Crib Chatter

This 3-bedroom penthouse at 3100 N. Kenmore in Lakeview came on the market in February 2012.

It is the top floor of a converted rectory.

The unit has exposed brick and large windows in the living room area along with a 20 foot vaulted ceiling.

It’s a triplex with two of the bedrooms on the second level and the third on the third floor.

The listing says there is a private planted roof deck.

The kitchen has stainless steel appliances.

For former rectory is an elevator building with 10 units and garage parking.

The unit is listed just $10,000 under the 2007 price.

Will this property be able to command that price?

Robert John Anderson at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #3G: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, approximately 2000 square feet, 1 car parking

• Sold in March 2000 for $419,000
• Sold in October 2007 for $585,000
• Originally listed in February 2012 for $599,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $575,000
• Assessments of $344 a month
• Taxes of $8398
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 15×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 20×12 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 20×14 (third floor)

This 2-bedroom in 565 Quincy at 565 W. Quincy in the West Loop recently came on the market.

It is listed $86,500 under the 2009 purchase price.

It’s also a short sale.

This building was new construction at the height of the Great Recession in 2008/2009 (so it was actually built AFTER the height of the bubble.)

You may remember it for its indoor bowling alley.

This unit has the finishes of newer construction including hardwood floors.

The kitchen has granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances. The bathrooms are marble.

The unit has central air, washer/dryer in the unit and it includes indoor heated parking.

Is this even much of a deal?

Daniel Sullivan at Conlon has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #1107: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1094 square feet

• Sold in August 2009 for $421,500
• Currently listed as a “short sale” at $335,000 (includes indoor parking)
• Assessments of $403 a month (includes doorman)
• Taxes of $5082
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 13×13
• Bedroom #2: 14×11

This 5-bedroom brick 2-flat at 2701 N. Francisco in Logan Square has been on and off the market since May 2011.

Since January of this year, it has been reduced $56,000 to $469,000.

It finally went under contract this month.

The 2-flat has south and west exposures but you don’t have to worry much about the neighbors to the south since it’s a church.

Built on a 25×125 lot, the property has a 2-car garage.

The owners unit is a 3/1 on the second floor.

The two units consist of:

1. Unit #1: 2/1, no central air, rented at $1200 a month
2. Unit #2: 3/1, no central air, owners unit

The owners unit has a white kitchen with stainless steel appliances.

The listing doesn’t say anything about a washer/dryer but there is a full basement so there could be one for the building there.

At this price, did it make sense to buy this 2-flat rather than buy a standard condo somewhere else in the neighborhood?

Deborah Wood at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See the pictures here.

2701 N. Francisco: 5 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2-flat, 2 car garage

• Sold in December 2006 for $515,000
• Originally listed in May 2011
• Was listed in January 2012 for $525,000
• Reduced several times
• Currently listed at $469,000
• Under contract
• Taxes of $6459
• No central air
• Unit #1 rented out at $1200 a month

This 1-bedroom loft at the China Club Lofts at 616 W. Fulton in the West Loop just came on the market.

You don’t see these finishes every day.

It has been rebuilt with a new modern kitchen and bath with luxury finishes such as Poliform, Boffi and Subzero.

The loft has 14 foot timber ceilings with exposed brick and a south exposure.

It has central air, an in-unit washer/dryer and parking is available for $25,000.

The loft is listed for $5,000 more than the 2006 sales price (but it’s been renovated.)

Will these finishes get them the higher price?

Chris McComas at @Properties has the listing. See more pictures here.

Unit #612: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 920 square feet

• Sold in February 1997 for $148,000
• Sold in November 1999 for $225,000
• Sold in June 2006 for $320,000
• Currently listed for $300,000 (with parking $25,000 extra)
• Assessments of $297 a month (includes doorman)
• Taxes of $3715
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom: 17×10
• Den: 10×10

This 4-bedroom single family home at 850 W. Willow in Lincoln Park has a secret you rarely see in the dense neighborhoods near the lake.

It has a heated in-the-ground pool in the backyard.

It’s able to have that because the house is built on a double lot measuring 50×99.56.

As you can see from the pictures, it looks almost like a California oasis in the backyard as the pool is surrounded by lush vegetation.

The house also has a rare 2 car garage that is in the front of the house (and not on an alley) which allows for guest parking on the front driveway.

The listing says there is an “upgraded kitchen” with stainless steel appliances.

The master suite has a large marble spa bathroom.

Originally listed in October of 2011, it has been reduced $66,000 since that time.

What’s a pool worth?

Jennifer Ames at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See the pictures here.

