Crib Chatter

We last chattered about this 3-bedroom penthouse loft at 3133 N.  Lakewood in Lakeview in June 2013.

See our previous chatter here.

At that time, it had come on the market for $110,000 more than its 2010 purchase price at $710,000.

Some of you thought it was overpriced.

It is still on the market and has reduced $55,000 to $645,000.

If you recall, it has 15-foot ceilings and walls of windows with southeast views of the city.

The loft doesn’t have any of the features you’d find in an older loft building such as walls of exposed brick (there is one wall of bricks in one of the bedrooms but it doesn’t look like it is original to the building.)

It has luxury finishes in the kitchen including Viking and Bosch appliances.

There is a 40 foot private deck, along with 1-car parking.

The loft has other features buyers look for including a full-sized laundry room and central air.

If a property in the GreenZone doesn’t go under contract within two weeks of listing, should it be reduced immediately?

Michael LaRocque at Present Value Realty still has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #PH-S: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1600 square feet

• Sold in June 2008 for $600,000
• Sold in June 2010 for $600,000
• Was listed in June 2013 for $710,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $645,000
• Assessments of $289 a month
• Taxes of $6913
• Central Air
• Laundry room: 8×8
• Bedroom #1: 14×13
• Bedroom #2: 16×10
• Bedroom #3: 12×11

This 2-bedroom in The Whitney at 1301 N. Dearborn Parkway in the Gold Coast just came on the market.

The listing calls it a “modern renovation.”

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

The master bath has a floating vanity and large shower.

The corner unit has limestone floors in the foyer and wide plank hardwood floors along with crown molding.

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

The Whitney was built in 1998.

This unit is listed for $859,500.

Is this the new price point for larger 2-bedroom units with “new” finishes in the Gold Coast?

Duane Shumaker at Prudential Rubloff has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #601: 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 1787 square feet

• Sold in June 1998 for $472,500
• Sold in February 2000 for $545,000
• Sold in July 2009 for $650,000
• Currently listed for $859,500 (parking included)
• Assessments of $1020 a month (includes A/C, gas, doorman, cable)
• Taxes of $11927
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 17×15
• Bedroom #2: 13×12
• Laundry room: 6×5

We’ve chattered about this 1-bedroom at 40 E. Delaware in the Gold Coast before.

See our May 2011 chatter here.

Back then, the unit was listed as a short sale and had carpeting and what looked to be original finishes in the kitchen and bath.

It eventually went back to the bank which then sold it in November 2012.

The unit has come back on the market with hardwood floors, a new kitchen with dark wood cabinets, granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances, and a new vanity in the bathroom.

The unit has wall air conditioning and in-unit washer/dryer. There’s no parking but it’s available in the neighborhood to rent.

It has the same views as 2011, which look into the newly built Elysian.

Back in 2011 we chattered about this being a unit to buy for a child attending Loyola which has a law campus nearby.

But the unit could have been bought in the $100,000-$200,000 range back then.

Does it still make sense at this higher price of $219,000?

Gregory Eldridge at Streeterville Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #404: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, no square footage listed

• Sold in January 1997 for $105,000
• Sold in February 2001 for $168,000
• Sold in September 2001 for $185,000
• Sold in December 2003 for $170,000
• Sold in March 2005 for $194,500
• Originally listed in July 2010 for $239,000
• Reduced numerous times
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in February 2011
• Was listed in March 2011 for $169,900
• Was listed in May 2011 as a “short sale” for $129,900
• Withdrawn
• Bank owned
• Listed in August 2012 for $181,900
• Reduced
• Sold in November 2012 for $127,000
• Originally listed in May 2013 for $225,000
• Reduced
• Now listed for $219,000
• Assessments now $525 a month (they were $481 a month in May 2011) (includes doorman, cable)
• Listing offers to pay assessments for the first 6 months.
• Taxes now $2704 (they were $2639 in May 2011)
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Rental parking nearby
• Bedroom #1: 11×13
• Living room: 19×17
• Kitchen: 10×7

This 1-bedroom in 2500 N. Lakeview in East Lincoln Park just came on the market.

At 900 square feet, it is east facing so it DOES have Lincoln Park and lake views.

Given that the building was built in 1974, the unit has some interesting features including teak herringbone cherry floors, crown molding and French doors.

The kitchen has maple cabinets, Corian counter tops and white appliances.

