Crib Chatter

We last chattered about this rehabbed 3-bedroom bungalow at 4437 N. Christiana in Albany Park in July 2012.

See our July chatter here.

Back in July, most of you liked the rehab but weren’t sold on the Albany Park location.

If you remember, it last sold in January 2012 in an estate sale for just $140,000.

The rehabber kept some of its original features like the fireplace and built-ins as well as stained glass which was previously in the dining room.

The floorplan was opened up to suit today’s buyers taste.

2 bedrooms are on the second floor with the third on the main level.

There is also a finished basement which has two more small bedrooms in addition to a family room.

At 3500 square feet, it is on a standard Chicago lot of 25×125 and has a two-car garage.

This house is just a couple of blocks south of the Kedzie Brown Line stop.

It has been reduced another $10,000 since July and has now been reduced $41,000 since June 2012.

Is the only thing preventing a sale of this house the price?

There are $400,000 and $500,000 houses listed just a block north.

Nicoll Garry at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See the pictures here.

4437 N. Christiana: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 3500 square feet, 2 car garage

• No prior sale
• Sold in an estate sale in January 2012 for $140,000
• Originally listed in June 2012 for $420,000
• Reduced
• Was listed in July 2012 at $389,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $379,000
• Taxes of $618
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 17×11 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 17×12 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 11×10 (main floor)
• Bedroom #4: 11×7 (basement)
• Bedroom #5: 8×10 (basement)

This 3-bedroom duplex down at 1321 N. Bosworth in West Town came on the market in late August 2012.

It was last bank owned and sold in June 2012.

The prior listing when it was bank owned said: “This may be your project! Wicker Park -Bucktown area, spectacular duplex down! In need of some repairs and replacement of missing items.”

The kitchen cabinets were still intact but the appliances were missing. From the pictures in the prior listing, it appears that the bathrooms were also intact.

However, the pictures indicate the floors in the lower level were missing as was some drywall.

The new listing has the same kitchen and granite counter tops and backsplash. The Viking and Bosch stainless steel appliances are new.

A new wood floor has been put in in the lower level as well.

The unit was repainted and a new stone facade was put on the fireplace.

All three bedrooms are in the lower level.

Originally listed for $400,000, it was reduced to $375,000.

After only 21 days on the market it just went under contract.

Is a buyer still getting a deal on this unit even after paying the rehabber premium?

See the pictures of the unit “before” when it was bank owned here.

Kristina Ryan at Weichert Realtors- First Chicago has the listing. See the rehabbed pictures here.

(By the way- notice that the old unit had natural wood around the windows and moldings and the rehab unit painted it white. Should they have kept the “natural” look?)

Unit #1S: 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 1900 square feet, duplex down

• Sold in September 2006 for $561,000
• Lis pendens filed in March 2009
• Bank owned in February 2012
• Sold in June 2012 for $231,500
• Originally listed in August 2012 for $400,000 (parking included)
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $375,000 (parking included)
• Under contract
• Assessments of $183 a month
• Taxes of $7603
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 18×16 (lower level)
• Bedroom #2: 13×14 (lower level)
• Bedroom #3: 12×11 (lower level)

We last chattered about this 2-bedroom triplex penthouse in the Franklin Lofts at 720 S. Dearborn in June 2011.

See our 2011 chatter here.

Back in 2011, many of you complained about the pictures which you said seemed to be more about the furniture and flowers in the rooms than the actual property itself.

They’re back!

It’s the same pictures.

But this loft has a brand new price. It has been reduced $100,000 from last year.

Located on the top floor of this old printing factory, it has the living space and one bedroom on the main floor, an office on the second and a second bedroom on the third floor.

There is also a rare private terrace that has Sears Tower views and west city views. (As not many Printers Row loft buildings have outdoor space.)

The kitchen has upgraded appliances such as a SubZero refrigerator and granite counter tops.

The unit has exposed brick and soaring ceilings.

There is central air and an in-unit washer/dryer.

As is common with most of the Printers Row loft buildings, there is no parking in the building but you can rent parking in the neighborhood or buy a spot at 801 S. Plymouth.

Now listed $120,000 under the 2007 price, is this loft priced to sell?

Margie Smigel at Luxe Marketing & Sales still has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit PH2: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed, triplex

• Sold in November 1990 for $275,000
• Sold in January 2000 for $385,000
• Sold in August 2007 for $570,000
• Originally listed in March 2011 for $550,000
• Was still listed in June 2011 for $550,000
• Withdrawn
• Re-listed for $450,000
• Assessments now $1258 a month (they were $1203 a month last year) (includes heat, a/c, cable)
• Taxes now $6197 (they were $6955 in 2011)
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• No parking
• Private terrace
• Bedroom #1: 16×12 (third floor)
• Bedroom #2: 12×10 (main floor)
• Office: 8×6 (second floor)

We chattered about this 2-bedroom loft at 1528 S. Wabash in the South Loop numerous times over the years as it went from a normal sale, to a short sale, to bank owned and then, this summer, to a flip.

