Crib Chatter

Many of you have sent me tips over the years about various rowhouses north of Armitage on Bissell (usually those on the El side of the street that seemed like “deals”.)

There’s something about this row of vintage rowhouses that we love.

This 3-bedroom end unit rowhouse at 2137 N. Bissell in Lincoln Park came on the market in August 2012.

It is NOT on the El side of the street.

It also has a unique interior open floor plan with a massive skylight.

Built in 1876 on a 25×125 lot, it has a 1-car garage and a second parking space.

It also has an extensive deck system, including off the master bedroom.

The listing says the rowhouse has a Beverly Hammel custom gourmet kitchen with Wolf and SubZero appliances.

This rowhouse originally tried to sell in late 2008 but the listing was withdrawn just 2 months later (but remember what was going on in the economy at that time).

It was recently re-listed for $300,o00 less.

Is this rowhouse now priced to sell?

Julie Harron at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here.

2137 N. Bissell: 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, no square footage listed, 1 car garage plus second space

• Sold in February 1991 for $425,000
• Sold in April 1993 for $450,000
• Sold in August 2002 for $790,000
• Originally listed in October 2008 for $1.65 million
• Withdrawn in December 2008
• Re-listed in August 2012 for $1.35 million
• Currently still listed at $1.35 million
• Taxes of $18,307
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 21×21 (third floor)
• Bedroom #2: 15×12 (third floor)
• Bedroom #3: 13×13 (main level)
• Den: 16×10 (third level)

I’m going to be out of town at the end of the week and I have other things I have to take care of all week long as well.

Therefore, there will be fewer posts this week than normal. Today, there will only be two posts. There will be posts every day however.

Thanks- Sabrina.

Meanwhile, Case Shiller saw its fourth straight monthly increase.

From Crain’s:

The S&P/Case-Shiller index of Chicago-area single-family home prices rose 2.7 percent from June to July, according to a report released this morning. The local index jumped 4.6 percent from May to June and 4.5 percent from April to May.

The July index number is the highest for the area since September. Chicago-area prices are still are down almost 1 percent year-over-year, according to the report.

A 20-city composite price index increased 1.6 percent from June to July and was up 1.2 percent on a year-over-year basis, according to the report.

“The news on home prices in this report confirm recent good news about housing,” David M. Blitzer, chairman of the index committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices, said in a release. “Single-family housing starts are well ahead of last year’s pace, existing home sales are up, the inventory of homes for sale is down and foreclosure activity is slowing.

“All in all, we are more optimistic about housing. Upbeat trends continue. For the third time in a row, all 20 cities and both composites had monthly gains.”

Chicago-area home prices post third straight strong increase [Crain’s Chicago Business, September 25, 2012]

This 3-bedroom vintage rowhouse at 1832 W. Cornelia in Roscoe Village recently came on the market.

It went under contract in just 11 days.

We have chattered about rowhouses on this block before (including 1828 W. Cornelia, just two doors down, which has been on the market since February 2012.) See our chatter on that rowhouse here.

But this rowhouse came on at the price of $569,900, or equivalent to a duplex down in the neighborhood.

The rowhouse was built in 1890 on a 20×120 lot and has a 1.5 garage.

It has hardwood floors on the main level along with some original woodwork.

Two of the three bedrooms are on the second floor with the third on the top floor.

The kitchen appears to have the original white cabinets and white appliances.

It has a finished basement and central air.

Did this property go under contract so quickly because it was priced right?

Mick Bess at Century 21 McMullen has the listing. See the pictures here.

1832 W. Cornelia: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2500 square feet, 1.5 car garage

• Sold in February 1997 for $241,000
• Sold in May 2001 for $510,000
• Originally listed in September 2012 for $569,900
• Under contract in 11 days
• Taxes of $8607
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 17×11 (third floor)
• Bedroom #2: 18×11 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 14×10 (second floor0
• Family room: 22×14 (lower level)

We last chattered about this 2-bedroom duplex at 1853 N. Lincoln in Lincoln Park in July 2012.

See our prior chatter here.

It is in a prime location near Lincoln Park but doesn’t have parking or in-unit washer/dryer.

It last sold just two years ago and most of you thought it wouldn’t sell for more than the 2010 price this go-around.

The unit recently reduced another $5,500 but it is still listed $14,500 over the 2010 price.

If you recall, at 1100 square feet, it has its own private entrance and the listing says it feels like townhouse.

The kitchen has maple cabinets and a mixture of white and stainless steel appliances.

Both bedrooms are on the second level.

The listing says it has an “amazing location.”

The sellers are still “motivated.”

Is price really all that matters in real estate these days?

Laura Langer at Chicago Apartments and Condo still has the listing. (It’s agent owned.) See the pictures here.

Unit #1D: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1100 square feet

• Sold in September 1996 for $154,000
• Sold in March 1999 for $198,000
• Sold in April 2010 for $260,000
• Originally listed in March 2012 for $295,000
• Reduced
• Was listed in July 2012 at $280,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $274,500
• Assessments of $254 a month
• Taxes of $4869
• Central Air
• No in-unit washer/dryer (coin laundry)
• No parking
• Bedroom #1: 18×12 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 14×8 (second floor)

We last chattered about this East Lakeview vintage 2/2 at 521 W. Surf in December 2011.

