Crib Chatter

We last chattered about this 2-bedroom cottage home at 3041 N. Honore in Lakeview in June 2010.

See our June 2010 chatter here.

It recently sold for $67,000 over the 2003 purchase price.

The house had no garage or parking (street parking only) as it abutted the Metra train tracks.

It did have central air, 2 bedrooms upstairs, and renovated bathrooms.

The kitchen had granite counter tops, white cabinets and white appliances.

The property was completely move-in ready (and was NOT being sold as a teardown.)

This house was snatched up quickly. Was it a deal?

(For those of you with a Redfin account, you can see pictures of the sold property there.)

Kris Mork at Coldwell Banker had the listing.

3041 N. Honore: 2 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in February 1997 for $102,500
• Sold in June 2003 for $310,000
• Was listed in June 2010 for $379,900
• Sold in August 2010 for $377,000
• Taxes of $4446
• Central Air
• No parking
• Bedroom #1: 11×13
• Bedroom #2: 10×13
• Unfinished basement

This 4 unit vintage building at 5300 N. Paulina in Andersonville was recently gutted and converted into condos.

All of the units are 3 bedrooms/2 baths and include one parking space.

They have been renovated with upscale finishes including marble in the master suite baths.

The kitchens have Viking and Bosch appliances and granite counter tops.

The units also have hardwood floors throughout and crown molding.

It looks like Unit #2 has already sold. Here are the price points on the other units:

1. Unit #G: 3 bedrooms/2 baths, 1675 square feet, $324,900
2. Unit #1: 3 bedrooms/2 baths, 1650 square feet, $424,900
3. Unit #3: 3 bedrooms/2 baths, 1700 square feet, $449,900

George Just at @Properties has the listings. See more pictures at the developments’ website here.

RealtyTrac just released data on Illinois foreclosures for July.

Statewide, foreclosures were up 35% to 19,602, the highest jump in the nation. However, last year, Illinois apparently had a 90-day grace period where there could be no foreclosure (which has since expired) so this messed with the 2009 numbers.

1 in every 269 housing units in the state is now in foreclosure, the 8th highest in the nation. Nevada is still #1 with 1 in every 82 housing units in foreclosure.

In Cook County, foreclosures were up 36.5% to 10,846 from July 2009.

RealtyTrac doesn’t see foreclosures bottoming out nationally until 2011.

Foreclosures continue to soar in Illinois, defying nationwide trend [Daily Herald, Anne Marie Kukec, August 12, 2010]

Many of you might remember this building at 840-842 W. Belle Plaine in the Buena Park neighborhood of Uptown from last year.

See our February and April 2009 chatter and pictures here and here.

842 W. Belle Plaine was a new construction conversion vintage building that sold out, at the height of the financial crisis mind you, within 90 days. Many of you thought the units showed well and had good vintage details including the crown molding.

This top floor unit has now come back on the market just 15 months later.

The 3-bedroom unit has 10 foot ceilings.

It still has millwork throughout the unit as well as crown molding.

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

This unit also has a private 260 square foot roof deck for entertaining.

These sold quickly just a year ago when they were “new.”

And now?

Mario Greco at Prudential Rubloff has the listing. See the pictures and virtual tour here.

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

• Sold in May 2009 for $415,000
• Originally listed in July 2010 for $399,000 plus $30,000 for parking
• Currently listed for $399,000 plus $30,000 for parking
• Assessments of $126 a month
• Taxes are “new”
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 13×12
• Bedroom #2: 12×11
• Bedroom #3: 12×10

This 4-bedroom home at 821 S. Bell in the Tri-Taylor neighborhood is among the more unique I’ve seen in the city.

At 4300 square feet, it was built in 1990 on an oversized 50×125 lot.

It has a two level master bedroom, 3 fireplaces, maple floors throughout with cherry inlaids and, according to the listing, a $90k studio/workout room.

3 out of the 4 bedrooms are on the third floor.

But its best feature may be the rare indoor swimming pool that looks out onto the backyard.

What more could a buyer want?

Bill Altier at Koenig & Strey has the listing. See more pictures and a virtual tour here.

821 S. Bell: 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 4300 square feet, 3 car garage

• Sold before 1992
• Currently listed for $1.099 million
• Taxes of $11,008
• Central Air
• Indoor Pool

This 2-bedroom unit at 2029 W. Pierce is just a half block away from Wicker Park and equally as close to the Damen blue line stop and all of the shops/restaurants of the neighborhood.

Is there any better location in all of Wicker Park?

The vintage unit has a wood burning fireplace.

