Crib Chatter

We last chattered about this 3-bedroom vintage unit at 2233 N. Bissell in Lincoln Park in November 2012.

See our prior chatter here.

It was listed at $425,000 but most of you thought it would sell closer to $400,000 because of the smaller room sizes.

The unit recently closed for $415,000.

If you recall, it was NOT on the El side of the street.

Built in 1891, it had many of its original features including original moldings, a wood burning fireplace with the original oak mantle, built-in hutches and pocket doors.

There was also a custom wall of bookcases.

The kitchen had white cabinets with wood counter tops and it looks like there were white appliances.

It had a washer/dryer in the unit and garage parking but no central air- there were window units only.

This unit is on the second floor of a 3-unit building.

It closed for $99,000 under the 2004 price.

Did someone get a deal?

Art Collazo at Jameson Sotheby’s had the listing. You can still see the pictures here.

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

• Sold in November 2004 for $514,000
• Originally listed in June 2012 for $475,000
• Reduced several times
• Was listed in November 2012 at $425,000 (garage parking included)
• Sold in March 2013 for $415,000
• Assessments of $250 a month
• Taxes of $4335
• No central air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 14×19
• Bedroom #2: 12×9
• Bedroom #3: 10×10
• Den: 14×12

This 2-bedroom loft in the Union Square Lofts at 333 W. Hubbard in River North just came on the market.

It’s a bit unusual because it has been upgraded with vintage features including crown molding and wainscotting in the bedrooms.

The bathrooms have been upgraded and the fireplace has a marble surround with built in bookcases on either side.

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

It appears that just one of the two bedrooms has a window.

This unit has some exposed brick and tall concrete ceilings with exposed ductwork.

The loft also has an in-unit washer/dryer and central air.

There’s no parking with the unit, but it’s sometimes available for rent in the building.

It’s listed $19,900 over the 2006 price.

Will it get the premium?

Richard Wright at Rowhouse Realtors has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #507: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1207 square feet

• Sold in April 1998 for $189,000
• Sold in December 2005 for $345,000
• Currently listed at $364,900
• Assessments of $641 a month (includes heat, a/c, gas, doorman, cable)
• Taxes of $5163
• No parking
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 14×11
• Bedroom #2: 13×10

We last chattered about this 3-bedroom townhouse at 1246 W. Oakdale in Lakeview in January 2013.

See our previous chatter here.

Some of you will remember it as the epic thread that included a debate (again) about the city versus the suburbs.

But those of you who did comment on the property thought it would sell fast and for close to the asking price of $699,000. A few expressed some reservations about the price only because it was in the Agassiz school district and not in Burley.

It DID sell quickly and for $21,000 over the list price at $720,000.

If you recall, the listing said it had a “magazine caliber renovation.”

For a townhouse, this one had a unique layout as it’s a front end unit that is 44 feet wide and has a southern exposure.

It had its own private front yard.

At 3000 square feet, it was also as large as many single family homes.

The kitchen had custom white cabinets and a 7 foot dark walnut island with granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances.

There was a first floor family room along with a big lower level great room.

The master bedroom was on the top floor along with a roof deck and the other two bedrooms are on the second floor.

This is a rare property that has sold for a significant premium over the 2005 price.

Is it a sign of things to come?

Keith Wilkey at Prudential Rubloff had the listing. You can still see the pictures here.

1246 W. Oakdale: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 3000 square feet, 1 car garage

• Sold in July 2002 for $565,000
• Sold in May 2005 for $630,000
• Was listed in January 2013 for $699,000
• Sold in March 2013 for $720,000
• Assessments of $298 a month (includes snow removal)
• Taxes of $9434
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 16×13 (third floor)
• Bedroom #2: 15×10 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 15×10 (second floor)
• Family room: 17×12 (main floor)
• Great room: 28×16 (lower level)

We’ve chattered about units in this pre-war building at 500 W. Barry in East Lakeview before.

The last few years, we chattered about a 3-bedroom third floor unit, Unit #3W, which was listed in April 2011 at $799,900 and ended up selling last November for $575,000.

See our February 2012 chatter on that unit here. And see pictures of it here.

This current unit, however, is on a higher floor. Is this a top floor unit? The listing doesn’t say.

Don’t worry about stairs, however, as this building  has an elevator.

