Crib Chatter

This top floor 2-bedroom at 857 W. Ainslie in the Margate Park neighborhood of Uptown has been on and off the market since June 2009.

It is now listed as a short sale at $141,000 under the 2007 purchase price at just $229,000.

Margate Park is commonly thought of as the area of Uptown north of Lawrence, East of Sheridan and South of Foster.

Like Buena Park, the neighborhood is dominated by many vintage buildings.

The 1400 square unit has new hardwood floors, a fireplace and a sunroom.

It also has the features buyers look for such as parking, central air and in-unit washer/dryer.

What price will it take to finally sell this unit?

Ricardo Morales at Re/Max Signature has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #3: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1400 square feet

• Sold in June 2007 for $370,000
• Originally listed in June 2009
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in October 2010
• Was listed in May 2011 for $284,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed as a “short sale” for $229,000
• Assessments of $171 a month
• Taxes of $5836
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Parking included
• Bedroom #1: 14×13
• Bedroom #2: 13×13
• Sunroom: 9×10

This 3-bedroom penthouse at 1740 W. Belmont in Roscoe Village (or Lakeview- if you want to call it that too at this location) came on the market in July 2011.

It has loft-like features including exposed brick, columns and a wide open space encompassing the living/dining/kitchen.

The unit has 2-outdoor spaces including a large terrace that fronts the unit which has downtown views and a balcony off the master bedroom.

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

This is an elevator building and the unit has 2-car garage, central air and in-unit washer/dryer.

It also has a rare 3 bathrooms (when usually 2 or 2.5 is the norm.)

The unit is listed $50,000 above the 2002 purchase price.

Is this a townhouse alternative in this neighborhood?

Susan Kanter at Dream Town has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #4: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, no square footage listed, 2 car parking

• Sold in September 2002 for $600,000
• Listed in July 2011 for $650,000
• Currently still listed at $650,000
• Assessments of $525 a month
• Taxes of $10614
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 16×16
• Bedroom #2: 13×10
• Bedroom #3: 13×10

This 3-bedroom duplex up loft at 6300 S. Woodlawn in Woodlawn has been on the market since February 2011.

It is a short sale and in that time it has been reduced $70,100.

Converted into lofts in 2007/2008, the unit has 21 foot ceilings in the main living area with concrete ceilings and exposed brick.

One of the bedrooms is on the main level with 2 on the second floor.

The kitchen has granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances and a mosaic glass backsplash.

The loft has central air, in-unit washer/dryer and parking is included.

It is located just 2 blocks south of the University of Chicago Law School and the School of Public Policy.

Is this a deal?

Bob Satawake at Keller Williams Gold Coast has the listing. See more pictures here.

Unit #303: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in August 2008 for $340,500
• Originally listed in February 2011 for $295,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed as a “short sale” for $224,900 (parking included)
• Assessments of $200 a month
• Taxes of $1319
• OR you can rent it for $1850 a month
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 16×16 (main level)
• Bedroom #2: 14×12 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 11×11 (second floor)

We last chattered about this 3-bedroom American 4-Square at 5316 W. Warner in Portage Park in October 2010.

See our prior chatter here.

Many of you didn’t think highly of the pictures which depicted the vintage rooms, some with wood beamed ceilings, as dark.

Listed back then at $349,000, the house finally sold after 15 months on the market for $295,000.

If you recall, the house was built in 1914.

It had many of its original features intact including original moldings, stained glass and a beamed ceiling in the dining room.

The kitchen had stainless steel appliances and corian counter tops.

The baths were “newer” with stone tile.

Built on a 31×125 lot, the house had a 2 car garage and central air.

All 3 bedrooms were on the second floor and there was a semi-finished basement.

Is under $300,000 the more realistic price point for this neighborhood?

David Berganski at Legent WP Realty had the listing. You can still see the interior pictures here.

5316 W. Warner: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 car garage, no square footage listed

• Sold in April 1992 for $169,000
• Sold in November 1996 for $175,000
• Sold in October 2006 for $398,500
• Originally listed in March 2010 for $389,900
• Reduced
• Was listed in October 2010 for $349,000
• Sold in June 2011 for $295,000
• Taxes of $4147
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 18×12
• Bedroom #2: 14×11
• Bedroom #3: 11×10

This 2-bedroom in the midrise building at 1228 W. Monroe in the West Loop has been on the market since June 2011.

In that time it has been reduced $10,000.

It is bank owned.

At 1008 square feet, it has hardwood floors in the main living areas.

From the pictures, it appears that the kitchen and bathrooms are intact.

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

The unit, which was built in 2006, has central air, washer/dryer in the unit and parking included.

This property is currently listed $81,100 under the 2006 purchase price at $239,900.

However, Unit #504, also a 2/2 of about the same square footage, located on the top floor and with 2 parking spaces, is under contract as a short sale with a list price of $218,000.

Is this even much of a deal?

Henry Jones at Jones Realty Corporation has the listing. See more pictures here.

Unit #402: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1008 square feet

• Sold in August 2006 for $321,000
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in November 2009
• Bank owned in April 2011
• Originally listed in June 2011 for $249,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $239,900 (parking included)
• Assessments of $261 a month
• Taxes of $4373
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 15×11
• Bedroom #2: 13×10

This bank owned 1-bedroom at 757 N. Orleans in River North appears to be among the first distress sales in the building.

Built in 2008/2009, 757 N. Orleans hasn’t yet sold out its units from the developer.

The unit was purchased in 2009, had a lis pendens filed in 2010 and the bank took it in May 2011.

The bank quickly relisted it for sale in June 2011.

But even at $94,100 off the 2009 purchase price, there were no takers.

The unit was recently reduced another $23,900.

