Crib Chatter

This 3-bedroom at 646 W. Bittersweet in the Buena Park neighborhood of Uptown came on the market in February 2023.

The listing doesn’t say when the building was built but it has 3 units and on-site outdoor parking.

It does not have an elevator but there is a bike room and storage. It is a self-managed building.

This unit is a top floor unit and the listing describes it as “gracious vintage space.”

It has many of its vintage features including an entry foyer, crown molding, some medallions, a wood burning fireplace in the living room which is flanked by stained glass windows and a boxed ceiling in the dining room.

The unit also has vintage rooms common in these smaller buildings including a sunroom, with window seat, and an office.

There are hardwood floors throughout.

The eat-in kitchen has contemporary cabinets, stainless steel appliances including a wine fridge, an island with seating for two, granite counter tops, a white subway tile backsplash and space for a table and chairs.

Glass doors lead to a private deck.

The primary bedroom has a rare, for vintage buildings, en suite spa bath with rain shower.

The hall bath has also been “restored” and has a cast iron tub and honeycomb tile floors.

The unit has some of the features buyers look for including washer/dryer in the unit and on-site parking but there is no central air. There are 3 window units.

This building is only a block from the lake and is close to shops and restaurants in Lakeview and Buena Park.

Listed at $575,000, that is $30,000 above the 2020 sales price of $545,000.

Will this top floor vintage apartment get the premium with inventory so low?

Christopher Gaggero at @properties Christie’s has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

Unit #3: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2381 square feet

• Sold in August 1988 for $164,000
• Sold in December 1991 for $195,000
• Sold in April 2000 for $365,000
• Sold in March 2012 for $442,000
• Sold in October 2020 for $545,000
• Currently listed at $575,000
• Assessments of $485 a month (includes heat, gas, exterior maintenance, scavenger, bike room, storage)
• Taxes of $6368
• No central air. Window units.
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• On-site parking included
• Wood burning fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 17×12
• Bedroom #2: 15×12
• Bedroom #3: 15×12
• Living room: 22×14
• Dining room: 18×14
• Kitchen: 17×16
• Sunroom: 9×9
• Office: 16×8
• Foyer: 8×7
• Deck: 13×12

This 5-bedroom single family home at 747 S. Dearborn in Printers Row came on the market in November 2022.

Built in 2019, it was designed and constructed by Filoramo Talsma Architecture on a 50×70 lot across from Dearborn Station.

The listing says: “The exterior finds definition from masonry construction and a steel-and-terra cotta sunscreen by Fabrik that harnesses light and shadow.”

It has an attached 2-car garage and the first floor has 2,000 square feet of commercial space which is currently a market. The listing says it is included in the sale.

In addition to the commercial space, the first floor has the 2-car heated garage which leads to a mudroom with smart storage.

The second floor has the living spaces including the living room, dining room and kitchen as well as a family room.

The Chef’s kitchen has Arclinea custom Italian cabinets, luxury appliances by Wolf, Miele and Subzero, Carrara marble and stainless steel countertops with a massive island with bar seating. There’s also a back kitchen for prep space.

The house has a dramatic floating staircase.

There’s also 2,000 square feet of private outdoor space on the second floor accessed via a sliding glass door wall system with dining and lounging areas, perennial landscaping, a stainless steel swimming pool by Diamond Spas that the listing says it can be heated to 900 (?) – probably means 90- for “year round use.” Winter swimming anyone?

The third floor is the primary suite which has a dressing room, an en suite bathroom with a soaking tub and walk-in-shower and a den/office for work from home.

There’s also a 44×5 balcony on the third floor.

The fourth floor has 4 en suite bedrooms and a recreation room.

The house has custom millwork, a solar power kit on the roof, zoned HVAC with 3 separate systems, and an Otis Gen2 elevator.

It’s located in the heart of Printers Row, near all of the shops, cafes, bookstores and restaurants. Grant Park is just a few blocks away.

Originally listed in November 2022 for $5.95 million, it has been reduced $455,000 to $5.495 million.

Is this a dream city home?

Timothy Salm and R. Matt Leutheuser at Jameson Sotheby’s has the listing. See the pictures here (sorry, no floor plan).

