory.

It has been converted into a single family home with many of the industrial features preserved.

It has 14 foot timber ceilings, exposed brick and a wall of 8×6 arched windows.

The house has a 50 foot great room and a 40 foot studio.

Built on a 75×50 lot, it has a 4 car garage and the listing says it is zoned for 2 stories.

The kitchen has white cabinets and what looks like white and stainless appliances.

What’s the market for a lofty house in this industrial neighborhood?

Eugene Fu at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

2118 W. Van Buren: 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 7000 square feet, 4 car garage

• Sold in October 1996 for $125,000
• Sold in September 2005 for $650,000
• Currently listed for $850,000
• Taxes of $9213
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 25×18
• Bedroom #2: 15×12
• Bedroom #3: 18×15

This 4-bedroom penthouse at 247 E. Chestnut in Streeterville just came on the market for just $500,000.

Yes, it is a short sale.

At 4700 square feet, it is a full-floor unit with 360 degree views of the Lake and city.

The building was built in 1958.

The kitchen is described as a “chef’s kitchen” with pear wood cabinetry, stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops.

It has central air and washer dryer in the unit.

Parking is rental in the building.

Check out the pictures and then decide- is this a deal?

Kurt Penn at Southport Sotheby’s International has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #2500: 4 bedrooms, 5 baths, 4700 square feet, full floor penthouse

• Sold in August 1986 (but I couldn’t determine the price)
• Currently listed as a “short sale” for $500,000
• Assessments of $4035 a month (includes heat, air conditioning, gas, doorman, cable)
• Taxes of $13,032
• Central Air
• 6×9 laundry room
• Rental Parking available
• Bedroom #1: 16×21
• Bedroom #2: 16×22
• Bedroom #3: 12×20
• Bedroom #4: 12×17
• Media room: 12×24

We last chattered about this 2-bedroom duplex down at 2750 N. Seminary in December 2010.

See our prior chatter here.

It had been bank owned for 11 months before it was finally listed for sale.

It sold 3 months later for $132,500 under the 2001 purchase price.

In later listings, two interior pictures were added but they still didn’t tell us if the kitchen and baths were intact.

Apparently, parking WAS included with this unit (originally- it appeared it was not.)

It had central air and a washer/dryer hook-up.

The unit was also just a block or two to the Diversey El stop, shops and restaurants.

Was this a deal?

Izora Hinton at Betts Realty Group had the listing.

Unit #1: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1200 square feet, duplex down

• Sold in May 2001 for $450,000
• Lis pendens in May 2008
• Bank owned in January 2010
• Was listed in December 2010 for $338,900
• Sold in February 2011 for $317,500
• Assessments of $125 a month
• Taxes of $10,788
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer hook-up in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 18×11 (lower level)
• Bedroom #2: 12×10 (lower level)
• Living room: 17×15
• Dining room: 12×15
• Kitchen: 13×7

This 2-bedroom, 2 bath unit in the Brighton of Lincoln Park at 2326 N. Lincoln Park West in Lincoln Park is located directly across from the Lincoln Park Zoo.

You can probably hear the lions roar.

First listed in August 2010, it has been reduced $30,000.

It is also listed $22,000 under the 2005 purchase price.

The vintage unit has recently refinished hardwood floors and generous room sizes found in this era.

It has a separate kitchen, dining room and a 6×7 den.

The fireplace, alas, is only decorative.

The kitchen has stainless steel appliances.

It is on the fourth floor of a courtyard building and doesn’t have central air, washer/dryer in the unit or parking.

But given its prime location right on the lake front, is this a steal?

(there ARE “see agents remarks” in the listing- which I don’t know what that means as I can’t see them. Anyone care to tell us?)

Dawn Lynch at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #4B: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in July 1990 for $120,000
• Sold in February 1998 for $159,000
• Sold in April 2005 for $271,000
• Originally listed in August 2010 for $279,000
• Reduced numerous times
• Currently listed for $249,000
• Assessments of $482 a month (includes heat)
• Taxes of $4851
• No central air- window units only
• No in-unit washer/dryer
• No parking
• Bedroom #1: 13×16
• Bedroom #2: 16×10
• Living room: 18×14
• Kitchen: 13×6
• Dining room: 14×9
• Den: 6×7

This 2-bedroom in Lake Park Plaza at 3930 N. Pine Grove in Lakeview was recently reduced $5,100.

It is currently listed $36,100 under the 2006 purchase price.

The building is a full-service high rise constructed in 1969.

It has a pool, tennis courts, party room, doorman, and exercise facilities.

The listing says this unit has recently been renovated.

The kitchen has granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances and a tile back splash with marble flooring.

The bathrooms have also been upgraded.

While there is central air, there is no washer/dryer in the unit. It appears that parking is available to rent in the building.

While there are cheaper 2/2s available in the building, none are as renovated as this one.

Is this a deal?

