Crib Chatter

This 5 bedroom American four square at 5411 N. Wayne in the historic Lakewood Balmoral neighborhood of Andersonville came on the market in March 2017.

The prior listing in 2014 said the house was built in 1909 on an oversized 37.5 x 123 lot.

Back in 2014, it was an “investment opportunity” which sold for $575,000.

It has come back on the market completely “reimagined, redesigned, redeveloped.”

The house has custom millwork, wainscoting and coffered ceilings.

There’s now a gourmet kitchen with white cabinets and Thermador appliances along with an island.

The listing says there are 3 family rooms (which are listed as (1) family room (2) den and (3) loft in the listing.)

The basement has radiant heated floors.

It has the preferred layout with the bedrooms as 4 out of the 5 bedrooms are on the same floor (the second). The 5th is in the basement.

The master bathroom is all marble with a double shower and a pedestal soaker tub (isn’t it just a claw foot tub???).

There are 2 fireplaces and a 2 laundry rooms.

There’s also a new 3-car garage.

Originally listed at $1.649 million it has been reduced $250,000 to $1.399 million.

Is this a deal given the total rehab?

Abraham Polatsek at Integra Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

5411 N. Wayne: 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 4,000 square feet

• Owned by the same family since the mid-1980s
• Sold in December 2014 for $575,000
• Renovated
• Originally listed in March 2017 for $1,649,000
• Reduced numerous times
• Currently listed for $1,399,000
• Taxes of $15,802
• New 3-car garage
• Central Air
• 2 laundry rooms
• 2 fireplaces
• Bedroom #1: 15×12 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 15×12 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 12×10 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 10×10 (second floor)
• Bedroom #5: 12×11 (basement)
• Den: 24×18 (basement)
• Family room: 15×11 (main floor)
• Loft: 24×20 (third floor)
• Laundry room: 10×9 (basement)

This 3-bedroom in the Water Tower Residences at 180 E. Pearson in Streeterville came on the market in May 2016.

The Water Tower was built in 1975 and has 260 units along with the Ritz Carlton Hotel and the parking garage.

For decades, it was considered one of the premier condo buildings in the city.

Oprah Winfrey owned two huge units in the building before she moved out of Chicago.

This unit on the 55th floor has had an “exquisite renovation.”

It is south facing with views of the south city skyline, including the Aon Center, Navy Pier, the lake and west to the sunsets.

There are 3 en suite bedrooms.

The listing says there is a “spa like master bath” (are those his and her walk-in showers???)

It has a custom kitchen with luxury appliances.

The unit has central air, washer/dryer in the unit and parking is monthly in the building, but it’s valet.

All the amenities of the Ritz are available to home owners including things like room service.

With all the new luxury high rises in the city, including One Bennett Place and the Vista, just to name two, along with the Trump Tower, Park Tower, the Palmolive and No. 9 Walton, to name just a few others that are already completed, does the Water Tower still have the same prestige it used to?

Debra Dobbs at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #5505: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2975 square feet

• Owner going back to the 1980s
• Sold in June 2015 for $1,225,000
• Originally listed after the renovation in May 2016 (I couldn’t find a price)
• Under contract once
• Returned to the market
• Currently listed for $2.95 million
• Assessments of $2889 a month (includes doorman, cable, exterior maintenance, lawn care, snow removal, scavenger)
• Taxes of $23,038
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Parking is rental in the building from $375 to $525 a month
• Bedroom #1: 16×16
• Bedroom #2: 16×14
• Bedroom #3: 16×15
• Walk-in-closet: 8×12
• Walk-in-closet: 6×10
• Utility room: 8×13
• Laundry room: 6×7

This 2-bedroom in 257 E. Delaware in the Gold Coast/Streeterville (the listing can’t figure out which one either!) came on the market in May 2018.

This building was constructed in 1917 and has 16 units.

It doesn’t appear to have a doorman as there is keyed elevator access.

The unit has some of its vintage features, including hardwood floors throughout, French doors, leaded glass windows, high ceilings and crown moldings.

There are unique arched windows in the living room.

The kitchen has white cabinets, some black appliances and dark granite counter tops.

The listing says there are 3 renovated “spa baths.”

It has zoned a/c, washer/dryer in the unit but there is no parking. The listing says it will pay for 1-car heated garage parking for a year.