From the pictures, it appears to have the kitchen and bathroom intact.

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

There are hardwood floors in the living/dining area.

The bedroom has carpet.

The south facing unit also has central air and washer/dryer in the unit.

There is no parking with the unit, but it’s available to purchase in the building.

Now listed at $220,000, the developer has a similar Tier “10” unit for sale on the 9th floor for $281,000.

Given the other prices in the building, is this a deal?

Gaspar Flores at Su Familia Real Estate has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #1210: 1 bedroom, 1 bath (the listing says 781 square feet but #910 is 931 square feet which would seem more likely from the pictures)

• Sold in January 2009 for $338,000
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in May 2010
• Bank owned in May 2011
• Originally listed in June 2011 for $243,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $220,000
• Assessments of $331 a month (includes a/c, pool, doorman)
• Taxes of $4965
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• No parking included (but can purchase in the building)
• Bedroom: 15×11

This 3-bedroom in the midrise at 21 E. Elm in the Gold Coast has been on the market since April 2011.

It has retained its vintage character with 2 fireplaces, including one in the master bedroom, a separate dining room and crown molding.

But the listing also says there is a new eat-in kitchen with stainless steel appliances, granite counter tops and white cabinets.

It has all the other features buyers look for including central air and washer/dryer in the unit except deeded parking.

Parking is available for rent in the high rise across the street.

There is also a 11×5 terrace off one of the bedrooms, but there doesn’t appear to be a good picture of it in the listing.

The unit is listed $138,000 above the 2003 purchase price.

Will it command a premium in this market?

Janet Owen at Prudential Rubloff has the listing. See the pictures and the floorplan here.

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

• Sold in July 1995 for $340,000
• Sold in October 2003 for $560,000
• Originally listed in April 2011 for $698,000
• Currently still listed for $698,000
• Assessments of $544 a month (includes heat, cable)
• Taxes of $9015
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• No dogs
• No parking (available for rent across the street)
• Bedroom #1: 14×14
• Bedroom #2: 15×10
• Bedroom #3: 11×9
• Terrace: 11×5

We last chattered about this 5-bedroom new construction single family home at 1845 N. Winchester in Bucktown in August 2010.

See our prior chatter here.

Many of you did not think the level of finishes matched the price of the property.

First listed in July 2007 for $1.549 million, it was reduced several times and then recently listed as a short sale.

The listing stated that it was “mostly completed.”

The house finally sold in July 2011 for $1 million.

The kitchen had cherry cabinets and granite counter tops but no appliances.

There were also cherry hardwood floors.

The listing says there was a lower level entertainment room with heated floors.

3 out of the 5 bedrooms were on the second floor with the remaining 2 on the lower level.

Anthony Zaskowski at Property Consultants Realty has the listing. You can still see the interior pictures here.

1845 N. Winchester: 5 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, 2 car garage, 4500 square feet

• Sold in April 2005 for $560,000 (old house)
• Originally listed in July 2007 for $1.549 million
• Off and on the market
• Listed in July 2010 for $1,399,900
• Reduced
• Was listed in August 2010 for $1,339,900
• Reduced
• Was listed as a “short sale” in May 2011 for $1.125 million
• Sold in July 2011 for $1 million
• Taxes of $14,740
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 14×17 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 11×11 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 14×17 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 10×13 (lower level)
• Bedroom #5: 16×17 (lower level)

This 2-bedroom in the Venetian at 222 W. Division in Old Town was just reduced.

The bank owned unit has been on the market since May 2011 and the price has now been cut $64,500.

It is now listed for about 40% below the 2004 purchase price.

From the pictures in the listing, it appears the kitchen is intact with stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops.

It also appears as though there is only a partial wall height on at least one of the bedrooms.

Built in 2004, the unit has central air, in-unit washer/dryer and deeded parking.

Unit #1303, one floor below, has been on the market since November 2010 for $369,000 plus parking is extra.

Is this unit a deal for this location?

Coya Smith at Smith Partners Associates has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #1403: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed (#1303 is listed as 1300 square feet however)

• Sold in May 2004 for $413,000 (included parking)
• Lis pendens filed in February 2010
• Bank owned in January 2011
• Originally listed in May 2011 for $314,400 (parking included)
• Reduced several times
• Currently listed for $249,900 (parking included)
• Assessments of $464 a month (includes heat, doorman)
• Taxes of $4490
• Central Air
• In-unit washer/dryer
• Fannie Mae Homepath property
• Bedroom #1: 14×12
• Bedroom #2: 11×11

This 3-bedroom townhouse at 333 N. Canal on the Near West Side (River West?) has the luxury of having its own separate space but also the amenities of a larger building.

It is built at the base of the River Bend high rise and fronts the Chicago River.

The listing says it has access to a boat slip.

The townhouse also has an elevator and 2 terraces.

Two bedrooms are on the third floor with the third bedroom on the main floor.

The kitchen/family room are on the second floor.

Listed in March 2011 for $1.699 million, it has been reduced $100,000 in that time.

Is this a good alternative for those who want to live in this neighborhood but don’t want single level condo high rise living?

Jorie Peirce at ERA Team Feinstein has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #104: 3 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, 5400 square feet

• Originally listed in November 2007 from the developer for $1.5 million
• Sold in February 2009 for $1 million
• Originally listed in March 2011 for $1.699 million
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $1.599 million
• Assessments of $2680 a month (includes a/c, gas, doorman, exercise room)
• Taxes of $13,311
• Central Air
• Two terraces
• In-unit Elevator
• 2-car parking (valet in the building)
• Bedroom #1: 18×29 (third level)
• Bedroom #2: 12×11 (third level)
• Bedroom #3: 17×14 (main level)
• Family room and kitchen (second level)