Crib Chatter

We’ve chattered about a bunch of churches over the years. Some of them had already been converted into condos, some of them were the raw church which was awaiting someone with vision.

This church at 1300 N. Artesian in East Humboldt Park falls into the “raw” category.

The listing says it’s currently being used as a church plus rectory.

It also says it “needs repair” and updating. It’s being sold as-is.

It’s on a 50×125 lot. It doesn’t appear to have any parking.

It currently has 2 full baths and 2 half baths.

There’s no central air.

Originally listed at $900,000 it was recently reduced another $200,000 and is now listed at just $499,900.

Is this a deal?

Will someone save this church or will it be torn down?

Jean Metzler at Conlon has the listing. See the pictures here.

1300 N. Artesian: 1 bedroom, 2 baths, 2 half baths

• Looks like it was bought before 1986
• Lis pendens filed in January 2011
• Originally listed in November 2012 for $900,000
• Reduced several times
• Currently listed $499,900
• Tax exempt
• No central air
• 50×125 lot

This 3-bedroom vintage unit at 506 W. Oakdale in East Lakeview just came on the market.

It’s on the third floor and has both a front, south facing balcony and a large deck over the backyard garage.

It has crown molding throughout along with a marble fireplace in the living room and a bonus marble fireplace in the master bedroom.

The kitchen has white cabinets, granite counter tops, a subway tile backsplash and upscale appliances including SubZero and Bosch.

The baths are marble.

In addition to the three bedrooms, the unit also has a 10×10 family room next to the kitchen and an office.

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

The listing says it’s in the Nettlehorst school district.

It’s listed $31,000 under the 2006 purchase price at $695,000.

Is this kind of property (the vintage walk-up) one of the few options if you want 3-bedrooms and parking in this neighborhood?

Greg Alvarado at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #3: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2005 square feet, 1 car garage

• Sold in August 2004 for $671,000
• Sold in August 2006 for $726,000
• Currently listed at $695,000
• Assessments of $238 a month
• Taxes of $10,460
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 15×11
• Bedroom #2: 12×10
• Bedroom #3: 10×10
• Family room: 10×10
• Office: 11×10
• Deck: 19×13

This 3-bedroom at 1234 N. Dearborn in the Gold Coast has been on the market since January 2013.

It’s the top floor unit in the front building of a 6-unit association. (Remember the coach house in back that was bank owned back in 2008? See the pictures of it here.)

It appears to be on the fourth floor of the building and the listing explictly says that there is NO elevator in the building.

At 2157 square feet on one level, it has a separate dining room but no family room.

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

While the unit has central air and washer/dryer in the unit, it doesn’t have deeded parking. The listing says the seller is willing to pay for 1 year parking in the neighborhood.

The unit has been reduced $59,000 since January and is now listed $55,000 under the 2002 price.

Is this a deal?

Eileen Brennan at Prudential Rubloff has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #3F: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2157 square feet

• Sold in March 2002 for $665,000
• Sold in September 2005 for $720,000
• Originally listed in January 2013 for $669,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $610,000
• Assessments of $245 a month
• Taxes of $5465
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• No parking- seller willing to pay for 1 year garage parking
• Bedroom #1: 15×12
• Bedroom #2: 12×10
• Bedroom #3: 14×10

This top floor 3-bedroom at 3634 W. Wrightwood in Logan Square has been on the market since October 2012.

It is a 4-unit building that appears to have been converted into condos in 2003.

This unit has 3 exposures: North, South and East.

It has some of its vintage features still intact including the original built-in hutch in the dining room and the fireplace mantel.

It has 9 1/2 foot ceilings and hardwood floors throughout.

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

The unit has been reduced $10,900 since October and is now listed at $309,000.

With little else on the market in Logan Square, what’s keeping this on the market?

Chad Duda at Prudential Rubloff has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #3: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1500 square feet

• Sold in August 2003 for $254,000
• Originally listed in October 2012 for $319,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $309,000
• Assessment of $234 a month
• Taxes of $3840
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Gated parking included
• Bedroom #1: 11×14
• Bedroom #2: 11×10
• Bedroom #3: 11×9
• Dining room: 11×15

We last chattered about this 2-bedroom at 3808 N. Pine Grove in East Lakeview in December 2012.

See our prior chatter here.

Back then, it was listed as a 3-bedroom and was priced at $314,900.