See our prior chatter here.

Back then, it was listed just under $300,000, but a lis pendens foreclosure had been filed.

The listing was withdrawn without a sale and the bank took possession in April 2012.

The property recently came back on the market reduced another $30,000 from the 2011 price.

It has all the features buyers look for (and which are rare in vintage units, especially in East Lakeview), including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and not just one but two parking spots (it is an outdoor tandem spot.)

The building was built in 1906 and has 26 units.

The top floor unit still has some of its vintage features including built-ins, a wood burning fireplace, a beamed dining room ceiling and a pier mirror in the foyer.

The kitchen is eat-in and measures 10×17. It has white cabinets and appliances.

The listing says this property has a mandatory waiting period put in place so that owner occupiers can buy the property before investors.

It is listed just $16,400 above the 1997 price.

Will it go as low as $250,000?

And is that a deal for the neighborhood with 2-car tandem parking/laundry and central air?

Linda O’Donnell at Re/Max Signature now has the listing. See the current listing pictures here.

You can see the old listing pictures, which are more plentiful and include furniture, here.

Unit #3: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, dining room, no square footage listed but previously it was 1700 square feet

• Sold in January 1993 for $174,000
• Sold in December 1994 for $225,000
• Sold in September 1997 for $253,500
• Sold in July 2001 for $375,000
• Originally listed in April 2011 for $395,000
• Reducedseveral times
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in September 2011
• Was listed in December 2011 at $299,000 (included the parking)
• Withdrawn
• Bank owned in April 2012
• Re-listed in September 2012 for $269,900 (includes 2 car tandem parking)
• Assessments now $486 a month (they were $477 a month in 2011) (includes heat, cable)
• Taxes now $4444 (they were $4982 in December 2011)
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 14×14
• Bedroom #2: 13×12
• Dining room: 13×16
• Kitchen: 10×17

We last chattered about this 2-bedroom loft in the Mandel Brothers Lofts at 811 W. Aldine in Lakeview in July 2012.

See our prior chatter here.

At the time, the loft was bank owned and yet it was listed just 3% under the 2004 price.

Most of you thought the price was too high (no shock there) and that the pictures weren’t doing it any favor (standard bank owned pictures, I’m afraid.)

Someone did say that a price somewhere between the 2001-2002 price would be more like it.

It’s now been reduced twice since our last chatter and was recently dramatically reduced $50,000.

It is now listed well below the 2001 price.

If you recall, this loft is a Fannie Mae Homepath property which allows the purchaser to buy it for just 3% down.

At 1400 square feet, it has exposed brick walls and timber ceilings.

I can’t tell if it’s on one level or multiple levels. It appears to have a sizable 10×16 deck (maybe a roofdeck?)

It also appears from the pictures that the kitchen and baths are intact.

The kitchen has white cabinets, granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances (although it looks like the refrigerator is missing.)

The listing says it doesn’t have central air and it doesn’t say anything about washer/dryer- but other units in the building that we chattered about in prior years had both of those things. Sometimes the distress listings are not completely accurate.

The listing also lists 2-car parking and then in another location says parking is not included.

Is this finally a deal at below the 2001 price?

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

Unit #5NF: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1400 square feet

• Sold in June 2001 for $362,000
• Sold in September 2002 for $388,000
• Sold in June 2003 for $401,000
• Sold in July 2004 for $421,500
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in March 2011
• Was listed in July 2012 as a “Fannie Mae Homepath” property at $408,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $324,900
• Assessments of $333 a month
• Taxes of $7126
• No central air???
• Washer/Dryer not mentioned
• Possibly 2-car parking (???)
• Bedroom #1: 13×16
• Bedroom #2: 10×13
• Deck: 10×16 (third floor?)

Some of you may remember the Tru-Lofts at 2525 N. Sheffield in Lincoln Park from the days of the housing boom as it was an apartment to condo conversion that took place in the spring of 2007.

The original listings for the units in 2007 said you could buy the unit “as is” or you could purchase one of the upgrade packages.

This 1-bedroom plus loft recently came on the market.

The listing says it has been “gut rehabbed” and that the kitchen has new cabinets, a tile backsplash, granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances. (upgrade package?)

The loft has exposed brick and a steel/metal ceiling.

Currently, the master bedroom is being used as a nursery and the second level loft is being used as the master bedroom.

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

Originally listed in early September 2012 for $289,000, it has already been reduced $14,100.

The loft is now listed $3,900 above the 2007 purchase price.

Given all that has happened in the housing market since this building was marketed and sold, will this loft still manage to re-sell for near the 2007 price?

Jenna Cody at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #3F: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, no square footage listed

• Sold in May 2007 for $271,000
• Originally listed in September 2012 for $289,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $274,900 (parking included)
• Assessments of $151 a month
• Taxes of $4185
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom: 13×12
• Loft: 18×15

We last chattered about this 4-bedroom vintage rowhouse at 1919 N. Lincoln Park West in East Lincoln Park in December 2009.

