Crib Chatter

This vintage 4-bedroom single family home at 1453 W. Melrose in the Southport neighborhood of Lakeview came on the market in April 2018.

The listing says it was built in 1886, which, if correct, would put it among the oldest houses still standing in this neighborhood.

Built on a standard Chicago lot measuring 25×125, it has a detached garage and 3 decks.

There are hardwood floors throughout the first floor and wood trim.

The kitchen has white cabinets, granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances along with a breakfast nook which has a breakfast bar.

Two of the bedrooms are on the main floor with the master suite on the second floor with skylights and its own bathroom with a double vanity.

The fourth bedroom is in the lower level, along with a full bath and the family room, which is carpeted.

There’s also a room called a “sitting room” listed in the rooms that is 19×10 on the second floor. Is this just a big closet?

The house has central air.

The listing says its in the Burley school district.

Originally listed in April 2018 for $899,900, it has been reduced $80,900 to $819,000.

This is a similar price to many 3-bedroom condos and townhouses in the area.

I thought buyers wanted single family homes versus condos/townhomes.

Why isn’t this selling?

Is someone going to get a deal?

David Piche at Re/Max Premier has the listing. See the pictures here.

1453 W. Melrose: 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2700 square feet

• Sold in January 1991 for $172,500
• Sold in May 1996 for $355,000
• Sold in June 1998 for $440,000
• Sold in January 2001 for $510,000
• Sold in June 2005 for $749,000
• Sold in July 2006 for $750,000
• Originally listed in April 2018 for $899,900
• Reduced several times
• Currently listed at $819,000
• Taxes of $13,562
• Central Air
• 2 car garage
• Bedroom #1: 19×20 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 11×8 (main floor)
• Bedroom #3: 11×9 (main floor)
• Bedroom #4: 10×9 (lower level)
• Family room: 18×18 (lower level)
• Laundry room: 17×11 (lower level)
• Sitting room: 19×10 (second level)

This 2-bedroom duplex up loft in Erie Center Lofts at 375 W. Erie in River North came on the market in May 2018.

It has authentic loft features including exposed brick and timber ceilings.

But it’s no standard 2/2 as it also has a huge 416 square foot terrace off the master suite.

The listing says the kitchen has been “upgraded.” It has white cabinets, granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances. Is this the same kitchen from 2014 but with newly painted cabinets?

There’s a master suite on the second floor with two walk-in-closets and a master bath with a steam shower.

The second bedroom is on the main level along with the kitchen/living room.

It has central air, washer/dryer in the unit and heated garage parking is an extra $35,000.

Originally listed for $710,000, it has been reduced $111,000 to $599,000.

The unit sold for $570,000 in 2014, including the parking. It was on the market just 3 months before it went under contract.

This time around, it has already been on the market for 5 months.

Why isn’t this selling?

Renee Greene at Compass has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #517: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, duplex up, 1716 square feet

• Sold in February 1999 for $292,000
• Sold in March 2004 for $415,000
• Sold in March 2008 for $500,000
• Sold in October 2014 for $570,000 (included the parking)
• Originally listed in May 2018 for $710,000
• Reduced several times
• Currently listed at $599,000 (plus $35,000 for parking)
• Assessments of $787 a month (includes doorman, exercise room, exterior maintenance, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $9653
• Bedroom #1: 27×24 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 11×10 (main floor)
• Laundry room: 6×6 (main floor)
• Terrace: 14×24 (second floor)

This 3-bedroom townhouse in Old Town Square at 210 W. Scott in Old Town came on the market in June 2018.

This townhouse development was built in 1997 and has 59 units.

The listing says it is “move-in ready.”

It has new carpet in the bedrooms and refinished hardwood floors.

The kitchen has modern white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops and a breakfast bar.

It has the preferred layout with all three bedrooms on the third floor.

The master bedroom has vaulted ceilings and an ensuite bathroom with double vanity.

There’s a family room on the first floor.

It has central air and a private rooftop deck.

The townhouse also has a rare, for a townhouse, two car attached garage.

This particular townhouse is behind a gated entrance just a half a block off of Wells Street with shops and restaurants just steps away.

Originally listed in June 2018 for $950,000, it has been reduced $25,112 to $924,888.

Why are so many properties in “hot” neighborhoods sitting on the market unsold?

Matt Laricy at Americorp has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #C: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, no square footage listed (but in 2013 it was listed with 2400 square feet)

• Sold in June 2013 for $665,000
• Originally listed in June 2018 for $950,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $924,888
• Assessments of $110 a month (includes exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger and snow removal)
• Taxes of $15,435
• Central Air
• 2-car attached garage
• Bedroom #1: 17×13 (third floor)
• Bedroom #2: 10×12 (third floor)
• Bedroom #3: 8×12 (third floor)
• Family room: 19×16 (main floor)
• Laundry room: 4×6 (third floor)
• Private rooftop deck: 22×20 (fourth floor)

This corner 2-bedroom at 1155 W. Armitage in Lincoln Park came on the market in June 2018.