See our June 2012 chatter here.

From the before and after pictures, it appeared that there wasn’t a major renovation done to this unit. You can see the bank owned pictures here.

The kitchen and baths were intact when it was bank owned and were the same in the recent sale. The bank owned listing even had stainless steel appliances.

The latest listing said it had “new stone (quartz) counter tops.” From the pictures, it appears those were replaced in the kitchen and the bathrooms.

There also appeared to be a new tile backsplash in the kitchen.

Despite many of the Chatterati thinking this seller was going to get burned trying to re-sell this unit for nearly $100,000 above the March sale, that didn’t happen.

Instead, this seller made $90,000 on the sale in just 6 months.

Even if you deduct transaction/assessments/taxes and rehab fees- that’s not too shabby for 6 months worth of work.

Does this sale speak to the change in the overall housing market?  (i.e. that the bottom has past.)

Again, I ask, why isn’t everyone rehabbing/flipping?

Scott Fey had the listing.

Unit #608: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1200 square feet

• Sold in January 2004 for $268,000
• Originally listed in October 2008 for $299,900 (parking is extra)
• Reduced
• Was listed in February 2009 for $284,900 (parking was $34,000 extra)
• Reduced several times
• Was listed in May 2009 for $261,900 (parking was $28,000 extra)
• Withdrawn
• Listed in April 2010 for $289,900
• Reduced
• Was listed as a “short sale” for $214,900 (plus $25,000 for parking)
• Withdrawn
• Bank owned
• Originally listed in October 2011 for $229,000 (included the parking)
• Reduced
• Was listed in December 2011 for $169,900 (included the parking)
• Sold in March 2012 for $155,000(included the parking)
• Was listed in June 2012 for $249,900 (included the parking)
• Sold on August 31, 2012 for $245,000 (included the parking)
• Assessments of $433 a month (includes heat, gas and cable)
• Taxes are now $4032 (were $3656)
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 14×12
• Bedroom #2: 12×11
• Living room: 14×18
• Kitchen: 14×9

If you want to live on Alta Vista Terrace, the landmarked street with 40 London-style rowhouses in Lakeview, now is your chance.

There is a record five rowhouses on the market (at least that’s a record since I’ve been following real estate over the last five years.)

This 4-bedroom rowhouse at 3809 N. Alta Vista Terrace has most of the features that buyers look for (but can’t always find) in these rowhouses.

Built in 1904 on a 24×40 lot, it is on the east side of the street and has a much sought after 1-car garage.

It also has central air and a rooftop deck (in the picture above, you can just see the extra room which was built on the roof of the rowhouse- which isn’t shown in any of the listing pictures.)

All 4 bedrooms are on the second floor and it also has the much sought after 2.5 baths (some of the other rowhouses don’t have 2 full baths.)

It has a lower level family room which the listing says has a 7’3″ ceiling  height.

The listing says the rowhouse was the former home of model and socialite Cathleen Wiechert Treacy (extra bonus points if you know anything about her life.) She lived in the house for 40+ years apparently.

For vintage lovers, the rowhouse has many of its original features including original doors, leaded glass, crown molding, millwork and hardwood floors.

There are no pictures of the kitchen or the bathrooms.

At $500,000 is this competitively priced for the street?

Susan Lawrence at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

3809 N. Alta Vista Terrace: 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2370 square feet, 1 car garage

• There’s no prior price as the seller lived in the rowhouse for over 40 years
• Currently listed at $500,000
• Taxes of $7615
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 13×11 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 12×11 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 12×10 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 11×8 (second floor)
• Family room: 16×15 (lower level)

Who says you can’t make money in real estate?

This 2-bedroom at 2119 W. Crystal in the Wicker Park neighborhood of West Town came on the market on August 30 and in under 10 days it is already under contract.

(Sorry for the bad picture but that massive tree in front blocked it from every angle.)

It was recently a Fannie Mae property and sold in May 2012 for just $180,000.

It looked to be in pretty bad shape previously. Most of the kitchen and the floors were missing.

Check out the pictures of the unit when it was bank owned here.

It was since rehabbed with a new kitchen with white modern cabinets, stainless steel appliances and ceasarstone counter tops.

The bathrooms were also rehabbed and now have Italian porcelain tile.

There are dark stained oak floors and it is wired with smart home technology.

It has central air, washer/dryer in the unit and a 1-car garage is included.

The parking lot you can see on the right side of the picture belongs to the church next door.

