Crib Chatter

I’m going to be out of town enjoying myself on the slopes next week (some states have to have some snow, right?)

So that means it will be the Crib Chatter vacation schedule!

You know the drill by now. That means there will just be one post a day. Sorry. I know it’s boring but you have to admit, the housing market simply IS boring right now.

Hopefully that will be changing in just a few weeks.

But in the meantime, next week’s topic will be Mansions and Penthouses. You KNOW I love to chatter about those dream properties.

I’ll be checking in from the ski lodge but I hope everyone is on their best behavior with their comments while I’m gone. (I’m not going to name names.)

Also- some of you have sent me tips recently for which I am grateful. You all have your pulse on the market and you’re finding me interesting properties. I appreciate it!

Never fear, I’ll be covering some of those properties when I return.

Best wishes,

Sabrina

We last chattered about this 3-bedroom duplex penthouse in The Mentor Building at 6 E. Monroe in the Loop in August 2012.

See our prior chatter here.

At that time, it was listed as a short sale and was on the market for $225,100 under the 2008 price at $599,000.

It never sold and was recently re-listed on the market.

However, it’s no longer listed as a short sale in the public listing and it is now price $31,000 higher at $630,000.

Remember this kitchen?  No standard dark wood cabinets for this unit.

It has cherry wood mode cabinets, Miele appliances and granite counter tops.

The unit is duplex up and has vaulted ceilings and skylights on the second level.

All three bedrooms are also on the second floor.

It has north, east and south views.

The unit has in-unit washer/dryer and central air. Parking is available across the street at 8 W. Monroe for $30,000.

What price will it take to sell this unit in 2013?

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

Unit #1601: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2664 square feet, duplex up

• Sold in June 2003 for $660,000
• Sold in March 2005 for $675,000
• Sold in March 2008 for $825,000
• Originally listed in May 2010 for $1 million
• Reduced numerous times
• Was listed in August 2012 as a “short sale” at $599,900
• Re-listed recently for $630,000 (parking is $30,000 extra across the street at 8 W. Monroe)
• Assessments of $1230 a month (includes heat, a/c, cable)
• Taxes of $8415
• Central Air
• In-unit washer/dryer
• Bedroom #1: 18×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 11×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 18×15 (second floor)
• Den: 14×11 (main floor)

This 3-bedroom Georgian Lannon Stone at 6244 N. Kirkwood in the Sauganash neighborhood of Forest Glen has been on the market since July 2012.

The listing says it’s located on one of the neighborhood’s signature “K” streets.

Built in 1949, the house is on an oversized irregular lot measuring 109×128.9×73.2×124 and has a rare attached 2.5 car garage.

It has several bay windows and 2 fireplaces.

There’s a first floor family room and 2 wet bars.

There’s also a recreation room in the basement.

Since July, the house has been reduced $70,000 to $829,000.

Who’s the target buyer for these larger homes in Sauganash?  And at what price will they be willing to buy?

Quin O’Brien at 4 Sale Realty has the listing. See the pictures here.

6244 N. Kirkwood: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2238 square feet, 2.5 car garage

• Sold before 1988
• Originally listed in July 2012 for $899,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $829,000
• Taxes of $10,066
• Central Air
• 2 fireplaces
• 2 wet bars
• Bedroom #1: 15×15 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 12×20 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 10×12 (second floor)
• Recreation room: 24×15 (basement)
• Family room: 9×36 (main floor)

We usually don’t chatter about properties already under contract but since Gary said all we talk about are the depressed properties I thought I’d showcase one that went under contract in just a few months in a popular neighborhood.

This 3-bedroom brick cottage at 1025 N. Paulina in the East Village neighborhood of West Town was built back on the 25×130 lot so it has an unusual big front yard.

However, it still has room for a rooftop deck and a 2-car garage.

It has cherry floors on the main floor.

The kitchen has white cabinets and appliances.

One bedroom is on the third floor with the other two on the second floor.

There’s a family room on the second floor but no basement.

