Crib Chatter

This 6,200 square foot penthouse in 600 N. Fairbanks in Streeterville came on the market just 13 days ago, in early March 2018.

It’s on the 40th floor of the Helmut Jahn designed high rise which was completed in 2008, just as the bust was hitting.

It has 13 foot floor-to-ceiling windows with city and lake views in every direction.

It has luxury finishes and unique features including 4 terraces and a 400 bottle wine cellar.

It’s a duplex up unit and it has a “one of a kind” floating glass staircase (check out the pictures!).

There are automated draperies throughout.

There is a Ernestromeda kitchen with professional appliances including Wolf and Subzero.

There’s a huge master suite with a luxury bathroom and walk in closets, which also have floor to ceiling windows in them.

3 parking spaces are available for $75,000 each.

With so many luxury condos currently on the market or about to come on the market in One Bennett Place and the Vista, is it surprising that this went under contract in 11 days?

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

Unit #4005: 4 bedrooms, 5 baths, 6200 square feet

• Sold in May 2008 for $1.395 million (with one parking space)- but this is just part of the entire unit. In 2008, this was a 1800 square foot 2/2.5. The living room/kitchen in both units are the same space, with different finishes, but they clearly added several more units to get the 6200 square feet.
• Sold in May 2013 for $1.325 million (with one parking space)
• Listed in March 2018 for $5.999 million (3 parking spaces available for $75,000 each)
• Under contract in 11 days
• Assessments of $5,010 a month (includes a/c, gas, doorman, exercise room)
• Taxes of $73,455
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 21×25 (main level)
• Bedroom #2: 13×21 (main level)
• Bedroom #3: 14×15 (main level)
• Bedroom #4: 14×12 (second floor)
• Family room: 28×14 (second floor)

This 4-bedroom single family house at 4033 N. Laramie in Portage Park came on the market in February. (Photo courtesy of Icarus.)

It’s not your standard single family home, however, as it really has an in-law unit in the lower level, complete with its own separate entrance, kitchen, and family room.

The two units share the lower level laundry room, however.

The upstairs unit has 3-bedrooms and two staircases.

There’s a spiral staircase in the living room and the listing says a second staircase is in the back of the house.

Two bedrooms are located on the main floor and the master suite, with a bathroom and walk-in closet, is on the second floor, along with a family room.

Here’s how the listing is described:

Remodeled home with new flooring & fresh paint inside through 1st & 2nd FL!! New tear off roof, front porch, & water heater! Newer garage.

The kitchen has maple cabinets, granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances but if you look at the pictures from the 2015 listing, you’ll see that the kitchen was remodeled then.

That 2015 listing called the house “newly remodeled.”

There are 2 furnaces and A/C.

The house is also on a bigger than standard Chicago lot of 37×127.

Originally listed in mid-February for $344,900, it was reduced to $335,000.

It then went contingent on March 11.

If it sells near $335,000, that would be about a 31% price gain in 3 years.

This property is one of the more affordable ones in the neighborhood.

Some renovated bungalows are listed anywhere from $500,000 to $600,000 and other homes as high as $800,000.

Like most neighborhoods, there’s also a dearth of inventory.

How much longer will Portage Park stay “middle class”?

Kristina Betancourt at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

4033 N. Laramie: 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, 1400 square feet, 2 car garage

• Sold in February 1998 for $72,500
• Sold in April 2015 for $259,000
• Originally listed in February 2018 for $344,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $335,000
• Under contract as of March 11
• Taxes of $4656
• 2 Furnaces and A/C
• Bedroom #1: 16×14 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 12×11 (main floor)
• Bedroom #3: 12×12 (main floor)
• Bedroom #4: 11×11 (lower level)
• 2 kitchens
• Laundry room: 12×14 (lower level)
• Family room: 20×14 (second floor)
• Family room: 16×14 (lower level)

This 3-bedroom penthouse in 60 W. Erie in River North just came on the market.

This is a boutique building that was designed by Lucien Lagrange and has only 24 units and garage parking.

It was constructed in 2003-2004.

This penthouse has unobstructed 240-degree city views from both a private top floor terrace and other balconies.