With the kind of money that is being made rehabbing and selling the bank owned properties- why aren’t more people getting into the game?

Michael Vesole at @Properties has the listing. See the current pictures of the rehabbed unit here.

Unit #2: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed, garage parking

• Sold in September 2000 for $258,000
• Sold in July 2004 for $326,000
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in December 2009
• Bank owned in July 2011
• Sold in May 2012 for $180,000
• Originally listed on August 30, 2012 for $319,900
• Under contract in under 10 days
• Assessments of $111 a month
• Taxes of $3990
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 12×11
• Bedroom #2: 10×10

This 3-bedroom at 215 W. Huron in River North came on the market in May 2012.

There’s something cool about this area which is known as the River North Gallery District.

This full floor unit has north, east and south views.

The building has 5 units but it does have an elevator and the unit has a garage space.

The kitchen has Snaidero cabinets, granite counter tops and SubZero appliances.

There is central air and washer/dryer in the unit.

This unit has been reduced $46,000 since May.

According to the listing, this is in the Ogden school district.

Does this unit appeal to families looking to stay downtown?

Debra Dobbs at Koenig & Strey Real Living has the listing. See the pictures here.

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

• Sold in April 1997 for $363,000
• Sold in November 2000 for $530,000
• Sold in March 2003 for $550,000
• Originally listed in May 2012 for $735,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $689,000
• Assessments of $375 a month
• Taxes of $7641
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 24×12
• Bedroom #2: 9×12
• Bedroom #3: 9×12
• Den: 8×10

This 2-bedroom in the Clinton Street Lofts at 226 N. Clinton on the Near West Side recently came on the market. (Sorry about the picture. It is a couple of years old and I just noticed that it’s not the greatest one I’ve ever taken.)

It is bank owned.

The loft has numerous walls of exposed brick and high timber ceilings.

The two bathrooms appear to be intact but there are no pictures of the kitchen (so we don’t know about that.)

There are diagonal hardwood floors in the main living space.

Is that the El tracks directly out one set of windows?

The listing doesn’t say so but the unit should have central air and washer/dryer hook-ups in the unit (as other units in the building have it). There is also deeded parking.

The loft is priced about 30% under the 2005 purchase price and only $14,000 above the 1998 price.

The Clinton Street Lofts are popular as they have many authentic loft features and are within walking distance of most downtown offices.

Is this a steal at this price?

Daniel Robinson at Realty Executives has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #401: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1390 square feet

• Sold in September 1998 for $271,000
• Sold in January 2005 for $404,500
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in October 2009
• Bank owned in November 2011
• Currently listed for $285,000 (includes parking)
• Assessments of $761 a month (includes doorman and cable)
• Taxes of $6456
• Central Air? (listing doesn’t say it has any but other units have it)
• Washer/Dryer hook-up (other units have it- I’m assuming it does)
• Bedroom #1: 14×16
• Bedroom #2: 12×12

New construction three unit buildings are hot again.

This building at 1348 W. Diversey in Lakeview just came on the market.

The units are priced as follows:

• Unit #1: 3 bedrooms/2.5 baths, duplex down listed for $679,900
• Unit #2: 2 bedrooms/2 baths, listed for $419,900
• Unit #3: 2 bedrooms/2 baths, listed for $489,900

The finishes are modern and include Viking and Bosch appliances in the kitchen with quartz counters.

The listings say that there are “unique” floorplans.

Given what we’ve seen with other new construction, will these units sell by the end of 2012?

Timothy Sheahan at Conlon has all the listings. There is an open house at the building this Sunday, Sep 9, from 11:30 to 1:30.

(Yes, that is another new construction building right next door.)

See the pictures on Unit #1 here.

See the pictures on Unit #2 here.

See the pictures on Unit #3 here.

This 2-bedroom at 644 W. Arlington in Lincoln Park recently came on the market.

The building was constructed in 1974 and has some unique 2-story top floor duplexes.

This unit has a 2-story living room with exposed brick walls and a timber ceiling.

One bedroom is on the main floor and one on the second floor.

The listing says it has a “huge” private rooftop deck.

There is a new kitchen with maple cabinets and stainless steel appliances.

However, there’s no in-unit washer/dryer or central air (window units only.) And while there is parking in the building it appears to be leased.

But at 1100 square foot and given the prime location in East Lincoln Park, will this seller get close to the $354,000 list price?

Marcello Navarro at Conlon has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #5H: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1100 square feet

• Sold in October 1992 for $119,000
• Sold in August 1995 for $127,000
• Currently listed for $354,000
• Assessments of $404 a month
• Taxes of $3806
• No in-unit washer/dryer
• No central air- window units  only
• Parking is available- looks like it is for lease
• Bedroom #1: 14×16 (main level)
• Bedroom #2: 14×16 (second level)