It also has garage parking and guest parking, a rare commodity in this neighborhood.

All 3 bedrooms are ensuite and 2 of the bathrooms have been rehabbed.

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

It has the original moldings and a wood burning fireplace.

It even has rare outdoor space witha  13×9 deck.

The unit has space pak cooling and in-unit washer/dryer.

It came on the market at $650,000, or $75,000 higher than #3W, which  had the same square footage, parking and other amenities.

Will it get the premium in this hotter market?

Gina Dunning at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #4E: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2200 square feet, 1 car parking

• Sold in August 1998 for $370,000
• Sold in July 2001 for $478,500
• Currently listed for $650,000
• Assessments of $776 a month (includes elevator, snow removal, cable)
• Taxes of $9877
• Space pak cooling
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Guest parking
• Bedroom #1: 17×13
• Bedroom #2: 17×12
• Bedroom #3: 13×8
• Deck 13×9

We’ve chattered about this 3-bedroom duplex at 2131 N. Clark in East Lincoln Park twice over the last 4 months.

See our January 2013 chatter here.

It originally came on the market in mid-November 2012 at $375,000.

It was an estate sale and was being sold “as-is.”

It lingered on the market for several months with no price reductions before it finally sold recently for $340,000.

If you recall, the living areas were on the first floor and the three bedrooms were on the second floor.

There was a 2-story heated atrium with a 8×12 sunroom.

It had central air, washer/dryer in the unit and outdoor parking.

If it came on the market right now, would it have sold for full price with multiple offers?

We’ll never know…

Emily Jeffries at Re/Max Properties had the listing. You can still see the pictures here.

Unit #10: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, duplex up, no square footage, outdoor parking

• No prior sales data
• Was listed in November 2012 at $375,000
• Sold in March 2013 for $340,000
• Estate sale – being sold “as-is”
• Assessments of $491 a month (includes cable)
• Taxes of $7687
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 11×14 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 10×15 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 10×10 (second floor)
• Sunroom: 8×12 (main level)

This 3-bedroom townhouse at 344 W. Dickens in East Lincoln Park just came on the market.

It is part of an 8-unit group of fee simple townhouses that were built in 1962 that don’t have a monthly HOA fee. They only pay a yearly maintenance fee which, in the case of this unit, is $215 a year.

That means each owner is in charge of their own windows, roof, outdoor space, back patio etc.

This townhouse has 3 levels with hardwood floors, exposed brick and a spiral staircase.

The family room is on the main floor with the living/dining/kitchen on the second level and then the bedrooms on the third floor.

The kitchen has white cabinets and white appliances.

It has central air and a carport parking space along with a brick fenced in private patio.

The listing says it is “priced to sell.”

Originally listed in 2011 for $419,000 it was withdrawn from the market that year and rented for $2300 a month.

It returns “as-is” at $320,000.

Is this a deal for the location?

Jennie Stec at Koenig & Strey Real Living has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #6: 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, 1479 square feet

• Sold in September 1992 for $212,000
• Was listed in September 2011 for $419,000
• Reduced to $369,000 by November 2011 and then withdrawn
• Rented in 2011 for $2300 a month
• Re-listed for $320,000
• Sold “as-is”
• Maintenance fee of $215 a year
• No HOAs- fee simple
• Taxes of $6985
• Central Air
• 1-car carport
• Bedroom #1: 17×12 (third floor)
• Bedroom #2: 10×12 (third floor)
• Bedroom #3: 15×10 (third floor)
• Family room: 16×25 (main floor)

We last chattered about this 3-bedroom in Crilly Court at 1708 N. Wells in Old Town in January 2013.

See our prior chatter here.

Over the last few years, owners in Crilly Court have been some of the few that have either made money or broke even on their 2007 purchases. (The buildings were converted into condos in 2007.)

If you remember the listing pictures were, um, interesting.

Most of you thought it would sell for 10% off the list of $539,000.

Bob thought it would sell at list given the low inventory.

It sold for $511,000 or $50,000 above the 2007 price.

If you recall, at 1507 square feet, this unit had two fireplaces but none of the other original historic features.

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

It had a balcony that faced the internal courtyard.

The unit has central air, washer/dryer in the unit but NO parking.

The lack of parking didn’t stop someone from paying over $500,000 for this unit.

