Crib Chatter

This 3-bedroom triplex loft at 22 N. Morgan in the West Loop came on the market in September 2022.

I’m not sure how many units are in 22 N. Morgan, as this listing says there are 40, but our old chatter on the building says there are anywhere between 22 and 26 units. It’s a unique loft building in that each loft has a private entrance off the central landscaped courtyard.

It has outdoor parking but some of the listings indicate garage parking but I’m not sure if that’s in the building or not.

The listing for this unit says it’s the largest unit in the building, at 2200 square feet, and “lives like a single family home.”

It has been “designer renovated” and has exposed brick walls, timber ceilings and exposed timber beams.

The first floor has a 23 foot wall of windows and a wood burning fireplace with a teak wood front along with a floor to ceiling wood storage.

There are espresso hardwood floors on the first floor.

It has a lofted library nook under the stairs.

The chef’s kitchen has Archisesto Italian cabinetry, Liebherr and Bosch appliances, a Monogram wine fridge and a water peninsula with white marble countertops that seats 3.

It’s open concept to the living and dining room.

The first floor also has a full bath, laundry, and a work-from-home desk with shelving.

The primary suite is on the second floor and has 3 custom closets, another built-in desk, which the listing says is from a repurposed butchers block from the West Loop’s first luxury restaurant, Marche, and an en suite bath renovated by Siren Betty Design with a dual vanity and heated floors.

The top floor has a second suite with an en suite bath, 2 custom walk-in-closets and heated bathroom floors.

If you like outdoor space, the loft has a 2-story private roof deck with a built-in grill and beverage fridge, 4 Bose outdoor speakers and multiple lounge and dining areas.

The loft has all the features buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and 1 car deeded parking is included, with the option to buy a second space.

It’s in a central West Loop location near the shops and restaurants on Madison and Randolph with Greektown and Fulton Market also just a short stroll away.

Listed in September 2022 at $1.1 million, it has reduced $100,000 to $1 million.

Is this loft a townhouse alternative?

Ryan Preuett at Jameson Sotheby’s has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

Unit #206: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, triplex loft, 2200 square feet

• Sold in May 2000 at $298,000
• Sold in August 2003 for $330,000
• Sold in March 2006 for $400,000 (with 2 car parking)
• Sold in February 2011 for $590,000 (with 1 car parking)
• Originally listed in September 2022 for $1.1 million
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $1 million (includes 1 car parking)
• Assessments of $518 a month (includes scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $9529
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• 2 fireplaces. One of them is wood burning.
• Bedroom #1: 27×14 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 13×19 (third floor)
• Bedroom #3: 10×7 (second floor)
• Den: 9×13 (second floor)
• Living room: 21×14 (main floor)
• Dining room: 15×8 (main floor)
• Kitchen: 9×13 (main floor)
• Deck: 11×12 (third floor)
• Second deck: 17×23 (fourth floor)

This 2-bedroom in LP 2550 at 2550 N. Lakeview in Lincoln Park came on the market in January 2022.

LP 2550 was built in 2010 and has 218 units on 3-acres. There’s an attached garage and valet parking for guests.

The building has 24-hour door staff, indoor pool, sauna, whirlpool, fitness center, club room, billiards room, theater, game room, dog run, paw wash and a 1.25 acre private park.

This unit is east facing and has floor to ceiling windows and an additional 125 square foot balcony.

The ceilings are 10’8″.

There are hardwood floors in the main living space and carpet in the bedrooms.

The “gourmet kitchen” has custom wood Italian cabinets, “top of the line” appliances including Subzero, a Wolf oven, cooktop and microwave and a Miele dishwasher, and an island with seating for 3.

The primary suite has a walk-in-closet, a spa bath with heated flooring, a double vanity and separate shower and tub.

The second bathroom has a walk-in-shower.

This unit has the features buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and 1 deeded parking space is included.

This building overlooks Lincoln Park and is near the shops and restaurants of East Lincoln Park.

Originally listed in January 2022 at $1.499 million, it has now been reduced $500,000 to $999,000.

The listing says “Attention Investors: Rentals are permitted. Seller is offering closing credits.”

Should investors be looking at this unit?

