Crib Chatter

We last chattered about this 2-bedroom townhouse at 1352 S. State in the South Loop in July 2009.

See our prior chatter and pictures here.

In the nearly 16 months since, the townhouse has been reduced $70,000.

In July 2009 some of you thought this might sell for the mid-$400,000s. It is now listed for $469,000.

With 1860 square feet on 3 levels, the townhouse has both bedrooms on the upper floor.

It also has a family room on the first level while all the other living spaces are on the second floor.

The townhouse has skylights and a 1-car garage with a second space on the parking pad. If you really need 3 spaces, there is a third spot available for another $10,000.

The kitchen has stainless steel appliances.

The listing says the townhouse is in the highly coveted South Loop Elementary school district.

Is this finally priced to sell?

Frederic Scovell at Keller-Williams West Loop still has the listing. See the pictures here.

1352 S. State: 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 1860 square feet, 1 car parking

• I couldn’t find an original sales price but it looks like there has only been 1 owner since the early 1990s
• Originally listed in April 2009 for $539,000
• Was listed in July 2009 at $539,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $469,000
• Assessments of $85 a month
• Taxes of $4342
• Central Air
• Third parking spot available for $10k
• Bedroom #1: 11×14 (third floor)
• Bedroom #2: 16×10 (third floor)
• Family room: 11×13 (first floor)

We last chattered about this 1929 vintage house at 3019 W. Ardmore in Peterson Woods in September 2010.

See our prior chatter and pictures here.

It has since been reduced $44,000.

The house is an estate sale.

It has amazing original vintage beauty like leaded glass, arched doorways, coved ceilings and the original kitchen and baths.

Built on a 45×192 oversized lot, it has a 2-car detached garage but no central air.

In our prior chatter, most of you were unsure of the price.

Now that it’s been reduced, is this home now attractively priced?

Terry Silis at Baird & Warner still has the listing. See more pictures here.

3019 W. Ardmore: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2 car garage, no square footage listed

• It is an estate sale- original sales price is before 1990
• Originally listed in August 2010
• Was listed in September 2010 for $489,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $445,000
• Estate sale
• Taxes of $6759
• No central air
• Bedroom #1: 15×15
• Bedroom #2: 12×13
• Bedroom #3: 13×11

This 3-bedroom duplex down unit at 3125 N. Clifton in Lakeview has been on the market since April 2009.

It has now been reduced $104,100 from the original April 2009 listing price.

The unit is also listed $45,100 under the 2006 purchase price.

The 3-unit building was built in 1999.

2 out of the 3 bedrooms are on the main level with the third in the duplex down.

There is also a big 28×17 lower level family room.

The kitchen has 42 inch cabinets, granite counter tops and black appliances.

The unit has the much coveted 2-car parking.

Is this a deal?

Ron Hollaender at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #1: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, no square footage, 2 car parking

• Sold in September 1999 for $386,000
• Sold in January 2002 for $432,000
• Sold in December 2005 for $570,000
• Originally listed in April 2009 for $629,000
• Reduced several times
• Was reduced in July 2010 to $524,900
• Currently listed at $524,900
• Assessments of $182 a month
• Taxes of $5932
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 14×13 (main level)
• Bedroom #2: 12×8 (main level)
• Bedroom #3: 12×8 (lower level)
• Family room: 28×17 (lower level)

In September, we chattered about this 3 bedroom brick cottage at 4947 W. Pensacola in Portage Park.

See our prior chatter and pictures here.

Since September, it has been reduced $24,000.

The listing makes no secret that it is a fixer and in need of TLC.

It is an estate sale.

It has a wood burning fireplace and built-ins along with other vintage features such as beamed ceilings and the original glass door knobs.

But can anyone see beyond the fixer part to appreciate the good bones?

Theressa Boyce at Dream Town still has the listing. See more pictures here.

You can also check out the house in person this weekend at the Open House: Saturday, Nov 20, 11 am to 1 pm.

4947 W. Pensacola: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2 car garage, 1094 square feet

• Sold prior to the 1990s
• Was listed in September 2010 as an estate sale for $199,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $175,000
• Taxes of $652 (senior exemption)
• No central air- window units
• Bedroom #1: 13×11
• Bedroom #2: 10×9
• Bedroom #3: 9×8

Since the topic of what to tip building staff has come up more than once, this might be a good time to discuss it.

There are many different questions about what to tip for the holidays. Here are just a few:

1. If you are simply a renter, do you need to tip?
2. I have heard that you should tip one month’s assessment. So if you pay $450, it should be $450. Is that the norm?
3. What if you have valet parking in the building?  (where staff literally gets your car for you everyday.) Is there extra tipping involved for that?
4. What happens if you DON’T tip? Every building I have lived in – it has been voluntary contributions. Will your packages suddenly become “lost”?

Discuss away.

And, as always, try and be civil.

This 3-bedroom vintage unit at 3800 N. Lake Shore Drive in Lakeview has been on and off the market since June 2007.

It is now a short sale and is listed for $229,000 under the original 2007 listing price.

It is also listed for $32,500 under the 2000 purchase price.

The building was constructed in 1927 and has 94 units.

There is rental parking available on-site for $170 a month, which is somewhat rare for the big vintage condo/co-op buildings on the Drive.

The unit has some of its vintage features including an 18 foot gallery foyer with coved ceilings and crown molding.

There is space-pac cooling but no in-unit washer/dryer (though it looks like, from other units, it can be installed.)

