Crib Chatter

This 3-bedroom townhouse at 2610 N. Orchard in East Lincoln Park originally came on the market in August 2019.

Built in 1978, this complex has 6 fee simple townhouses (no assessments) and deeded parking.

The first floor has the living room, dining room and kitchen which also has exposed brick walls and a wood planked ceiling with beams.

There’s also a wood burning fireplace in the living room and oak hardwood floors.

The kitchen has what looks like are cherry cabinets, granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances, including a gas range and wine refrigerator. It also has a breakfast bar.

There are two bedrooms on the second floor.

The master suite is the entire third floor with a bathroom with dual vanity and a walk-in closet.

The listing describes the private yard as an “outdoor oasis” with a brick paver patio, shed and dog run enclosed in high brick walls.

The townhouse has central air and one deeded parking space (is it an outdoor space? It appears that it might be. There’s no picture in the listing.)

Originally listed in August 2019 for $694,000, it is still listed 8 months later at the same price of $694,000.

The listing says it’s in the Alcott school district and is close to shopping and restaurants of East Lincoln Park.

Why isn’t this selling in a market which has low inventory?

Joshua McLin at Orchard Investment Group has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #F: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed, townhouse

• Sold in July 1988 for $185,000
• Sold in May 1995 for $289,500
• Sold in August 2005 for $392,000
• Originally listed in August 2019 for $694,000
• Currently still listed at $694,000
• Fee simple (no assessments)
• Taxes of $9441
• Central Air
• Deeded parking included (outdoor?)
• Wood burning fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 17×16 (third floor)
• Bedroom #2: 12×11 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 12×10 (second floor)
• Living room: 16×11 (first floor)
• Dining room: 11×9 (first floor)
• Kitchen: 11×9 (first floor)
• Walk-in-closet: 9×5 (third floor)
• Terrace: 19×11

This 4-bedroom single family home at 6524 S. Champlain in Woodlawn just came on the market.

I was all ready to crib about it even without having a picture but it went under contract within a day of the listing.

Even with the coronavirus!

But I’m cribbed about it anyway as it’s an interesting look at what is going on in the Woodlawn neighborhood.

Built in 1968, it’s on a “standard Chicago lot” of 25 x 125 and has 2 parking spaces .

The listing says it has been “completely rehabbed.”

It has new doors, wainscoting, trim, furnace, air conditioning, windows, electric, and plumbing.

The exterior brick looks to have been painted white (the prior sales pictures are still on Redfin. They’re worth a look.)

The kitchen has new custom white cabinets with a stone counter top and backsplash along with stainless steel appliances.

It even has the super trendy black kitchen sink faucet and what looks like the gray stained floors.

The bathrooms also have on trend white finishes.

Three bedrooms are on the main floor with the fourth bedroom in the lower level, along with a bathroom and a family room with a fireplace.

The listing says its 3 brocks from the University of Chicago (? seems like about 6 blocks), the Cottage Grove CTA Green Line and the new Jewel.

It’s across the street from the Emmett Louis Till Math & Science Academy.

Bought in 2019 from the bank for $26,250, it was listed at $144,000 and is already under contract.

Is Woodlawn about to be the hottest neighborhood in the city?

Bernadeta Szczech at Re/Max 10 has the listing. See the pictures here.

6524 S. Champlain: 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1500 square feet

• Sold in April 1986 (no price listed)
• Bank owned in January 2019
• Sold in November 2019 for $26,250 (per Redfin)
• Currently listed “completely rehabbed” for $144,000
• Under contract within a day
• Central Air
• Fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 12×12
• Bedroom #2: 11×11
• Bedroom #3: 11×10
• Bedroom #4: 12×13 (lower level)
• Family room: 13×12 (lower level)
• Kitchen: 11×10 (main level)
• Living room: 12×14 (main level)
• Dining room: 10×12 (main level)

It’s time for an open thread on the impacts of the coronavirus on Chicago’s housing market.

