Crib Chatter

This 8-bedroom mansion at 1432 N. State Parkway in the Gold Coast just came on the market.

But if it looks familiar that’s because we chattered about it several times when it last came on the market in 2008 during the Great Recession.

You can see our 2008 chatter here and our 2011 chatter here.

It took 3 years to sell mostly because it needed to be renovated and brought back into the modern era. I need to get a newer picture as the exterior has also been dramatically renovated from the 2008 time period.

We then chattered about it again in 2016 when it came back on the market after the full renovation. See our chatter here.

Built in 1883 by Chicago architect A. M. F. Colton, it is on a 50×132 lot with a side drive and a coach house- which has 3 bedrooms and 1 bath.

The house originally had 7600 square feet and the coach house another 2000 square feet for 9600 square feet total but the lower level has been excavated making room for a recreation room, theater and game room which has added square footage.

The property now totals 10,350 square feet.

Back in 2008, most of the house’s vintage character had been preserved including the mahogany wood moldings, paneling and 3 original fireplaces.

Here are the pictures from the 2008 listing:

It has since been updated and transformed, including installing central air. There was space pac cooling previously.

There’s a 3 car garage with a heated driveway which can hold up to 5 more cars. That’s a total of 8 cars parking.

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

Ceilings on each of the floors are 10 feet+.

But while the vintage character has been preserved, the mahogany paneling in the entry foyer and living spaces has been painted white. (Yes, I know many of you were disturbed by this in 2016.)

Dwayne Wade rented out the house in the interim.

And now it’s been reduced $1.6 million to $7.9 million.

Will the lowered price help this house find a buyer in 2019?

Jenny Ames at Engel & Voelkers Chicago again has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

1432 N. State Parkway: 8 bedrooms, was 6.5 baths- is now 7.5 baths,  was 9600 square feet- is now 10,350 square feet, 3 car parking

• I couldn’t find a prior sales price going back to the 1980s
• Was listed in October 2008 for $7.25 million
• Reduced
• Was listed in September 2010 for $5.9 million
• Sold in March 2011 for $4.985 million
• Was listed in April 2016 at $9,499,000
• Withdrawn
• Was rented
• Re-listed in March 2019 for $7.9 million
• Taxes are now $112,093, they were $85,347 in 2016 and $45,163 in 2008)
• Central Air
• 9 fireplaces (!)
• Bedroom #1: 20×17 (third floor)
• Bedroom #2: 13×18 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 15×17 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 21×17 (second floor)
• Bedroom #5: 14×15 (second floor)
• Coach house: 3 bedrooms, 1 bath

This 3-bedroom duplex down at 335 W. Belden in East Lincoln Park came on the market in August 2018.

This building was constructed in 1911 and has 15 units and outdoor parking in the back.

The listing says this unit has been “renovated to modern perfection.”

Two of the three bedrooms are on the first floor with the third bedroom in the lower level.

There’s also some other unique features in the lower level, including an exercise space and a sauna, along with a family room.

The kitchen has modern dark wood cabinets with white counter tops and luxury stainless steel appliances.

There’s a limestone fireplace and concrete hearth.

This unit has the features buyers look for including central air, washer dryer in the unit and 1-car exterior parking.

It is in a prime East Lincoln Park location just steps from the Lincoln Park Zoo and the Lincoln Park Conservatory.

Originally listed in August 2018 for $985,000, it has been reduced $65,000 to $920,000.

That is $10,000 under the 2016 purchase price of $930,000.

Are prices in some neighborhoods past peak?

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

Unit #1: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 3200 square feet, duplex down

• Sold in March 1994 for $387,500
• Sold in July 2012 for $712,000
• Sold in October 2016 for $930,000
• Originally listed in August 2018 for $985,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $920,000
• Assessments of $1,066 a month (includes scavenger)
• Taxes of $15,363
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Exterior parking included
• Bedroom #1: 13×15 (main level)
• Bedroom #2: 12×13 (main level)
• Bedroom #3: 11×20 (lower level)
• Exercise room: 13×16 (lower level)
• Family room: 13×21 (lower level)
• Laundry room: 6×12 (lower level)

This 1-bedroom in Burnham Park Plaza at 40 E. 9th Street in the South Loop just came on the market.