Now, is has come back on the market as a 2-bedroom with a study and a new list price of $299,000.

If you recall, the building was constructed in 1912 and the unit still has some of its vintage features such as a coffered ceiling.

Ithas the perferred layout of 2 bathrooms (instead of 1 bath which is more common in vintage units) and a separate dining room.

The kitchen has a granite island, cherry cabinets and black appliances.

It also has washer/dryer in the unit, a parking space and a private deck.

There is no central air, however. There are window units.

Did listing it as a 3-bedroom when apparently it was a 2-bedroom lose this property momentum?

Is it now a deal at under $299,000 with the parking included?

Amy Diamond at Coldwell Banker still has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #2N: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, study, no square footage listed

• Sold in July 1988 for $99,500
• Sold in March 1994 for $159,000
• Sold in September 1996 for $185,000
• Sold in October 1999 for $253,000
• Sold in February 2002 for $271,000
• Sold in September 2006 for $355,000
• Originally listed in March 2011 (I couldn’t find a list price)
• Reduced
• Was listed in October 2012 for $324,900
• Reduced
• Was listed in December 2012 at $314,900 (parking included)
• Currently listed at $299,000 (parking included)
• Assessments of $363 a month (includes heat)
• Taxes of $5365
• No Central Air- window units only
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 11×13
• Bedroom #2: 11×8
• Study: 10×11
• Dining room: 10×15

I just can’t take this yucky weather another minute.

Where’s spring?

Even the housing market is lame right now.

I booked a last minute deal on CheapCaribbean.com so I’m jetting off to Jamaica for the next week. (Can you even believe how cheaply you can get some of those deals?)

At this point, I really don’t even care how nice the hotel is as long as there is a beach. ha!

But you know what that means for Crib Chatter. It will be on vacation schedule starting tomorrow through Tuesday April 2. That means just one post a day. Sorry if you get bored while I’m gone.

Usually I do “mansion week” or something like that but since it’s so last minute, I’ve come up with a few other ideas instead.

Inventory HAS picked up but it’s not going exactly gangbusters.  Let’s hope as the weather improves, so does the number of homes on the market.

This 3-bedroom cottage at 1441 N. Campbell in East Humboldt Park recently came on the market.

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

Some upgrades have been made to the home.

The kitchen has white Kraftsmaid cabinets with stainless steel appliances and a red vintage refrigerator.

There is some exposed brick.

There are dark bamboo floors on the main level.

2 of the three bedrooms are on the second level with the third on the main floor.

There is an unfinished basement.

I can’t tell if the house has central air as both having it and not having it are in the public listing.

This house was previously listed a year ago in March 2012 for $369,000 but it didn’t sell.

It’s come back on the market at $395,000.

Will it get the higher price now that the market is hotter?

Michael Clouse at Element 78 Realty has the listing. See the pictures here.

1441 N. Campbell: 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, 1700 square feet, 2 car garage

• Sold in August 1991 for $60,000
• Sold in November 1999 for $70,000 (??? the public record says $7,000 but I think that’s a typo given the 1991 price and it was not bank owned.)
• Sold in July 2007 for $265,000
• Originally listed in March 2012 for $369,000
• Withdrawn at the same price in July 2012
• Recently re-listed at $395,000
• Taxes of $3576
• Central Air (??? – listing says it has C/A but also says there is no C/A)
• Bedroom #1: 15×15 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 14×15 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 9×11 (main floor)
• Laundry room: 8×7

It’s back!

We last chattered about this 2-bedroom top floor triplex loft at 1000 W. Diversey in Lakeview in October 2011.

See our prior chatter here.

Many of you were taken by its uniqueness back in 2011 and thought that it could be cool. 

But you also thought it would take too much money to renovate.

Back in 2011 it was listed at $449,900 but didn’t sell.

It has come back on the market at $460,000.

If you recall, it has 20 foot ceilings, exposed brick and a massive skylight in the living area.

There are also skylights in one of the bathrooms.

The third floor has a large master suite and the private 15×15 rooftop terrace.

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

For those of you familiar with the Diversey brown line stop- you can actually see this rooftop terrace quite clearly from the platform (it is in the building that houses the Starbucks at Sheffield and Diversey.)

The kitchen has white cabinets and stainless steel appliances.

Please be sure to check out the infamous soaking tub in the middle of the floor of the master bathroom.