Yes, obviously the health and safety impacts take priority. But there will be economic impacts as well.

With the stock market at record highs, unemployment at 50-year lows, and mortgage rates back to all-time lows, the Chicago spring housing market was expected to be hot.

Inventory also remained at a multi-year low, leading to multiple offers on many properties in February.

But at the end of the month, coronavirus fears started to hit the US stock market and now, Chicago is entering into a virtual lockdown, as schools along with restaurants and bars are ordered closed by the Governor.

Even as mortgage rates have plunged further, with most people told to socially distance themselves, and remain at home, what does this mean for Chicago’s housing market?

Would you list your property right now or are you now going to wait until April, or May, to list?

Will the housing market grind to a halt as the rest of the economy seems set to do?

If the stock market continues to slide, what impact will that have on the luxury housing market which has, historically, been tied to movements in the stock market?

Will all of this just be a couple of months of “pause” with demand still there, but just on the sidelines, until the virus passes?

This is unlike anything any of us has ever seen, in terms of the sudden shock to the economy.

Many of you were posting to this blog during the worst of the financial crisis.

What will happen to Chicago’s housing market this time around?

This 2-bedroom at 1016 W. Madison in the West Loop came on the market in February 2020.

Built in 1925, this 8 unit building has just 2 units per floor and garage parking.

If this building looks familiar, that’s because we chattered about it and this same unit, in 2016 when the market in the West Loop was super hot.

Many of you complained about the quality of the listing pictures the last time (this DOES matter).

You can see the 2016 chatter here.

It has 14-foot ceilings but is never called a loft even though there is exposed ductwork that is painted white.

It has a large 12×9 entry foyer, wainscoting and crown moldings.

The listing says there were new windows in 2015.

It has separate living and dining areas.

The kitchen has custom modern white, and red, cabinets and lighting, quartz counter tops, a double oven and stainless steel appliances.

The listing calls the baths “whimsical.”

Both bedrooms have windows.

There doesn’t appear to be outdoor space with this unit.

It has the features that buyers look for including central air, side-by-side washer/dryer in the unit and garage parking is included.

Originally listed in February 2020 at $710,000, it has been reduced $11,000 to $699,000.

This is just $4,000 over the 2016 sales price of $695,000.

Is the West Loop price appreciation mostly over?

Robin Phelps at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #2S: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1850 square feet

• Sold in August 1998 for $270,000
• Sold in June 2014 for $560,000
• Sold in October 2016 for $695,000
• Originally listed in February 2020 for $710,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $699,000 (includes garage parking)
• Assessments are still $493 a month, the same as in 2016 (includes scavenger and snow removal)
• Taxes are now $12,993 (they were $7177 in 2016)
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 15×12
• Bedroom #2: 17×10
• Living room: 26×14
• Dining room: 17×12
• Kitchen: 13×10
• Laundry room: 6×7
• Foyer: 12×9

This 2-bedroom in the Mantonya Flats at 1325 N. Dearborn Parkway in the Gold Coast just came on the market.

Built in 1887, the Mantonya Flats were designed by Curd H. Gottig. There are 3 units and assigned tandem parking behind the building.

This building is iconic thanks to its distinctive arched keyhole style windows.

This is unit #2, which the listing says has “tree top” views.

It has the original stained glass windows and 10-foot high coffered ceilings in the living and dining rooms as well as mouldings.

The unit has inlaid floors in the living and dining rooms and carpet in the bedrooms.

There are large pocket doors and 2 wood burning fireplaces, one in the living room and one in the dining room.

The kitchen is a galley kitchen with cherry cabinets and granite counter tops. What are those appliances? Black or stainless? I can’t tell from the pictures.

There’s a small home office tucked in next to the living room and a set of stairs next to the galley kitchen (but where do those go? The parking and storage?)

It has 2-assigned tandem parking spaces behind the building and extra storage.

The listing says there’s new 2019 air conditioning.

The unit has in-unit washer/dryer.