Philip Barone and Maureen Barone at Compass have the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

Unit N1903: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1411 square feet

• Sold in February 2015 for $1,069,500
• Sold in July 2018 for $1,245,000 (included the parking)
• Originally listed in January 2022 for $1.499 million
• Reduced several times
• Currently listed at $999,000 (includes the parking)
• Assessments of $1352 a month (includes a/c, gas, doorman, cable, exercise room, pool, exterior maintenance, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $22,807
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 14×13
• Bedroom #2: 12×11
• Living/dining room: 17×14
• Kitchen: 12×10
• Balcony: 17×7

Most of the new construction in Chicago residential high rises in 2022 are in apartments. But there are a handful of new construction condos including The Reed at Southbank at 234 W. Polk in Printers Row (or is it now called Southbank?)

“Southbank” is a new community on the South Branch of the Chicago River at Wells and Harrison near Printers Row. It contains several apartment buildings such as The Cooper, which is already built, but also condos including The Reed at Southbank which is a high rise right on the River.

But The Reed is a mixed building, with apartments and condos.

The website says there will be 216 luxury residences starting on the 23rd floor to the 41st floor. There will be about 220 apartments on the 9th through the 22nd floors.

Southbank will have a 2 acre park and a quarter mile riverwalk with a future Water Taxi stop.

The units will have floor-to-ceiling windows and balconies with city and/or lake views.

They will have 9′ custom finish concrete ceilings.

The kitchens will have European style flat panel cabinets, quartz counter tops, a porcelain tile backsplash, Bosch stainless steel appliances and an island.

The units are priced at $400,000 for the 1-bedrooms, the smallest of which is 625 square feet, up to $1.4 million for the 3-bedroom units.

The website doesn’t list prices for the 2-bedrooms.

Chicago Agent Magazine indicated that the building topped off in July 2022 and is expected to begin closings in the summer of 2023.

I couldn’t find an update on how many of the units are under contract.

Is demand returning for units in new construction high rises at the under $1 million price point?

You can see the Reed at Southbank’s website here.

This 3-bedroom vintage unit at 842 W. Fullerton in the DePaul neighborhood of Lincoln Park came on the market in October 2022.

Built in 1905, the building has 3 units, a garage and a common garage roof deck. It also has a storage area.

The listing says this unit could be a “fantastic home or investment.”

It has some of its vintage features including door and window moldings and 2 fireplaces, including one in the living room and one in the primary bedroom.

There are hardwood floors throughout.

The kitchen has wood cabinets, an island, what looks like stone counter tops and a tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances.

It has a front facing balcony.

The unit has some of the features buyers look for including central air and side-by-side washer/dryer. There’s no parking but the listing says “parking options available.”

This building is directly across the street from DePaul University, is near the brown and red line stop at Fullerton, on the Fullerton bus line, and is near the shops and restaurants of DePaul and central Lincoln Park.

In the Zillow listing, it looks like it was on the rental market in 2021 for $3600 a month.

Listed at $564,000, the Redfin payment calculator tells us that with 20% down and a 30-year fixed mortgage at 6.7%, the monthly payment would be $4521 per month.

Given the location, would this apartment make a good investment property?

Victoria Jones at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices has the listing. See the pictures here (sorry, no floor plan).

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

• Sold in April 1994 for $194,000
• Sold in July 2001 for $366,000
• Currently listed at $564,900
• Assessments of $300 a month (includes exterior maintenance)
• Taxes of $12,893
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• No parking- but parking available in the neighborhood
• 2 fireplaces (one in the living room and one in the primary bedroom)
• Bedroom #1: 14×14
• Bedroom #2: 12×12
• Bedroom #3: 12×9
• Living room: 19×12
• Dining room: 13×12
• Kitchen: 17×16
• Office: 12×8
• Sitting room: 12×9
• Balcony

This 2-bedroom in Clifton Row at 3126 N. Clifton in Lakeview came on the market in September 2022.

Built in 1910, this building makes up part of a multi-building condo association called Clifton Row, that has 26 units and a shared rooftop deck on the building to the north of this one.

There’s also a shared side yard and parking. It was converted into condos in the mid-1990s.

This unit has an east facing bay window and hardwood floors throughout. However, other than a wood burning fireplace, few of its vintage features remain.

The kitchen has wood cabinets and stainless steel appliances.

There’s a separate dining room with a balcony for grilling.

The listing says the full bathroom was “recently updated.”

The unit has the features buyers are looking for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and 1 car parking.

It also has a large storage unit in the lower level.

This building is centrally located and is just blocks to the Red and Brown line trains, Southport, shops and restaurants on Belmont and Wrigley Field.

Listed in September 2022 at $380,000, it has been reduced $20,100 to $359,900.

Has the starter 2-bedroom condo lost its luster?