See our prior chatter here.

Most of you loved the location and vintage character but the discussion really revolved about the 2-car parking behind the rowhouse which the former listing said could have a 2-car garage on it.

The lot is only 19×72.

Mario Greco at Prudential Rubloff had the former listing and this is what he said in the prior chatter about the possibly of a 2-car garage:

“To be clear, a legal parking spot under the zoning code is 8?x19? – in order to be allowed to go to the lot line, the walls on the lot line have to be masonry (or at least adequately fire-rated) so you should have 16? of interior width. The garage will not block the kitchen window but may block the basement window (depending on how deep the garage is built).

The pole can be moved. Would cost roughly $20k (b/c it’s a “central” pole whatever that means) and ComEd just quoted that to the seller last week. Were it a “non-central” pole, it would cost less than $5k to move.”

The current listing simply describes the 2-car parking as “secure.”

Listed for $899,000 in December 2009, it sold in February 2010 for $850,000.

If you recall, the rowhouse was built in 1888 and has many vintage features including amazing crown molding and ceiling details on the main level.

It still has 3 fireplaces including one in the third floor master suite.

Two other bedrooms are on the second floor and the fourth bedroom is in the lower level along with the family room.

The kitchen cabinets have been replaced since the 2009 listing. You can see from the picture of the kitchen in the prior chatter that it had a french country theme.

It now has modern custom brown cabinets with quartz counter tops. The 6-burner Wolf range looks to be the same one from the prior kitchen, however.

Now that the market is hotter, will this rowhouse get the premium over the 2010 price?

Kevin Wood at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

1919 N. Lincoln Park: 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 2 car parking, no square footage listed

• Sold in June 1999 for $437,500
• Sold in November 2003 for $810,000
• Originally listed in August 2008 for $1.075 million
• Withdrawn in January 2009 at $999,000
• Came back on the market in December 2009 at $899,000
• Sold in February 2010 for $850,000
• Currently listed at $1.1 million
• Taxes are now $13,773 (they were $14,539 in December 2009)
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 20×17 (third level)
• Bedroom #2: 18×12 (second level)
• Bedroom #3: 11×11 (second level)
• Bedroom #4: 12×10 (lower level)
• Family room: 20×17 (lower level)

This 2-bedroom loft at 300 W. Grand in River North has been on the market since July 2012.

It is bank owned.

It has exposed brick but white ceilings along with hardwood floors in the main living areas.

The bedrooms have carpeting.

It appears that only one of the bedrooms has windows in it with the second bedroom behind the kitchen.

From the listing pictures, it looks like this loft faces south, which is the preferred view, since the north facing lofts now look directly into The Silver at 303 W. Ohio.

The kitchen has white cabinets and appliances. The building was converted into lofts in 1998. This looks to be the original kitchen.

It also has two white bathrooms.

The loft has central air and there is a washer/dryer hook-up in the unit.

The listing doesn’t mention parking. Some units in this building had parking, some did not.

The loft has been reduced $19,000 since July and is now listed at the 2002 price.

Why isn’t this selling?

Rosario Terracciano at Resurrecting Real Estate has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #208: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1200 square feet

• Sold in August 1998 for $184,000
• Sold in April 2002 for $299,000
• Sold in January 2006 for $345,000
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in January 2010
• No record of the bank actually owning it but it is a Freddie Mac First Look Initiative property
• Originally listed in July 2012 for $318,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $299,900
• Assessments of $293 a month
• Taxes of $3486
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer hook-ups in the loft
• Parking??? (it doesn’t list any)
• Bedroom #1: 11×17
• Bedroom #2: 14×11

We last chattered about this 2-bedroom with a private terrace in The Pierre at 2100 N. Lincoln Park West in Lincoln Park in June 2012.

See our prior chatter here.

Back then, no one really had an opinion on the price but several of you commented that the terrace didn’t seem that private (with the other units being able to look down onto it.)

If you remember, it has a spiral staircase to the second floor bedrooms.

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

The unit has central air and in-unit washer/dryer. There is rental parking in the building.

The listing says it has new windows.

The Pierre was built in 1919 and is a full service building with a rooftop pool and 24-hour doorman.

This unit has been on and off the market since August 2007, will this unit finally sell in 2012?

Scott Berg at Berg Properties has the listing. It is realtor owned. See the pictures here.

Unit #3BN: 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, duplex, no square footage listed

• Sold in March 1988 for $163,000
• Sold in March 1999 for $230,000
• Originally lisetd in August 2007 (I couldn’t find a price)
• On and off the market
• Was listed in November 2011 for $525,000
• Reduced
• Was listed in June 2012 at $495,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $475,000
• Assessments of $954 a month (includes cable, doorman, gas, rooftop pool)
• Taxes of $4129
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Rental parking in the building
• Bedroom #1: 22×19 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 19×15 (second floor)
• 600 square foot terrace