The listing also says the building is non-smoking. This is the first small-sized building I’ve seen listed as non-smoking.

But pets are allowed.

Currently listed for $700,000, that’s just $13,000 more than the 2017 sales price of $687,000.

Is this unit a vintage lover’s dream?

Simona Garcia at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

Unit #2: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1700 square feet

• Sold in March 2002 for $550,500
• Sold in November 2007 for $725,000
• Sold in June 2017 for $687,000
• Currently listed at $700,000 (includes 2-car tandem assigned parking)
• Assessments of $450 a month (includes parking, exterior maintenance, scavenger, water)
• Taxes of $13,239
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• 2 wood burning fireplaces
• Bedroom #1: 23×14
• Bedroom #2: 15×8
• Living room: 24×14
• Dining room: 19×14
• Office: 8×5
• Kitchen: 8×4
• Walk-in-closet: 14×8

This 6-bedroom new construction mansion at 1241 N. State Parkway in the Gold Coast came on the market in May 2018.

We last chattered about this house in 2018 when it first came on the market.

If you recall, it was built after an 1872 worker’s cottage was sold by a long-time owner and torn down.

The historic preservation committee refused to save it but it lives on in the Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock movie, “The Lake House.”

And, no, it’s NOT the Lake House but the characters do linger in front of the house in a scene specifically about architecture.

See our 2018 chatter, and a picture of the worker’s cottage, here.

But what’s done is done and the new house is now built.

It’s on a slightly narrower than normal, but deeper, Chicago lot measuring 22.5 x 150.

It has a French limestone façade and a 5-stop elevator.

There’s a garage with room for “up to” 4 cars with an “optional lift and breezeway attachment.”

The house has 2 rooftop terraces along with a backyard patio.

2 bedrooms,  including the master suite, are on the second floor, with 3 bedrooms on the third floor and one in the lower level.

The kitchen has white custom cabinets and luxury appliances.

There’s also a wine cellar.

Originally listed at $7.25 million in 2018, it has been reduced to $5.999 million.

Is this now priced to sell?

Timothy Salm at Jameson Sotheby’s still has the listing. See the pictures here.

1241 N. State Parkway: 6 bedrooms, 6 baths, 2 half baths, 7,430 square feet, garage

• There’s no original sales price. It was put into a Trust in 1994
• There was no mortgage on the property
• Worker’s cottage originally listed on June 2, 2016 for $1.495 million
• Sold on June 30, 2016 for $1.5 million
• Torn down
• Originally listed in May 2018 as a new construction home for $7.25 million
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $5.999 million
• Taxes are now $35,039
• Central Air
• 3 fireplaces
• Bedroom #1: 15×14 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 19×12 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 14×11 (third floor)
• Bedroom #4: 13×11 (third floor)
• Bedroom #5: 16×11 (third floor)
• Bedroom #6: 12×11 (lower level)
• Recreation room: 17×23 (lower level)
• Living room: 17×16 (main floor)
• Dining room: 14×16 (main floor)
• Kitchen: 17×16 (main floor)

This 3-bedroom top floor vintage condo at 448 W. Wrightwood in East Lincoln Park just came on the market.

This building was built in 1920 and has 7 units and attached garage parking.

We’ve chattered about this unit 2 other times, including in 2017 when it came on the market at $720,000 and sold almost immediately, apparently for well over the asking price as it sold for $800,000.

You can see our 2017 chatter here.

If you recall, it has some of its vintage features including a wood burning fireplace in the living room and a coffered ceiling in the dining room with built-in bookcases and entertainment center.

The kitchen still has white cabinets, granite counter tops and a wood counter top on the kitchen island, along with stainless steel appliances.

There are two outdoor spaces: a small balcony off the front of the building and a large back deck.

The master bedroom and the second bedroom share a bathroom.

It has all the features buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and garage parking.

The unit is in a prime location if you want to be in East Lincoln Park as it’s just a half a block to the Park.