Originally listed in September 2012 for $635,000, it was reduced $10,000 before it went under contract after just a few months on the market.

Are move-in ready single family homes in the East Village a no-brainer to sell quickly?

Scott Zelkin at @Properties has the listing. You can still see the interior pictures here.

1025 N. Paulina: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, no square footage listed, 2 car garage

• Sold in October 1995 for $80,000
• Sold in April 1997 for $257,000
• Sold in September 2003 for $572,500
• Sold in May 2006 for $662,000
• Originally listed in September 2012 for $635,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $625,000
• Under contract
• Taxes of $8837
• Central Air
• No basement
• Bedroom #1: 15×16 (third floor)
• Bedroom #2: 14×10 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 14×8 (second floor)
• Family room: 17×15 (second floor)

This 2-bedroom in the Altgeld Club at 1350 W. Fullerton in Lincoln Park came on the market in November 2012.

It is bank owned.

The listing says:

“This is a fantastic buy that will bring you joy and happiness. This delightful 2br-2bth 12′ ceilings will allow you to host the best parties.”

The building also apparently has a “working HOA.”

From the pictures, it appears the kitchen is intact (except that the refrigerator is missing) and that at least one of the bathrooms is intact.

It is a Fannie Mae Homepath property so you can buy it with just 3% down.

The unit has central air and garage parking. It doesn’t say anything about a washer/dryer in the unit but this building does have hook-ups in the units.

It has been reduced $24,500 since November and is now listed at the 2002 purchase price.

Is this a deal for a little bit of joy and happiness?

Nicholas Hansen at REO Plus LLC has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #403: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in June 1998 for $241,000
• Sold in February 2002 for $344,000
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in November 2009
• Bank owned in April 2012
• Originally listed in November 2012 for $369,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $344,500 (parking included)
• Assessments of $385 a month
• Taxes of $4915
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer hook-ups in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 14×14
• Bedroom #2: 10×9

This 1-bedroom on the 67th floor of Lake Point Tower at 505 N. Lake Shore Drive might not seem particularly interesting at first glance until you take a look at the pictures of the 12-car garage that comes with it.

Yes- you read that right.

A 12 car garage.

The condo is 2537 square feet with south and east views.

Everything is white, including the white carpet, the white tiles in the kitchen and bathrooms, the white kitchen cabinets and appliances and the white bathrooms.

The listing says this unit was once a 2-bedroom but has been converted into a big 1-bedroom.

It has wall air conditioning and in-unit washer/dryer.

But the thing that sets it apart is the 12-car parking.

This is a garage built for a collector with a red painted concrete floor and yellow painted concrete ceiling.

The pictures in the listing show an entertaining area including a flat panel television and a bar. Although I couldn’t find any indication in the listing that there is water to the garage (or a rest room.)

The listing DOES say it has separate heat, air conditioning, air handling and security.

There is also a separate assessment and taxes.

You can buy the condo and the garage together for $3.4 million or the garage separately for $2.1 million.

Is this a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a buyer with a car collection?

Katherine Malkin at Baird & Warner has both listings. You can see all the pictures, including the garage, here.

You can also see the listing (but no pictures) of the garage here.

Unit #6705: 1 bedroom, 2 baths, 2537 square feet including 12 car parking garage with 2714 square feet

• Sold the condo in October 1990 for $432,000
• Sold the parking in October 1996 for $31,000 (not sure there aren’t more pins involved here or what)
• Currently listed together for $3.4 million
• OR you can buy the garage alone for $2.1 million
• Assessments on the condo are $2453 a month (includes pool, doorman, cleaners, restaurant)- not sure if this amount also includes the garage assessments or not
• Taxes are $14,228
• Assessments on the parking are $812 a month
• Taxes are $3236
• Wall unit air conditioning
• In-unit washer/dryer
• Bedroom #1: 23×29

We’ve chattered about this 3-bedroom rowhouse at 474 W. Deming in East Lincoln Park several times now.

