Crib Chatter

This 3-bedroom townhouse at 5747 N. Sheridan in Edgewater recently came on the market.

This townhouse complex is well known because it is one of the few that has direct lake and beach views.

From the layout, this 5000 square foot townhouse looks to be a combination of several units.

There is a private elevator which accesses all floors and rare 4 car garage parking.

The townhouse has a full floor master suite on the third floor which measures 18×52.

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

It also has several outdoor spaces including a rooftop deck which overlooks the beach.

Who’s going to be a buyer for this unique property?

Timothy Salm at Jameson Sotheby’s has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #GH: 3 bedrooms, 5.5 baths, 5000 square feet, 4 car garage parking

• Sold in April 2001 for $865,000
• Currently listed at $1.495 million
• Assessments of $1569 a month
• Taxes of $17,931
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 18×52 (third floor)
• Bedroom #2: 15×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 11×11 (second floor)
• Family room: 25×17 (main level)

This 3-bedroom brick ranch at 546 W. 33rd in Bridgeport came on the market in May 2012.

It was built in 1972 on a standard 25×125 lot.

The listing says it was “renovated” 5 years ago.

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

It has a full basement with an oak wet bar, fireplace and jacuzzi tub.

All three bedrooms are on the main floor.

It also has a 2-car garage with a deck on top which the listing says has a view of the Comiskey Park (i.e. The Cell’s) scoreboard.

The house also has central air.

Now priced at $409,900 after a $10,000 reduction, is this a starter home in this neighborhood?

Suzanne Hamilton at RE Marketing Consultants has the listing. See the pictures here.

546 W. 33rd: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1150 square feet, 2 car garage

• Sold in June 2004 for $330,000
• Sold in June 2007 for $340,000
• Originally listed at $419,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $409,900
• Taxes of $1344
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 10×13 (main level)
• Bedroom #2: 10×10 (main level)
• Bedroom #3: 10×10 (main level)
• Family room: 20×20 (lower level)

This 2-bedroom at 2700 N. Hampden in Lincoln Park has been on the market since June 2012.

It is a short sale.

It is a north east corner unit with hardwood floors.

It doesn’t have central air (wall units only) or in-unit laundry but there is rental parking available in the building OR a spot can be purchased.

This is a full service building which is popular with renters as it has a doorman and a rooftop pool.

The unit has been reduced $10,000 to just $225,000.

Does this make sense to buy as an investment?

Chris Vasilakopoulos at Dream Town Realty has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #12B: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1000 square feet

• Sold in March 1994 for $120,000
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in May 2012
• Originally listed in June 2012 for $235,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed as a “short sale” for $225,000
• Assessments of $511 a month (includes doorman, cable, pool)
• Taxes of $3634
• No central air- wall units only
• No in-unit washer/dryer
• Parking available as rental or to buy in the building
• Bedroom #1: 15×14
• Bedroom #2: 14×11

Far west Lakeview and Lincoln Park aren’t the only locations where you can get a 2-bedroom townhouse for under $335,000.

This 2-bedroom townhouse at 1157 W. Newport in Southport has been on the market since April 2011.

According to the Redfin agent comments, it used to be a 3 bedroom but the two second floor bedrooms were opened up into one large master bedroom.

That means the bedrooms are now split, with the master on the second floor and the second bedroom on the lower level.

The listing says it is an end unit and has a rooftop deck.

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

The townhouse has a 1-car garage but it’s apparently not attached as some of the others in the complex are.

Yes, the Brown Line El tracks run directly behind this complex.

In the last 15 months, the townhouse has been reduced $64,100.

It is now listed under the 2002 purchase price.

Is this finally a deal?

Robyn Brooks at Prudential Rubloff has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #L: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed, 1 car garage

• Sold in February 1997 for $228,500
• Sold in April 2000 for $295,000
• Sold in May 2002 for $367,500
• Sold in April 2005 for $370,000
• Originally listed in April 2011 for $399,000
• Reduced several times
• Currently listed at $334,900
• Assessments of $171 a month
• Taxes of $4825
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 24×14 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 14×13 (lower level)

This 7-bedroom mansion at 10200 S. Longwood in Beverly came on the market in April 2012.

It is known as the “Horton Mansion.”

According to Curbed Chicago it was built for Horace Horton, the founder of Chicago Bridge & Iron, in 1890.

It sits on a huge lot measuring about a half an acre on top of the hill.

The lot measures 102.87x260x99.69×236.6.

If you think this is too suburban for your tastes, it is strategically located just about a minute from the Starbucks at the corner of Longwood and 103rd. There is also a Metra stop there.

The house has a lot of its vintage features intact, including crown molding and wood work. It also has 4 wood burning fireplaces, including one in the master bedroom.

5 of the 7 bedrooms are on the second floor with the other two on the third floor.

It also has features you would expect in a mansion including a first floor library.

Modern amenities including an updated kitchen with stainless steel appliances and central air.

Originally listed at $1.1 million, it has been reduced to just under a million at $999,999.

Is this a steal?

Darya Lisserman at Jameson Sotheby’s has the listing. See the pictures here.

10200 S. Longwood: 7 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, 2 car garage, 9200 square feet

• Last sold in January 1987 (I couldn’t determine a price)
• Originally listed in April 2012 for $1.1 million
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $999,999
• Taxes of $10,168
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 21×31 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 16×16 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 17×24 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 18×16 (second floor)
• Bedroom #5: 12×20 (second floor)
• Bedroom #6: 15×18 (third floor)
• Bedroom #7: 15×20 (third floor)
• Library: 20×16 (main floor)
• Family room: 19×12 (main floor)

We last chattered about this 2-bedroom brick ranch at 5646 N. Nottingham in Old Norwood Park in March 2012.

