Crib Chatter

This vintage 3-bedroom at 612 W. Surf in East Lakeview just came on the market.

The listing doesn’t say when the building was constructed and neither does any of our old chatter on this building.

It has 8 units and outdoor parking behind the building. I don’t believe there’s an elevator in this building.

This unit was rehabbed by prior owners but still retains many vintage details.

It’s a rare vintage unit with the kitchen installed in the front of the unit, and not the back.

The kitchen has 42 inch custom light wood cabinets, white quartz counter tops and stainless steel appliances along with a walk-in pantry.

It has a breakfast bar that opens to the dining room which has a gas fireplace.

The third bedroom has French doors, built-in bookshelves and the original wainscoting.

There is crown molding, recessed lighting, plantation shutters and hardwood floors throughout.

The unit has 2 marble bathrooms.

There’s also a large covered deck. The prior listing pictures in 2016 had those hanging chairs. Are they included again in this sale?

It has the features that buyers look for with vintage including space pak cooling (radiator heat), washer/dryer in the unit and an outdoor parking space, which is rare for East Lakeview vintage buildings.

It’s in a prime East Lakeview location, near shops, restaurants and popular bus lines.

It’s also in the Nettelhorst school district.

This unit has listed at $560,000, which is $42,500 more than the 2016 sale.

Will they get the premium 4 years later?

Michelle Siska at Dream Town has the listing. See the pictures here.

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

• Sold in July 1991 for $152,000
• Sold in August 1996 for $209,000
• Sold in June 2004 for $371,000
• Sold in February 2016 for $517,500
• Currently listed for $560,000 (includes one outdoor parking space)
• Assessments of $322 a month (includes heat, gas, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $7968
• Space pak cooling
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• 2 large storage rooms
• Gas fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 16×12
• Bedroom #2: 11×10
• Bedroom #3: 13×13
• Living room: 17×13
• Dining room: 22×12
• Kitchen: 11×10
• Laundry room: 5×19
• Deck: 20×8

This 2-bedroom loft in the Singer Building at 120 S. State in the Loop just came on the market.

The building was constructed in 1926 and has just 10 units. It’s zoned live/work and has 2 common parking spaces behind the building for shared use.

The listing says the owners have a deeded valet garage space a half a block away that will be included with the loft.

The sellers are the original buyers and Loop living pioneers.

From Dennis Rodkin at Crain’s:

In 1997 John and Margaret Barry, who were Oak Park empty-nesters looking for a new home in the city, bought the sixth floor of the skinny Gothic tower at 120 S. State St. They were friends of Wilbert Hasbrouck, the preservation architect whose architect son, Charles, had bought the long-vacant building to restore it, and because they had egged the Hasbroucks on to do the project, “we got first choice of the floor we wanted,” said John Barry, an attorney.

Built in 1926, as the Chicago showroom and offices for the Singer sewing machine company, the building, one of the narrowest on State Street, has ornate terra cotta trim on its east-facing street side and its longer, southern face along the Marble Place alley.

When State Street was turned into a pedestrian mall in the 1970s, the building was reportedly threatened with demolition, but somehow survived. It stood vacant for years except for the ground-level Ferris Wheel restaurant.

The first floor restaurant is currently a Subway.

The elevator opens into each floor directly with private elevator key.

The loft has all the authentic loft features that buyers look for including 11.5 concrete ceilings, oak floors, exposed brick  and duct work.

It also has 8 foot industrial windows on 3 sides, as it overlooks the alley to the south.

The kitchen has white cabinets and an island with white appliances.

There’s no outdoor space with the loft.

What’s the make-up of the live/work building?

John Barry said he and his wife have the largest residential unit in the building, as a setback begins above their floor and the floors below theirs are all offices.

It has the features buyers look for including central air and washer/dryer in the unit. While there’s storage in the unit, there’s also additional storage in the basement.

This is a rare opportunity to own an authentic loft in the heart of the loop.

When this was rehabbed in the late 1990s, it was unclear if anyone would ever want to live in the Loop.

22 years later, is Loop living hotter than ever?

