Crib Chatter

We last chattered about this 3-bedroom brick Victorian at 3656 N. Tripp in Old Irving Park in August 2009.

See our prior chatter here.

At that time, CS Magazine had named Old Irving Park one of Chicago’s “hot” neighborhoods.

Since then, this house has been reduced $50,000.

Built in 1903 on a corner 34×155 lot, all 3 bedrooms are on the second floor.

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

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

Irene Yungerman at Baird & Warner still has the listing. See the pictures here.

3656 N. Tripp: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 1700 square feet, 2 car garage

• Sold in May 1989 for $170,000
• Sold in May 1999 for $273,000
• Originally listed in June 2009 for $499,000
• Was still listed in August 2009 at $499,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $449,000
• Taxes of $6790
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 15×13
• Bedroom #2: 13×12
• Bedroom #3: 13×11

This 1 bedroom condo at 3660 N. Lake Shore Drive, or The New York building, in Lakeview just came on the market.

We’ve chattered about distress sales in this building before.

This high rise building was converted from apartments into condos in the last 10 years.

This unit is on the 36th floor and has city skyline views from its balcony.

It has carpeting throughout and a kitchen with white cabinets and white appliances.

But with it priced $138,600 under the 2000 purchase price, does this make sense to buy rather than to rent?

Rosario Terracciano at Resurrecting Real Estate has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #3605: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, no square footage listed

• Sold in December 2000 for $248,500 (looks like deeded parking was included)
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in October 2009
• Currently listed for $109,900 (parking extra)
• Assessments of $374 a month (includes A/C and doorman)
• Taxes of $3254
• Central Air
• No in-unit washer/dryer
• Bedroom: 12×10
• Living room: 14×18
• Kitchen: 8×8

We last chattered about the Odyssey Lofts in Greektown at 775 W. Jackson in February 2008.

See our prior chatter here.

At that time, the building was apparently 60% sold in preconstruction and units were just about to start closing.

Then, in April 2009, Crain’s reported that a foreclosure suit was filed against the building.

In July 2010, Crain’s reported that there was a new owner.

New owners have taken over two failed condominium developments in the West Loop, after the lender on the projects sold the loans to a local real estate investment firm.

The loans involve unsold condos at Odyssey Lofts, 775 W. Jackson Blvd., and a vacant 45-unit building at 123 N. Sangamon St. and two adjacent sites. Both were projects of Chicago-based W Developments LLC and were hit with foreclosure lawsuits last year from the construction lender, Midwest Bank & Trust Co.

Northbrook-based Speedwagon Properties recently obtained the deed to the Sangamon properties and sold the note on the Odyssey to an investor group that sources say includes James Haft, general counsel of MCZ Development LLC.

The prices of the note sales couldn’t be determined, though the foreclosure suits show that Chicago-based W Developments owed almost $17.4 million on the Odyssey, where 47 of the project’s 62 units weren’t sold, and almost $11.3 million on 123 N. Sangamon.

Recently, the development came back on the market and is being marketed by @Properties. The Odyssey Lofts name has apparently been retired and it is now 770 Lofts.

Prices have also been cut. They formerly ranged from $240,000 to $620,000. They now range from the following:

1. 1 Bedrooms: From $170,000s
2. 1 Bedrooms Plus Dens: From $220,000s
3. 2 Bedrooms, 2 Baths: From $270,000s

The first 6 floors of the building are an authentic loft building with exposed brick and timber ceilings. The top two floors are new construction.

Will price cuts work to finally move this product?

770 Lofts [website]

2 distressed West Loop condo projects go to new owners [Crain’s Chicago Business, Eddie Baeb, July 7, 2010]

This 4-bedroom house at 6721 W. Hurlbut in Old Norwood Park might not appear special from the street.

But it is apparently one of those rare Sears Roebuck kit homes from the 1920s and 1930s.

Constructed in 1924, it is built on an oversized 50×150 lot and the listing says it still has the original front porch.

3 of the 4 bedrooms are on the main floor with the master bedroom set up as a second floor master suite.

It has a finished basement with an adjacent weight room.

The house also has a first floor family room with cathedral ceilings.

The kitchen is described in the listing as “newer” with cherry cabinets, black appliances and granite counter tops.

Old Norwood Park is a unique area of the city with a diversity of home styles, winding roads and large lots. The elementary school is also among the top in the city.

Dympria Fay-Hart at Century 21 McMullen has the listing. See the pictures here.

6721 W. Hurlbut: 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, 1.5 car garage, no square footage listed

• Sold in January 1989 for $173,500
• Sold in January 1996 for $235,000
• Sold in April 1998 for $333,000
• Originally listed in April 2010
• Currently listed for $674,900
• Taxes of $5890
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 22×18 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 13×12 (main floor)
• Bedroom #3: 12×11 (main floor)
• Bedroom #4: 12×11 (main floor

We last chattered about this 3-bedroom single family home at 832 N. Marshfield in West Town in August 2010.

See our prior chatter and pictures here.

Back in August, some of you thought it was fairly priced for a single family home in that neighborhood at the list of $479,000 (and some of you thought they should have updated the pictures to not show snow in the backyard).

It recently sold for $450,000 but that was about $100,000 under its original list price in March.

Was this a deal compared to the condos in the neighborhood?

Jay Kuchenbecker at Conlon had the listing.