There are 2 wall air conditioning units and it also has in-unit washer/dryer. Parking is available to rent in the building for $155 a month.

This is a full-service building with a doorman, pool and exercise room.

Is this a deal for the location?

Heidie Maslo at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #503: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 900 square feet

• Sold in June 1997 for $145,000
• Currently listed for $219,000
• Assessments of $594 a month (includes doorman, pool)
• Taxes of $3384
• No central air- wall units instead
• In-unit washer/dryer
• Parking available to rent in the building for $155 a month
• Bedroom: 16×13

We’ve been chattering about this 2-bedroom top floor unit in 919 N. Wolcott in West Town on and off since 2010.

See our May 2011 chatter here.

If you recall, this is a Ranquist development.

The unit had been converted from a 3-bedroom to a 2-bedroom but it also had two outdoor spaces including a private 9×15 terrace off the master bedroom and a large 11×26 terrace off the great room.

It also had a top of the line Arclinea kitchen with Miele and Gaggeneu appliances. The massive kitchen island also had a modern stainless steel counter top.

There were all the features you would expect from new construction including central air, an in-unit washer/dryer and parking.

Interestingly, we’ve chattered about this building before and specifically about the “sister” penthouse, Unit #301.  It had similar luxury finishes.

That unit sold in May 2010 for $675,000.

This unit came back on the market in May 2013 at $699,900 to test this hotter market.

It finally recently sold for $635,000.

Given what #301 sold for in 2010, and the market is now hotter, did someone get a deal?

Ivona Kutermankiewicz at Koenig & Strey Real Living had the listing. You can still see pictures here.

Unit #302: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed, 2 car parking

• Sold in March 2004 for $430,000
• Sold in July 2008 for $707,500 (included the parking)
• Originally listed in August 2010 for $700,000
• Reduced
• Was listed in December 2010 for $689,000 (plus $18,000 for parking)
• Reduced
• Was listed in May 2011 for $650,000 (plus $18,000 for parking)
• Withdrawn
• Originally listed in May 2013 for $699,900
• Reduced
• Sold in July 2013 for $635,000
• Assessments of $334 a month (they were $284 a month in 2011)
• Taxes now $7232 (they were $6959 in 2011)
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 14×14
• Bedroom #2: 10×12
• Family room: 10×11

This 3-bedroom in a converted church at 1547 N. Leavitt in Wicker Park just came on the market.

The listing calls it a 3-bedroom but also acknowledges that it might really be a 2-bedroom plus den (with French doors opening to the den and/or bedroom).

It has exposed brick throughout and the original church windows.

The kitchen is a custom Christopher Peacock kitchen with white cabinets, a unique walnut butcher block island, granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances.

There is also a built-in library.

It has central air, washer/dryer in the unit and has 1 heated garage space.

Is this unit an alternative to all the new construction duplex downs on the market?

Janice Smith at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

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

• Sold in August 2003 for $418,500
• Sold in May 2008 for $560,000 (per Redfin)
• Currently listed for $569,000
• Assessments of $240 a month
• Taxes of $7216
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Heated garage parking included
• Bedroom #1: 15×12
• Bedroom #2: 12×11
• Bedroom #3: 18×11

This 2-bedroom single family home at 1808 W. Diversey Parkway in Lakeview has been mentioned several times in the comments but we’ve never actually chattered about it.

It is bank owned.

Built in 1996, it is located in the gated community next to the railroad tracks north of Diversey, but this house appears to NOT be on the railroad track side of the development.

However, unlike a traditional Chicago single family home, it doesn’t seem to have any backyard.

From the listing pictures, the kitchen appears to be intact with maple cabinets, granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances.

It also appears the bathrooms are intact but there seems to be 2.5 baths instead of just 2 as the listing indicates.

The two bedrooms are on the second floor but in the listing pictures there is a mysterious third room with only a concrete floor. Could this be a first floor den/family room of some kind?

The 1959 square foot house has a rooftop deck, central air and a rare attached 2 car garage.

The house was originally listed for $450,000 in March 2013.

It has been reduced several times and is now listed at $379,900.

How low will this go?

Is this the deal of the year?

Saul Zenkevicius at Goodwill Realty Group has the listing. See the pictures here.