This unit has a rare 4 exposures.

What’s the market for vintage in this neighborhood?

Brooke Daitchman at Dream Town has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

Unit #10A: 2 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2100 square feet

• Sold in February 1996 for $135,000
• Sold in June 1999 for $510,000
• Sold in October 2003 for $590,000
• Sold in March 2015 for $590,000
• Originally listed in May 2018 for $649,900
• Currently still listed for $649,900
• Assessments of $1,775 a month (includes heat, gas, cable, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $10,388
• Zoned air conditioning
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• No parking but listing says 1-year heated garage parking is included
• Bedroom #1: 15×17
• Bedroom #2: 13×15
• Office: 7×7
• Gallery: 8×10

This 2-bedroom row house at 1818 N. Lincoln in East Lincoln Park recently came on the market.

The listing says it was built in 1876 but the plaque on the side of this group of row houses says they were built in 1879 and have historic protection.

It’s a fee simple brick row house with 3 levels on a 17×54 lot.

Some of its vintage features have survived including the crown molding, the wood stair case and the living room fireplace.

The kitchen and bathrooms have been updated in recent years.

The kitchen has white cabinets and subway tiles along with luxury appliances by Bosch, Thermador and Subzero.

The two bedrooms are upstairs along with one full bathroom with a claw foot tub.

There’s also a full bath in the lower level which has the laundry room and the family room.

There’s no parking with the property but it does have a private deck off the back.

The row house has central air.

The listing says to see “additional information” for more details about what was renovated with the property.

This row house sold just 2 years ago, with the kitchen and bathrooms already renovated, at $775,000.

It has come back on the market at $889,000.

With new construction duplex downs in Lincoln Park selling between $900,000 and $1.1 million, will this be under contract this week?

Phyllis Hall at Berkshire Hathaway KoenigRubloff has the listing. See the pictures here.

1818 N. Lincoln: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, row house, no square footage listed

• The CCRD is down this weekend (what’s new?) so all the prior sales information is from Zillow
• Sold in June 1994 for $187,500
• Sold in August 2001 for $480,000
• Sold in June 2003 for $493,000
• Sold in August 2012 for $655,000
• Sold in July 2016 for $775,000
• Currently listed at $889,000
• Fee simple
• Taxes of $13,076
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the lower level
• No parking
• Bedroom #1: 15×11 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 11×10 (second floor)
• Kitchen: 10×9 (main floor)
• Living room/dining room combo: 20×16 (main floor)
• Family room: 22×15 (lower level)

This 3-bedroom fee simple townhouse at 820 W. Wolfram in Lakeview came on the market in April 2018.

If it looks familiar, that’s because we chattered about it two months ago and in 2014 when it first came on the market after a complete renovation.

You can see the April 2018 chatter here.

The 2014 chatter is here.

If you recall, this 6-unit complex was built in 1979.

This unit is a front, street facing unit, which was remodeled with all modern finishes.

It now has a glass wall that opens to a protected, walled landscaped garden that faces the street.

The kitchen has white modern cabinets with Wolf, Bosch and Subzero appliances and “waterfall” countertops.

There are frosted sliding room doors and walls of marble.

The third bedroom is on the third floor with the other two bedrooms on the second floor.

This floor has walls of solid glass doors that open and close depending on how you want to define the space.

There’s no basement.

The townhouse has central air and a parking space which appears to be an outdoor space.

The listing makes a big deal out of the fact that this townhouse is “fee simple” which means there’s no assessments.

Since April, it has been reduced $20,000 and is back under $800,000 at $795,000.

What will it take to sell this property?

Brad Lippitz at Compass Real Estate still has the listing again. In 2014, he was also the owner. See the pictures here.

Or see it at the Open Houses on Saturday, June 9 from 12- 1:30 PM.

Unit #F: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed (but old listings show these townhouses as 1530 square feet)

• Sold in April 1990 for $360,000
• Sold in November 1993 for $197,000
• Sold in August 2013 for $80,000 (according to public records)
• Renovated
• Originally listed in June 2014 for $799,000
• Sold in August 2014 for $775,000
• Was originally listed in April 2018 at $815,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $795,000
• No assessments because it’s fee simple
• Taxes are now $11,220 (they were $6916 in 2014)
• Central Air
• Parking included
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 17×15 (third floor)
• Bedroom #2: 12×11 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 12×11 (second floor)
• Terrace: 20×15

This 3-bedroom Italian bungalow at 2721 W. Morse in the Indian Boundary Park neighborhood of West Ridge came on the market in May 2017.