Unit #5E which has no pictures but the listing says has a new kitchen is also on the market and has just been reduced to $314,999.

How low will these large vintage condos go before they sell?

Maria Schmidt at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #14E: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2150 square feet

• Sold in December 2000 for $372,500
• Originally listed in June 2007 for $569,000
• On and off the market and reduced several times
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed on April 2010
• Reduced
• Currently listed as a “short sale” for $340,000
• Parking is rental at $170 a month
• Assessments of $1150 a month (includes heat, cable)
• Taxes of $7909
• Space pac cooling
• No in-unit washer/dryer (looks like it can be added)
• Bedroom #1: 17×12
• Bedroom #2: 16×12
• Bedroom #3: 10×9

This 6-bedroom Queen Anne at 1444 W. Glenlake in Edgewater Glen came on the market in August 2010.

It has been reduced $50,100 since then.

Built in 1894, it is on an oversized 45×125 lot which gives you plenty of yard to spread out in.

The house has some of its original features including the clapboard and french windows on the porch.

It also has 2 staircases.

4 of the 6 bedrooms are on the second level with the other 2 on the 3rd floor.

The listing says the kitchen has subzero but I can’t really see that in the pictures (you be the judge.)

The house has space pak cooling but only a 1-car garage.

The listing says the house is in the Pierce school district.

Is this attractively priced at this level for the neighborhood?

John Wyman at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

1444 W. Glenlake: 6 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, no square footage listed, 1 car garage

• Sold sometime before 1986
• Originally listed in August 2010 for $750,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $699,900
• Taxes of $8711
• Space pak cooling
• Bedroom #1: 14×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 14×10 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 10×10 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 12×10 (second floor)
• Bedroom #5: 16×11 (third floor)
• Bedroom #6: 12×11 (third floor)

It’s been awhile since we chattered about the Jackson Park Highlands neighborhood in the South Shore.

This 6-bedroom English manor at 6909 S. Cregier was built in 1931.

The neighborhood is a Chicago landmark district. Founded in 1905 it is only a few blocks long- starting at 67th and ending at 71st Street.

This 7000 square foot house was built in 1931 on a huge lot measuring 100×135.

It has some of its original features including a grand master staircase made out of birch, cherry, mahogany and walnut.

The solarium has the original marble and granite checker floors.

The listing calls the kitchen a “chef’s kitchen”.

4 out of the 6 bedrooms are on the second floor and 2 are on the third. There is also a library on the main level.

It has central air and a 2-car garage.

Shirley Amico at Koenig & Strey Real Living has the listing. See the pictures here.

6909 S. Cregier: 6 bedrooms, 5 baths, 7000 square feet, 2 car garage

• Sold in April 1989 for $9,500 (typo?)
• Sold in November 1991 for $430,000
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in January 2010
• Originally listed in July 2010 for $1.5 million
• Currently still listed for $1.5 million
• Taxes of $9346
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 21×20 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 16×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 15×14 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 17×16 second floor)
• Bedroom #5: 17×10 (third floor)
• Bedroom #6: 11×10 (third floor)
• Library: 15×15 (main level)

Back in May 2010 we chattered about whether or not it mattered if a property was “Nate Berkus designed” as the listing says it is for this 2-bedroom penthouse at 632 W. Wrightwood in Lincoln Park.

See our prior chatter here.

Most of you concluded that it didn’t matter so much.

6 months later, the unit is still available, and has been reduced $49,000. It is now listed by Redfin as a short sale (although the listing doesn’t say as much.)

It is also listed $80,000 under the 2005 purchase price.

The top floor unit has vaulted ceilings, skylights and private deck.

It is an elevator building, so there is no concern about hauling groceries up five levels of stairs.

The kitchen has white cabinets and appliances along with granite counter tops. Could a lack of stainless steel appliances be dating this unit?

At 1800 square feet, it is among the roomier 2-bedroom units. It also has 2 parking spaces included, which is rare in East Lincoln Park at this price point.

Will this unit be going back to 2000 pricing?

Sophia Worden at Prudential Rubloff still has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #5W: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1800 square feet, 2 car parking

• Sold in April 1996 for $320,000
• Sold in June 1999 for $435,000
• Sold in June 2000 for $498,000
• Sold in May 2005 for $630,000
• Originally listed in October 2008
• Was listed in May 2010 for $599,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $550,000
• Redfin lists it as a “short sale”
• Assessments of $310 a month
• Taxes of $6084
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 20×13
• Bedroom #2: 13×11

This 4-bedroom single family home at 2245 N. Greenview in Lincoln Park has been on the market since April 2010.

In that time it has been reduced $55,000.

It is now listed for $130,000 under the 2007 purchase price.

The house was built in 1989 on a oversized 15×130.6 lot.

It has a coach house and a greenhouse/sun room along with a 2 car garage.

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

Only 2 of the 4 bedrooms are on the second floor, with a third in the basement and a fourth on the main floor (or is that in the coach house?).

What will it take to sell this house?

Joanne Nemerovski at Prudential Rubloff has the listing. See the pictures here.

2245 N. Greenview: 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, 2 car garage, 3300 square feet

• Sold in March 1990 for $210,000
• Sold in March 1993 for $275,500
• Sold in April 2001 for $610,000
• Sold in May 2007 for $1.425 million
• Originally listed in April 2010 for $1.35 million
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $1.295 million
• Taxes of $13,035
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 18×16 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 15×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 16×14 (basement)
• Bedroom #4: 11×10 (main floor)