Maureen Burns at @Properties Christie’s has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

Unit #1: 2 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in June 1995 for $162,000
• Sold in October 1997 for $190,000
• Sold in April 2000 for $250,000
• Sold in August 2002 for $285,000
• Sold in April 2005 for $317,500
• Sold in October 2008 for $324,500
• Sold in August 2013 for $335,000
• Originally listed in September 2022 for $380,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $359,900
• Assessments of $351 a month (includes exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger)
• Taxes of $6861
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• 1-car parking included
• Wood burning fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 10×12
• Bedroom #2: 10×10
• Living room: 14×16
• Kitchen: 11×9
• Dining room: 11×9

This vintage single family home at 1457 W. Addison in Southport came on the market in September 2022.

Built in 1901, this single family home is on a larger than standard corner lot of 41×134. It has 6,000 square feet and a 2-car garage.

If the house looks familiar, that’s because we chattered about it in 2017. You can see our chatter here.

You may recall that the house has some unique features. Here’s the list from the prior listing:

• A 3-story water wall
• A floating steel staircase
• Directional art lighting
• Inlaid medallions
• Various wood species
• Exotic marbles/onyx and stone
• A hidden room (is this like a panic room???)
• Radiant heated floors in the lower level and all bathrooms
• 6 fireplaces
• A home theater
• A spa
• Skylights

The prior listing said the house was renovated in 2010.

I can’t quite figure out the water wall but I’m assuming it’s in the area of the floating staircase. They don’t show it on the video.

I’m also not sure what the “hidden” rooms are from the last listing.

The kitchen has white “handmade” cabinets, Sub-Zero and a 48″ Five-Star range, along with a breakfast bar that seats 3.

3 of the 4 bedrooms are on the second floor with the fourth in the lower level. The listing says it has a separate entrance and can be used as a nanny or in-law suite.

The primary suite has a double sided fireplace, with one side in the bathroom which the listing calls “spa-inspired” as it has a 2-person spa tub that overlooks the fireplace, a separate shower, dual vanities and a massive skylight.

The lower level has been built-out with a full size bar/lounge, a home theater plus a room that could be a fitness center.

The house has multiple smaller rooms that could be used as an office or for school, which is key to work-from-home. Were these the “hidden” rooms?

It also has a bunch of outdoor spaces including a deck on top of the garage with a pergola, an outdoor kitchen, a cobblestone patio, and a large double sided hearth.

This house is one of the hottest neighborhoods in the city for single family homes. It’s near Wrigley Field and all the shops and restaurants of Southport as well as the Southport brown line stop.

This house was originally listed for nearly $5 million in 2013 and sold in 2019 for $1.85 million.

It has re-listed for $2.595 million.

Is the Southport single family home market still hot in late 2022?

Mark Watkins at Dream Town has the listing. See the pictures, floor plan and video here.

1457 W. Addison: 4 bedrooms, 5 baths, 6000 square feet, single family home

• Sold in April 1995 for $387,500
• Sold in March 2005 for $938,500
• Originally listed in October 2013 for $4,999,999
• Sold in January 2019 for $1.85 million
• Originally listed in September 2022 for $2.595 million
• Currently still listed at $2.595 million 
• Taxes are now $30,258 (they were $37,995 in 2017)
• Central Air
• 2-car garage
• 6 fireplaces
• Bedroom #1: 19×17 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 23×16 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 13×11 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 13×12 (lower level)
• Living room: 23×15 (main floor)
• Kitchen: 14×12 (main floor)
• Dining room: 18×14 (main floor)
• Sun room: 8×6 (main floor)
• Office: 14×9 (main floor)
• Family room: 18×16 (main level)
• Laundry room: 9×6 (lower level)
• Great room: 34×22 (lower level)
• Playroom: 12×11 (lower level)
• Walk-in closet: 9×8 (second floor)
• Deck on top of the garage

This 4-bedroom in Hampden 53 at 2753 N. Hampden in East Lincoln Park came on the market in July 2022.

Built in 2019, Hampden 53 has 15 luxury condos and attached garage parking. The building does not have a doorman or any amenities.

This unit has direct elevator entrance from the building’s lobby.

The listing says it was “custom designed” in 2019 and has 100k+ in upgrades in addition to the luxury finishes already in the unit.

It has 4 bedrooms in a sleeping wing, including the primary suite which has a walk-in-closet and en suite bathroom.

There’s an open floor plan of the living/dining room and kitchen.

The kitchen has white cabinets and a gray (or blue?) island with white counter tops, gold finishes, including sink faucet, and stainless steel appliances.

There’s a separate family room, and for those working from home, a separate office. But the office doesn’t appear to have any windows.

