Crib Chatter

We’ve chattered about this 5-bedroom modern construction single family home at 336 W. Wisconsin in Lincoln Park several times in 2012.

See our July 2012 chatter here.

It’s commonly known as the “Fugitive House” because the movie, with Harrison Ford, was filmed in it.

It went under contract in August but then came back on the market a few weeks later.

The listing says “Nothing else compares!”

If you recall, it was built in 1981 on a larger than average Chicago lot of 32×126, it has a lot of features you don’t normally find in single family homes including a sauna, an elevator and an indoor pool.

It also has a 3 car garage.

The kitchen has white cabinets and a stainless steel refrigerator.

There are 3 master suites.

The house is still listed at $3.699 million.

But if you don’t want to buy it, perhaps you would like to rent it? It is currently available for $17,000 a month.

Since the rental market is so hot, will it be more successful at finding a tenant in 2012 versus a buyer?

Margaret Wilczek at Prudential Rubloff still has the listing. See the pictures here.

336 W. Wisconsin: 5 bedrooms, 5 baths, 6129 square feet, 3 car garage

• Sold sometime before 1994 (?)
• Originally listed in June 2011 for $3.95 million
• Reduced
• Was listed in March 2012 at $3.699 million
• Under contract briefly in August 2012
• Currently still listed at $3.699 million
• Taxes of $48,845
• OR you can rent it for $17,000 a month
• Central Air
• Sauna
• Elevator
• Indoor pool
• Bedroom #1: 15×19 (third floor)
• Bedroom #2: 12×22 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 13×16 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 13×14 (second floor)
• Bedroom #5: 14×18 (fourth floor)
• Family room: 17×20 (main floor)

Due to the late hour of the election, there won’t be any new cribs to chatter about today.

Sorry!

We’ll be back to our normal housing obsession tomorrow.

For all of you complaining about the “boring” properties I’ve been featuring, please send me tips. I’ll be glad to cover other “interesting” properties.

Also, don’t forget, this is the slow period of the market. There are few new properties coming on the market- and there is already lower inventory than last year.

Is this low inventory reality the new housing normal in Chicago?

We last chattered about this 3-bedroom townhouse at 642 N. Armour in West Town in August 2012.

See our prior chatter here.

It was then listed for $10,000 more than the 2003 purchase price but most of you thought that list price was nuts- considering what the property looked like in the pictures.

Since then, the townhouse has been reduced several times and is now listed $55,100 under the 2003 price.

If you recall, it is a Fannie Mae Homepath property and can be purchased for just 3% down.

It has 2 bedrooms on the second floor and a 3rd bedroom on the top floor.

The kitchen looks intact with white cabinets but the appliances are missing.

It also appears from the listing pictures that the bathrooms are intact.

There are hardwood floors in the living room.

The listing says there’s no central air. But there is an attached 1-car garage.

Some of you thought it would sell in the $200,000s last time.

Is it getting close to a realistic selling price now that it’s at $309,900?

Ayoub Rabah at Great Street Properties still has the listing. See the pictures here.

642 W. Armour: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, listing says 1120 square feet, one attached garage

• Sold in May 1996 for $198,000
• Sold in September 2003 for $365,000
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in June 2011
• Fannie Mae Homepath property
• Was listed in August 2012 for $374,900
• Reduced several times
• Currently listed at $309,900
• Taxes of $4488
• No central air (?)
• Bedroom #1: 17×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 14×12 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 14×10 (third floor)

This 2-bedroom penthouse duplex up at 33 W. Huron in River North has been on and off the market since August 2011.

At 3100 square feet on two levels, it has a 25×22 family room on the second level as well as a large private terrace with city views.

The listing says it has a “chef’s kitchen” with maple cabinets, 1.5 inch granite counter tops and black appliances.

The master suite, which has a fireplace, also has a spa bath with a rainfall shower.

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

It has been listed at $1.3 million since August 2011, with no reductions.

That is $230,000 over the 2006 purchase price.

Has the market improved enough for this unit to get the premium over the 2006 price?

Scott Newman at Newman Realty has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #810: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 3100 square feet, duplex up

• Sold in November 1998 for $763,000
• Sold in August 2006 for $1.07 million (parking included)
• Originally listed in August 2011 for $1.3 million
• Withdrawn in August 2012 still listed at $1.3 million
• Currently listed at $1.3 million
• Assessments of $1067 a month
• Taxes of $15,972
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Private terrace
• 3 fireplaces
• Bedroom #1: 27×14 (main level)
• Bedroom #2: 16×15 (main level)
• Family room: 25×22 (second level)

This 2-bedroom loft in 520 W. Huron in River North recently came on the market.

