Crib Chatter

This 3-bedroom unit at 1706 N. Wells, in the Crilly Court conversion, in Old Town just came on the market.

It is listed for $59,000 more than the 2007 purchase price.

Before you get in a huff about the price, we chattered about another one of these 3-bedroom units in Crilly Court in February of this year. It ended up selling for more than its 2007 price. Here is the history:

1702 N. Wells #3: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1507 square feet

• Sold in July 2007 for $467,000
• Originally was listed in February 2010 for $525,000
• Under contract within 14 days
• Closed in April 2010 for $499,000

See our February chatter here.

Now 1706 N. Wells has come on the market. It is also one of the larger units.

Converted in 2007, the unit has a renovated kitchen with stainless steel appliances and a marble master bath.

The listing says the third bedroom was opened to make a larger living/dining area.

Like the unit on the market earlier this year, there is no parking included with this unit.

Will Crilly Court continue to be one of the few buildings that defies the downturn?

Robin Miner at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #3: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1507 square feet

• Sold in August 2007 for $467,000
• Currently listed for $525,000
• Assessments of $298 a month
• Taxes of $6371
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• No parking – rental available in the neighborhood
• Bedroom #1: 13×12
• Bedroom #2: 16×12
• Bedroom #3: 11×10

This 2-bedroom unit at 3140 N. Sheffield in Lakeview is listed as a short sale.

On the market since April 2010, it has recently been reduced and is now listed $120,500 under the 2007 purchase price.

It is by far the cheapest 2-bedroom in the building.

It has all the features of newer construction including wood floors in the main living areas. The kitchen has granite counter tops and black appliances.

The listing doesn’t say anything about parking with this unit so I’m not sure if that is extra.

Constructed in 2006/2007, 3140 N. Sheffield has 51 units.

Will the sale of this 2-bedroom be a comp killer in this building?

Caroline Yoon at Top Realty has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #612: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1256 square feet

• Sold in May 2007 for $395,500
• Originally listed in April 2010 for $374,999
• Reduced
• Currently listed as a “short sale” for $275,000
• Assessments of $223 a month
• Taxes of $6019
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Parking isn’t listed. Extra?
• Bedroom #1: 15×22
• Bedroom #2: 12×12

This 3-bedroom vintage brick cottage at 2325 W. Dickens in Bucktown has been on and off the market since May 2007.

The listing price has also apparently seen numerous changes with it listed in March 2010 at $499,000 only to have it then raised in July to $525,000.

It is currently listed at $515,000.

Built in 1880, the house is on a smaller than normal Chicago lot of 25×100 but does have a 2-car garage.

Two of the three bedrooms are on the second floor. The house also has an unfinished basement.

While the new master bathroom has marble and granite and frameless glass doors to the shower, the kitchen still has the white cabinets and countertops.

But the listing says the seller will “upgrade kitchen” to “cherry or maple cabinets, granite counters and hdwd floors” for the buyer (and a selection of those upgrades can be seen in the kitchen picture.) 

There is already a stainless steel refrigerator in the current kitchen so presumably that stays. 

Would the lure of a new kitchen entice you to take a closer look?

Christine Breuer at Jameson has the listing. See the pictures here.

2325 W. Dickens: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed, 2 car garage

• Sold in April 1989 for $114,500
• Sold in May 1996 for $242,000
• Sold in June 2006 for $460,000
• Originally listed in May 2007
• On and off the market
• Listed in March 2010 for $499,000
• Listed in July 2010 for $525,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $515,000
• Taxes of $8035
• Central Air
• Unfinished basement
• Bedroom #1: 18×13 (second)
• Bedroom #2: 15×13 (second)
• Bedroom #3: 7×11 (main)

This 3-bedroom vintage single family home at 4015 N. Parkside in Portage Park has been on and off the market for at least a year.

It has been bank owned since April 2010.

The house is currently listed for $259,520 under the 2006 purchase price.

The listing says it has hardwood floors in the living room and dining room.

Built in 1904, there is central air and a 2 car garage on a standard 25×125 lot.