The unit has custom automatic blinds throughout.

It has the features buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and 2-car heated garage parking.

For those looking for outdoor space, it has a standard balcony which leads to a private side yard with gated entrance from the street. The listing calls it “truly an oasis.”

The listing says it is in the Alcott Elementary and Lincoln Park High School school districts and is steps from Diversey Harbor, the driving range and lakefront trails.

It’s also surrounded by the shops and restaurants of Lincoln Park and Lakeview on Diversey, Clark and Broadway.

Listed in July 2022 for $1.95 million, it has been reduced $55,000 to $1.895 million.

Does the side yard make this property a single family home alternative?

Daniel Close at Redfin has the listing. See the pictures, floorplan and 3D Walkthrough here.

Or attend the Open Houses on Saturday, Oct 8 and Sunday, Oct 9 from 12-2 PM.

Unit #2B: 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, 2902 square feet

• Sold in July 2019 for $1.858 million
• Listed in July 2022 for $1.95 million
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $1.895 million
• Assessments of $650 a month (includes exterior maintenance, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $36,388
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer
• 2-car heated garage parking included
• Fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 15×13
• Bedroom #2: 13×10
• Bedroom #3: 18×10
• Bedroom #4: 16×10
• Living/dining combo: 31×17
• Kitchen: 24×12
• Family room: 13×15
• Laundry: 7×9
• Office: 9×9
• Balcony
• Side yard

This 3-bedroom loft in the Clybourn Lofts at 1872 N. Clybourn in Lincoln Park came on the market in September 2022.

Built as the Baldwin Piano Factory, it was converted into lofts in 1985 and has 57 units.

Because it was one of the early conversions, there are unique layouts in the building.

It has outdoor parking, a rooftop deck and landscaped courtyard. There’s no doorstaff or exercise room or other amenities.

The listing for this 3-bedroom says it was a complete rehab that took it “down to the studs” and that it’s now a “one-of-a-kind” unit.

I encourage people who have Redfin accounts to look at the prior listing pictures to get the full understanding of what was done to this unit.

It has 14 foot tinder ceilings, exposed ductwork, exposed brick walls and massive industrial windows.

The listing says they used locally sourced and reclaimed materials in the rehab including barn doors made from materials found in the Chicago Rail Yards.

There is a “barn-inspired” fireplace wall with hand-hewn mantle.

The kitchen has wood cabinets, open shelving and a gray/black? island with white quartz countertops, stainless steel Viking appliances, a pantry and storage.

There’s a separate dining room.

The primary suite has exposed brick walls and windows, a walk-in-closet and an en suite with double sinks and a white marble shower.

There are two additional bedrooms, and one of those appears to have a window.

The loft has some unique spaces including an office that doubles as a workout area, a lofted den and a lofted playroom, which appear to be accessed via ladders.

The unit has a balcony.

It also has the features buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit, a storage locker and one exterior parking space.

This building is near both the Brown and Red lines, the shops at North and Clybourn as well as those on Armitage.

Listed at $699,000 at 2265 square feet, is this rehabbed loft a deal?

Emily Sachs Wong and Maureen Mobarak at @Properties Christie’s have the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

Unit #306: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2265 square feet, loft

• I couldn’t find an original sales price from the 1980s or 90s or 2000s
• Sold in October 2014 for $430,000 (included the parking)
• Sold in January 2016 for $480,000 (included the parking)
• Listed in September 2022 for $699,000 (includes the parking)
• Currently still listed at $699,000 (includes the parking)
• Assessments of $778 a month (includes exterior maintenance, scavenger, snow removal, Internet)
• Taxes of $11,408
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 16×11
• Bedroom #2: 16×9
• Bedroom #3: 11×11
• Living room: 20×13
• Dining room: 14×12
• Kitchen: 15×13
• Office: 11×7
• Loft: 16×9
• Balcony: 11×7

This 2-bedroom duplex up loft in the China Club Lofts at 616 W. Fulton in River West came on the market in September 2022.

The China Club Lofts were built in 1895 and converted into residential lofts in 1997. It has 112 units and attached heated garage parking.

The building has doorstaff and an exercise room.

This duplex up has 22 foot timber ceilings and exposed brick along with a wall of windows.

There are diagonal hardwood floors throughout the main floor living space.

The listing says the kitchen has white painted wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances including a 5-burner Bosch cooktop and double ovens and 2 wine refrigerators in the island which seats four. It also has quartz counter tops and a stone backsplash.

There is a separate dining space and a fireplace in the living room.

