Crib Chatter

Many of you probably saw Mary Umberger’s Chicago Tribune column on Sunday discussing a new fee set to take effect on April 1 for buyers of condos that don’t have at least a 25% downpayment and whose loan is going to be sold to Fannie Mae by their lender. With many lenders already casting a […]

We chattered about rental “deals” in One Museum Park, at 1211 S. Prairie, on Grant Park in the South Loop in November 2008. At that time, you could either buy a 1460 square foot 2/2 for $890,000 (including the parking) or you could rent it for a list price of $2700 a month (including the parking.) […]

630 N. State in River North is one of those buildings that you probably have walked by or driven by a hundred times but don’t really notice. It is, however, situated right in the heart of the “action”- surrounded by hotels and restaurants and not far from the Mag Mile. This 3-bedroom penthouse unit has […]

The Chicago Tribune had an article in Sunday’s Business section about all of the rental deals on condos and in luxury high rise apartment buildings in Chicago’s downtown. We’ve been chattering about this phenomena for several months now. Chicagoan Bob Balanoff has been among those on the prowl for a new place. Six months ago […]

The strains on the market are becoming apparent even in prestige neighborhoods like Lincoln Park. Take this vintage 2-bedroom unit we’ve chattered about twice before.  It has now been reduced $16,000 and is listed below its 2004 selling price. Is the older kitchen and bath hurting it in this competitive market? Or is it still the lack of […]

We’ve often chattered about condo units with private terraces and this 2-bedroom at 1250 S. Indiana in the South Loop has a large one. It’s also a corner unit so both bedrooms have windows. The unit was recently reduced by $14,000 and is listed below its 2005 sales price. Is this a deal? Alan Shultz at […]

The Anchor Lofts at 215 W. Illinois was one of the first loft conversions in River North so they are large and have more “authentic” features. We last chattered about Unit #4C, a 2-bedroom, 2-bath, in October 2008. Since then, it has been reduced again, by another $49,000. According to the listing, the unit has 11 […]

“Starter” condos have become rare in East Lakeview in the past few years as prices have skyrocketed. But this 1-bedroom at 636 W. Waveland is actually listed under $200,000 and it has a washer/dryer in the unit. It’s also been reduced $11,500. Or- if you still feel like renting- there is a rent to own option […]

RealtyTrac released 2008 foreclosure numbers today. It’s not totally clear what the company means by “the Chicago market” (all of Cook County or the entire Chicagoland area?) In the Chicago market, 77,226 properties, or 2.5 percent of the housing units, faced a foreclosure filing last year, up 53.4 percent from 2007, RealtyTrac said. In Illinois, […]

We last chattered about this 2-bedroom townhouse at 2349 N. Wayne in Lincoln Park in July 2008. See our prior chatter here. Back in July, we chattered about whether or not the townhouse was “affordable.” It is still on the market and has been reduced $19,100. Does this make it even more affordable? Here’s its history again: 2349 N. […]