The building was constructed in 1995, has an elevator and a heated attached garage. It has 42 units.

According to the notes to the unit on Zillow, the building is doing some decorating on the hallways and lobby as well as negotiating a reduction in the cable bill with Comcast.

This unit has been completely renovated. The listing says “no expense spared” in the renovation.

The kitchen has been gutted from an enclosed galley kitchen to one that is open to the living/dining room and now has a breakfast bar.

It has white cabinets, stone counter tops and stainless steel appliances.

The unit has new hardwood floors throughout, new windows, a new fireplace, new mechanicals and a new washer/dryer.

The master suite bathroom has a double vanity and walk-in shower.

The unit has central air, a balcony and heated garage parking is included.

Originally listed at $625,000, it has been reduced to $599,900.

Do renovations pay off?

Brooke Vanderbok at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #203: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in January 1994 for $187,500
• Sold in April 2002 for $377,000
• Sold in October 2004 for $437,500
• Sold in August 2014 for $466,000
• Originally listed in June 2018 for $625,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $599,900 (includes garage parking)
• Assessments of $472 a month (includes cable, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $7342
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 14×12
• Bedroom #2: 12×10
• Foyer: 8×5

This 3-bedroom in Newberry Plaza at 1030 N. State in the Gold Coast just came on the market.

Newberry Plaza was built in 1971 and has 52 stories. At the time it was built, it was the 6th tallest residential building in the world.

It’s a full amenity building with an outdoor pool, doormen, exercise room.

There’s an attached public parking garage.

This property is a northeast corner 46th floor unit with lake and city views from every window.

According to the unit, it’s also a “brand new rehab.”

There are wide plank hardwood floors throughout.

The kitchen has custom white lacquer cabinets, high end Kitchen Aid appliances, a wine fridge, quartz countertops, and a breakfast bar.

There are spa baths with natural stone, quartz countertops and Danze fixtures.

The walk-in closets have been built out by California closets.

The unit also has a rare (for the building) full-size washer/dryer.

There’s central air and rental parking available in the public garage starting at $285 a month.

Listed at $849,888, is this a dream apartment for someone who loves views?

[Only after writing this post, did I realize that it was 9/11 and that this picture actually reminded me of that gorgeous September day 17 years ago. Never forget.]

Melanie Giglio at Compass has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #46E: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in August 1991 for $230,000
• Sold in March 2018 for $680,000
• Currently listed at $849,888
• Assessments of $1,100 a month (includes heat, a/c, doorman, cable, Internet, exercise room, exterior maintenance, scavenger and snow removal)
• Taxes of $9530
• Central Air
• Full size stackable washer/dryer in the unit
• Rental parking in attached garage starting at $285 a month
• Bedroom #1: 11×18
• Bedroom #2: 11×15
• Bedroom #3: 11×13
• Laundry: 3×4

This 3-bedroom in the vintage mid-rise at 1366 N. Dearborn Parkway in the Gold Coast came on the market in May 2018.

The building was constructed in 1926 and has 40 units but no parking.

This 10th floor unit has an elevator that opens directly into the apartment.

It has many of its vintage features including a wood burning fireplace in the living room, built-in cabinets, crown molding and wainscoting.

There are French doors that lead to the dining room.

The unit has a galley kitchen with stainless steel appliances, quartz counter tops and a marble backsplash.

Like many vintage units, it has a butler’s pantry that now has a wine refrigerator and other storage.

Each of the three bedrooms is en suite.

The master suite also has a den, accessed through the master bedroom.

There’s a half bath off the eat-in kitchen.

The unit has space pak cooling, washer/dryer in the unit but there’s no parking with the building. It is rental nearby.

For over a decade, the dark walnut floors have been “in” especially in the $1 million+ units.

However, this unit has light hardwood floors. They look almost white in the pictures.

The light hardwood floors used to be “in” in the Chicagoland luxury market in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Are they coming back in again?

Jeff Lowe at Compass has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

Unit #10BC: 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 2700 square feet

• This is a combined unit. #10C sold in July 1988 for $310,000
• #10C sold in April 1997 for $374,000
• #10B sold in November 1988 for $145,000
• #10B sold in June 1997 for $130,000
• Originally listed in May 2018 for $1,324,900
• Reduced several times
• Currently listed at $1,195,000
• Assessments of $2,464 a month (includes heat, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• There’s no doorman
• Parking is rental nearby
• Space pak cooling
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Wood burning fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 25×14
• Bedroom #2: 14×13
• Bedroom #3: 15×12
• Dining room: 15×14
• Foyer: 15×5

This 3-bedroom at 5603 N. Glenwood in Andersonville came on the market in June 2018.

This building was constructed in 1907 and has 24 units.

It was converted into condos during the housing boom in 2006.

This is a southwest corner unit with hardwood floors throughout.

There are some exposed brick walls.

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

It has a private deck.