Mark Jak at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #501: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1375 square feet

• Sold in August 1990 for $100,000
• Sold in December 2004 for $195,000
• Sold in April 2006 for $256,000
• Originally listed in February 2011 for $225,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $219,900
• Assessments of $813 a month (includes a/c, cable, pool, doorman, party room, tennis courts)
• Taxes of $3790
• Central Air
• No in-unit washer/dryer
• Rental parking available
• Bedroom #1: 17×12
• Bedroom #2: 14×11

This 3-bedroom duplex down at 1927 N. Hudson in Lincoln Park recently came on the market.

If you’re wondering why it is listed for $64,000 over the 2005 purchase price- the listing says it was completely renovated since 2005.

Built in 1884, the unit was a 2-bedroom until the large lower level bedroom was converted into 2 bedrooms making it a 3-bedroom unit.

The master bedroom is on the main floor.

The unit has retained some of its vintage features including built-ins in the dining room, 10 foot ceilings and crown molding.

The listing says there is a new cook’s kitchen with white cabinets, stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops.

It has central air and in-unit washer/dryer but the one thing it is missing is parking.

There is no deeded parking with the unit- just rental parking nearby.

Does parking matter in this location?

Megan Brown at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See the pictures and a virtual tour here.

Unit #1: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1915 square feet

• Sold in August 1998 for $255,000
• Sold in November 2005 for $455,000
• Currently listed for $519,000
• Assessments of $125 a month
• Taxes of $8540
• Central Air
• In-unit washer/dryer
• No parking
• Bedroom #1: 18×12 (main level)
• Bedroom #2: 12×9 (lower level)
• Bedroom #3: 12×8 (lower level)
• Family room: 19×16 (lower level)

This unique 4 bedroom, 4 bath condo at 21 E. Goethe in the Gold Coast recently came on the market.

The triplex unit is located in an 1886 vintage rowhouse.

3 out of the 4 bedrooms appear to be on different floors, with the master on the second, one bedroom on the main and 2 in the lower level.

3 out of the 4 have ensuite bathrooms.

The kitchen and the dining room are also located in the lower level (with the living room on the main level.)

Not much of the vintage interior remains.

There are 2 wood burning fireplaces, however, including one in the master bedroom.

The kitchen has white cabinets and stainless steel appliances.

The unit also has a sunroom overlooking the garden.

The condo has central air, in-unit washer/dryer and a rare 2 parking spaces.

What’s the market for a unit like this?

Jane Field at Koenig & Strey Real Living has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #B: 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, 2625 square feet, 2 car parking included

• I can’t find any units called “B”- and the PIN for the listing is for Unit #A. But Unit A last sold in January 2006 for $535,000.
• Currently listed for $849,000
• Assessments of $744 a month (the association has 5 units)- includes water
• Taxes of $12663
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the Unit
• 2 wood burning fireplaces
• Bedroom #1: 22×19 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 17×15 (main level)
• Bedroom #3: 20×10 (lower level)
• Bedroom #4: 17×15 (lower level)
• Living room: 23×15 (main level)
• Kitchen: 14×9 (lower level)
• Dining room: 15×13 (lower level)
• Sunroom: 15×5 (main level)

This 1-bedroom at 1347 W. Eddy in the Southport neighborhood of Lakeview has been on the market since January 2011.

In that time, it has been reduced $20,000.

The unit is currently listed $89,100 under the 2008 purchase price.

It is a Fannie Mae property and can be bought with as little as 3% down.

This building, at the corner of Eddy and Southport, was converted into condos in 2006.

The kitchen has cherry cabinets, granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances.

It has hardwood floors throughout, central air, and a washer/dryer in the unit.

There is no deeded parking.

How low will Lakeview 1-bedrooms go before they finally hit bottom?

Arthur Cirignani at Chicago Realty Partners has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #203: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, no square footage listed

• Sold in August 2006 for $231,000
• Sold in May 2008 for $239,000
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in October 2010
• Fannie Mae property in January 2011
• Originally listed in January 2011 for $169,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $149,900
• Assessments of $155 a month
• Taxes of $3119
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer hook up in the unit
• No parking
• Bedroom #1: 15×8
• Living room: 14×12
• Kitchen: 10×8

This 3-bedroom unit at 917 W. Belle Plaine in Uptown recently came on the market for the first time in 7 years.

The listing says it was a total gut rehab.

While the building is a vintage building, very little of the vintage finishes remain.

The unit has a bay window in the living room.

The kitchen has granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances.

There is hardwood floors throughout and a bay window in the living room.

It has the modern amenities of central air, washer/dryer in the unit and deeded parking.

Will this property command more than the 2004 purchase price in this Uptown location?

Jennifer Lane at Keller Williams has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #2: 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, no square footage listed

• Sold in July 2004 for $299,000
• Currently listed for $330,000
• Assessments of $246 a month
• Taxes of $4618
• Central Air
• In-unit washer/dryer
• Parking included
• Bedroom #1: 15×11
• Bedroom #2: 15×11
• Bedroom #3: 14×8