Burnham Park Plaza was converted back in 2000 and has 290 units and parking. It’s a full amenity building with a doorman.

This unit has some unique features including angle and curved walls and exposed brick.

There are laminate floors.

The bedroom doesn’t appear to have windows, however.

But it does have a special feature that some buyers look for: a private, secret terrace.

The wood terrace that is off the living room measures 8×18.

Before you complain about how it looks, the listing also says:

Note: Seller to replace and re-build new terrace prior to sale.

Oh, and according to the listing, it does not face the El.

The kitchen appears to have maple cabinets although in a different picture they look white. Appliances are both white and black.

It has central air, washer/dryer in the unit and parking is available for rent or sale in the building.

The listing calls this an “investor’s special” as the unit is renter-occupied through Dec 31, 2019 at $1650 a month.

Does this unit make sense for an investor in 2019?

Scott Conwell at South Loop Properties has the listing. It is agent owned. See the pictures and floor plan here.

Unit #317: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 1025 square feet

• Sold in February 2000 for $118,000
• Currently listed at $224,900
• Assessments of $428 a month (includes doorman, exercise room, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Tenant occupied at $1650 a month
• Taxes of $2929
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• No parking but available to buy or rent in the building
• Bedroom #1: 9×12
• Living room: 30×15
• Private terrace: 8×18 (listing says it’s not included in square footage)

This 1-bedroom loft in 225 W. Huron in River North just came on the market.  (Yes, this is an older picture with Graham Elliot still in the base.)

This building is an authentic brick and timber loft building with 100 units but no parking.

It has an elevator, an exercise room and an evening doorman.

It was converted into condos during the housing boom, in 2007.

This is one of the larger 1-bedroom units at 945 square feet.

It has south and west exposures with a wall of windows and 10.5 foot ceilings.

The loft has diagonal hardwood floors in the living/dining room and bedroom.

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

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

It doesn’t have parking, however, it’s available for rent in the neighborhood.

This building is just steps from the River North gallery district as well as restaurants and bars of the neighborhood.

Is this a good starter loft option?

Morgan Sage at BerkshireHathaway KoenigRubloff has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #417: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 945 square feet

• Sold in January 2007 for $259,500
• Currently listed for $330,000
• Assessments of $381 a month (includes cable, Internet, exercise room, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $4382
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• No parking- but available for rental in the neighborhood at $250 a month
• Bedroom: 11×15

This 5-bedroom vintage Greystone single family home at 1142 W. George in Lakeview recently came on the market.

Built in 1910 on a 25×124 lot, the listing says it was “converted” to a wide open single family so I’m assuming it was a 2 flat with a basement previously.

The house has the layout buyers prefer with 4 out of 5 bedrooms on the second floor.

There are two bathrooms on the second floor, including in the master suite.

The house has a white gourmet kitchen with Subzero, Thermador and Bosch appliances.

There’s a family room off the kitchen which looks like an addition.

The basement has a recreation room and a full bathroom, along with the fifth bedroom.

It has central air and a 2-car garage.

The backyard has a flagstone patio and a deck on top of the garage.

This house was briefly on the market last year at the same price it has come back on this spring.

The listing says the house has been staged.

How does a vintage rehab stack up against all the new completely new single family homes in the neighborhood?

Cindy Wilson at BerkshireHathaway KoenigRubloff has the listing. See the pictures here.

1142 W. George: 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 4300 square feet, 2 car garage

• Sold in June 1988 for $255,000
• Sold in July 1999 for $487,000
• Sold in March 2004 for $1,045,000
• Originally listed in September 2018 for $1,199,900
• Re-listed in March 2019 for $1,199,900
• Taxes of $13,866
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 15×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 11×10 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 12×10 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 11×10 (second floor)
• Bedroom #5: 11×9 (lower level)
• Family room: 20×18 (first floor)
• Recreation room: 25×15 (lower level)
• Laundry room: 6×6 (second floor)

This 6-bedroom contemporary single family home at 3540 N. Ravenswood in Roscoe Village came on the market in May 2018.