The loft has all the features buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and parking.

Will it get the premium over the 2011 list this time?

And why ARE there french doors in the second bathroom that appear to lead to nowhere?

Andrew Millard at 33 Realty has the listing again. See the pictures here.

Unit #3E: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2400 square feet (was 2200 square feet in 2011)

• Sold in August 1988 for $197,500
• Sold in April 1993 for $290,000
• Was listed in October 2011 for $449,900
• Withdrawn
• Recently re-listed for $460,000
• Assessments now $454 a month (they were $451 a month in 2011)
• Taxes now $8330 (they were $7653 in 2011)
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Garage parking
• Bedroom #1: 21×15 (third floor)
• Bedroom #2: 12×13 (second floor)

Many of you will remember this 2-bedroom townhouse at 1732 N. Mohawk in Lincoln Park because we chattered about it several times in 2011.

We last asked if it would sell in 2011.

The answer was “no.”

See our December 2011 chatter here.

It was reduced down to $375,000 or $2,500 under the 2002 purchase price but then withdrawn.

Given that it was actually the back unit in this complex (and NOT the front one shown in the picture), some of you thought it would sell for closer to $325,000.

Some of you also theorized that the 2-bedroom market in the GZ was dead and wouldn’t recover for years.

But that was then and this is now.

The 1500 square foot townhouse came back on the market listed at $429,000, or $54,000 more, than 2 years ago.

The listing said, “won’t last long at this price.”

It went under contract nearly immediately.

You’ll recall that the townhouse has the living/kitchen area on the main floor, 2 bedrooms on the second level and then a den on the third level with skylights.

It also has a 300 square foot private rooftop deck on the third level.

There are hardwood floors on the main level and both bedrooms have new carpet.

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

Built in 1988, it has central air and 2-car tandem parking.

Is there really any doubt that all those accidental landlords should be listing their properties right now?

Long Barnes at Urban Domain now has the listing. See the pictures (again- as they’re the same pictures as the 2011 listing) here.

Unit #C: 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, den, 1500 square feet

• Sold in September 1992 for $208,500
• Sold in June 1994 for $218,500
• Sold in May 2000 for $306,000
• Sold in October 2002 for $377,500
• Sold in August 2005 for $499,000
• Sold in April 2006 for $499,000
• Originally listed in November 2009 for $519,000
• Reduced
• Was listed in April 2011 for $439,000
• Reduced
• Was listed in May 2011 for $435,000 (includes 2-car tandem parking)
• Reduced
• Was listed in August 2011 for $400,000 (includes 2-car tandem parking)
• Reduced
• Was listed in December 2011 for $375,000 (includes 2-car tandem parking)
• Withdrawn
• Recently re-listed at $429,000
• Under contract within days
• Assessments still $100 a month
• Taxes now $7321 (they were $6435 in December 2011)
• Central Air
• Private Roof Deck: 18×17
• Bedroom #1: 15×12 (second level)
• Bedroom #2: 11×10 (second level)
• Den: 11×10 (third level)

This 3-bedroom triplex penthouse at 221 E. Walton in the Gold Coast may look familiar to some of you.

We’ve previously chattered about its sister unit, #20PE, which had the same layout but also had a jacuzzi out on its private deck.

See our chatter about that unit here.

I’m not sure if that unit ever sold.

If you recall, these penthouses have an 18 foot wall of windows in the living room with city views.

This unit has north and south views.

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

The master suite has a marble bath.

The third floor has a unique 20×12 sunroom that opens up to the private 15×12 deck which the listing says has lake views.

The unit has in-unit washer/dryer but no central air. It has wall unit cooling.

Parking is also available for $50,000.

Since it came on the market in January, it has been reduced $100,000 to $899,000.

Is this a deal?

Eudice Fogel at Prudential Rubloff has the listing (she also had the other penthouse listing). See the pictures here.

Unit #20PW: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, no square footage listed, triplex

• Sold in September 1992 for $235,000
• Sold in October 2001 for $850,000
• Originally listed in January 2013 for $999,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $899,000
• Assessments of $1607 a month (includes cable, doorman)
• Taxes of $8050
• No central air- wall unit cooling
• In-unit washer/dryer
• Parking is $50,000 extra
• Private deck: 15×12
• Bedroom #1: 17×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 13×12 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 14×12 (main floor)
• Sunroom: 20×12 (third floor)