The unit has a double tray ceiling, an antique Italian stone fireplace and 10 inch custom crown molding.

The listing says the floors range from Brazilian walnut hardwood, French limestone, granite and marble.

Do you hate cold feet in the kitchen in the morning?

It has heated kitchen floors as well as white Ultracraft cabinets, quartzite countertops, and luxury appliances including Subzero refrigerator, Viking stove, Miele dishwasher and microwave.

There’s also a master suite with a walk-in closet. The master bath has heated floors.

The other two bedrooms are en suite.

This is an unusual duplex in that there is no internal staircase. You have to take the elevator, from the private elevator vestibule.

The second floor has a sunroom, a powder room and a wet bar along with the 40×14 private south facing terrace.

The square footage listed provides the main floor at 3300 square feet with the second floor at 429 square feet, with most of it being the terrace, for a total of 3,729 square feet.

The listing says the unit is in the Ogden Elementary school district.

It has central air, washer/dryer in the unit and comes with a coveted 3-parking spaces.

Despite its size, this is a doorman building and also has an exercise room.

In a year with penthouses starting over $3 million, is this a rare “affordable” River North high rise penthouse?

Bruce Glazer and Nicole Betti have the listing. See the pictures and the interesting floor plan here.

Unit #PH: 3 bedrooms, 3 full baths, 2 half baths, 3,729 square feet

• Sold in March 2004 for $1.975 million (included 2 parking spaces)- I’m not sure where Redfin gets the 2009 sale as the CCRD doesn’t show it
• Currently listed for $2.25 million (includes 3 parking spaces)
• Assessments of $2,854 a month (includes gas, doorman, exercise room, exterior maintenance, scavenger, snow removal
• Taxes of $29,824
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 16×11 (main level)
• Bedroom #2: 12×12 (main level)
• Bedroom #3: 12×12 (main level)
• Laundry room: 8×8 (main level)
• Kitchen: 21×15
• Sunroom: 14×11 (second level)
• Terrace: 39×12 (second level)

I’ll be on vacation on the beach in the Caribbean this week, so there won’t be any new posts.

Please try and behave yourselves while I’m away.

I don’t know about you, but it seems really quiet this spring.

There simply isn’t much inventory coming on the market outside of million dollar luxury units.

Anything priced under $500,000 is going under contract pretty quickly, unless they’re asking an unrealistically high price on it for the features and neighborhood.

And what about higher mortgage rates?

Even though they’ve spiked to start the year, they have since stabilized and haven’t yet breached the 5% level. That’s still historically low.

If you’re out there looking to buy, what’s your strategy?

See you on the 26th!

This 4-bedroom penthouse in Aqua Tower at 225 N. Columbus Drive in Lakeshore East just came on the market.

Aqua was built in 2009 and has both apartments and condos.

There are 270 condo units along with a parking garage.

It’s a full service building with a large exercise room, a billiards room, a half basketball court, a rooftop deck, and both indoor and outdoor pools.

This unit is on the 81st floor which is a top floor penthouse floor.

It has floor-to-ceiling windows that are south facing over a balcony that extends the length of the unit.

Those windows have Lutron motorized remote controlled blinds.

The unit has crown molding, millwork and a gas fireplace.

The kitchen has white Plain and Fancy cabinets with a 48″ Subzero refrigerator, a Subzero wine cooler, Miele dishwasher and Wolf range with double ovens.

The counter tops are Calacatta gold marble, including on the 13 foot island.

The master suite has a walk-in closet finished by Closet Works.

The master bath has a Mosaic marble shower, Airbath Jacuzzi tub and the same Calacatta gold marble counter tops as the kitchen.

It has a laundry room, central air and 2 parking spaces are available for extra cost.

At 3,000 square feet, and with the rare set-up of 4 bedrooms, is this an ideal high rise family home?

Jennifer Ames at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See the pictures and the floor plan here.