850 W. Willow: 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, no square footage listed, 2 car garage

• Sold in September 2004 for $1.75 million
• Originally listed in October 2011 for $2.445 million
• Withdrawn in December 2011
• Reduced
• Re-listed in March 2012 for $2.379 million
• Taxes of $32669
• Central Air
• Heated, in-the-ground pool
• Bedroom #1: 22×15 (third floor)
• Bedroom #2: 16×13 (third floor)
• Bedroom #3: 13×12 (third floor)
• Bedroom #4: 28×13 (main floor)

We last chattered about this 3-bedroom at 1030 N. State in the heart of the Gold Coast in March 2011.

See our prior chatter here.

You may recall that this unit has been created from 3 combined units.

Last year, some of you liked the rehab that was done and some of you thought it looked dated.

The pictures with the current listing might sway you a bit.

The unit has a lot of upgrades including hardwood floors with inlay, solid cherry doors and marble floors.

At 2500 square feet, it has 2 balconies and lake and city views.

The kitchen has cherry cabinets and granite counter tops.

The building was built in the early 1970s and has about 624 units.

There is no deeded parking – it is leased in the building.

The unit has been reduced $104,500 to $895,000 since March of last year.

Is this getting closer to a realistic selling price?

Annie Alexander at Jameson Sotheby’s now has the listing. See the new and improved pictures here.

Unit #30EFG: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2500 square feet

• Sold in 1991 but I couldn’t find a price (combined unit)
• Originally listed in June 2010 for $1,124,900
• Reduced
• Was listed in March 2011 for $999,500
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $895,000
• Assessments of $1618 a month (includes heat, a/c, doorman, cable, pool)
• Taxes of $11817
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• No dogs
• Parking is leased in the building for $290 a month (per spot)
• Bedroom #1: 27×13
• Bedroom #2: 14×12
• Bedroom #3: 13×9

This 5-bedroom vintage Victorian at 2666 N. Orchard in Lincoln Park recently came on the market.

It is being marketed as a teardown as the listing says: “Developers: Build a dream home or condos.”

It’s being sold “as-is”.

But the house, built in 1891, has some unique features including knotty pine wood paneling and stained glass.

There is also a separate in-law apartment with its own entrance (and kitchen) on the lower level which could bring in extra income.

Built on a 24×146 lot, it has central air and a 2-car garage.

Will this house be torn down for new condos or will someone rescue it from the wrecking ball?

Urai Chiya at Prudential Rubloff has the listing. See the pictures here.

Or you can see the house at the Open House on Saturday, April 14: 1-3 PM.

2666 N. Orchard: 5 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2243 square feet, 2 car garage

• Bought before 1991
• Currently listed for $897,000
• Taxes of $10,684
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 12×15 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 12×10 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 11×12 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 13×15 (second floor)
• Bedroom #5: 12×14 (basement)

This 2-bedroom loft in Trevi Square at 1439 S. Michigan in the South Loop just came on the market.

This unit is an authentic loft with exposed brick and 12 foot concrete ceilings.

It has hardwood floors, washer/dryer in the unit and central air.

The northeast corner loft also has new stone baths.

The kitchen has white cabinets and appliances with granite counter tops.

From the listing pictures, it appears that both bedrooms have windows (not a common feat in many lofts.)

This loft is listed at $299,000 if you include the $25,000 gated parking.

This is $7,000 under the 2007 purchase price of $306,000.

At 1150 square feet, compared to nearby high rises, is this a deal for the square footage and location?

Heather Hillebrand at Dream Town has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #505: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1150 square feet

• Sold in September 1996 for $154,500
• Sold in August 2003 for $262,000
• Sold in April 2007 for $306,000
• Currently listed for $274,000 (plus $25,000 for parking)
• Assessments of $420 a month (includes cable)
• Taxes of $4329
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 17×14
• Bedroom #2: 10×12

This 6-bedroom historic rowhouse on the landmarked Alta Vista Terrace at 3825 N. Alta Vista Terrace in Lakeview first came on the market in June 2010.

We last chattered about it in October 2010. See that chatter here.

This is apparently one of only 4 three-story rowhouses that also have a basement on the street.

It is also one of the largest rowhouses on the block.

The rowhouse also has room in the back for one car parking (not all of them do.)

The kitchen has been renovated with cherry cabinets, stainless steel appliances by Subzero and Wolfe and granite counter tops.

The house also has central air.

While other, smaller, rowhouses on the street have sold since this was first listed in 2010, this one has not.

It also has NOT had any price reductions in the entire 22 months since it first came on the market.

What price will it take to get this property moving?

Arden Fowler at Coldwell Banker now has the listing. See the pictures here.

3825 N. Alta Vista: 6 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 1 car garage, no square footage listed

• Sold in June 2000 for $595,000
• Was listed in June 2010 for $899,000
• Was still listed in October 2010 for $899,000
• Currently still listed for $899,000
• Taxes now are $7253 (were $6663)
• Central Air
• Skylights
• Bedroom #1: 19×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 8×15 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 11×10 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 10×20 (third floor)
• Bedroom #5: 12×8 (third floor)
• Bedroom #6: 11×10 (third floor)

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