It is a duplex up loft with two outdoor spaces, including a regular balcony and a private rooftop terrace with city views on the second floor.

The loft has exposed brick and timber ceilings.

For those of you who hate spiral staircases in these loft units, you’re in luck, because this loft has a “normal” staircase.

The master bedroom and the family room are on the second level with the other bedroom on the main level.

The listing says there is a custom kitchen with a large kitchen island, granite counter tops and Viking stainless steel appliances.

There’s also a wet bar in the loft with a SubZero wine center.

It has central air, washer/dryer in the unit and parking is $30,000 extra.

Can a 2-bedroom with a family room command over $700,000 in this location?

Bessie Alvarez at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #606: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, duplex up, 2200 square feet

• Sold in April 2000 for $365,500
• Sold in March 2007 for $680,000 (parking included)
• Currently listed for $699,900 (plus $30,000 for parking)= $729,900
• Assessments of $863 a month (includes doorman, cable)
• Taxes of $9939
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Private rooftop terrace
• Bedroom #1: 14×18 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 13×13 (main level)
• Family room: 10×14 (second floor)

We’ve chattered about this 3-bedroom in 504 W. Barry in East Lakeview numerous times over the past 2 years.

See our last chatter in May 2012 here.

Originally listed for $779,900, but then reduced, some of you thought this would finally sell in the $500,000s but some of you were even more bearish and guessed in the $400,000s.

If you recall, it had the modern amenities that buyers look for, including parking, with some of the vintage flavor which is a unique combination.

The unit recently sold in short sale for $575,000.

The 10-unit building was built in 1927.

At 2200 square feet, the unit had some of its vintage features intact such as a woodburning fireplace and crown molding.

It also had space pac a/c and side-by-side in-unit washer/dryer.

Parking is a premium in the neighborhood, but the unit came with parking as well as guest parking, a rare bonus.

The listing described the kitchen as a “chef’s kitchen” with stainless steel appliances.

The property also came with a large balcony- which is somewhat unusual for this type of vintage building. Usually you don’t get any outdoor space with 1920s buildings.

Did someone get a deal?

Richard Cohn had the listing. You can still see the pictures here.

Unit #3W: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2200 square feet

• Sold in August 2000 for $427,500
• Sold in May 2007 for $750,000
• Was listed in April 2011 for $779,900
• Reduced
• Was listed in February 2012 for $699,900
• Reduced
• Was listed in May 2012 at $679,900
• Reduced
• Sold in November 2012 as a “short sale” for $575,000
• Assessments of $744 a month (includes heat)
• Taxes of $9295
• Space Pac A/C
• In-unit washer/dryer
• Parking included
• Bedroom #1: 17×12
• Bedroom #2: 16×13
• Bedroom #3: 12×12

This 3-bedroom townhouse at 524 W. Grant Place in East Lincoln Park has been on the market since September 2012.

What makes it so unique?

It was built in 1881, for starters.

It is also part of a 3-unit townhouse building where, according to the notes left by a Redfin agent about the property, the original owner in the 1980s split the vintage house into two- moving the back of the house to the back end of the property and built a new addition smack dab in the middle.

Viola! 3 units.

The front unit is currently on the market.

According to the Redfin agent, this unit has private access to the front porches as well as the front yard.

There is a door to the right side of the property which is where you enter all the units. (I should have taken a picture of it. It’s not visible in my photo or in the listing photo.)

The house has some of its vintage features intact including the original french doors and 3 fireplaces.

The living/dining and kitchen are on the main level, which is slightly below grade.

The kitchen has white cabinets and stainless steel appliances.

The second level has the family room and two of the bedrooms.

The master suite is on the top floor and has cathedral ceilings.

There is central air and garage parking.

It is a fee simple property which means there is no association.

Question- who pays for maintenance of the outside of the property?

What if the paint on that front deck starts peeling? Or the fence is rusting? Who pays for the landscaping and snow shoveling?

There also appears to be just one PIN number for this entire property- so it’s nearly impossible to figure out what it last sold for.

Redfin lists its last sale in October 2005 at $677,500- but we don’t know which unit that is that sold for that amount.

Will this townhouse sell in the $700,000s in this location?

Eudice Fogel at Prudential Rubloff has the listing. See the pictures and a floorplan here.

