Crib Chatter

This 3-bedroom single family home at 425 W. Eugenie in Old Town is distinctive in this neighborhood due to its modern architecture.

Designed in 1978 by Larry Booth, the listing says it was “expanded and refined” by the architect owner.

All 3 bedrooms are on the main floor.

The kitchen has white cabinets and stainless steel appliances.

Built on a smaller than average Chicago lot measuring 27.5×90, the house only has a 1-car garage.

The house is listed for $515,000 more than the 2003 purchase price.

Will it get the premium?

Tracy Dillard at Koenig & Strey Real Living has the listing. See the pictures here.

425 W. Eugenie: 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 4000 square feet, 1 car garage

• Sold in October 1991 for $500,000
• Sold in May 2003 for $1.435 million
• Originally listed in October 2011 for $1.95 million
• Currently still listed at $1.95 million
• Taxes of $22,310
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 21×12 (main floor)
• Bedroom#2: 11×10 (main floor)
• Bedroom #3: 11×10 (main floor)
• Media room: 15×15 (lower level)

This 2-bedroom penthouse unit at 180 E. Pearson in the Water Tower Residences in the Gold Coast (or is this Streeterville?) came on the market in December 2011.

Back when Oprah Winfrey lived in the building, it had cache as one of the most exclusive addresses in the city.

But in the last decade, all the new construction has given buyers many more options on the luxury end of the scale.

This 2800 square foot home has limestone and walnut flooring.

It has custom millwork including a paneled library and paneled/etched glass doors.

The kitchen has Coheba slab stone counter tops and backsplash with stainless steel appliances.

Check out the soaking tub in the master bath.

Built in 1975, does the Water Tower still have the “it” factor?

Nancy Nugent at Prudential Rubloff has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #7201: 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2800 square feet

• Sold in August 2000 for $999,000
• Sold in March 2005 for $400,000 (?)
• Originally listed in November 2011 for $2.895 million
• Currently still listed for $2.895 million
• Assessments of $2483 a month (includes doorman, cable, pool)
• Taxes of $24,853
• Central Air
• Parking is rental in the building ranging from $365 to $510 a month
• Laundry room in unit: 9×6
• Bedroom #1: 20×27
• Bedroom #2: 14×22

There are the gritty lofts and there are the classy lofts.

This top floor 3-bedroom at 2035 W. Charleston in Bucktown qualifies in the classy category.

It has all the features loft lovers look for including 12 foot ceilings, exposed brick, big industrial windows and exposed timber beams.

But it also has 2 fireplaces, including one in the master bedroom, and built-in bookcases.

The kitchen has white cabinets, what looks like granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances.

There are skylights and the loft has a rooftop sunroom and 1350 square foot private rooftop terrace with views of downtown (love the dog in the picture!).

There usually isn’t parking with this building, but the listing says there is a “privately owned garage included.”

It also has central air and washer/dryer in the unit.

This loft is listed $212,000 over the 2004 purchase price.

With Bucktown still a hot neighborhood, will it get the premium?

Ro Lebedow at Koenig & Strey Real Living has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #403: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in July 1994 for $333,000
• Sold in August 2004 for $575,000
• Currently listed for $787,000
• Assessments of $325 a month
• Taxes of $6053
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Garage included
• 2 fireplaces
• 1350 square foot rooftop deck
• Sunroom
• Bedroom #1: 23×15
•  Bedroom #2: 14×12
• Bedroom #3: 17×12

This 2-bedroom short sale in Plaza 440 at 440 N. Wabash in River North has been on and off the market since 2009.

It has been under contract numerous times, including just last November.

However, the deal has not been able to close.

The listing says this is a “total deal”.

With northeast views, it is the largest floor plan in the building.

The unit hasn’t been upgraded. It has carpeting and a completely white kitchen.

It does have central air and a washer/dryer in the unit. It also appears to have parking (of some kind- I can’t tell if it’s owned or rented.)

The listing says this is a deal because the seller paid $570,000 in 2005 (public records show $605,000, however) and it’s now listed for just $325,000.

But is $325,000 a “deal” or simply “the market” in this building in 2012?