Kevin McIntyre at Compass has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #6: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2300 square feet, loft

• Sold in November 1998 for $340,000
• Currently listed for $869,900 (includes a deeded valet garage parking spot one-half block away)
• Assessments of $760 a month (includes security, exterior maintenance, water, scavenger)
• Taxes of $14,627
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Live/work
• Full floor unit
• Bedroom #1: 19×16
• Bedroom #2: 12×16
• Living Room: 16×22
• Kitchen: 10×15
• Dining room: 15×15
• Family room: 31×17
• Laundry room: 6×6
• Library: 16×16

This 4-bedroom vintage home at 38 E. Schiller in the Gold Coast came on the market in August 2019.

It looks old, but according to the listing, only the 1887 façade is original.

The rest of the house is a new steel beam construction home rebuilt from the foundation in 2001.

It’s on a smaller than standard lot measuring 20.5 x 105.

The house does have a 1-car attached garage, which is a bonus in the Gold Coast as not all homes have garages.

The house has a few vintage features.

It has 2 fireplaces, with one sporting an antique mantle.

There’s also a stained glass window in the master suite, which is on the second floor and has a walk-in-closet and en suite bathroom.

Two other bedrooms are on the third floor along with a study and the fourth bedroom is in the lower level (which appears to be used as an exercise room in the listing pictures.)

There’s a second floor family room and a professionally landscaped terrace.

The house has a De Giulio designer chef’s kitchen with high end appliances and what looks like stainless steel cabinets and counter tops, along with stone counter tops on the kitchen island.

Listed at $2.68 million last August, it has been reduced to $2.546 million.

With the housing market picking up steam again, will this house finally sell this spring?

Emily Sachs Wong at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

38 E. Schiller: 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, 4946 square feet, 1 car garage

• The price history is confusing. The CCRD doesn’t show any prior sales
• But Zillow/Redfin have it selling in May 2005 for $2.625 million
• Sold in May 2014 for $2.525 million (per Zillow- but not the CCRD)
• Originally listed in August 2019 for $2.68 million
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $2.546 million
• Taxes of $43,173
• Central Air
• 2 fireplaces
• Bedroom #1: 18×15 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 14×14 (third floor)
• Bedroom #3: 19×11 (third floor)
• Bedroom #4: 15×23 (lower level)
• Laundry room: 13×16 (lower level)
• Study: 16×14 (third floor)
• Walk-in-closet: 11×8 (second floor)
• Family room: 14×20 (second floor)
• Kitchen: 14×13 (main floor)
• Living/dining room: 16×28 (main floor)
• Deck: 15×11

This 6-bedroom single family house at 4301 N. Greenview in the Graceland West neighborhood in Lakeview came on the market in May 2019.

Built in 2009, the 7000 square foot house is on an extra large 41.5 x 120 corner lot.

It has a 2.5 car heated garage which is attached to the house through a lower level tunnel.

There’s an elevator on 4 levels.

The house has several private outdoor spaces including a 700 square foot garage roof deck with an outdoor fireplace and ceiling fans.

It also has a landscaped side yard.

The house has 4 wood burning fireplaces along with 2 laundry rooms and 2 mud rooms.

The kitchen has white cabinets, a big kitchen island and stainless steel appliances.

Four of the bedrooms are on the second floor with the other two in the lower level, which also has a recreation room and game room.

The third floor has a “bonus room” which is carpeted.

The listing says you can walk to the Brown line, shops, restaurants and the Cubs from the house.

Graceland West, which is west of the Graceland cemetery, is in Lakeview even though it is north of Irving Park Road.

The lots are larger than the standard Chicago lots in the rest of Lakeview which means larger homes can be built.

Originally listed at $3.5 million in May 2019, the listing says it has been “under a re-do the past couple of weeks” and is now ready for the market.

It has been reduced to $2.789 million.

Can this neighborhood support homes at nearly $3 million?

Marlene Granacki at Re/Max 10 Lincoln Park has the listing. See the pictures here.