Unit #A: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, townhouse, no square footage listed, 1 car garage

• Common PIN for all 3 units in the building so I’m not listing prior sales
• Originally listed in September 2012 for $729,000
• Currently still listed at $729,000
• Fee simple- no assessments
• Taxes of $9390
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 19×17 (third floor)
• Bedroom #2: 13×10 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 11×10 (second floor)
• Family room: 12×12 (second floor)
• Living/dining/kitchen: on the main floor

This top floor 3-bedroom at 433 W. Wellington in Lakeview has a rare combination of being both a vintage unit and also having a private rooftop deck.

Normally, we chatter about top floor units with private rooftop decks with the newer construction units.

But this building was built in 1918 and the unit still retains some of its vintage features like the dark woodwork, moldings and a wood burning fireplace.

There are eight units in the building.

The kitchen is large, at 16×14, and has maple cabinets, granite counter tops and backsplash and stainless steel appliances.

It has the amenities buyers look for and which are found in the newer construction units such as central air, washer/dryer in the unit and garage parking.

The unit has been reduced $50,000 since it was first listed in May 2012.

It is on the fourth floor and there is no elevator in the building.

Is being on the 4th floor hurting it in this market?

Or is it all about price?

Adam Meredith at XPlus Real Estate and Investment Property has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #3N: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2200 square feet, 1 car garage parking

• Sold in March 1988 for $187,500
• Sold in July 1997 for $305,000
• Sold in July 2000 for $435,000
• Sold in May 2007 for $488,500
• Originally listed in May 2012 for $549,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $499,000
• Assessments of $536 a month (includes heat)
• Taxes of $7392
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 17×13
• Bedroom #2: 15×14
• Bedroom #3: 15×12
• Kitchen: 16×14
• Sunroom: 13×10

We’ve chattered about this bank owned 4-bedroom penthouse at 247 E. Chestnut in Streeterville several times over the past few years.

See our June 2012 chatter here.

Back in June, it was already bank owned. A couple of you wondered whether or not it didn’t make more sense to buy the unit and split it up into smaller units.

Some of you may also recognize it from 2010 publicity about an auction of the property (as it was owned by an emmy winning soap opera writer.) See that story here.

If you recall, at 4700 square feet, it is a full-floor unit with 360 degree views of the Lake and city.

The kitchen was described in the old listing as a “chef’s kitchen” with pear wood cabinetry, stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops.

It has central air and washer dryer in the unit.

Parking is rental in the building.

Yes, the assessments truly are $4152 a month.

Now reduced to $799,900, how low will this go before someone finally bites?

Rosario Terracciano at Resurrecting Real Estate now has the listing. There are new pictures. Hooray! See those here.

Unit #2500: 4 bedrooms, 5 baths, 4700 square feet, full floor penthouse

• Sold in August 1986 (but I couldn’t determine the price)
• Was listed in March 2011 as a “short sale” for $500,000
• Withdrawn
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in July 2011
• Bank owned in November 2011
• Originally listed in June 2012 for $949,900
• Reduced within days
• Was listed in June 2012 at $899,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $799,900
• Assessments now are $4152 a month (they were $4035 a month in March 2011) (includes heat, air conditioning, gas, doorman, cable)
• Taxes now $17913 (they were  $16,636 in June 2012 and $13,032 in 2011)
• Central Air
• 6×9 laundry room
• Rental Parking available
• Bedroom #1: 16×21
• Bedroom #2: 16×22
• Bedroom #3: 12×20
• Bedroom #4: 12×17
• Media room: 12×24

This 3-bedroom top floor unit at 1051 N. Winchester in the Ukranian Village of West Town came on the market in October 2012.

We chatter about a lot of duplex downs but not as many duplex ups.

This duplex up has 3 outdoor spaces including 2 rooftop decks.

It has vaulted ceilings and skylights, including skylights in the bathroom.

The kitchen has Shaker cabinets, granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances and a tile backsplash.

There’s a double vanity in the master bathroom.

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

The unit is about a block or so away from the shops and restaurants of Division Street.

It’s been reduced $19,900 since early October.

The property is now listed at the 2004 purchase price of $450,000.

Is this a deal?

Janelle Dennis at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #3: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, no square footage listed, duplex up, 1 car garage

• Sold in April 2000 for $355,000
• Sold in September 2004 for $450,000
• Originally listed in October 2012 for $469,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $450,000
• Assessments of $196 a month
• Taxes of $5870
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 18×15 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 14×13 (main floor)
• Bedroom #3: 14×10 (main floor)
• Loft: 9×8 (second floor)