Two of the three bedrooms are on the second floor and there is a basement family room.

The house has apparently been listed around $150,000 (the current list price) since February 2010 with no takers.

Yet it is located just a block from Portage Park.

Will this house go back to the 1988 price before it finally finds a buyer?

Jack Kosycarz at Re/Max City has the listing. See the pictures here.

4015 N. Parkside: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 1591 square feet, 2 car garage

• Sold in December 1988 for $98,000
• Sold in February 2000 for $185,000
• Sold in April 2001 for $240,000
• Sold in August 2006 for $410,000
• Lis pendens filed in July 2009
• Originally listed in October 2009 for $299,000
• Reduced
• Was listed in February 2010 for $150,000
• Bank owned (by Bank of America) in April 2010
• Currently listed for $150,480
• Taxes of $4309
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 14×13 (second level)
• Bedroom #2: 12×10 (second level)
• Bedroom #3: 11×10 (main level)
• Family room: 15×14 (basement)

This 3-bedroom unit at 1408 W. Taylor in the heart of the Tri-Taylor neighborhood on the west side has been on the market since July 2009.

It has been reduced $39,900 in those 17 months.

The unit is now listed for $17,000 less than the 2005 purchase price.

At 1540 square feet, this is not one of those small 3-bedroom units.

The listing says it is a double corner unit with two balconies. It also has 11 foot ceilings.

The building, while intimate, with only 2 units per floor, does have an elevator.

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

It is also located right in the hub of Taylor Street activity with its shops, restaurants and bars.

Is this a deal for the Little Italy/Tri-Taylor neighborhood?

Eugene Fu at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #202: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1540 square feet, 1 car parking included

• Sold in June 2005 for $392,000
• Originally listed in July 2009 for $414,900
• Reduced several times
• Currently listed for $375,000
• Assessments of $315 a month
• Taxes of $5618
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 13×14
• Bedroom #2: 10×11
• Bedroom #3: 10×10

We last chattered about this 3-bedroom duplex down unit in a Victorian storefront at 2075 N. Oakley in Bucktown in January 2010.

At that time, it was listed for $93,000 above the 2006 purchase price at $824,900.

Many of you disagreed with the pricing (to put it mildly) and there were predictions of a sale anywhere from $550,000 to $650,000.

See our prior chatter here.

The unit is still on the market and has now been reduced $125,900 and is now listed $32,500 under the 2006 purchase price.

This unique unit is located in what was a Victorian storefront and appears to still have the original tin ceiling.

The kitchen has marble counter tops and stainless steel appliances.

2 out of the 3 bedrooms are on the main floor with the third in the lower level.

There is also a lower level family room with marble floors.

The side yard is private to the unit and there is an attached garage.

Is this property now priced to sell or have market conditions also changed since the original listing, and chatter, 11 months ago?

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

Unit #1: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2600 square feet, duplex down, 1 car parking

• Sold in April 1999 for $320,000
• Sold in January 2002 for $462,500
• Sold in July 2006 for $731,500
• Was listed in January 2010 for $824,900
• Reduced numerous times
• Currently listed for $699,000
• Assessments of $259 a month (includes cable)
• Taxes of $6100
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 11×10 (main level)
• Bedroom #2: 18×12 (main level)
• Bedroom #3: 14×11 (lower level)
• Family room: 21×19 (lower level)

This 3-bedroom townhouse at 2547 N. Greenview in west Lincoln Park has been on the market since May 2010.

The price was recently cut to $399,000 and has now been reduced $98,500 from its original May 2010 list price.

The townhouse is also listed $79,000 under the 2008 purchase price.

This townhouse complex was built in 1988 and has a large interior courtyard.

The property’s outdoor space includes a patio that looks out on the courtyard.

The townhouse has 2200 square feet on 4 levels including a main level family room, a living/dining/kitchen combo on the second floor, 2 bedrooms on the third floor and the third on the fourth.

It also has 2 car parking.

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

The townhouse is next door to Wrightwood Park, a popular park with a rare park district pool.

Is this a deal for this square footage and location?