Long time readers will recognize it because we chattered about it several times in 2011 and 2012.

You can read our 2012 chatter here where we debated the pros and cons of having a basketball court.

If you recall, this house is on a corner double lot measuring 50×125.

It was built in 2007 just as the Great Recession was about to hit.

It has many unique features including 2 kitchens: one that is stainless steel and one that has white cabinets and a large island.

There are four en suite bedrooms and a large master suite.

It has 3 laundry areas.

It has a home theater and a small indoor swimming pool.

There’s a 4,000 square foot outdoor rooftop deck with a basketball court.

The house also has a rare 4-car attached heated garage.

Originally listed at $2,899,900 in May 2018, it has been reduced $200,900 to $2,699,000.

Is the basketball court still a factor 7 years later?

Marta Kazmierczak at BerkshireHathaway KoenigRubloff has the listing. See the pictures here.

3540 N. Ravenswood: 6 bedrooms, 6 baths, 7200 square feet, 4 car parking

• I couldn’t find any original sales price but it appears to have been built in 2007 (from our prior chatter there appears to be several PINs on the property)
• Was listed in March 2010 for $3.75 million
• Reduced
• Sold in June 2013 for $2.4 million
• Originally listed in May 2018 for $2,899,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $2.699 million
• Taxes are now $46,097 (they were $13,329 in 2012)
• 2 Kitchens
• Indoor Pool
• Basketball court
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 22×50 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 22×18 (main level)
• Bedroom #3: 22×18 (main level)
• Bedroom #4: 22×18 (main level)
• Bedroom #5: 12×12 (second floor)
• Bedroom #6: 12×12 (second floor)
• Family room: 25×25 (main level)
• Theater: 25×25 (main level)
• 2nd Kitchen: 15×12 (second floor)

This 2-bedroom in 2626 N. Lakeview in Lincoln Park just came on the market.

2626 N. Lakeview was built in 1968 and has 492 units and a rental garage.

It’s a full amenity building along Lincoln Park with a doorman, pool, exercise room and sun deck which is 64% owner occupied.

This is a corner unit with north and east views, including of the park and lake.

The listing says this unit is owned by interior designer Susan Fredman as her personal residence.

The listing says it has received a “complete renovation.”

Many listings say that but in this case, if you look at the pictures from the prior 2017 listing, it would be true.

It’s amazing what an interior designer can do to a square box in the sky.

You can see the prior pictures on Redfin if you have an account. See them here.

The unit now has leather flooring (can you wear shoes on that?).

It also has a custom white and gray Wood Mode “dream kitchen” with Subzero and Wolf appliances.

The second bedroom is configured as an office and has built-ins and a custom sliding door (special points if you can spot the door in the pictures).

The master suite has a walk-in-closet and a bath with dual sinks.

The unit has the features buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and parking is available to rent in the building.

Buyers love move-in ready units.

Will this sell quickly?

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

Unit #502: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1162 square feet

• Sold in January 1997 for $176,000
• Sold in May 2017 for $334,000 (according to Redfin)
• Currently listed at $495,000
• Assessments of $1036 a month (includes c/a, doorman, cable, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger and snow removal)
• Taxes of $5203
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Rental parking in the building
• Bedroom #1: 17×12
• Bedroom #2: 11×11
• Living room: 19×16
• Dining room: 10×11

This 4-bedroom single family home at 3107 N. Honore in Roscoe Village came on the market in February 2019.

Built in 1903, it’s on a double lot measuring 50×120 and has a 2-car heated front-facing garage with a driveway.

It has some unique features including a coffered ceiling in the living room.

3 of the 4 bedrooms, including the master suite, are on the second floor with the fourth bedroom in the lower level.

The master suite has its own bathroom and the other two bedrooms share a bathroom.

The kitchen has modern dark cabinets, stone counter tops, stainless steel appliances and a double pantry.

The lower level has a large family room and wet bar.

The house has central air.

There are 3 outdoor areas, including 2 decks, and a landscaped back yard.

Why does it have a front-facing garage?

All the properties on this portion of Honore back up to the Metra tracks.

With its driveway and large back yard, is this a unique property for the GreenZone?