The listing says the kitchen was “recently rehabbed” and now has stainless steel appliances and granite countertops.

It has all the other bells and whistles that buyers look for including central air, deeded parking and in-unit washer/dryer (the coverted side by side).

It is also listed just $5,000 over the 2005 purchase price.

Nancy Weber at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

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

• Sold in May 2002 for $316,000
• Sold in June 2005 for $370,000
• Originally listed in April 2010 for $400,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $375,000
• Assessments of $190 a month
• Taxes of $4123
• Central Air
• In-unit washer/dryer
• Bedroom #1: 10×13
• Bedroom #2: 9×13
• Sunroom: 7×10

We’ve chattered about this 2-bedroom vintage unit at 735 W. Oakdale in Lakeview several times in the past few years.

See our June 2008 chatter here.

Originally listed for sale by owner in 2008, it was then re-listed with an agent, also in 2008, and then withdrawn.

It came back on the market in May. It is now a short sale and was recently reduced again.

This property is now listed for $44,000 under the 2004 purchase price.

It does not have central air or parking but does have in-unit washer/dryer.

It is a top floor unit with a separate dining room and hardwood floors.

Is this a deal?

Stepanie Cutter at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #3W: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, no square footage listed

• Sold in July 1996 for $122,000
• Sold in June 1998 for $144,000
• Sold in July 2002 for $207,000
• Sold in August 2004 for $263,000
• Was listed FSBO in May 2008 for $339,900
• Was listed in June 2008 for $325,000 (no parking)
• Withdrawn
• Lis pendens filed in March 2009
• Was listed in May 2010 for $249,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed as a “short sale” for $219,000
• Assessments of $290 a month (includes heat)
• Taxes of $2831
• Window units- no central air
• In-unit washer/dryer
• Bedroom #1: 11×10
• Bedroom #2: 11×10

This 2-bedroom unit at 4738 N. Lincoln is located in “prime” Lincoln Square- as it sits directly across from the fountain at Giddings and Lincoln.

Tons of restaurants and stores await right outside your doorway.

Built in 2003, the building has recent amenities including stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops in the kitchen.

There are 2 sets of French doors that open to overlook the fountain and take in the scene.

There is also rare two car parking with this unit (a garage space and a spot on the pad).

This unit is now listed for $8,100 under the 2004 purchase price.

Ashley Carter at Koenig & Strey Real Living has the listing.  See the pictures here.

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

• Sold in April 2004 for $393,000
• Originally listed in May 2010 for $429,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $384,900
• Assessments of $200 a month
• Taxes of $5011
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the Unit
• 2-parking spaces included (garage and pad)
• Bedroom #1: 16×20
• Bedroom #2: 12×12
• Living room: 17×14
• Dining room: 10×12
• Kitchen: 14×16

This large 1-bedroom unit at 201 E. Chestnut in the Gold Coast was recently reduced.

It is a short sale and is now listed for $85,000 under the 2007 purchase price.

The kitchen has stainless steel appliances, granite counter tops and a breakfast bar.

There is central air and a hook-up for an in-unit washer/dryer.

The unit also has parquet wood floors throughout the living area.

Additionally, the property has a balcony to take in the sights and sounds of the city.

Parking is leased in the building.

Is this a deal for the square footage and location?

Dennis Shaffer at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #16E: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 1030 square feet

• Sold in May 1996 for $112,500
• Sold in April 1998 for $115,000
• Sold in December 2005 for $237,000
• Sold in May 2007 for $305,000
• Originally listed in May 2009 for $319,000
• Reduced numerous times
• Currently listed as a “short sale” for $220,000
• Assessments of $526 a month (includes doorman, cable, pool)
• Taxes of $3503
• Parking is leased for $136 to $235 a month
• Central Air
• In-unit washer/dryer hook-up
• Bedroom: 17×11

We last chattered about this full-floor brick and timber loft at 208 W. Kinzie in River North in October 2009.

See our prior chatter here.

It is still available and has now been reduced $124,000.

If you want to know what many lofts in River North looked like before developers got ahold of them, then this loft is for you.

The listing says it has 15 windows and a freight elevator that opens directly into the unit (which you can see from the pictures.)

It has central air but it does not have deeded parking.

I also have no idea what the square footage of the loft is.

But at this price, is this now a deal for a commercial loft space across from the Merchandise Mart?

Chuck Ginsberg at Solfire Realty still has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #4: no rooms listed or square footage listed- full floor loft

• Sold in October 1997 for $152,000
• Was listed in October 2009 for $499,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $375,000
• Taxes of $4215
• Central Air
• Live/Work