Crib Chatter

This 4-bedroom contemporary single family home at 1812 S. Jefferson in East Pilsen came on the market in October 2012.

Built on a 24×100 lot, the listing says it has “all new interiors” with reclaimed wood and cork flooring.

The kitchen has modern maple cabinets and stainless steel appliances.

It has 3 outdoor spaces including a rear garden with a fireplace and movie screen.

It has central air and a 2-car garage.

The house was listed for 3 months in 2010 for $865,000 but never sold.

It came on the market recently at $749,000.

Are properties like this house a sign that Pilsen will be one of the next hot neighborhoods?

Jennifer Deckert at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

1812 S. Jefferson: 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 3600 square feet, 2 car garage

• Sold in October 1986 for $15,000
• Sold in April 2002 for $175,000
• Sold in September 2002 for $195,000
• Originally listed in July 2010 for $865,000
• Withdrawn in September 2010
• Re-listed in October 2012 for $749,000
• Currently still listed at $749,000
• Taxes of $4509
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 10×20 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 12×12 (main floor)
• Bedroom #3: 12×12 (lower level)
• Bedroom #4: 15×13 (lower level)

This 5-bedroom new construction single family home at 2451 N. Ashland in Lincoln Park has been on the market since October 2012.

The contemporary style home has 3000 square feet and a 2-car garage on a smaller than standard Chicago lot of 25×85.

There is a deck on top of the garage.

It has a white Euro-style kitchen with stainless steel appliances.

There is a floating staircase and a lower level family room.

Two of the bedrooms are on the second floor with the third on the third level, the fourth on the main floor and the fifth in the lower level.

The house was recently reduced $50,000 to $699,000.

Is this a deal for a single family home when duplex downs in the neighborhood are selling for over $700,000?

Konstantin Shelegeda at Lakeside Property Consultants has the listing. See the pictures here.

2451 N. Ashland: 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 3000 square feet

• New construction originally listed in October 2012 for $749,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $699,000
• Taxes of $11,206
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 20×18 (second level)
• Bedroom #2: 11×11 (second level)
• Bedroom #3: 20×11 (third level)
• Bedroom #4: 15×11 (main level)
• Bedroom #5: 13×10 (lower level)
• Family room: 20×35 (lower level)

This modern 6-unit building at 2607 N. Ashland in Lincoln Park recently came on the market.

At least it is different looking construction than most of the new construction we’ve been seeing. It isn’t red brick with the balconies in front of the building.

Here are the configuration of the units currently on the market:

• Unit #1W: 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, duplex down, 2800 square feet at $790,000
• Unit #2W: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1400 square feet at $455,000
• Unit #3W: 3 bedrooms, 4 baths, two story unit, rooftop deck, 2800 square feet at $890,000

It looks like some of the units are already under contract including one of the third floor units.

The kitchens are Ernestomeda with Gaggenau appliances and integrated refrigerators and dishwashers. The counter tops will be a choice of stone, quartez, corian or stainless steel.

It appears that parking is included.

The buildings to the right in the picture below are a group of rowhouses (which we’ve actually chattered about before) on the corner of Wrightwood and Ashland.

How does being on Ashland affect the sales price for these units? Or does it?

Is there any doubt that these will still sell quickly? (since everything that is new construction seems to be?)

Robert Roper at @Properties has the listings.

Check out the property website here.

We’ve chattered about this 1-bedroom in the Grand Ohio at 211 E. Ohio in Streeterville several times in the last few months.

After being on and off the market over the last several years, it sold in late November 2012 for $229,000, including the parking.

See our early December chatter about its sale here.

It recently came back on the market as a rental for $2,000 a month with the parking extra.

If you remember, it was just 700 square feet, but has a unique 400 square foot private walled in terrace.

The units on this floor are also the few in the building that actually have in-unit washer/dryer.

The kitchen has white cabinets and white appliances. The rental listing says that the new owner has ordered stainless steel appliances for the kitchen. The bathroom is also all white.

The bedroom has a Murphy Bed already installed. The unit is apparently available furnished or unfurnished.

There is no central air- but there are wall units.

Is $2000 a month the going rate for 700 square foot Streeterville 1-bedrooms?

