Crib Chatter

3500 N. Lake Shore Drive is a pre-war co-op in Lakeview with views of the lake. The units are enormous but some of them need some TLC. Are you up for it? If you are, you can get 3500 square feet for $315,000 complete with butler pantry and maid’s quarters. (Sorry- no pictures of the […]

  535 N. Michigan in Streeterville is an older highrise that has suddenly become “hot” because it’s: On the Mag Mile Affordable Unit #706 had been on the market for several months. I last chattered about it in March 2008.  It has now sold after several price reductions. The listing said it had $60,000 worth […]

I last chattered about this house rental at 235 W. Menomonee in Old Town in December 2007. Five months later, it’s still on the market and has now been reduced by $5,000 a month. Yes, the full-time housekeeper and caretaker are STILL included in the rental price. 235 W. Menomonee: 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths Sold […]

Hoyne is a lovely historic street as it works its way north through Wicker Park. That street is lined with gorgeous historic mansions. It should be easy to sell there- especially units that are brand new construction with all the bells and whistles. It is only two blocks away from the restaurants on Damen/Milwaukee and the Blue […]

The flippers are still alive and well in Chicago despite the slowdown in the market. We’ve seen quite a few of them in the newly constructed high rises.  But they’re also active in the townhouse market. Take 1145 N. Cambridge in Park Side of Old Town, the new development in the Old Cabrini Green neighborhood at […]

334 W. Menomonee in Old Town has been a mysterious building.  334 W. Menomonee, in the historic triangle, is Melrose Partners’ historic conversion into 18 luxury condos. The finishes were more upscale than you would find in other nearby conversions such as Crilly Court. But so were the prices. As far as I can tell from […]

There was plenty of new construction that closed during the boom years of 2005-2006. What happens to those who try to sell only a few years later? The Residences at 950 W. Monroe in the West Loop is a good example.  This was the developer’s rendering of the building in 2005 (from the marketing materials). The midrise “soft-loft” […]

It used to be that you could find nicer, solid homes in West Town (aka Ukranian Village, Wicker Park, River West) for a fairly decent price. But price appreciation has hit everywhere. 1017 N. Marshfield is an 1899 brick home in West Town. It’s only a few blocks south of the Division Street shops and […]

Still interested in that small two bedroom/two bath Lincoln Park townhouse at 2707 N. Lincoln? It’s still on the market. The price has been reduced by $10,000. This is the townhouse with the pull down staircase to access the rooftop deck. Unit #C: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, “bonus room”, 1 car garage Sold in August […]

Did anyone go on the South Loop Trolley Tour over the weekend? If so- please let us know how it went. Was it crowded on the trolley? Were a lot of the buyers investors? How many buildings did you visit? Was anyone else in any of the sales centers? What incentives were developers giving out? Thanks!