Built in 1922 on a larger than standard Chicago lot of 37×124, it has the architecture that has made Chicago famous (sorry I don’t have a picture- but I wanted to cover it anyway.)

The house has 3 unique arched front windows with Corinthian columns and a Spanish tile roof.

The front of the house has retained its vintage character.

The living room has 11 foot beamed ceilings along with the original wood burning fireplace with a unique mantel and 2 oak built-in bookcases.

The formal dining room has 9 foot coved ceilings.

It appears the back of the house was added/changed at a later date.

There’s an open style kitchen open to a family room.

The kitchen has white cabinets and stainless steel appliances with a built-in hutch.

There’s one bedroom on the main floor with two others, including the master retreat, on the second level.

The basement is finished and has an office and a recreation room along with what the listing says is a newer full bath and a laundry room.

There’s a 2-car garage and space pak cooling.

Originally listed for $599,000 in May 2017, it has been under contract once and has been reduced several times.

It’s now listed for $149,000 under the original list price, at $450,000.

Is it a deal at this price?

Denis Girard at Keller Williams Platinum Partners has the listing. See the pictures here.

2721 W. Morse: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2457 square feet, 2 car garage

• Sold in January 1990 for $328,000 (I feel like this might be a typo in the records and it is really $128,000)
• Sold in April 1995 for $212,000
• Sold in June 2000 for $345,500
• Originally listed in May 2017 for $599,000
• Reduced several times
• Under contract once
• Currently listed at $450,000
• Taxes of $6219
• Space pak cooling
• Wood burning fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 27×12 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 13×12 (main floor)
• Bedroom #3: 15×15 (second floor)
• Office: 11×22 (basement)
• Recreation room: 19×23 (basement)
• Family room: 13×21 (main floor)

This 6 bedroom vintage row house at 2704 N. Lakeview in East Lincoln Park came on the market in March 2018.

Built in 1914, it is one of 4 row homes on Lincoln Park designed by Dangler & Adler.

It’s 3-stories with a 4th floor set back that, according to an older listing, used to be a studio apartment.

This row house was sold in 2016 “as-is” and the listing said it hadn’t been lived in in years.

It has been completely renovated, including with an updated floor plan.

The row house has new Thermopane Low E windows, new copper plumbing and HVAC.

There’s now central air (just window units prior to the renovation) and a 3-car garage.

The property still has many of its vintage features including a living room with a huge skylight and moldings.

The row house has 4 fireplaces.

The kitchen has white and gray cabinets with 2 kitchen islands and luxury appliances.

There’s a breakfast room off the kitchen.

One bedroom is on the second floor, three are on the third floor, including the master bedroom, and two are on the fourth floor, where the old studio apartment used to be.

It has extra features such as a theater room and an exercise room on the main floor.

There’s no basement or lower level.

There’s no yard but there’s a terrace off the kitchen. But who needs a yard when Lincoln Park is across the street?

The bathrooms have all been renovated in the classic white and black motif.

Listed in March 2018 at $7.2 million, the row house has been reduced $815,000 to $6.385 million.

Is this a rare opportunity for vintage lovers in the luxury market or is the luxury market too crowded for this property to stand out?

Katherine Malkin at Compass Real Estate has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

2704 N. Lakeview: 6 bedrooms, 5.5 baths, 10,018 square feet (includes the garage and terrace)

• Sold in November 2016 “as-is” for $1.8 million
• Renovated
• Originally listed in March 2018 for $7.2 million
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $6.385 million
• Taxes are $44,787 (they were $40,976 in 2016)
• Central Air
• 3-car garage
• 4 fireplaces
• Bedroom #1: 21×19 (third floor)
• Bedroom #2: 14×13 (third floor)
• Bedroom #3: 15×9 (third floor)
• Bedroom #4: 14×12 (fourth floor)
• Bedroom #5: 14×9 (fourth floor)
• Bedroom #6: 18×19 (second floor)
• Study: 12×11 (second floor)
• Family room: 28×20 (second floor)
• Terrace: 17×14 (second floor)
• Exercise room: 18×10 (main floor)
• Theater: 21×12 (main floor)

This 2-bedroom in the new construction loft building The Ronsley at 676 N. Kingsbury in River North just came on the market.

