Crib Chatter

Avenue East, at 160 E. Illinois, is one of the smaller new construction buildings to start closings in Streeterville in the past few months. It only has 133 units. So far, though, it’s among the most active in the flipping game.  There are currently 32 units for sale. Another 15 units are available to rent […]

You’d think for a million bucks you’d at least get two bedrooms.  But that is not the case in the prestigious Park Tower at 800 N. Michigan in the middle of the Magnificient Mile.  Since it was built in 2000, above the Park Hyatt and NoMI restaurant,  Park Tower has been the address for some […]

What is it about Millennium Centre anyway?  Not only is it in the top three of condo buildings for foreclosures, but it is winning the unfortunate title of having the most expensive units under foreclosure. There was a million dollar foreclosure a few weeks back. This new one is even pricier: 33 W. Ontario Unit […]

Water Tower Place Condominiums, at 180 E. Pearson, is considered to be one of the premier condo towers in Chicago.  Its location, right above the Ritz Carlton hotel, virtually right on the Mag Mile and the fact that Oprah Winfrey lived there for years, added to the allure. Built in 1974, the building has 260 units and […]

Why is it that the same properties keep coming on the market at the same inflated prices? If the condo didn’t sell during the “peak” selling period in the spring and summer, it’s certainly not going to sell now at the same price. As they say in real estate, price (and location) are everything. Take […]

Rick Levin & Associates had a large ad in the Sunday Chicago Tribune announcing the auction of condos and parking spaces at The Metropolis, at 8 W. Monroe, and State Place, at 1101 S. State Street. These are “developer closeouts” which means that the developer just wants to get rid of the units. The Metropolis […]

I’ll be taking a Turkey break over the next few days to celebrate the holiday. Crib Chatter will return next week with new posts on what is happening in the Chicago housing market. What are you seeing in the market in your neighborhood? Have a great Thanksgiving everyone!

  This is the first time I’ve ever heard of an industrial loft in a converted warehouse with concrete floors described as “cozy” – oh, but wait, they’re referring to the “den” in the unit.  See picture below: The rest of the loft?  Not so much.  Cool modern aesthetic though. 3108 S. Lituanica St. : 3 […]

This is a story about how a short sale can destroy the comps in a condo building. Take 2024 S. Wabash, a 42 unit loft building in the up and coming Motor Row area of the South Loop. Two similar units are on the market in the building.  One unit, #406, is still lived in by […]

According to Ecker’s comments in this prior post, Mel Gibson’s character in What Women Want didn’t live in the Gold Coast at 1300 N. Astor, but instead lived in Lincoln Park at 2400 N. Lakeview. The buildings were of the same era and architectural style, with 2400 N. Lakeview being a Mies Van Der Rohe […]