It has come on the market just 3 years later at $1,000 below the 2017 sales price, at $799,000.

In the 2017 chatter, I asked if 2017 was the top in the price appreciation on this unit.

Was it?

Lindsay Everest at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #3E: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2200 square feet

• Sold in December 1994 for $332,000
• Sold in August 2000 for $570,000
• Sold in November 2006 for $558,000
• Sold in April 2009 for $590,000
• Sold in November 2012 for $640,000
• Originally listed in April 2017 for $720,000
• Sold in May 2017 for $800,000
• Assessments are still $375 a month (they were also $375 a month in 2012 and 2017) (includes exterior maintenance, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes are now $15,011 (they were $9339 in 2017)
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• 1-car garage
• Wood burning fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 15×13
• Bedroom #2: 10×14
• Bedroom #3: 11×9
• Dining room/family room: 23×14
• Office: 9×9
• Living room: 13×18
• Kitchen: 12×15
• Laundry room: 4×4

This 2-bedroom loft in the Gotham Lofts at 420 S. Clinton in West Loop Gate just came on the market.

If this loft looks familiar, that’s because we chattered about it back in July 2018 when it was first listed.

In 2018, many of you thought this neighborhood, which includes Union Station and the now renovated Old Post Office, was “dead” after 7 and had little going for it.

You can see our chatter here.

The Gotham Lofts is an old GE brick factory that was converted into condos during the loft conversion craze of the late 1990s and early 2000s.

The building has 188 units and both indoor and outdoor parking.

While it has an exercise room, it doesn’t have any other amenities. And it doesn’t have a doorman.

If you recall, this loft has a rare layout which has 3 exposures with windows on three sides of the unit.

As a result, both bedrooms have windows. Even the master bedroom closet has window.

The listing says this loft has been “interior designer renovated.”

It has exposed brick walls and timber ceilings with hardwoods throughout. The living/dining area has the original hardwoods, stained dark, and the bedrooms, which had carpet, now also have the dark hardwood floors.

There’s a linear gas fireplace and 3 chandeliers.

It has a new contemporary kitchen with a Calcatta Quartz waterfall island, a double oven, a wine fridge and stainless steel appliances.

The master bedroom has a 32 square foot shower and a modern vanity.

It has a separate laundry room, with rare side-by-side laundry.

The loft also has two balconies, one in the master bedroom and one in the living room.

It has the other features buyers look for including central air and indoor heated garage parking.

When we last chattered about this loft in 2018, the Old Post Office was still under renovation. But in 2020, there are now companies operating in the building even as further renovations continue, including to the river front area.

Amtrak is also in the process of renovating Union Station, including adding a food hall this year.

It’s within easy walking distance of Greektown and is a quick Uber to red hot Fulton Market.

Listed at $688,000 in July 2018, it has been on, and off, the market ever since.

It came back on in 2020 at a higher price, at $724,000.

With low inventory, and record low mortgage rates, will this loft finally sell, and get the higher price, in 2020?

Alexandra Englehardt Walschot at @Properties still has the listing. See the pictures here (the old listing had a floorplan, but this new one does not.)

Unit #518: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1900 square feet, loft

• Sold in August 1999 for $314,500
• Sold in November 2017 for $435,000
• Listed in July 2018 for $688,000 (includes the heated garage parking)
• Delisted and Relisted in 2018 and 2019
• Currently listed at $724,000 (includes the heated garage parking)
• Assessments are now $899 a month (they were $812 a month in July 2018)(includes exercise room, security system, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal, parking)
• Taxes are now $10,199 (they were $9018 in July 2018)
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 20×15
• Bedroom #2: 13×13
• Living room: 14×18
• Dining room: 14×18
• Kitchen: 20×9
• Family room: 28×18
• Laundry room: 8×5
• Walk-in-closet: 9×8

This 3-bedroom penthouse in Contemporaine at 201 W. Grand in River North just returned to the market.

