Crib Chatter

We chattered about this 2-bedroom top floor unit at 1309 N. Greenview in West Town in July 2010.

See our prior chatter and pictures here.

It had gone under contract in July and finally closed this week for just $4,900 under the list price but $28,000 over the 2003 purchase price.

Just 3 blocks from the Division Street blue line stop, it had a 40×20 rooftop deck with skyline views.

The unit also had 12 foot ceilings and updated kitchen and baths.

Are certain parts of West Town hanging onto their pricing power? Some of you thought this would sell for around $350,000.

Eric Rojas at Prudential Rubloff had the listing.

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

• Sold in April 2003 for $342,000
• Was listed in July 2010 for $374,900 (parking included)
• Sold in September 2010 for $370,000 (parking included)
• Assessments of $148 a month
• Taxes of $4668
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 15×12
• Bedroom #2: 12×10
• Deck: 40×20

We’ve recently had a discussion about single family homes in Edgewater Glen but the neighborhood is also peppered with vintage condo buildings including this one at 1418 W. Elmdale.

Built in 1920, this top floor 2-bedroom unit has all the bells and whistles that buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and deeded parking.

At 1500 square feet, it also has a sunroom, a den and a separate dining room.

The kitchen has also been extensively renovated and sports honed granite counter tops, viking appliances and an indoor grill.

It also has vintage features like a fireplace, built in book shelves and crown molding.

On the market since February 2010 and reduced $50,000, it has finally gone under contract.

Is this a deal for the neighborhood, square footage and these finishes?

Karen Holt at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #3: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, 1500 square feet, 1 car parking

• Sold in October 1997 for $138,000
• Originally listed in February 2010 for $349,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $299,900
• Under contract
• Assessments of $210 a month
• Taxes of $3540
• Central Air
• In-unit Washer/Dryer
• Bedroom #1: 14×13
• Bedroom #2: 14×11

This 3-bedroom art deco home at 6911 N. Wildwood in the Wildwood neighborhood of Forest Glen, was built in 1941.

The unique house has rounded corners and glass block walls on a 45×165 lot.

The listing says the kitchen is “new”. It has stainless steel appliances and what look to be granite counter tops.

2 out of the 3 bedrooms are on the second floor with the third, and master bedroom, on the third floor.

The house has central air and a 1-car garage.

Suzette Kubacki at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See the pictures here.

6911 N. Wildwood: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed, 1 car garage

• Sold in October 1998 for $310,000
• Listed in July 2010 for $649,900
• Currently listed for $649,900
• Taxes of $5969
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 16×13 (third floor)
• Bedroom #2: 13×11 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 13×10 (second floor)

This 2-bedroom unit at 845 W. Altgeld in Lincoln Park recently came on the market.

It has all the bells and whistles that buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and indoor deeded parking.

The kitchen has granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances.

There is also a deck.

The building has an elevator, which is an attractive feature in Lincoln Park.

What’s the state of the market for the $400,000+ 2-bedroom in Lincoln Park?

Joel Holland at Homescout Realty has the listing. See more pictures here.

Unit #2A: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1336 square feet

• Sold in July 1997 for $345,000
• Sold in September 2005 for $449,000
• Sold in September 2008 for $470,000
• Currently listed for $440,000 (plus $25,000 for parking)
• Assessments of $340 a month (includes security)
• Taxes of $5729
• Central Air
• In-unit washer/dryer
• Bedroom #1: 14×12
• Bedroom #2: 19×10

This 3-bedroom American Four Square at 1448 W. Norwood in the Edgewater Glen neighborhood of Edgewater was just reduced $10,000.

Built in 1913, it is on a larger than normal Chicago lot of 40×125 and has a side drive that leads to the garage.

There are hardwood floors throughout the main level, a finished basement with its own full bath, and an unfinished attic awaiting your vision.

All 3 bedrooms are on the second floor.

There are no pictures of the kitchen or baths in the listing.

There is also no central air.

Is this a good starter home for those looking for a single family home who want to stay in the city?

Stephen Northey at Koenig & Strey Real Living has the listing. See the pictures here.

1448 W. Norwood: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2 car garage, no square footage listed

• Sold sometime before 1999– no original price located
• Originally listed in August 2010 for $559,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $549,900
• Taxes of $6817
• No central air
• Bedroom #1: 20×11 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 11×10 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 11×10 (second floor)

This 1910 Georgian mansion at 53 E. Division in the Gold Coast has recently been restored.

It has all the upscale finishes you would expect in the Gold Coast including extensive moldings, French chevron floors and a Boffi kitchen.

There is a 2-car garage on a 22×86.6 lot (although the public listing also says its a standard chicago lot- but this would indicate it is not.)

It has been on the market for over 3 years and was recently reduced $600,000.

As an added bonus, the first time buyer of the property receives a 12-year historic property tax freeze.

You can check out what look to be further pictures of the property on the designer’s website: bellfia.com. (Warning- music)

Valerie Samutin at Baird & Warner has the listing. There are only a few interior pictures here.