Stephanie Cutter at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See the pictures and virtual tour here.

2547 N. Greenview: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2 car parking, 2200 square feet

• Sold in August 1990 for $255,000
• Sold in June 1994 for $386,250 (I wonder if this isn’t a typo in the public records and should be $286,250)
• Sold in June 2001 for $394,000
• Sold in May 2005 for $370,500
• Sold in October 2008 for $478,000
• Originally listed in May 2010 for $497,500
• Reduced several times
• Currently listed at $399,000
• Assessments of $286 a month (includes cable)
• Taxes of $6209
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 17×14 (third floor)
• Bedroom #2: 17×10 (third floor)
• Bedroom #3: 12×11 (fourth floor)
• Family room: 17×11 (first floor)

This 2-bedroom vintage farmhouse at 2915 W. Belden in Logan Square is listed for just $175,000.

It was recently reduced $24,000.

The listing says “Attention Investors and Rehabbers” and says it is being sold “as-is” so it is not for those looking for something move-in ready.

Still, the house is on a larger than standard 25×150 lot, has an unfinished basement and has a 2-car garage.

The listing says it was legally a 2-flat but was deconverted into a single family home.

For this price and location, is it worth rehabbing?

Dana Gerstenschlager at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

2915 W. Belden: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 car garage

• Sold in July 1997 for $122,000
• Originally listed in September 2010 for $199,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $175,000
• Taxes of $4004
• No central air
• Bedroom #1: 10×10 (main floor)
• Bedroom #2: 8×10 (second floor)
• Family room: 20×10 (second floor)

Having run this site for over 3 years, I am now seeing some properties come back on the market that we previously chattered about and which sold including this 3-bedroom vintage unit at 4055 N. Greenview in the Graceland West neighborhood (of Lakeview or Uptown?)

Back in May 2008, the listing called this property “too good to be true” after it was reduced from $399,000 down to $299,000.

It eventually sold in July 2008 for $295,000.

See our prior chatter and the interior pictures here.

The 3-bedroom unit returned to the market in February 2010.

From the pictures, it does not appear that any upgrades were done to the unit.

The kitchen still has the white cabinets, white counter tops and black appliances from the previous sale.

This unit has 800 square feet of lower level space that is available for storage and/or to duplex down.

There is deeded parking included but no central air.

The listing says that the property is in the Blaine school district.

Was this such a deal in 2008 that it will sell for more than the 2008 purchase price in 2010?

Trevor Engelhardt at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #1S: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in October 1989 for $119,000
• Sold in June 1996 for $158,000
• Originally listed for $399,000 in June 2007
• Numerous price reductions
• Listed in May 2008 for $299,999
• Sold in July 2008 for $295,000
• Originally listed in February 2010 for $370,000
• Numerous reductions
• Currently listed at $353,700 (parking included)
• Assessments of $590 a month (includes heat)
• Taxes of $4200
• No central air- window units
• Bedroom #1: 13×12
• Bedroom #2: 10×9
• Bedroom #3: 12×9
• 800 square feet of unfinished storage space on the lower level

We last chattered about this 8-bedroom vintage mansion at 25 E. Banks in the Gold Coast in September 2010.

See our prior chatter here.

At that time, the house had just been reduced $2.55 million after being on the market nearly 3 and 1/2 years and was well off its $13.5 million original list price.

It then went under contract quickly and recently closed for just $150,000 under the newly reduced price.

As reported by the press, the seller was J.P. Morgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon who had lived in the house when he was working in the company’s Chicago office.

Janet Owen at Sudler Sotheby’s had the listing.

25 E. Banks: 8 bedroom, 9 full and 2 half baths, 13,500 square feet, 2 car garage

• Sold in September 2000 for $4.68 million
• Originally listed in April 2007 for $13.5 million
• Reduced in November 2007 to $12 million
• Reduced to $9.5 million
• Reduced
• Was listed in September 2010 at $6.95 million
• Sold in October 2010 for $6.8 million
• Taxes of $61,530
• 2 fireplaces
• Library