This is an older picture, but the building has now finished construction.

This building was a partial conversion of a brick industrial building alongside some new construction done by Project Interiors.

It has 41 luxury units and a parking garage.

It’s the first authentic loft conversion in River North in the last 10 years.

This unit is in the industrial building portion of the building and has 14 foot timber ceilings and exposed brick with large industrial windows. It looks like the living room ceilings are painted black.

It has custom built-ins.

The listing describes the kitchen as a “chef’s kitchen” with Subzero and Wolf appliances along with a quartz waterfall island.

The master suite has a spa-like master bath with herringbone wall tiles.

It has central air, washer/dryer in the unit and parking is $50,000 extra.

It closed last December for $920,000 and has come back on the market at $1.3 million.

Will it get the premium?

Colin Hebson at Dream Town has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #101: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1820 square feet

• Sold in December 2017 for $920,000 (per Redfin: not sure if this included any parking)
• Currently listed at $1.3 million (parking is $50,000 extra)
• Assessments of $625 a month (includes doorman, exercise room, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes are “new”
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 16×14
• Bedroom #2: 16×11
• Foyer: 27×6
• Walk-in-closet: 9×6

This 2-bedroom at 422 W. Deming in East Lincoln Park came on the market in April 2018.

Built in 2013-2014, it’s a Booth Hansen designed 13-unit building that is in the heart of East Lincoln Park, just steps from Lincoln Park itself.

It has modern high end finishes that are rarely found in this location.

The chef’s kitchen has white cabinets with Subzero, Wolfe range and Bosch dishwasher.

There’s a butler pantry and 3 inch granite surround.

The unit has hardwood floors.

The master suite has custom built-in cabinetry and the bathroom is marble with radiant heated floor and modern finishes.

It has central air, a laundry room measuring 16×10, and not just 1, but 2, garage parking spaces. Parking is rare in East Lincoln Park but 2 spaces is almost unheard of.

The unit looks south over the fountain and park behind the new high rise at 2440 N. Lakeview and has direct views of the National Shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini.

It was already under contract once since April.

Is this priced to sell quickly?

Patrick Cullen at Compass Real Estate has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #2W: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1705 square feet

• Sold in March 2014 for $823,000
• Originally listed in April 2018 for $1,049,000
• Under contract
• Re-listed at $1,079,000 (includes 2 car garage parking)
• Assessments of $351 a month (includes exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $14,123
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 13×15
• Bedroom #2: 10×13
• Laundry room: 16×10

This 1-bedroom loft at 110 N. Peoria in the West Loop came on the market in March 2018.

This is an industrial loft building with 25 units and a heated parking garage which was converted into lofts in the 1990s.

This loft has 15 foot concrete ceilings and exposed brick walls.

It has a unique old, original elevator shaft in the middle of the unit which has a grated steel staircase which leads to a small office space and a private rooftop 20×21 deck.

There’s a skylight in the elevator shaft for natural light, otherwise the only other windows are in the living room.

The bedroom doesn’t have a window.

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

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

Recently, this loft sold in March 2017 and then was relisted for 42% more just 12 months later.

It doesn’t appear any significant renovations (kitchen or bathrooms) were made.

Since March, it has been reduced twice but it’s still listed for $134,999 more than just a year ago.

According to Investopedia:

A bubble is an economic cycle characterized by the rapid escalation of asset prices followed by a contraction. It is created by a surge in asset prices unwarranted by the fundamentals of the asset and driven by exuberant market behavior. When no more investors are willing to buy at the elevated price, a massive sell-off occurs, causing the bubble to deflate.

Is the West Loop showing signs of bubble-like behavior?

Maria Boncza at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #407: 1 bedroom, 1.5 baths, 1500 square feet

• Sold in March 1996 for $195,000
• Sold in September 2001 for $327,000
• Sold in March 2006 for $386,000
• Sold in June 2013 for $401,500
• Sold in March 2017 for $515,000
• Originally listed in March 2018 for $725,000
• Reduced twice
• Currently listed for $649,999 (includes the parking)
• Assessments of $383 a month (includes exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $6,000
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Bedroom: 17×11
• Den: 9×8 (second floor)
• Deck: 21×20 (second floor)