See our November 2012 chatter here.

It originally came on the market in July 2012 at $949,000 and had been reduced to $924,500 by November 2012.

The rowhouse was recently re-listed but is still at the same price of $924,500.

If you recall, the rowhouse is just a block from Lincoln Park and also just steps away from the shops and restaurants on Clark.

Built in 1884 on a 20×74 lot, it still has some of its vintage features such as stained glass, the original wood staircase and crown molding.

Yet it also has central air, a lower level family room and 2-deeded parking spaces directly behind the rowhouse.

All 3 bedrooms are on the second floor along with 2 baths.

Inventory is as low as last November so there’s not many properties in competition with this one.

What price will it take to sell this home?

Mario Greco at Prudential Rubloff still has the listing. See the pictures here.

474 W. Deming: 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, no square footage listed, 2 deeded parking spaces behind the rowhouse

• Sold in January 1993 for $266,000
• Sold in April 1995 for $307,500
• Sold in February 2001 for $640,000
• Originally listed in July 2012 at $949,000
• Reduced
• Was listed in November 2012 at $924,500
• Recently re-listed at $924,500
• Taxes of $14,852
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 18×17 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 19×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 12×11 (second floor)
• Family room: 30×19 (lower level)

This 2-bedroom in the Park Tower at 5415 N. Sheridan in Edgewater recently came on the market.

We haven’t chattered about this building in a few years.

Park Tower is one of the larger buildings on the north side with 744 units.

It is a full service building with a doorman and a pool.

This unit on the 33rd floor has south facing lake and park views.

It has floor to ceilings windows to take in the views.

The kitchen has white cabinets and white appliances.

There is central air but no in-unit washer/dryer. Parking is rental in the building.

Are the views enough to sell this unit?

Michael Hall at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #3301: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1250 square feet

• Last sold before 1986
• Currently listed at $275,000
• Assessments of $795 a month (includes cable, doorman, pool)
• Taxes of $2546
• Central Air
• No in-unit washer/dryer
• Bedroom #1: 16×11
• Bedroom #2: 13×10

This 1-bedroom in the Ontario Place Private Residences at 10 E. Ontario in River North recently came on the market.

It’s a bank owned unit.

The building was converted into condos at the height of the housing bubble in 2006/2007.

Foreclosures have been plaguing it for years and it looks like that will continue in 2013.

This 1-bedroom is a 995 square foot corner unit with South and West views.

It has carpeting.

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

The unit has central air but no washer/dryer. There’s no parking listed.

This unit last sold for $440,000 and is now listed at $183,750.

Is this even a deal given all the foreclosures in the building?

Leticia at Jimenez at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #2111: 1 bedrooms, 1 bath, 995 square feet

• Sold in October 2007 for $440,000
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in March 2010
• Bank owned in June 2012
• Currently listed for $183,750
• Assessments of $500 a month (includes A/C, doorman, pool)
• Taxes of $3417
• Central Air
• No washer/dryer in the unit
• No parking?
• Bedroom #1: 15×11

This 2-bedroom in Wells Street Tower at 701 S. Wells in the South Loop came on the market in June 2012.

At 1261 square feet, it appears to be a standard 2-bedroom newer construction unit but what sets it apart is a huge wrap-around patio measuring 1500 square feet.

It has a North-East exposure.

It also has a 1-extra large parking space where you can fit two cars side by side.

The kitchen has stainless steel appliances and a kitchen island.

Do big terraces that have no landscaping really matter to buyers?

Alejandro Guevara at Dream Town Realty has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #801: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1261 square feet

• Sold in August 2002 for $368,500
• Sold in July 2004 for $415,000
• Originally listed in June 2012 for $359,000
• Re-listed in October 2012 for $369,900
• Currently listed at $374,900 (parking included)
• Assessments of $653 a month (includes cable, gas, doorman)
• Taxes of $4244
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Terrace of 1500 square feet
• Bedroom #1: 13×14
• Bedroom #2: 11×12