Jennifer Mills at Koenig & Strey Real Living has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #4106: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in February 2005 for $605,000 (it looks like parking was included)
• Originally listed in May 2009
• Under contract several times
• Lis pendens filed in February 2010
• Was listed in July 2011 for $310,000
• Under contract in November 2011
• Re-listed for $325,000
• Assessments of $726 a month (includes heat, a/c, doorman)
• Taxes of $4877
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Parking may be included (?)
• Bedroom #1: 15×11
• Bedroom #2: 18×11
• Living room: 19×20
• Kitchen: 7×12

This 2-bedroom short sale at 817 W. George in Lakeview just came on the market.

It is listed about 28% under the 2004 purchase price.

We’ve chattered about this building before- but on a unit on a higher floor.

If you recall, it has maintained much of its vintage woodwork including crown molding and built-ins.

It appears that the dining room, with its beamed ceiling, is being used as a den.

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

The unit has central air, washer/dryer in the unit but there’s no parking.

A lis pendens foreclosure was filed 19 months ago. In Cook County, the average time for the bank to re-take possession is about 18 months.

Is this unit one of the many REO or short sale Lakeview condo units that has been lurking in the shadow market waiting to come on the market in 2012?

D. Waveland Kendt at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #1W: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, 1399 square feet

• Sold in September 2000 for $255,000
• Sold in January 2003 for $289,000
• Sold in October 2004 for $317,000
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in August 2010
• Currently listed as a “short sale” for $229,900
• Assessments of $345 a month
• Taxes of $5505
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• No Parking
• Bedroom #1: 11×12
• Bedroom #2: 9×11

I’m going on vacation starting on March 1 (today!) and returning on March 10.

All you regulars know that means there will be limited posts. For the rest of this week there will just be two posts a day (morning and mid-day.)

For next week, there will just be one post a day (in the morning.)

Next week will essentially be “luxury home week”.  I know some of you find that to be boring but you’ll just have to endure it for a week and then it’s back to the regular mix of properties.

Some things to keep in mind:

• If you are new to posting comments, have patience because it will take me a little longer to get to the moderation.
• Please try and play nice. I don’t want to have to interrupt my beach time to deal with crazy comments. 🙂
• If you have any tips, please feel free to send them to me on my e-mail at cribchatter@yahoo.com. When I return, I will be making trips around the city so that we have a bunch of new properties to chatter about in March as the spring buying season heats up. If you have something you think is interesting, please drop me a line about it.
• CribChatter also has a twitter account @cribchatter. I’m just getting used to using it to post about things that aren’t posted on the site. It also posts about each new property every day. Feel free to check that out if you are a twitter junkie.

When I come back, I’m looking forward to chattering about the spring market.

Thanks for all your help with tips, pictures and great insights into neighborhoods, schools and properties.

Sabrina

This 3-bedroom house at 5339 N. Ashland in Andersonville has been on the market since October 2011.

It is a short sale and is being sold “as-is.”

It is under contract. Normally, I don’t like chattering about homes already under contract but someone brought it up in one of the threads and, given the track record of short sales closing, I thought we could still chatter about it.

The listing describes it as a “fixer upper.”

It has a basement, central air and a 2-car garage.

The most important component is probably that it’s on a 25×125 lot.

Is this a deal even though it’s on Ashland?

Peter Fotopoulous at Dream Town Realty has the listing. See the pictures here.

5339 N. Ashland: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, no square footage listed, 2 car garage

• Sold in July 2000 for $175,000
• Sold in March 2006 for $357,000
• Originally listed in October 2011 for $199,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed as a “short sale” at $189,000
• Under contract
• Taxes of $6516
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 16×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 15×14 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 16×10 (lower level)

We’ve chattered about this 3-bedroom single family home at 1911 W. Berenice in North Center several times since it first came on the market on November 1, 2011.

See our January 2012 chatter here.

Originally listed for $545,000 it has now reduced to $515,000.

It is now listed $10,000 under the 2004 purchase price.

Back in November, I thought this might sell fast because:

1. It was among the cheapest single family homes in the Bell school district, and
2. It was among the cheapest single family homes in the Bell school district.

Alas, I was wrong on this one.

