Crib Chatter

It’s been over a year since we last chattered about a loft in 1000 W. Washington in the West Loop.

This is a popular loft building because of its location across the street from the Wishbone restaurant and Harpo Studios not to mention the string of restaurants on Randolph Street.

It also is well known for its authentic lofts, many with unique layouts.

This 2-bedroom unit has timber ceilings and exposed brick along with large windows with city views.

The kitchen has cabinets by Aristokraft, granite counter tops, a slate backsplash and stainless steel appliances. The bathrooms are Kohler.

Deeded parking is included and it has central air and a washer/dryer in the unit.

Rodolfo Zavala at Keller Williams Gold Coast has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #334: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1650 square feet

• Sold in April 1996 for $206,000
• Sold in April 1999 for $250,000
• Sold in June 2002 for $320,000
• Sold in March 2005 for $375,000
• Originally listed in September 2010 for $524,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $514,900 (parking included)
• Assessments of $591 a month (includes doorman, cable)
• Taxes of $4723
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 14×11
• Bedroom #2: 15×11

This 3-bedroom brick single family home at 1859 W. Ohio in West Town recently came on the market and went under contract within days.

Last March, it had been bank owned.

Back then, the listing described the house as having 9 foot ceilings and marble in two of the baths.

But it also said:

“THIS HOME IS A REHABBERS DREAM. THIS HOME IS WITHOUT A KITCHEN AND WITHOUT 2 OF THE BATHROOMS.”

Listed for $245,000, the house sold just a month later, in April 2010, for $365,000.

I found an old listing with interior pictures for the house which you can see here.

The house is now listed for $354,000 more than the April 2010 purchase price.

The listing says it has “amazing curb appeal.”

The house has Brazilian cherry floors.

The kitchen has Brookhaven cabinets, a Thermadoor cooktop and Napoli hood with granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances.

The house, new construction in 2004, is on a 25×100 lot and has a two car garage.

This is the first property I’ve seen go under contract that fast in a long time.

Was this home simply priced right?

Neil Hackler at Chicago Real Estate Resources has the listing. See the pictures here.

1859 W. Ohio: 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 1920 square feet, 2 car garage

• Sold in December 2004 for $769,000
• Sold in August 2005 for $870,000
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in January 2008
• Bank owned in January 2010
• Listed in March 2010 for $245,000
• Sold in April 2010 for $365,000
• Currently listed at $719,000
• Under contract within days
• Taxes of $8761
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 19×29
• Bedroom #2: 13×18
• Bedroom #3: 14×10

This 5-bedroom single family home at 2174 W. Wilson in Lincoln Square was apparently completely renovated in 2007.

Built in 1901 on a 37.5×125 lot, the house now has all the modern amenities such as a main floor family room/kitchen combination as well as a 28×12 lower level recreation room.

4 out of the 5 bedrooms are on the second floor.

The house also has a woodpaneled library.

The kitchen has stainless steel appliances and a big breakfast/dining bar.

This house is now listed $37,500 under the 2008 purchase price but it looks like a relocation company now owns the home.

Is this a deal?

Elizabeth Bleeker at Prudential Rubloff has the listing. See the photos here.

2174 W. Wilson: 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 2 car garage, 5500 square feet

• Sold in June 2005 for $600,000
• Sold in July 2008 for $1,087,500
• Sold in June 2010 for $1.155 million (according to public records- to relocation company)
• Listed in June 2010 for $1,246,300
• Reduced several times
• Currently listed for $1,050,000
• Taxes of $8732
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 18×17
• Bedroom #2: 16×15
• Bedroom #3: 12×11
• Bedroom #4: 12×12
• Bedroom #5: 15×12 (lower level)
• Family room: 16×18 (main level)
• Recreation room: 28×12 (lower level)

We’ve chattered about this unique 3-bedroom unit in a former storefront at 1530 N. Paulina in Wicker Park several times since it first came on the market in July 2008.

See our original July 2008 chatter and pictures here.

This was the duplex down with the secret staircase in the floor (seen in the 2008 pictures.)

It has recently come back on the market as a short sale and is now listed $80,100 under the 2006 purchase price.

At 2700 square feet, the first floor former storefront has as much square footage as many single family homes or townhouses.