53 E. Division: 5 bedrooms, 5 baths, 3 half baths, over 7000 square feet, 2 car garage

• Sold in April 2005 for $1.8 million
• Originally listed in July 2007
• Was listed in May 2009 for $5.3 million
• Reduced in September 2010
• Currently listed for $4.7 million
• Taxes of $25,764
• 4 fireplaces
• Library

This 3-bedroom duplex up unit at 2855 N. Damen in North Center has been on and off the market since November 2008.

It has been reduced about $160,000 during that time and is now listed as a short sale.

The unit is also listed for $19,000 under the 2001 purchase price.

Two of the 3 bedrooms are on the main floor with a lofted third bedroom which has skylights.

The kitchen has stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops.

The listing says the unit has 3 decks and it looks like one of those is a rooftop deck.

Is this now a deal?

Jeffrey Proctor at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

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

• Sold in May 2001 for $359,000
• Originally listed in November 2008 for $499,900
• Reduced numerous times over the years
• Under contract in March 2010– but fell out of contract
• Currently listed as a “short sale” for $340,000 (includes parking)
• Assessments of $100 a month
• Taxes of $5021
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 16×13
• Bedroom #2: 10×10
• Bedroom #3: 10×15 (lofted on the top floor)

Crain’s is reporting what readers of Crib Chatter already knew: the high end housing market has returned (kind of).

This year we’ve already seen the sale of an $8 million home in Lincoln Park and two $7 million+ penthouses in the Elysian.

Recently, a $5.79 million condo in The Palmolive, at 159 E. Walton, went under contract.

Buoyed by the increase in sales (from practically nothing in the last 2 years)- there has also been a rush to list high end properties, including the $4.95 million modern single family home in Lincoln Park we recently chattered about as well as an $11.3 million Gold Coast penthouse. 

Maybe the sellers are sensing a rare “window” in which to sell?

There were 452 single-family homes and 672 condos priced at $1 million or more on the market in Chicago as of Aug. 31, according to Baird & Warner Inc., which analyzed information from Midwest Real Estate Data LLC. Based on sales activity over the past year, that’s an 18-month backlog of houses and a 21-month inventory of condos.

A balanced market would have a six- to eight-month supply, says James Kinney, vice-president of luxury sales at Chicago-based Baird.

“I think we’re in for many months of wading through inventory,” Mr. Kinney says. “The supply is going to continue to build until we see a turn in the job market.”

The good news was that sales of high-end single-family homes in Chicago rose about 24% to 199 in the first eight months of the year, compared with 161 in the same period last year.

High-end condo sales, meanwhile, jumped about 85% to 253, compared with 137 in the first eight months of 2009. The surge can be explained in part by the first closings at upscale projects like the Elysian Hotel & Private Residences and Ten East Delaware, Mr. Kinney says.

Sales in the high-end market also have climbed because sellers have cut prices — something many were reluctant to do last year.

High end home sales up in the first 8 months [Crain’s Chicago Business, Andrew Schroedter, September 13, 2010]

This 4-bedroom unit in One Museum Park at 1211 S. Prairie in the South Loop is a resale.

It has been reduced about $400,000 since January 2010.

The unit has the great views you would expect from a building right on the southern end of Grant Park.

It also has custom cabinets and granite counter tops and backsplash in the kitchen.

The property also has remote solar shades and crown molding.

However, the resales in the building are competing with units for sale from the developer.

The following is the current building stats (out of 286 units):

• 43 units for sale
• 8 units for rent

Some units may be both for sale AND for rent. Also, the developer may not be listing all the available units.

How long will it take to sell-out this building?

Philip Hanson at Sudler Sotheby’s has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #2101: 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, 3480 square feet

• Sold in May 2008 for $2.270 million
• Originally listed in September 2009
• Withdrawn
• Re-listed in January 2010 for $2.898 million
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $2.499 million (not sure if this includes the parking spaces)
• Assessments of $1261 a month (includes AC, heat, doorman, pool)
• Taxes are “new”
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 21×14
• Bedroom #2: 14×12
• Bedroom #3: 12×11
• Bedroom #4: 20×14

This 3-bedroom vintage row house at 417 W. Roslyn in East Lincoln Park just came on the market.

It is just a stones throw from Lincoln Park and is on a block where many of the homes have the old gas lit lamps near the street.

Yes, parking is an issue but this row house has 1 deeded parking space nearby (the listing doesn’t say how far away.)

Built on a 17×86 lot, the row house has four stories.

It still has its original staircase as well as some stained glass.

The kitchen has white appliances and there is a back deck.

The master bedroom is on the top floor and the other two bedrooms on the second floor.

The row house does not have central air.

Is this a deal at this price?

Lynne Jackson at Kopley Partners has the listing. See the pictures here.

417 W. Roslyn: 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold sometime before 1991
• Currently listed for $875,000
• Taxes of $4912
• No central air
• Deeded parking available nearby
• Bedroom #1: 27×19 (third floor)
• Bedroom #2: 11×14 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 18×17 (second floor)