See our prior chatter here.

Back in March, it was priced at $220,ooo and most, if not all of you, thought that was a decent price for a house in a neighborhood considered safe and with some of the best schools in the city.

Some of you thought it was a real steal for those with just one child.

But apparently the chatterati was in the minority on this one because the house is still on the market and has been reduced to just $193,000.

If you recall, it has just 1075 square feet but has a full basement.

Built in 1949 on a 50×100.5 lot, it has a side drive with a 1-car garage.

It looks to be an estate sale, as I couldn’t find any prior sales information.

It’s within walking distance of the blue line and is surrounded by more expensive homes.

How low will this go?

Tina Marie Campbell at Baird & Warner still has the listing. See the pictures here.

5646 N. Nottingham: 2 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, 1075 square feet, 1 car garage

• I couldn’t find any prior sales information
• Was listed in March 2012 for $220,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $193,000
• Taxes of $860
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 12×10
• Bedroom #2: 11×10

We last chattered about this 5-bedroom modern construction single family home at 336 W. Wisconsin in Lincoln Park in March 2012.

See our prior chatter here.

It’s one of the “movie houses” which got a lot of publicity because The Fugitive, with Harrison Ford, was filmed in it.

Yet 13 months later, it’s still on the market and has only had one price reduction.

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.

Obviously being “The Fugitive House” hasn’t been a factor in selling this house.

What will it take to make a sale in 2012?

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
• Still listed at $3.699 million
• Taxes of $48,845
• 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)

This 3-bedroom in the midrise building at 4400 N. Paulina in the Ravenswood neighborhood of Uptown has been on the market for a month.

At 1800 square feet, the corner unit has a separate dining room and multiple exposures.

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

The unit has central air and in-unit washer/dryer but it doesn’t have deeded parking. I’ve been told there is transferrable leased parking just down the street for $85 a month.

Or, you may not have any need for parking as the Montrose brown line stop is just 2 1/2 blocks away.

Is this a good townhouse alternative for the price?

Violet Sudler at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See more pictures here.

Unit #2A: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1800 square feet

• Sold in April 2005 for $322,000 (per Redfin)
• Sold in May 2007 for $360,000 (per Redfin)
• Originally listed in June 2012 for $367,000
• Still listed at $367,000
• Assessments of $223 a month
• Taxes of $5219
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• No deeded parking- but rental down the street for $85 a month
• Bedroom #1: 16×15
• Bedroom #2: 13×12
• Bedroom #3: 13×11

We’ve chattered about this 6-bedroom single family home at 1418 W. Fulton in the Fulton Market neighborhood of the Near West Side several times over the years, with the last time being in December 2009.

See our December 2009 chatter here.

Back then, some of you thought the neighborhood was too under developed to take a chance on a house like this.

Others thought an artist/musician type might snatch it up.

It was last on the market in June 2010 but it has recently come back on, reduced another $200,000, to try again.

Built on a 21.5×115 lot, the house has 4000 square feet and a 3 car garage.

The interior is contemporary, with a 4-story atrium.

The listing says the “real restaurant kitchen is a must see.” It looks like it boasts stainless steel and stone counter tops.

The house has concrete floors and a huge rooftop deck with a wet bar and hot tub that has downtown views.

Will the reduced price and a “hotter” market finally sell this house?

Edward Hester at Dream Town Realty still has the listing. See the pictures here.

1418 W. Fulton: 6 bedrooms, 3 full, 2 half baths, 3 car garage, 4000 square feet

• Sold in May 1998 for $181,500
• Was listed in October 2008 for $1,099,000
• Reduced
• Was listed in February 2009 for $999,000
• Was listed in December 2009 for $999,900
• Withdrawn in June 2010
• Reduced
• Re-listed for $799,000
• Taxes now $6173 (they were $7,744 in 2009)
• Central Air
• Hot tub
• Rooftop deck with wet bar
• Bedroom #1: 14×15 (third floor)
• Bedroom #2: 10×20 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 11×11 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 11×14 (second floor)
• Bedroom #5: 10×11 (third floor)
• Bedroom #6: 10×11 (third floor)

We last chattered about this 5-bedroom new(er) construction single family home at 3251 N. Lakewood in the Southport neighborhood of Lakeview in November 2011.

See our prior chatter here.

The house has an interesting prior sales history.

The house was new construction built in 2009 on a standard 25×125 Chicago lot.

It was on the market for nearly 2 1/2 years before finally selling in early September 2011.

In early October 2011, just weeks later, it was back on the market for nearly $100,000 more than the buyer just paid.

The old listing says the seller “relocated.” The new listing makes no mention of the current seller.

If you recall, 4 bedrooms are on the second floor with the 5th in the lower level.

It has luxury finishes including millwork, moldings and a mahogany library.

The house has a 2-tiered deck and a 2-car garage.

It is still listed 9 months later for the same price that it was listed at in October 2011.

How low does this have to go to find a buyer?

If it matters, the house is apparently in Burley, and not Blaine or Bell.

Jennifer Ames at Coldwell Banker had the listing before and she has the listing again. See the pictures here.

3251 N. Lakewood: 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, 5200 square feet, 2 car garage

• Sold in March 2006 for $695,000 (the prior house which was torn down)
• Originally listed in April 2009 for $2.38 million
• Reduced several times
• Was listed in December 2010 for $2.125 million
• Reduced
• Was listed in July 2011 for $1.995 million
• Sold in September 2011 for $1.89 million
• Re-listed in October 2011 for $1.995 million
• Still listed at $1.995 million
• Taxes of $6040
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 20×15 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 14×11 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 11×14 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 11×10 (second floor)
• Bedroom #5: 11×14 (lower level)