4301 N. Greenview: 6 bedrooms, 5.5 baths, 7000 square feet, 2.5 car garage

• Sold in October 2009 at $2.725 million
• Originally listed in May 2019 for $3.5 million
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $2.789 million
• Taxes of $57,479
• Central Air
• 4 wood burning fireplaces
• 2 laundry rooms
• 2 mud rooms
• Elevator
• Bedroom #1: 21×19 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 21×19 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 16×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 14×12 (second floor)
• Bedroom #5: 17×12 (lower level)
• Bedroom #6: 17×12 (lower level)
• Recreation Room: 25×18 (lower level)
• Game room: 14×14 (lower level)
• Living room: 26×16 (main floor)
• Dining room: 15×13 (main floor)
• Family room: 30×19 (main floor)
• Kitchen: 15×13 (main floor)
• Florida room: 14×14 (main floor)
• Bonus room: 51×20 (third floor)

This 3-bedroom vintage single family house at 1338 W. Grace in the Southport neighborhood of Lakeview came on the market on February 19, 2020.

It was under contract within 5 days- by February 24.

Built in 1891 on a non-standard 58×40 lot, it has a front porch and a side driveway that fits 3-cars. The listing says they have made $3,000 a year renting out spaces for Cubs games and other events.

The listing calls it “remodeled vintage chic.”

The house has a newly updated kitchen with brand new white quartz counter tops, a breakfast bar, a white subway tile backsplash, and stainless steel appliances.

There are new floors in the kitchen and hallway.

The first floor also has a den with a wood burning fireplace.

All three bedrooms are on the second floor, with new hardwood floors, along with an “urban chic” bathroom with new tile floor and vanity.

There’s a big rec room in the basement with laundry along with a new drain tile system. They also spent $30,000 to make sure the basement was “dry as a bone.”

The house has a new furnace, air conditioning and dishwasher.

It’s in the Blaine school system, which is just down the street.

It’s near all the shops and restaurants (Dairy Queen!) of Southport and just a few blocks from Wrigley Field.

The  house is currently listed at $825,000, which is $195,000 above the 2016 sales price of $630,000.

I normally don’t cover properties that are under contract but many north side properties are going under contract almost immediately right now.

Is it a sizzling hot market or is the lack of inventory really the problem?

Anyone hearing about bidding wars?

Jennifer Evans Piet at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

1338 W. Grace: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed, single family home

• Sold in April 1993 for $206,500
• Sold in September 2001 for $547,000
• Sold in August 2016 for $630,000
• Was listed on Feb 19, 2020 for $825,000
• Under contract on Feb 24, 2020
• Taxes of $12,992
• 3-car driveway (no garage)
• Central Air
• Wood burning fireplace
• Not sure about these room sizes as they don’t match those in the floor plan
• Bedroom #1: 16×12 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 17×11 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 15×12 (second floor)
• Den: 12×11 (main floor)
• Living room: 14×13 (main floor)
• Dining room: 16×14 (main floor)
• Kitchen: 13×11 (main floor)
• Family room: 26×13 (basement)
• Storage: 10×6 (basement)

This 3-bedroom townhouse at 1633 W. Belle Plaine in the Graceland West neighborhood of Lakeview came on the market in January 2020.

Built in 1973, this complex has 10 2-story townhouses with a central courtyard and outdoor parking on the side alley.

The listing says this townhouse has a new roof and all windows were replaces with Andersen windows.

The kitchen has wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops.

There are hardwood floors throughout.

All three bedrooms are on the second floor.

The townhouse has a new hybrid washer/dryer on the first floor along with a private fenced back yard with brick pavers and a garden area.

It has the features buyers look for including central air and one outdoor parking space included.

This townhouse is just 2 blocks to the Irving Park Brown Line stop and is near the shops and restaurants on Irving Park Road and Southport.

Listed at $440,000, is this a good starter townhouse for someone who doesn’t want condo living?