Is this sale just another sign of the low inventory market (as Bob argued orginally)?

Mira Kovacevic at Coldwell Banker had the listing. You can still see the pictures here.

Unit #3: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1507 square feet

• Sold in July 2007 for $461,000
• Was listed in January 2013 at $539,000
• Sold in March 2013 for $511,000
• Assessments of $310 a month
• Taxes of $4750
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• No parking
• Bedroom #1: 12×17
• Bedroom #2: 11×13
• Bedroom #3: 10×15

This 2-bedroom loft in the Meter Building at 835 N. Wood in West Town just came on the market.

It has south and west exposure through its industrial windows.

The top floor loft has the features loft lovers crave including a ton of exposed brick walls, exposed duct work and 12 foot timber ceilings.

The kitchen has white cabinets and appliances.

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

While it is listed as a 2-bedroom, the walls for the second bedroom have been removed (the listing says they’re “easy to add”). But that leaves you with a large 1500 square foot wide open loft space.

What is better:  listing it as a massive 1-bedroom loft or listing it with 2-bedrooms only to have it really be a 1-bedroom when buyers tour it?

Or are loft buyers too savvy to care?

Ivona Kutermankiewicz at Koenig & Strey Real Living has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #402: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1500 square feet

• Sold in November 1993 for $139,500
• Sold in February 1999 for $195,500
• Sold in December 2000 for $256,000
• Sold in April 2004 for $342,500
• Currently listed at $385,000
• Assessments of $314 a month
• Taxes of $4309
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Garage parking included
• Bedroom #1: 25×14
• Bedroom #2: 14×12 (walls taken down)

This 5-bedroom single family home at 2050 W. Churchill in Bucktown was first listed in December 2010 and stayed on the market for 7 months.

It never sold.

It’s back on the market and has been reduced. I couldn’t find the original 2010 list price but in January 2011 it was listed at $1.199 million.

It’s now listed at $999,900.

It’s on the corner of Churchill and Hoyne so that gives it a rare front entrance on the side of the house.

The listing says it has a “chef’s kitchen” with granite counter tops, maple cabinets and upgraded stainless steel appliances.

3 of the 5 bedrooms are on the second floor. The other two are in the lower level along with the family room.

Built on a smaller than standard Chicago lot of 24×100, it has a deck on top of the 2-car garage for entertaining.

There is also the possibility of a rooftop deck (you can see the easy access door in one of the listing pictures.)

The house is listed just $64,900 above the 2003 purchase price.

Is this a deal for the location and square footage?

Beth Ryan at Ryan Realty & Associates has the listing. See the pictures here.

OR see it at the Open Houses on Saturday March 9 from 10:30 to 11 AM or Sunday March 10 from 11- 12 PM.

2050 W. Churchill: 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 3200 square feet, 2 car garage

• Sold in August 2003 for $935,000
• Originally listed in December 2010 (I couldn’t find the original list price)
• Was listed in January 2011 for $1.199 million
• Withdrawn in June 2011
• Recently re-listed for $999,900
• Taxes of $9788
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 20×16 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 13×11 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 14×11 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 15×12 (basement)
• Bedroom #5: 12×10 (basement)

Ever wonder what the penthouses are like in the grand pre-war buildings of Chicago?

This 3-bedroom duplex penthouse in The Barry at 3100 N. Sheridan in East Lakeview recently came on the market.

It has a private entry off the elevator and 2 private terraces.

All 3 bedrooms are on the second level.

Vintage features include crown moldings, an Italian marble fireplace mantle, and arches.

The listing says it has a “newer” galley kitchen with maple cabinets and granite counter tops. It also has a 13×3 pantry.

It has features buyers look for like central air and washer/dryer in the unit. The listing says parking is “available.”

This penthouse appears to have last sold in 1986 so this is a rare opportunity to own this kind of space in this building.

Priced at $725,000, is this priced to sell given its uniqueness?

Paul Solitro at Dream Town has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #14D: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2500 square feet, duplex up

• Last sold in 1986 (no price given)
• Currently listed for $725,000
• Assessments of $1877 a month (includes heat, gas, doorman, cable)
• Taxes of $9579
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Parking is “available”
• Bedroom #1: 17×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 13×10 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 18×10 (second floor)
• Family room: 16×10 (main floor)