747 S. Dearborn: 5 bedrooms, 5 baths, 7000 square feet plus 2,000 for commercial space

• New construction in 2019
• Originally listed in November 2022 for $5.95 million
• Reduced 
• Currently listed at $5.495 million
• Taxes of $28,875
• Central Air
• 2-car heated garage parking
• 50×70 lot
• 2000 square foot first floor commercial space included
• Solar kit
• Private pool
• Elevator
• Bedroom #1: 23×14 (third floor)
• Bedroom #2: 16×13 (fourth floor)
• Bedroom #3: 16×13 (fourth floor)
• Bedroom #4: 13×11 (fourth floor)
• Bedroom #5: 13×11 (fourth floor)
• Living room: 19×23 (second floor)
• Dining room: 13×25 (second floor)
• Kitchen: 10×25 (second floor)
• Recreation Room: 28×16 (fourth floor)
• Mudroom: 35×6 (first floor)
• Family room: 13×13 (second floor)
• Laundry: 6×9 (third floor)
• Foyer: 20×10 (main floor)
• Office: 23×12 (third floor)
• Balcony: 44×5 (third floor)
• Terrace: 68×18 (second floor)

This 2-bedroom in Aqua at 225 N. Columbus in Lakeshore East came on the market in June 2022.

Built in 2009, Aqua is an award-winning high rise with 264 units and attached garage parking.

It has both indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness center, sundeck, 2-acre private park, running and walking tracks and 24-hour door staff.

The listing says this split bedroom corner unit has been “remodeled.

It has Southeast views of the city and Lake Michigan from the 77th floor with a wraparound balcony.

The unit has a “custom kitchen” with white Snaidero cabinets, Subzero and Miele appliances and stone countertops.

It has a custom banquette dining space, with built-in storage.

The listing says the primary suite can fit a king and has motorized window shades and a spa-like primary bath with a walk-in-shower and separate tub.

The second bedroom has a custom murphy bed and couch.

This unit has the features that buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and 2 parking spaces which are $62,000 extra.

Lakeshore East has a Mariano’s, coffee shops and several restaurants and is a short stroll to the Mag Mile and the Riverwalk.

Originally listed in June 2022 for $1,088,000, it has been reduced to $998,500 plus the $62,000 for parking.

With the custom finishes pay off for this 2-bedroom?

Vickie Liu and Erick Schwab at Corcoran Urban Real Estate have the listing. See the pictures here (sorry, no floor plan).

Unit #7706: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1250 square feet

• Sold in July 2011 for $728,000
• Originally listed in June 2022 for $1,088,000
• Reduced in October 2022
• Withdrawn
• Re-listed in February 2023 for $998,500
• Assessments of $1377 a month (includes heat, a/c, gas, doorman, cable, exercise room, indoor and outdoor pools, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal, Internet)
• Taxes of $16,854
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• 2-car parking available for $62,000
• Bedroom #1: 12×15
• Bedroom #2: 11×13
• Living/dining room: 15×20
• Kitchen: 11×11
• Balcony: 5×63

This 2-bedroom penthouse in the Tower Lofts at 1601 W. School in West Lakeview came on the market in January 2023.

Built in 1916, Tower Lofts is a former Weiboldt’s department store. It was converted into 80 lofts in 1994. It has attached garage parking but no other amenities such as door staff or exercise room. There is a large gym in the building.

This unit is a penthouse loft with 17 foot concrete ceilings and industrial windows with custom window treatments.

It has a split floor plan.

There are hardwood floors throughout the main living/dining area and a wood burning fireplace in the living room.

The kitchen has been renovated since the 2015 sale and has modern wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances including a Fisher & Paykel French door refrigerator, Subzero beverage fridge and Bosch dishwasher with a breakfast bar and a peninsula along with granite counter tops (?- some look like quartz but listing says granite).

The bedrooms have carpet and both have windows.

The primary bedroom is en suite with a double vanity and also has a walk-in-closet.

There’s a lofted storage area in the unit as well.

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

In 2015, this penthouse had a 20×24 rooftop deck with city views. Now, it just has “unfinished rooftop deck rights.”

This building is near the Brown Line, shops and restaurants of West Lakeview and the Lakeview Whole Foods.

Listed at $575,000, that’s $100,000 over the 2015 purchase price.

It’s currently the only unit in the building that’s for sale.

Is the old standard of the $400,000 2/2 now going to cost you over $500,000 in West Lakeview?

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

Unit #702: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1250 square feet, loft

• Sold in January 1995 for $207,000
• Sold in April 2004 for $452,500
• Sold in August 2008 for $495,000
• Sold in July 2015 for $475,000
• Originally listed in January 2023 for $575,000
• Currently still listed at $575,000
• Assessments of $761 a month (includes cable, Internet, exterior maintenance, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $8882
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• 2-car garage parking included
• Wood burning fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 13×12
• Bedroom #2: 12×10
• Living room: 13×12
• Dining room: 20×12
• Kitchen: 20×11
• Loft: 10×9
• Unfinished roof rights (last deck in 2015 was 20×24)

This 3-bedroom penthouse at Parc Chestnut at 849 N. Franklin in River North came on the market in August 2022 and then was removed from the market and now has come back on in January 2023.