Paul Blackburn at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

1633 W. Belle Plaine: 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, 1600 square feet, townhouse

• Sold in October 2005 for $341,000
• Originally listed in January 2020 for $440,000
• Currently still listed at $440,000
• Assessments of $300 a month (includes exterior maintenance, scavenger)
• Taxes of $7284
• Central Air
• 1 outdoor parking space included
• Bedroom #1: 14×12 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 12×11 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 14×9 (second floor)
• Living room/dining room: 23×16 (first floor)
• Kitchen: 14×12 (first floor)
• Laundry room: 3×5 (first floor)
• Storage: 4×4 (first floor)

The Illinois Association of Realtors is out with the January sales data and the Chicago housing market showed improvement for the second month in a row.

The city of Chicago saw year-over-year home sales increase 5.9 percent with 1,427 sales in January, compared to 1,347 a year ago. The median price of a home in the city of Chicago in January was $269,000 up 5.5 percent compared to January 2019 when it was $255,000.

January’s number was revised up considerably, as last year’s initial look was at an 8-year low of 1164 sales. Almost 200 further sales were eventually added to the month, putting it within the ballpark of prior years.

Sales Data Since 2006 (thanks to G for the older data):

• January 2006: 2009 sales and median price of $258,000
• January 2007: 1850 sales and median price of $279,900
• January 2008: 1203 sales and median price of $290,000
• January 2009: 918 sales and median price of $205,000
• January 2010: 1237 sales and median price of $195,000
• January 2011: 1034 sales and median price of $150,000
• January 2012: 1123 sales and median price of $149,000
• January 2013: 1521 sales and median price of $157,000
• January 2014: 1383 sales and median price of $200,750
• January 2015: 1348 sales and median price of $220,000
• January 2016: 1398 sales and median price of $227,750
• January 2017: 1574 sales and median price of $255,000
• January 2018: 1444 sales and median price of $265,000
• January 2019: 1347 sales and median price of $255,000
• January 2020: 1427 sales and median price of $269,000

“In January, we saw slight upward growth in closed sales and median sales price,” said Maurice Hampton, president of the Chicago Association of REALTORS® and owner of Centered International Realty. “We continue to see a downturn in inventory. The combination shows we still have demand, but without the inventory to show for it.”

The Illinois Association of Realtors busted out some Chicago specific data in a separate chart.

Condo sales were up 7.5% in the month to 771 sales. Single family home sales rose 4.1% to 656 sales.

Inventory in Chicago fell to 7190 from 7746 homes in 2019, down 7.2%.

The number of days on the market in Chicago also fell to 52 from 55 last year.

Inventory remains tight, as most buyers can confirm.

If you come on the market priced right, you are selling quickly.

“January started off the new year on a positive note with home sales and prices increasing month-over-month and annually, reflecting recent national sales trends,” said Geoffrey J.D. Hewings, director of the Regional Economics Applications Laboratory at the University of Illinois. “The pending sales index suggests this momentum may be sustained for the next several months and consumers are optimistic about the short- and medium-term prospects for the economy. The major concern continues to be the amount of inventory for sale.”

The average thirty year mortgage rate remains favorable. It fell to 3.62% in January, down from 3.72% in December and down from January 2019 when it was 4.46%.

The 10-year treasury is sliding again. It’s possible that rates will fall further.

Will the tight inventory finally boost Chicago’s housing market this spring?

January brings uptick in Illinois home sales and prices [Illinois Association of Realtors, Press Release, February 21, 2020]

This 3-bedroom loft in the Michigan Avenue Lofts at 910 S. Michigan in the South Loop recently came on the market.

This building was constructed in 1910 and has 267 units and parking. It has a doorman and exercise room and sits directly across from Grant Park.

This loft has the high ceilings and large windows with some exposed duct work which is painted white. There’s no other authentic loft features such as exposed brick or beams, however.

The listing says it is east facing and that the second bedroom faces east, which is of Grant Park and the Lake.

But what’s the other exposure?

The new Helmet Jahn tower at 1000 S Michigan is being built nearby.

The listing says there’s an updated kitchen with new white cabinets, quartz counter tops, a stone backsplash and stainless steel appliances.

The master bedroom has a bath with dual vanity and walk-in-closet.