Built in 2004, Contemporaine has just 28 units and a parking garage.

It has won numerous architecture awards for modern architecture and is featured on architecture tours.

This top floor unit’s claim to fame is a rare 3,000 square foot completely built out terrace with Japanese gardens complete with waterfalls and 12-foot Bonsai trees.

The Chicago Tribune did an extensive story about the gardens in 2007. Check it out here.

We have chattered about this property several times, including last year when it returned to the market as a 3-bedroom (it had been a 2-bedroom in previous sales.)

You can see our July 2019 chatter here where some of you didn’t think the gardens were worth the price tag.

This time around, the listing has many more pictures of the gardens which really illustrates that it’s like having a park outside your high rise windows.

If you recall, it has 2-story 20 foot floor to ceiling windows that overlook the garden and have north, south and east views.

The kitchen has modern cabinetry with stainless steel appliances.

There are three bedrooms but two of the bedrooms don’t have windows but have what looks like sliding doors that open to the hall which has windows.

The master suite has corner windows, a huge 25×20 walk-in-closet and a large bathroom with a walk-in shower with double shower heads.

It’s on one level.

The unit has central air, washer/dryer in the unit and 2 car parking is available for $50,000 each (last year they were $65,000 each).

After not selling last year, this penthouse has been reduced $595,000 to $2.5 million.

This is just $100,000 over the 2013 sales price of $2.4 million.

Are sellers getting more realistic about Chicago’s price appreciation over the last 10 years?

Carrie McCormick at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

Or see it at the Open House on Mar 12 from 5 to 7 PM.

Unit PH2: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 3000 square foot terrace, no square footage of the interior listed

• Sold in April 2004 for $1,700,000
• Originally listed in September 2007 for $3.95 million
• Sold in May 2013 for $2.4 million
• Was listed in July 2019 for $3,095,000
• Withdrawn
• Currently listed at $2.5 million
• Assessments are still $2466 a month (they were $2000 a month in 2013) (includes parking, exterior maintenance, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes are now $36,942 (they were $35,331 in 2019 and were $29,975 in 2013)
• 2-car garage parking is available now for $50,000 each (it was $65,000 each in 2019)
• Bedroom #1: 23×20
• Bedroom #2: 13×10
• Bedroom #3: 13×10
• Kitchen: 20×17
• Dining room: 19×14
• Living room: 20×19
• Walk-in-closet: 25×20
• Terrace: 60×16
• Balcony: 20×20

This 2 bedroom in Jefferson Tower at 330 N. Jefferson in the Kinzie Station neighborhood on the Near West Side just came on the market.

Built in 2000, it has 187 units and a parking garage. It’s a full amenity building with a doorman and exercise room.

This unit has unobstructed north and west views.

It has a split bedroom layout.

The listing says both bedrooms can fit king sized beds.

The master bedroom has an en suite master bath and a walk-in-closet.

The kitchen has light wood cabinets, a 15 foot island with granite counter tops, and stainless steel appliances but you may get confused because the listing shows two kitchens, including one that is a computer generated version with modern black and white cabinets and white counter tops.

Similarly, both bathrooms are also shown with computer generated pictures with floating modern wood vanities and white tiled walls.

It has central air, a new washer/dryer and a heated garage parking space is available for $25,000.

Do the computer generated pictures showing you what the property COULD look like help or hurt in the sale?

Aaron Greenberg at Keller Williams Chicago-Lincoln Park has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #1008: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1287 square feet

• Sold in August 2000 for $302,000 (included parking)
• Sold in November 2004 for $305,000 (included parking)
• Sold in May 2015 for $425,000 (included parking)
• Currently listed for $450,000 (plus $25,000 for parking)
• Assessments of $636 a month (includes heat, a/c, gas, doorman, cable, exercise room, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal, Internet)
• Taxes of $7708
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 14×11
• Bedroom #2: 14×12
• Living room: 23×13
• Kitchen: 19×8
• Laundry room: 4×3