Unit #8108: 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 3000 square feet

• Sold in April 2013 for $1,731,000 (looks like it included 2 parking spaces)
• Currently listed for $3,750,000 (parking is “available”)
• Assessments of $2557 a month (includes heat, a/c, gas, doorman, cable, Internet, exercise room, pools, exterior maintenance, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $35,920
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 16×15
• Bedroom #2: 12×12
• Bedroom #3: 13×14
• Bedroom #4: 17×13
• Walk-in closet: 9×12
• Laundry room: 9×6

This vintage 3-bedroom duplex down at 913 W. Belle Plaine in the Buena Park neighborhood of Uptown came on the market in February 2018.

This is a 6-unit building with outdoor parking that was converted into condos during the condo craze of 2007-2008.

This unit has 9 1/2 foot ceilings and custom plantation shutters.

It has 7 1/4 inch crown molding, wainscoting and hardwood wide plank cherry floors.

The kitchen has 42 inch cherry cabinets, granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances along with an island.

There’s one bedroom on the main floor with two in the lower level.

The master suite has a spa bath with a double vanity and a steam/rain shower.

There’s also a family room in the lower level.

The listing says there was all new electrical, plumbing, windows and roof “when rehabbed”, which would have been in 2007.

There’s central air, side-by-side washer/dryer and one outdoor parking space.

Originally listed for $550,000 in February 2018, it has been reduced $5,100 to $544,900.

But this is still higher than the 2008 sales price of $489,000.

Has Buena Park recovered fully from the housing bust?

Dorothy Wulf at Keller Williams Lincoln Park has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #1W: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2500 square feet, duplex down

• Sold in January 2008 for $489,000
• Originally listed in February 2018 for $550,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $544,900 (includes one outdoor parking space)
• Assessments of $300 a month (includes exterior maintenance, scavenger)
• Taxes of $10,022
• Central Air
• Side-by-side Washer/dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 12×15 (main level)
• Bedroom #2: 14×11 (lower level)
• Bedroom #3: 12×11 (lower level)
• Laundry room: 6×3 (main level)
• Family room: 20×13 (lower level)

This 3-bedroom at 506 W. Roscoe in East Lakeview came on the market in February 2018.

This is a 9 unit elevator building that was built in 2004 and has garage parking.

The listing says this 2,000 square foot unit was the builder model and has been upgraded.

The master suite has his and her walk-in closets and a master bath with a walk-in marble shower, dual vanities and a Jacuzzi tub.

The kitchen has wood cabinets, black granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances and the listing says “unique” lighting.

There’s a 20×10 balcony.

This unit also has 2 indoor parking spots with direct elevator access to the unit.

The listing also says the unit has its own a/c and heating controls.

It has central air and washer/dryer in the unit.

The property is located just steps to the Lake Shore underpass which gives you access to the Lake front.

It’s difficult to find new or newer construction in East Lakeview as it was the first area in the neighborhood that was developed so most construction is vintage.

Buyers love big 3-bedroom units.

Is this a good single family home alternative in this popular neighborhood?

George Ayling at Select-a-Fee RE System has the listing. See the pictures here.

Or go to the open house on Saturday, March 17 or Sunday, March 18 from 12 to 2PM.

Unit #202: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2000 square feet

• Sold in December 2004 for $595,000
• Currently listed for $857,888 (includes 2 garage parking spaces)
• Assessments of $479 a month (includes cable, exterior maintenance, scavenger)
• Taxes of $10,778
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 16×14
• Bedroom #2: 13×12
• Bedroom #3: 11×11
• Family room: 19×16

This 2-bedroom penthouse in Contemporaine at 201 W. Grand in River North recently came on the market.

Contemporaine is a 28 unit building and parking garage that was constructed in 2004.

It won architectural awards and is often considered one of the top modern condo buildings downtown.

This full floor unit has only had one owner.

It has some unique features including a 27 foot glass atrium living room.

The listing calls the kitchen “high end.” It has modern dark cabinets and luxury stainless steel appliances along with a wine refrigerator.

The third bedroom has been opened to the living/dining/kitchen space and is now a study.

There’s some finished ceilings and some concrete ceilings throughout the unit along with floor to ceiling windows.

A second unique feature is the 8×54 private landscaped terrace with city views.

There’s a master suite with a walk-in closet and a large bathroom with dual vanities.