The listing says the third bedroom could also be an office. It doesn’t appear to have a window but there’s no floor plan with the listing so it’s unclear.

The loft has a side-by-side washer/dryer, central air and parking is included in the price.

It’s listed at $630,000 which is $70,000 under the 2002 purchase price of $700,000.

Is this a deal?

Alysa Peterson at Redfin has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #1001: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1600 square feet

• Sold in April 1999 for $326,000
• Sold in June 2002 for $495,000
• Sold in October 2002 for $700,000
• Currently listed at $630,000 (includes the parking)
• Assessments of $1000 a month (includes heat, a/c, gas, parking, doorman, cable, exercise room, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $10,936
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Gas fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 13×16
• Bedroom #2: 14×11
• Bedroom #3: 8×11
• Living room: 13×27
• Kitchen: 12×17
• Laundry room: 6×6
• Walk-in-closet: 10×7

This 2 bedroom loft at 1318 W. George in West Lakeview came on the market in July 2019.

I don’t know when the building was constructed but it was converted into lofts into 7 lofts and attached heated garage parking in 1996.

It has an elevator and a shared patio.

This loft is a duplex up loft with 18 foot ceilings and exposed brick.

It has south facing windows in the living/dining and kitchen.

The kitchen has maple cabinets, stainless steel appliances and a granite island.

The master bedroom is on the main floor, and has a window. It has an en suite bath with a spa tub and stand-up shower.

There’s a loft with a second bedroom, and office and a family room on the second floor.

It has central air, washer/dryer in the unit and a heated garage space is included.

The listing says it’s in the Burley school district.

Listed in July 2019 at $580,000, it’s been reduced $20,000 to $560,000.

At 2,000 square feet, is this a deal for the neighborhood?

Carol Ann Edwards-Nasser has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

Unit #2C: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2000 square feet, duplex up, loft

• Sold in October 1996 for $289,500
• Sold in September 1998 for $328,000
• Sold in October 2002 for $465,000
• Sold in October 2011 for $405,000
• Originally listed in July 2019 for $580,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $560,000 (heated garage parking included)
• Assessments of $378 a month (includes exterior maintenance, scavenger snow removal)
• Taxes of $8895
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 14×23 (main floor)
• Bedroom #2: 11×10 (second floor)
• Family room: 14×18 (second floor)
• Living room: 22×21 (main floor)
• Kitchen: 13×9 (main floor)

This 2-bedroom on the 26th floor in State Tower at 1230 N. State Parkway in the Gold Coast just came on the market.

This building was construction in 1979 and has 92 units and an attached garage. It’s a doorman building which also has a club room, an exercise room and a rooftop deck.

This unit is in the preferred southeast tier, which means it has both lake and city views.

It has a balcony that faces east.

There’s also a wall of windows that faces south, with views of the John Hancock (yes, I’m still calling it that) and the other high rises of the near north side.

The listing says the unit was “completely renovated” in 2016.

It has light colored hardwood floors throughout.

The kitchen has new white cabinets, high-end stainless steel appliances, a wine refrigerator, quartz counter tops and a tile backsplash.

It has all-new bathrooms.

There’s a separate laundry room with a side-by-side washer/dryer and storage.

The unit has central air but there’s no deeded parking. The last time the property sold with parking was in 2001.

At $565,000, is this the perfect property for someone who wants views and also wants move-in ready?

Aelee Han at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices has the listing. See the pictures here.

Or see it at the Open House this Saturday and  Sunday, Feb 22 and 23, from 1-3 PM.

Unit #26A: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1250 square feet

• Sold in March 1989 for $221,000 (included parking)
• Sold in May 1999 for $295,000 (included parking)
• Sold in November 2001 for $510,000 (included parking)
• Sold in November 2006 for $565,000 (no parking)
• Sold in March 2016 for $397,500 (no parking)
• Currently listed at $565,000 (no parking)
• Assessments of $1086 a month (includes heat, a/c, doorman, cable, exercise room, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $9498
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 14×13
• Bedroom #2: 10×13
• Living room: 29×16
• Kitchen: 9×16
• Balcony: 13×6