Crib Chatter

This 3-bedroom triplex penthouse loft in the Gallery Lofts at 3323 N. Paulina in Lakeview just came on the market. It has many features that loft lovers crave including a timber beamed ceiling. There is a 3-story atrium with a spiral staircase that connects the floors. The kitchen, with maple cabinets and stainless steel appliances, […]

The latest monthly sales numbers are out from the Illinois Association of Realtors. They confirm what we’ve been talking about for months: the market is hot. Statewide, April sales were the best since April 2007 – which was near the height of the boom. The city of Chicago saw a 28.4 percent year-over-year home sales […]

Some of you will remember this 2-bedroom townhouse at 2820 N. Greenview in West Lakeview. See our March 2012 chatter here. It had originally sold in 2010 but then came back on the market in 2012 as “completely remodeled.” It was removed from the market last May but has come back on to test it […]

We last chattered about this 3-bedroom loft at 152 W. Huron in River North in March 2013. See our prior chatter here. It had previously been on and off the market since 2010 – but was definitely also listed in 2012 with no sale.  But the magic of 2013 prevailed as the loft came back […]

What’s the problem with Chicago’s housing market? According to Crain’s, it is the underwater homeowner. More than 506,000 Chicago-area homes—or one-third of the market—were underwater as of the fourth quarter, according to California research firm CoreLogic Inc. That’s up 7.6 percent from the previous year. Underwater properties are bogging down a residential market that’s clawing […]

Crain’s is reporting that rental rates on Class A buildings in downtown Chicago hit a new record high of $2.63 a square foot in the first quarter of this year. Class A buildings are the luxury apartment towers like The Streeter. For example, the rent on a 700-square foot 1-bedroom apartment would be $1841 a month in […]

A couple of years ago a few of you wrote me wondering about this 1-bedroom cottage at 2151 N. Magnolia in West Lincoln Park. Back in June 2010, it had come on the market at $905,000 but was quickly reduced to $829,000. It never sold and was withdrawn in July 2011 listed at $829,000. Built […]

We’ve chattered several times about the 5-bedroom single family home at 336 W. Wisconsin in Lincoln Park, also known as “the Fugitive House.” See our November 2012 chatter here. It went under contract in August but then came back on the market a few weeks later. The listing says “Nothing else compares!” If you recall, it […]

This 2-bedroom coach house at 3042 N. Wolcott in North Center just came on the market. It’s a bit unusual for a coach house, however, because it’s not behind a main house. The listing says it fronts Wolcott on the corner but it doesn’t list how big the lot size is. The listing also says […]

I don’t know if anyone else saw Crain’s luxury residential real estate report yesterday but I was struck by the three listings. House #1: A 6-bedroom 6400 square foot vintage greystone on Cedar in the Gold Coast. Sold in 2000 for $4.5 million Sold in 2013 for $3.1 million House #2: A 6-bedroom 7100 square […]