The building doesn’t have a doorman but there’s a private elevator access.

A question I always have is, where do all the package deliveries go? In a room off the lobby? Or what? Many buildings actually log in packages now but that takes staff.

There’s washer/dryer in the unit, central air and 2 parking spaces are available for $100,000, or $50,000 each.

When you think of a downtown penthouse, is this the type of property what fits the bill?

Mary Hanburger at Conlon has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #PH1: 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, no square footage listed, penthouse

• Sold in April 2005 for $1.425 million (included 2 parking spots)
• Currently listed for $1.999 million (2 parking spots are $50,000 each)
• Assessments of $1973 a month (includes heat, a/c, gas, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $29,874
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 12×20
• Bedroom #2: 10×7
• Bedroom #3 (now a study): 14×16
• Dining room: 10×19
• Terrace: 8×54

This 2-bedroom duplex loft at 1000 W. Diversey Parkway in Lakeview recently came on the market.

This is one of the penthouse units, but it doesn’t have outdoor space.

It does have 17 foot ceilings with exposed brick and ductwork.

Because of the tall ceilings, a second story was added with a spiral AND a regular staircase.

The master bedroom is on the main level and has a fireplace and an en suite bathroom with heated floors, a Jacuzzi and a full body shower.

The second bedroom is on the second floor along with a big lofted space.

According to the listing, this loft was rehabbed in 2014.

The kitchen has teak modern cabinets and a big island with waterfall quartz counter tops.

It has stainless steel appliances as well as a wine fridge.

From the pictures in the listing in 2013 and 2016, it appears that the half bath is the only part of the loft that hasn’t been renovated.

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

If you love Starbucks, this loft is right above the big Starbucks at Diversey and Sheffield.

The Diversey Brown Line El stop is also just a half a block away for a quick commute.

This unit last sold just 2 years ago, in 2016.

It has come back on the market for 4.9% higher than the 2016 sale, at $489,900.

Will it get the premium?

Litsa Lekatsos at Re/Max Suburban has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #3A: 2 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, 1900 square feet

• Sold in November 2013 for $303,500
• Sold in October 2016 for $467,000
• Currently listed for $489,900 (includes the heated garage parking)
• Assessments of $394 a month (includes security system, exterior maintenance, scavenger, and snow removal)
• Taxes of $6737
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 23×11 (main level)
• Bedroom #2: 20×16 (second floor)
• Loft: 16×10 (second floor)

This 1-bedroom in the Grand Ohio at 211 E. Ohio in Streeterville just came on the market.

The Grand Ohio has 598 units.

It was an apartment building that was converted into condos in the early 2000s.

This unit is on the 5th floor and faces south.

The listing says the unit has been “completely renovated.”

There are hardwood floors throughout.

The bedroom has a barn door.

The kitchen is open to the living room and has dark cabinets with stainless steel appliances, a custom backsplash and what looks like stone counter tops.

There’s also a combo washer/dryer unit in the kitchen.

There are just a few units on this floor but all of them have bricked walled private terraces.

This unit has a 500 square foot patio with a two story brick wall on one end. It also has outdoor electrical outlets.

The Grand Ohio is a full service building with an indoor pool, a sauna and steam room, an exercise room, tennis courts and rare basketball and racquetball courts.

There’s parking in the building both for rent and for purchase.

It has come on the market at $295,000, which is an affordable price point for the neighborhood.

If you’re a fan of outdoor space, and on a limited budget, is this property a dream come true?

Kathryn Schrage at Redfin has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #516: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, no square footage listed

• Sold in September 2002 for $220,000 (per Redfin because the CCRD is “down” again. Sigh)
• Sold in September 2006 for $283,000 (per Redfin)
• Currently listed for $295,000
• Assessments of $448 a month (includes cable, Internet, doorman, health club, indoor pool, sauna, steam room, tennis courts, basketball court, racquetball court, exterior maintenance, snow removal, scavenger)
• Taxes of $3687
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer combo in the unit
• Bedroom: 14×11
• Living room: 15×13
• Kitchen: 13×7
• Patio: 27×15