The unit has the features that buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and gated, deeded parking.

This building is located in a prime part of Andersonville, just a few blocks from the shops and restaurants but also near the Bryn Mawr El stop.

Originally listed in June 2018 for $399,000, it has been reduced $20,000 to $379,000.

Is this a deal for a 3-bedroom in this location?

David Isquith at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See the pictures here.

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

• Sold in April 2006 for $345,000 (included the parking)
• Sold in May 2015 for $357,000 (included the parking)
• Originally listed in June 2018 for $399,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $379,000 (includes gated parking)
• Assessments of $328 a month (includes exterior maintenance, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $5394
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 13×13
• Bedroom #2: 12×10
• Bedroom #3: 12×9
• Living room: 17×17
• Kitchen: 9×18

This 2-bedroom penthouse in Metropolitan Place at 130 S. Canal in the Loop just came on the market.

It’s a corner unit with west and city views.

The listing says the unit was previously a third bedroom but the kitchen was moved into the third bedroom in order to open up the living/dining area.

The kitchen has custom colored leather cabinetry and luxury appliances by Subzero, Viking and Bosch.

The master suite has a master bathroom, a walk-in-closet and raw silk upholstered walls.

The guest bedroom has an en suite bathroom and built-in storage, including a Murphy bed.

There’s a Swarovski crystal chandelier and a Macassar ebony vanity in the half bath.

But the big feature of the unit is the 1,000 square foot private landscaped terrace with city views.

The unit has the features buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and 2-car parking is included.

Is this terrace a dream come true for terrace lovers?

Wilfredo Aguilar Jr. at Property Consultants Realty has the listing. See the pictures and the floor plan here.

Unit #9B: 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2200 square feet

• The CCRD is still down which is shocking. This is the longest I’ve ever seen it not working correctly.
• Sold in September 2012 for $525,000 (according to Redfin)
• Currently listed at $1.195 million
• Assessments of $1472 a month (includes doorman, cable, exercise room, exterior maintenance, scavenger, snow removal, Internet)
• Taxes of $11,929
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• 2-car parking included
• Bedroom #1: 17×14
• Bedroom #2: 12×10
• Terrace: 57×18

This 1-bedroom at 2520 N. Willets in Logan Square came on the market in August 2018.

This building was constructed in 2007 and has 8 units. (It’s the building on the right side of the picture.)

This is a first floor unit with a street facing terrace.

The listing says it has a newly updated bathroom.

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

The bedroom doesn’t appear to have a window, however, it does have unique direct garage access (see the pictures.)

This unit has an attached 1-car garage.

It also has the other features buyers look for including central air and washer/dryer in the unit.

At $299,000, is the starter one bedroom in Logan Square equivalent to that in other trendy neighborhoods like Lakeview, Bucktown and Old Town?

Annie Schweitzer at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #1LN: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, no square footage listed

• Sold in June 2007 for $232,900 (per Redfin)
• Originally listed in August 2018 for $299,000
• Currently still listed at $299,000 (includes 1-car garage)
• Assessments of $175 a month (includes scavenger)
• Taxes of $4048
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Bedroom: 15×11
• Living room: 14×18
• Kitchen: 8×10

This 4-bedroom vintage single family house at 3055 W. Logan Boulevard in Logan Square has been on the market since June 2018.

Built in 1901, it has many of its vintage features including the original hardwood floors, leaded windows, moldings and archways.

The listing says there is updated plumbing, electric and roof.

The kitchen is newer too with what look like black (dark gray?) sleek modern cabinets and open shelving, stone counter tops and stainless steel appliances.

It has the preferred layout, with all four bedrooms are on the second floor.

There’s one bathroom on the second floor (looks to be accessed through the master bedroom), one full bathroom on the main floor and a half bath in the lower level which also has a recreation room.

There aren’t any pictures of the lower level in the current listing, but the 2015 listing showed ceramic tile floors and partially finished ceilings with lighting. There was a pool table down there so it was usable space.

This house is on a smaller than normal lot measuring 30×91.

It has a deck over the garage, which is a rare 3-car garage.

There’s gas heat and no central air, just window units.

Originally listed at $749,000, it has been reduced $60,000 to $689,000.

Is that a steal for a single family home right on the Boulevard in one of Chicago’s hottest neighborhoods?

Kieran Conlon at Compass has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

3055 W. Logan Blvd: 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 1816 square feet

• Sold in March 2009 for $380,000 (per Redfin as the CCRD is “down” again but it always happens on 3-day weekends)
• Sold in July 2015 for $661,500 (per Zillow)
• Originally listed in June 2018 for $749,000
• Reduced
• Under contract in July 2018
• Re-listed and now at $689,000
• Taxes of $7381
• 3-car garage
• No central air
• Gas heat
• Bedroom #1: 14×10 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 12×10 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 12×10 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 16×11 (second floor)
• Recreation Room: 24×23 (lower level)
• Family room: 18×8 (main level)