You can see pictures of the unit here.

Unit #517: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 700 square feet

• Sold in June 1999 for $152,000
• Sold in May 2001 for $245,000 (doesn’t look like it included any parking)
• Originally listed in September 2012 for $257,000 (parking $30k extra)
• Reduced
• Was listed in October 2012 at $247,000 (parking $30k extra)
• Sold in November 2012 at $229,000 (parking included)
• Currently available for rent for $2000 a month (parking is extra)
• Assessments of $455 a month (includes doorman, cable, pool, exercise rooms)
• Taxes of $2261
• No central air- wall units only
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom: 11×15
• Livingroom: 15×16
• Kitchen: 7×10

We’ve chattered about this 4-bedroom Queen Anne at 6239 N. Lundy in the Old Edgebrook neighborhood of Forest Glen numberous times over the last few years.

In October 2012, we chattered about whether or not this house would finally sell in 2012 after being on the market nearly 3 years.

See that chatter here.

In October, it was listed at $729,000 and I asked if it would sell in the $600,000s.

At least one of you thought the answer would be yes.

But we were wrong. The house recently sold for $714,000.

If you recall, this Queen Anne was built in 1896. It still had many of its vintage features including its oak staircase, lead and stained glass and pocket doors.

The kitchen had a stainless steel refrigerator and dishwasher as well as granite counter tops and white cabinets. It had a front turret, a double parlor and a finished basement. There was a 3-car garage and central air.

The houses in the district are on larger lots and this one is no exception- having been built on a 111×164×65×158 lot.

Did someone get a deal for the neighborhood?

Irene Yungerman at Baird and Warner had the listing. You can still see the interior pictures here.

6239 N. Lundy: 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, 3 car garage, 3510 square feet

• Sold in March 1986
• Sold in December 1989 for $492,000
• Originally listed in February 2010 for $998,000
• Reduced in May 2010
• Was listed in October 2010 for $949,000
• Reduced
• Was listed in July 2011 at $859,000
• Reduced
• Was listed in November 2011 at $799,000
• Reduced
• Was listed in October 2012 at $729,000
• Sold in December 2012 for $714,000
• Taxes now $13,499 (they were $12,588 in November 2011)
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 15×14 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 17×12 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 13×12 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 14×14 (third floor)

If you ever wanted to live in a cool warehouse loft house, now is your chance.

This 3-bedroom house on a double lot at 2605 W. Armitage in Logan Square recently came on the market.

From the outside, it looks like every other industrial building around Chicago.

But the inside reveals an open loft layout with exposed brick, 26 foot high ceilings with timber beams and a massive skylight.

It has 5307 square feet on two levels and a 1200 square foot deck.

The house also has a 3-car carport.

Gentrification has slowly been moving further west.

Has the neighborhood changed enough for this property to nearly double in value since 2003?

Shannon Fassett at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See the pictures here.

2605 W. Armitage: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 5307 square feet, 3 car parking

• Sold in August 1992 for $115,000
• Sold in August 2003 for $725,000
• Currently listed for $1.3 million
• Taxes of $8,000
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 36×26 (main floor)
• Bedroom #2: 25×17 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 24×20 (second floor)

This 2-bedroom penthouse at 3400 N. Lake Shore Drive in Lakeview just came on the market.

The listing says the master suite and dining room have been featured in coffee table books and magazines (but remember, unless you negotiate it, the furniture won’t be there when you move in.)

It has wide plank dark wood floors and vintage trim and mouldings.

The kitchen has Boffi cabinets with professional appliances.

At 2100 square feet, it also has a 1000 square foot “fabulous private rooftop deck.”

But you wouldn’t know that from the pictures- as there isn’t a single one of the “fabulous” deck. You can only get a peek of it through the doors in the living room and master bedroom.

The listing also says there is a separate office with built-ins but it’s not listed as a room on the listing.

It has central air, washer/dryer in the unit and 2-car parking.

With everyone looking for 3 bedroom units, will $1.275 million be a hard sell for this 2-bedroom?