Nearly 5 months later, this house is still on the market.

Some of you thought it would sell for around $500,000 simply because of its school district. Others of you didn’t like the location given that there is allegedly a patio dining area that will be located next door.

Built in 1896 on a standard Chicago lot of 25×125, it has 1704 square feet on two levels. There is apparently an unfinished basement.

All 3 bedrooms are on the second level. The house also has an “updated” kitchen with white cabinets and stainless steel appliances. The listing also says there is a new 2-car garage.

The gate in the picture above is for the property next door.

And yes- there are still NO pictures of the bathrooms in the listing (I guess Mr. Sullivan hasn’t been reading Crib Chatter.)

We’ve been debating the ultimate sales price on this one for awhile.

Will it go for under $475,000?

Kevin Sullivan at Coldwell Banker still has the listing. See the pictures here.

1911 W. Berenice: 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, 1704 square feet, 2 car garage

• Sold before 1991 (no price listed)
• Sold in December 2004 for $525,500
• Was listed on November 1, 2011 for $545,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $515,000
• Taxes of $8618
• Space pak air conditioning
• Bedroom #1: 16×14 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 12×9 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 17×8 (second floor)

This 2-bedroom townhouse at 1003 W. Dickens in Lincoln Park just came on the market priced about 18% below the 2004 purchase price.

The listing calls it a “rare find”  because it is bank owned (and in Lincoln Park).

From the pictures, it appears the kitchen and baths are intact.

The kitchen has white cabinets, black appliances and what looks to be granite counter tops.

The master suite is on the third floor and has valuted ceilings.

The townhouse also has a lower level family room.

For outdoor space, there are 2 balconies and a private patio.

The townhouse has the features buyers look for including central air and 1-car garage parking.

At $20,000 above the 2000 price, is this even much of a deal?

Elizabeth Sidorowicz at Re/Max has the listing. See the pictures here.

1003 W. Dickens: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed, 1 car parking

• Sold in November 1991 for $222,500
• Sold in August 1996 for $261,500
• Sold in June 2000 for $415,500
• Sold in July 2004 for $530,000
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in January 2011
• Bank owned in December 2011
• Currently listed for $435,000
• Assessments of $100 a month
• Taxes of $6186
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 15×14 (third floor)
• Bedroom #2: 15×10 (second floor)
• Family room: 16×13 (lower level)

This 1-bedroom loft at 1601 S. Michigan in the South Loop just came back on the market after selling as a short sale sometime between December 2011 and February 2012 (I can’t tell exactly from the public record.)

We last chattered about it in March 2011 when it was listed for just $100,000.

See our prior chatter here.

This is the short sale unit that Chuk attempted to buy last year. From Chuk:

“I was under contract for this unit for 107k. There was a 1st and 2nd mortgage on the place and the short sale was taking forever. They wanted me to kick in more money, but I wouldn’t. After 5 months, I told my attorney to cancel the contract because I found something else I wanted to buy. They immediately approved the short sale to me that day, but I had made up my mind. This unit closed today for 107k, and is back on the market for 175k. Who said flipping was dead?”

From the pictures from the two listings, it appears that the only major renovations done to the unit were in the kitchen.

The “new” kitchen now has dark cabinets (painted?) and a backsplash. The “old” kitchen had lighter, maple cabinets.

Both have the same counter tops and black appliances.

The bathroom appears to be the same in both listings.

See the prior listing here.

Bought as a short sale for $107,000, it is currently listed for $175,000.

Will the seller successfully get the higher price?

Laurie Foote at Century 21 S.G.R. has the listing. (She also had the prior short sale listing.) See the current pictures here.

Unit #205: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, no square footage listed

• Sold in May 1999 for $93,000
• Sold in September 2006 for $221,500
• Originally listed in November 2010 for $180,000
• Reduced several times
• Was listed as a “short sale” in March 2011 for $100,000
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in November 2011
• Sold in December 2011 or February 2012 (I can’t tell for sure) for $107,000
• Just re-listed for $175,000 (no parking)
• Assessments of $218 a month (includes cable)
• Taxes of $1435
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom: 12×10
• Living room: 18×14
• Kitchen: 12×5