It has a private entrance, a garage space and a private rooftop deck.

The third bedroom and a full bath are in the lower level, along with a media/recreation room.

The kitchen has white cabinets and stainless steel appliances.

Is this a deal for the square footage and location?

Deborah Hess at Conlon: A Real Estate Company now has the listing. See more pictures here.

Unit #F: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2700 square feet

• Sold in December 2006 for $630,000
• Was listed in July 2008 for $675,000 (parking included)
• Withdrawn
• Originally listed in May 2010 for $650,000
• Was listed in August 2010 for $660,000 (looks like the parking was again included)
• Withdrawn
• Re-listed as a “short sale” for $549,900 (parking included)
• Assessments of $454 a month (includes cable)
• Taxes of $9446
• Central Air
• Private deck
• Bedroom #1: 17×12 (main level)
• Bedroom #2: 17×10 (main level)
• Bedroom #3: 13×11 (lower level)

This 2-bedroom concrete loft at 1516 S. Wabash in the South Loop has been on the market since May 2010.

It has been reduced several times and is now listed $62,000 under the 2006 purchase price (if you include the parking spot.)

It has 2-bedrooms but only 1 bathroom in 1114 square feet.

The loft has concrete ceilings, which are most prized for sound proofing reasons by loft buyers, as well as exposed duct work and hardwood floors.

The kitchen has stainless steel appliances.

There are large windows with views of most of the the South Loop.

The loft also has central air, in-unit washer/dryer and deed parking available.

Will this loft ultimately sell for the 2000 purchase price?

Joseph Held at Re/Max Signature has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #606: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, 1114 square feet

• Sold in February 2000 for $217,500
• Sold in April 2004 for $273,000
• Sold in April 2006 for $310,000
• Originally listed in May 2010 for $275,000
• Reduced several times
• Listed in October 2010 for $219,000 (plus $29,000 for parking)
• Currently still listed at $219,000 (plus $29,000 for parking)
• Assessments of $424 a month (includes cable)
• Taxes of $3580
• Central Air
• In-Unit Washer/Dryer
• FHA approved building
• Bedroom #1: 13×11
• Bedroom 32: 13×11

Many homebuyers in both Ukranian Village and Wicker Park cite proximity to the restaurants and retail scene on Division as a reason to buy in the neighborhood.

This 2-bedroom at 1714 W. Division recently came back on the market after being on and off the market since June 2008.

The listing says it is a Fannie Mae Homepath property and can be purchased for just 3% down.

This was a new construction building in 2006 so it has all the finishes of the new construction buildings including stainless steel appliances in the kitchen and granite countertops.

The baths are marble.

There are 2 balconies and 1-car garage.

The unit is now listed for $171,000 under the June 2008 list.

What will it take to finally sell this property?

Joseph Pav at Pav Realtors has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #1: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1251 square feet

• The records are messed up so I can’t decipher the prior price
• Originally listed in June 2008 for $495,900
• Reduced numerous times
• Was listed in August 2010 for $329,700
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $324,900
• Assessments of $250 a month
• Taxes of $5841
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 15×13
• Bedroom #2: 10×10

This 2-flat at 1335 W. Newport, just steps from Southport and the Brown Line El stop in Lakeview, has been on and off the market since August 2009.

Yes, that is the El line running directly behind the property.

Built in 1908 on a 30×120 lot, this 2-flat brownstone has the following units:

1. Unit #1: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, dining room, rented for $1800 a month (including 1-garage parking space)
2. Unit #2: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, dining room, rented for $1850 a month (including 1-garage parking space)

Each unit has its own gas, heat and central air.

The kitchens have been upgraded with Unit #2 sporting white cabinets and stainless steel appliances. The listing also says the bathrooms have been updated.

The 2-flat has maintined some of its vintage features such as the hardwood floors throughout and the original woodwork.

At what price do these multi-units make investment sense?