832 N. Marshfield: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, no square footage listed, 2 car garage

• Sold in May 1994 for $43,000
• Sold in October 1994 for $96,000
• Was listed in March 2010 for $549,900
• Reduced
• Was listed in May 2010 for $499,900
• Reduced
• Was listed in August 2010 for $479,000
• Sold in September 2010 for $450,000
• Taxes of $7652
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 16×14
• Bedroom #2: 12×12
• Bedroom #3: 12×12

This 4-bedroom vintage home at 5255 N. Lakewood in the Lakewood Balmoral Historic District in Andersonville recently came on the market for the first time in 14 years.

I’ve been told it went under contract within days and rumors are swirling there were multiple offers.

Built in 1910, the arts and crafts home is on a 50×123 corner lot.

It has space pac cooling and a 2 car garage.

Most of its vintage features are still intact including incredible woodwork, beamed ceilings, built-ins in the dining room, stained glass and a claw foot tub.

All 4 bedrooms are on the second floor.

It also has a separate in-law unit on the bottom floor with its own entrance.

Is Lakewood Balmoral the hottest neighborhood in the city?

Pamela Ball at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here.

5255 N. Lakewood: 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2 car garage, 4832 square feet

• Sold in April 1996 for $445,000
• Currently listed for $995,000
• Under contract within days
• Taxes of $3997
• Space pac cooling
• Bedroom #1: 23×15 (also has a sunroom)
• Bedroom #2: 13×12
• Bedroom #3: 14×13
• Bedroom #4: 12×10

This 4-bedroom Bucktown house at 1923 N. Winchester looks like the vintage homes which were commonly built in the Bucktown neighborhood.

But the listing says that there was a large addition in 2007.

That has resulted in a modern  interior sporting a main floor family room and multiple decks.

Built on a 24×125 lot, the house has a 2.5 car garage and the other modern amenities such as central air.

The bedrooms, however, are split with two on the second floor and two in the lower level.

The kitchen has granite counter tops and a kitchen island as well as stainless steel appliances.

The house has been reduced $50,000.

Jeff Lowe at Prudential Rubloff has the listing. See the pictures here.

1923 N. Winchester: 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 2.5 car garage, 3800 square feet

• Sold in June 1989 for $191,978
• Sold in July 2003 for $630,000
• Originally listed in July 2010 for $899,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $849,000
• Taxes of $8581
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 16×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 18×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 22×17 (lower level)
• Bedroom #4: 16×10 (lower level)
• Family room: 19×18 (main level)

This 2-bedroom authentic loft in the St. Ben’s Lofts at 3900 N. Claremont in North Center has been on the market since April 2010.

It is a short sale.

The unit has exposed brick and ductwork and what looks like timber ceilings in some of the rooms.

The kitchen has white appliances and no granite countertops.

The loft has hardwood floors throughout, a balcony and central air.

I can’t tell from the public listings if it has a washer/dryer in the unit but other units in the building have them in the unit so I’m assuming it does as well.

The loft has been reduced $15,000 since August and is now just $4,000 above the 2002 purchase price (if you add in the parking.)

Is this unit going back to the 2002 price?

Cara Buffa at Prudential Rubloff has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #201: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1250 square feet

• Sold in January 1999 for $202,500
• Sold in September 2002 for $265,000
• Originally listed in April 2010
• Listed in August 2010 for $264,000
• Currently listed for $249,000 (plus $20k for parking)
• Assessments of $257 a month (elevator building, also includes cable)
• Taxes of $3972
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit? Probably.
• Bedroom #1: 17×15
• Bedroom #2: 13×11

This 2-bedroom unit in the Two River Place high rise at 720 N. Larrabee in River North has been on the market since August.

It is bank owned and is listed for $66,000 under the 2004 purchase price.

It has all the bells and whistles of newer construction including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and hardwood floors.

From the pictures, the kitchen looks intact with its stainless steel appliances. One bathroom also appears intact (the second one isn’t pictured.)

The listing calls this a “great investment opportunity.”

Is it?

Jason Shapior at Rising Realty LLC has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #1413: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in December 2004 for $410,000
• Lis pendens filed in May 2006
• Bank owned in August 2008
• Originally listed in August 2010 for $344,000
• Currently still listed for $344,000
• Assessments of $591 a month (includes cable)
• Taxes of $4704
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 14×16
• Bedroom #2: 12×12
• Living room: 27×15
• Kitchen: 10×11

This 4-bedroom newer construction row house at 431 W. Superior in River North came on the market as an “as-is” sale in August.

It was recently reduced $275,000.

From the pictures, the kitchen and baths are intact. The kitchen is described as a chef’s kitchen.

There are 4 large terraces on a 27×110 lot.

It is also an enormous property, with 7342 square feet.

3 out of the 4 bedrooms are on the third floor with the fourth on the main floor.

Is this a deal for the location and square footage?

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

431 W. Superior: 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, 7342 square feet, 2 car garage

• I couldn’t locate a prior purchase price
• Originally listed in August 2010 for $2.375 million
• Reduced
• Currently listed as “as is” for $2.1 million
• Taxes are “new”
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 17×20 (third floor)
• Bedroom #2: 22×13 (third floor)
• Bedroom #3: 15×12 (third floor)
• Bedroom #4: 18×12 (main floor)