Emily Sachs Wong at Koenig & Strey Real Living has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #9C: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, office, 2100 square feet, 2 car parking

• Sold in September 1997 for $320,000
• Sold in July 1999 for $474,500
• Sold in December 2001 for $1.065 million
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in August 2010
• Currently listed for $1.275 million
• Assessments of $1312 a month (includes heat, a/c, doorman, cable)
• Taxes of $10,673
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• 1000 square foot private terrace with city views
• Bedroom #1: 15×14
• Bedroom #2: 16×14
• Office??? (no listing of room size)

We’ve chattered about various lofts in the Signature Lofts at 1750 N. Wolcott in Bucktown over the years.

This 3-bedroom on the third floor came on the market in October 2012, just 8 months after it had previously sold.

It is a southeast corner unit with 14 foot timber ceilings and exposed brick walls.

The kitchen has a large island with 42 inch cherry cabinets and stainless steel appliances.

It has central air, washer/dryer in the unit and 2-car parking is available for $30,000.

Originally listed in October 2012 for $695,000, it has been reduced $15,000.

However, if you add in the 2-car parking, it is still listed $30,000 above the February 2012 purchase price.

This loft is 1950 square feet.

Is this a townhouse alternative in this neighborhood?

Will it still command the early 2012 price?

Heather Seidelman at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #301: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1950 square feet

• Sold in May 2001 for $425,000
• Sold in February 2012 for $680,000
• Originally listed in October 2012 for $695,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $680,000 (plus $30,000 for 2-car parking)
• Assessments of $494 a month
• Taxes of $8588
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 13×28
• Bedroom #2: 12×12
• Bedroom #3: 12×12

This 2-bedroom in the vintage co-op building at 3750 N. Lake Shore Drive in Lakeview has been on the market for 10 months.

At 1600 square feet, it has a separate dining room, a butler’s pantry and oak hardwood floors.

Located on the second floor, it has north, south and west views.

The kitchen has checkerboard floors and carrera marble counter tops along with “high end” appliances.

The master bath has been rehabbed and has heated marble floors.

This is a rare vintage unit that has many features buyers look for including a washer/dryer in the unit and space pac cooling. There is rental parking available for $150 a month.

Yes, the HOA is $1440 a month but that includes the taxes.

Originally listed for $199,000 in February 2012, it has been reduced to $175,000.

Redfin shows it was last purchased in April 2010 for $130,000.

Is it possible to make money on the co-ops anymore?

Or are you buying it simply to live in?

Steven Acoba at Keller Williams Preferred has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #2H: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1600 square feet, co-op

• Sold in April 2010 for $130,000 (per Redfin)
• Originally listed in February 2012 for $199,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $175,000
• Assessments of $1440 a month (includes heat, gas, taxes, doorman, cable, indoor pool)
• Taxes are $3426
• Space pac cooling
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Rental parking available for $150 a month
• Bedroom #1: 17×12
• Bedroom #2: 17×11 

We last chattered about this 2-bedroom (which was really a 1-bedroom) in 10 E. Delaware in October 2012.

See our prior chatter here.

The listing agent had called it a 2-bedroom but then confessed in the listing that the second bedroom was really a den/office.

We had a spirited debate about what the definition of a “bedroom” was in real estate terms.

However, not many had an opinion on the saleability of a 1 bedroom plus den with 1023 square feet being listed at $740,000.

The unit recently sold for $665,000 (including the parking) – which was $50,000 over the 2010 price.

If you recall, this was a luxury unit.

The kitchen was Poggenpohl and had SubZero, Miele and Wolf appliances.

The master bath was marble.

Is this sale, after the unit was on and off the market for nearly 2 years, another indication of an improving market?

Timothy Salm at Jameson Sotheby’s had the listing. You can still see the pictures here.

Unit #11A: 2 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, 1023 square feet

• Sold in January 2010 for $615,000 (included the parking)
• Originally listed in January 2010 for $699,900
• Reduced
• Was listed as low as $649,000 in February 2011
• Withdrawn
• Was listed in October 2012 for $675,000 (parking $65,000 extra)
• Sold in December 2012 for $665,000 (parking included)
• Assessments of $481 a month (includes pool, doorman, a/c)
• Taxes of $8392
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 12×12
• Bedroom #2 (den????): 9×9