1808 W. Diversey Parkway: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1959 square feet, 2 car garage

• Sold in June 1997 for $295,500
• Sold in June 2002 for $431,500
• Sold in October 2006 for $528,500
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in December 2010
• Bank owned in September 2012
• Originally listed in March 2013 for $450,000
• Reduced several times
• Currently listed at $379,900
• Assessments of $160 a month (includes snow removal)
• Taxes of $8677
• Listing says “60 day deed restriction”
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 14×11 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 12×12 (second floor)

This 24-unit vintage mid-rise at 1500 N. LaSalle on the corner of LaSalle and Burton in Old Town has been quite popular as of late.

There are currently 5 units on the market and 3 are under contract. They are all 2/2s and they are:

1. Unit #6B: 2/2 at $465,000
2. Unit #1A: 2/2 at $439,900
3. Unit #2C: 2/2 at $400,000

This top-floor 2-bedroom is one of only two that is still available and it’s listed for $459,900. It has been listed since May.

I can’t find a date on the building but it was apparently designed by Edmund Krause (1859-1935) who designed 61 buildings in his lifetime. He specialized in mid-rise apartment buildings such as this one and also designed The Commodore at Surf and Broadway in Lakeview.

Krause’s best known building is the Majestic Building at 22 W. Monroe in the Loop, better known as the Schubert Theater.

This unit still retains some of its vintage features including crown molding.

The unit also has built-in bookshelves and a fireplace.

The kitchen has granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances.

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

There is, however, only limited parking with the building and not every unit has a parking space. This unit does not. It is available to rent in the neighborhood.

Is the mid-$400,000 price point the magic price in this building?

Jenna Smith at Redfin has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #6C: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1500 square feet

• Sold in April 1992 for $128,000
• Sold in February 2002 for $357,500
• Sold in July 2003 for $409,000
• Originally listed in May 2013 for $459,900
• Still listed for $459,900
• Assessments of $488 a month (includes cable)
• Taxes of $5544
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• No parking- rental in the neighborhood
• Bedroom #1: 14×14
• Bedroom #2: 12×10
• Den: 13×9

This 4-bedroom Victorian Italianate row house at 2000 N. Orleans in Lincoln Park came on the market in August 2012.

Built in 1876 on a smaller than standard Chicago lot of 25×77, it still manages to pack a lot of amenities into the space.

It has a front deck, a private rooftop deck, and a two car garage.

The house has many of its vintage features including 13 foot ceilings and crown and ceiling moldings.

There is a 2-story entry foyer and for fireplace lovers- you would have your choice of FIVE  fireplaces, with some of them seemingly wood burning.

The kitchen is described as a “chef’s kitchen” with white cabinets and a stainless steel stove.

3 of the 4 bedrooms are on the second floor.

There is a partially finished basement although one of the bedrooms is also in the lower level.

The house has central air.

It’s been reduced $300,000 over the last year and is now listed at $1.695 million.

It is on the corner of Armitage and Orleans within a stones throw of Lincoln Park.

With everything else selling quickly, why isn’t this vintage row house?

Joanne Nemerovski at Prudential Rubloff has the listing. See the pictures here.

2000 N. Orleans: 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, no square footage listed, 2 car garage

• Sold in December 1991 for $380,000
• Originally listed in August 2012 for $1.995 million
• Reduced several times
• Currently listed at $1.695 million
• Taxes of $13,560
• Central Air
• 5 fireplaces
• Bedroom #1: 19×14 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 13×12 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 12×12 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 11×11 (lower level)

This 2-bedroom loft at 1020 S. Wabash in the South Loop just came on the market.

It is bank owned.

From the pictures, it appears the kitchen and bathrooms are intact.

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

The corner unit is 1786 square feet and has hardwood floors and tall concrete ceilings.

It has central air but doesn’t mention in-unit laundry. There’s also no deeded parking with the unit.

So what’s the catch?

That is the El directly out the living room window (see the pictures). And I do mean DIRECTLY.

This is a Freddie Mac Homesteps property so they will only take owner occupier offers in the first 15 days.

But given its location near the El tracks, will this loft end up selling to an investor anyway?

Gerard Lewis at Better Homes for America has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #2B: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1786 square feet

• Sold in April 2002 for $285,500
• Sold in June 2004 for $206,000
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in February 2012
• Bank owned in December 2012
• Currently listed for $309,900
• Assessments of $386 a month
• Taxes of $4312
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer??? (it’s not listed)
• No parking
• Bedroom #1: 19×14
• Bedroom #2: 12×7