The loft also has a 15 foot balcony off the living room.

The second bedroom is on the main floor and has a full en suite bath.

The primary suite is on the second floor and has a walk-in-closet and a “spa bath” with dual vanities, a jetted tub and walk-in-shower.

There’s also a “flexroom” on the second floor that is not enclosed and currently is being used as an office space.

In a feature unique to some of the older loft buildings that are deep buildings, there is a 2-level bonus room across the hall that has a private golf simulator along with room for storage.

The loft has the features that buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and parking is included and has an electric charging station.

The listing also indicates that China Club Lofts is a non-smoking building.

The China Club Lofts is near the restaurants and shopping of Fulton Market and the West Loop as well as the Loop.

This loft hasn’t been sold in 18 years.

Listed at $819,500, will these sellers get their price even with the market slowdown?

Debra Dobbs at @Properties Christie’s has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #601: 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, duplex up, loft, 1875 square feet

• Sold in September 1997 for $276,500 (included the parking)
• Sold in September 2000 for $405,000 (included the parking)
• Sold in July 2004 for $435,000 (included the parking)
• Listed in September 2022 for $819,500 (included the parking)
• Currently listed at $819,500 (includes the parking)
• Assessments of $834 a month (includes doorman, exercise room, exterior maintenance, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $12,795
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 12×17 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 12×14 (main floor)
• Office: 12×12 (second floor)
• Living room: 19×18 (main floor)
• Dining room: 10×12 (main floor)
• Kitchen: 12×17 (main floor)
• Walk-in-closet: 6×15 (second floor)
• Laundry room: 6×5 (main floor)
• Storage: 13×14 (main floor)
• Balcony: 5×15 (main floor)

The Illinois Association of Realtors is out with the August sales data. As we already know from Gary’s update, sales were down again in August.

But inventory remains low as well.

In Chicago, home sales (single-family and condominiums) in August 2022 totaled 2,293 homes sold, down 21.4 percent from August 2021 sales of 2,919 homes.

The median price of a home in the city of Chicago in August 2022 was $317,500, a 5.2 percent decrease from August 2021, when it was $335,000.

August sales since 2007:

• August 2007: 2923 sales
• August 2008: 2078 sales
• August 2009: 1927 sales
• August 2010: 1486 sales
• August 2011: 1787 sales
• August 2012: 2209 sales
• August 2013: 2850 sales
• August 2014: 2414 sales
• August 2015: 2701 sales
• August 2016: 2844 sales
• August 2017: 2791 sales
• August 2018: 2754 sales
• August 2019: 2601 sales
• August 2020: 2870 sales
• August 2021: 2919 sales 
• August 2022: 2293 sales

August median price since 2007:

• August 2007: $305,000
• August 2008: $297,500
• August 2009: $229,900
• August 2010: $200,000
• August 2011: $192,500
• August 2012: $200,000
• August 2013: $245,000
• August 2014: $269,500
• August 2015: $271,000
• August 2016: $271,000
• August 2017: $284,000
• August 2018: $280,000
• August 2019: $289,900
• August 2020: $335,000
• August 2021: $335,000
• August 2022: $317,500

“Typical real estate markets ebb and flow, and the decreases in sales price and closed sales in August due to a lack of inventory aren’t a surprise based on the fast pace we’ve seen over the last few years,” said Antje Gehrken, president of the Chicago Association of REALTORS® and president and designated managing broker of A.R.E. Partners. “Despite these declines, days on the market remain low, showing that there’s still buyer demand and a quick turnaround on homes priced right and ready to sell.”

Statewide inventory declined 20.9% to 26,953 from 34,083. Similarly, Chicago inventory also dropped year-over-year by 18.3% to 7540 from 9231.

In Chicago, days on the market fell 15.6% to 27 from 32 days last year.

“The housing market in Illinois is showing signs of a return to normal conditions,” said Dr. Daniel McMillen, head of the Stuart Handler Department of Real Estate (SHDRE) at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Business Administration. “Prices have declined since their peak in June, sales are declining, and foreclosures are increasing. Our prediction is that house prices will continue to decline modestly over the next few months, while the number of sales will show its usual late-year slowdown.”

The 30-year fixed mortgage was 5.22% down from 5.41% in July. But it was up substantially from August of 2021 when it was just 2.84%.

With rates rising in September, further slowing of Chicago’s housing market is expected.

Is the Chicago housing market frozen until rates decline?

Houses sold fast in August and median prices rose in majority of Illinois counties [Illinois Association of Realtors, Press Release, by Bill Kozar, September 21, 2022]