Tiffany Moret at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

3107 N. Honore: 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in 1994 (no price given)
• Sold in April 2007 for $679,000
• Sold in July 2011 for $1.055 million
• Originally listed in February 2019 at $1.2 million
• Still listed at $1.2 million
• Taxes of $18,165
• Central Air
• 2-car heated garage
• Fireplace
• Wet bar
• Bedroom #1: 13×17 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 12×19 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 13×18 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 10×13 (lower level)
• Family room: 18×18 (lower level)
• Laundry room: 5×15 (lower level)

This 4-bedroom vintage single family home at 1739 W. Newport in West Lakeview (Roscoe Village?) just came on the market.

Built in 1891 on a standard 25×125 lot, it has a 2-car garage.

The house has the layout many buyers look for including three of the four bedrooms on the second level and a full bathroom on all three levels, including the basement.

There’s a large eat-in kitchen with 42 inch maple cabinets, quartz counter tops, stainless steel appliances and a glass subway tile backsplash.

The house has a finished walk-out basement that includes a family room and a laundry room.

There’s also a 12×12 screened in porch that overlooks the backyard.

The listing says the house is in the Hamilton school district.

Redfin says this listing has been viewed 2,842 times in the last 5 days.

Listed at $725,000, is this a deal for a single family home in Lakeview?

Ryan McKane at Redfin has the listing. See the pictures here.

1739 W. Newport: 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, no square footage listed, 2 car garage

• Sold in April 1998 for $209,000
• Sold in July 2008 for $631,000 (relocation purchase)
• Sold in August 2008 for $625,000
• Sold in February 2016 for $617,500
• Listed on February 28 for $725,000
• Currently still listed at $725,000
• Taxes of $11,786
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 14×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 15×9 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 13×10 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 12×8 (main floor)
• Kitchen: 20×12 (main floor)
• Family room: 17×28 (lower level)
• Laundry room: 17×14 (lower level)

This vintage 2-bedroom at 547 W. Addison in Lakeview just came on the market at the end of last week.

Within 3 days, it was already under contract.

Yes, this is a rare property I’m highlighting anyway even though it is already under contract.

This is one of the vintage courtyard buildings near the lake. It has 28 units and no parking.

The listing says this unit has had a “gorgeous renovation.”

It has a new kitchen with white shaker cabinets, quartz counter tops and stainless steel appliances.

There’s new bathroom tile and a Kohler vanity in the bathroom.

It looks like there are new closet doors.

The listing says there are new Restoration Hardware and Rejuvenation light fixtures.

The hardwood floors have been refinished.

The unit has a new washer/dryer in the unit, but no central air, only window units, and no parking. It’s available for rent in the neighborhood ranging from $150 to $250.

While there’s no square footage listed with this unit, the previous listing from last summer, listed it at 925 square feet.

It was also a 1-bedroom with a dining room and now it’s a two bedroom without a formal dining room.

I was able to find the prior listing pictures from the last sale, before the current renovation, here.

It’s worth checking out to see how a 1-bedroom was transformed into a 2-bedroom.

You might think the market is red hot since this unit went under contract in just 3 days but it was on the market in September and October last year at the same price.

Are more people simply looking to buy this spring than last fall?

How hot is the market?

Cadey O’Leary at Jameson Sotheby’s has the listing. Last fall, it was listed with Select a Fee and there are no pictures available.

You can see the current pictures here.

Unit #2S: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, no square footage listed (but in August 2018 it was a 925 square feet 1/1)

• Sold in August 1990 for $70,000
• Sold in September 1997 for $102,000
• Sold in June 2004 for $200,000
• Sold in August 2018 for $198,000
• Originally listed in September 2018 for $299,900
• Reduced
• Withdrawn in October 2018 at $279,000
• Re-listed in February 2019 at $279,000
• Under contract within 3 days
• Assessments of $332 a month (includes heat, gas, exterior, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $3866
• No central air- window units only
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• No parking but it can be rented in the neighborhood between $150 and $250 a month
• Bedroom #1: 15×13
• Bedroom #2: 14×10
• Living/dining: 19×13
• Kitchen: 13×12