Joaquin Calle at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

1335 W. Newport: 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 car garage, multi-unit

• Sold in June 1987 for $100,378
• Sold in July 1993 for $285,000
• Sold in May 2001 for $599,000
• Sold in March 2004 for $617,500
• Originally listed in August 2009 for $749,000
• Reduced several times
• Listed in October 2010 for $650,000
• Currently still listed for $650,000
• Taxes of $10,535
• Rental income: $47,400
• Individual gas/heat/Central Air

We last chattered about this 4-bedroom single family home at 2746 N. Racine listed for $724,000 on the border of Lincoln Park and Lakeview in October 2010.

See our prior chatter here.

Just after our discussion, the house went under contract.

Some of you thought it was a deal at that price while some thought it would sell just under $700,000.

 The listing said it had a “chef’s kitchen”.

3 out of the 4 bedrooms were on the second floor. It also had two decks and a garage.

Mario Greco at Prudential Rubloff had the listing.

2746 N. Racine: 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 2 car garage, no square footage listed

• Sold in August 1995 for $390,000
• Sold in August 1998 for $530,000
• Sold in September 1999 for $619,000
• Sold in April 2001 for $747,000
• Originally listed in January 2010 for $849,000
• Reduced and withdrawn in July 2010
• Was listed in October 2010 for $724,500
• Sold on November 30, 2010 for $708,000
• Taxes of $11363
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 15×14 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 12×11 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 12×11 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 16×12 (lower level)

This 1-bedroom unit in the high rise Parkview Tower at 2740 N. Pine Grove just south of Diversey in Lincoln Park just came back on the market for $35,000.

(Sorry for the yucky picture but the weather was nasty. It was so cold/rainy I couldn’t get a good shot so I gave up after 10 tries. But you get the idea.)

It is a short sale.

How low is that price?

It is listed $26,000 under even the 1992 purchase price.

Before you rush to get your checkbook, the listing lays out some hefty assessments that must be paid by the new owner including: “buyer responsible for building’s special assessment ($20,000) & delinquent monthly assessment, legal charges, late fees, etc.”

There is also a tenant in place.

The listing acknowledges that the unit needs some updating. It has carpet and an older kitchen.

The unit has no central air (only wall units), no in-unit washer/dryer and rental parking is available on a first come, first served basis.

Is this a true deal?

Or was this listed artifically low to incite a bidding war?

Christine Placek at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the listing here (no interior pictures).

To see what the units in the building look like, Unit #17G is also on the market and has carpeting. But it is listed for $200,000.

See the pictures here.

Unit #9B: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 800 square feet

• Sold in June 1992 for $61,000
• Sold in June 2002 for $165,000
• Originally listed in August 2008 for $195,000
• Lis pendens filed in December 2008
• Reduced in May 2009 to $165,000
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in November 2009
• Currently listed at $35,000 (plus all the assessments talked about in the listing)
• Assessments of $233 a month (includes doorman)
• Taxes of $3042
• No central air- wall units
• No in-unit washer/dryer
• No deeded parking- rental only at $115 to $145 a month
• Tenant in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 12×11

We’ve chattered about this top floor 2-bedroom unit in this Renaissance inspired mid-rise at 2042 N. Clark in East Lincoln Park twice before.

The first time was in April 2008.

See our April 2008 chatter and pictures here.

A few of you thought it wasn’t priced badly but it never did sell (and one of you later recanted on your belief that it was priced to sell.)

We chattered about it again in March 2009 when it came back on the market for $1,000 more than the prior list price.

See our March 2009 chatter here.

At that point Bob observed:

“This thing doesn’t sell for more than 440k is my guess. Given the stubbornness of the seller it will take a few years.”

It has now returned back to the market 21 months later and has been reduced $50,000. The parking is also now included in the listing (whereas before it was always extra.)

The listing says there is a “chef’s kitchen” with Subzero and Bosch appliances.

It also has 2 outdoor spaces including a 28×5 east facing deck and a 16×8 west facing one.

There are only 2 units per floor.

Will the third time be the charm for this unit?

John Lopez at Keller Williams Lincoln Square now has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #6N: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in June 2002 for $582,500
• Was listed in April 2008 for $529,000 plus $70,000 for tandem parking
• Withdrawn
• Was listed in March 2009 for $550,000 plus $50,000 for tandem parking
• Withdrawn
• Currently listed for $549,900 (2-car tandem parking included)
• Assessments at $443 a month
• Taxes of $6975
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 14×13
• Bedroom #2: 14×11