Built in 2006, the Parc Chestnut has 261 units and attached garage parking.

It has doorstaff, 2 large outdoor terraces, an exercise room, bike storage and a private park.

The listing says this unit has been “redesigned and refinished.”

It’s a corner unit with a separate dining room.

It has a chef’s kitchen with 54″ white and wood Italian cabinets, Subzero, Wolf and Bosch appliances and quartz countertops with an island that seats 4.

The primary suite has an en suite bath with a walk-in-shower, tub and double floating vanity. It also has a walk-in-closet.

One other bedroom also appears to be en suite. Does the third bedroom have a window?

The unit has a separate private storage room.

It has the features buyers look for including washer/dryer in the unit, central air, and 2-car parking (tandem?).

The unit also has a private outdoor terrace with what looks like north and west sunset views with water and gas hook-ups.

This building is near the shops and restaurants of central River North and the Gold Coast and is near the brown line Chicago stop as well as several bus lines.

Listed in August 2022 at $1,099,900, it has come back on the market in January 2023 at the same price.

It was originally listed just as rates were going to 7% but now, in 2023, they are declining back to 6%.

Will the timing be better to make a sale on this penthouse in 2023?

Steven Power at Century 21 SGR has the listing. See the pictures here (sorry, no floor plan).

Unit #1603: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2000 square feet, penthouse

• Sold on May 25, 2007 for $696,500
• Sold on May 29, 2007 for $865,000 (remember when people used to buy new construction and flip it days after closing for more? Those were the days)
• Sold in February 2017 for $980,000
• Originally listed in August 2022 for $1,099,900
• Withdrawn
• Re-listed in January 2023 for $1,099,900
• Assessments of $1332 a month (includes heat, a/c, gas, doorman, cable, exercise room, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $14,069
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• 2-car garage parking included (tandem?)
• Bedroom #1: 18×12
• Bedroom #2: 18×14
• Bedroom #3: 11×10
• Living room: 30×16
• Dining room: 13×12
• Kitchen: 14×9
• Laundry room: 7×4
• Walk-in-closet: 10×6
• Walk-in-closet: 6×5
• Terrace

By popular demand, we’re chattering about this 2-bedroom at 1555 N. Astor in the Gold Coast. It came on the market in January 2023.

Built in 1973, 1555 N. Astor has 104 units and an attached private garage which is “fully staffed” and which costs $200 a month, has guest parking and detailed car wash for $10.

This is a full amenity building which the listing calls a “white glove building” with 24 hour door staff, tennis courts, indoor pool, gym, sauna, sundeck with grills and lounge chairs plus a basketball hoop. It also has an on-site building manager.

This unit is a Southeast facing corner unit with city and lake views. The building only has 2 to 3 units per floor.

The listing says it is “ready to be fully customized.”

The kitchen has white cabinets and terracotta floors along with white appliances that look like they are the originals.

It does have a washer/dryer hook-up in unit and central air.

The building is pet friendly with 1 dog up to 80 pounds or 2 dogs of 40 pounds each. The unit comes with a storage locker.

This building is on the border of Lincoln Park and is close to the shops and restaurants of Old Town.

Listed at $495,000, is it priced for a full renovation?

Juliana Yeager and Benjamin Yeager at @Properties Christie’s has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

Unit #10SE: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1549 square feet

• No prior sales price back to 1994
• Originally listed in January 2023 for $495,000
• Currently still listed at $495,000
• Assessments of $1349 a month (includes doorman, exercise room, pool, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $11,655
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer hook-up in the unit
• Attached garage available for $200 a month
• Bedroom #1: 15×12
• Bedroom #2: 13×1
• Living room: 19×15
• Dining room: 14×12
• Kitchen: 12×11
• Walk-in-closet: 7×6
• Foyer: 8×6

This 2-bedroom in The Whitney at 1301 N. Dearborn in the Gold Coast came on the market in January 2023.

Built in 1998, The Whitney has just 88 units and attached garage parking along with a rooftop deck.

It has 24-hour door staff, an exercise room and a live-in engineer.

The listing says this unit has been “completely renovated by one of the city’s top designers.”

It has a foyer along with a living/dining room combination.

The kitchen has white cabinets and an island with what looks like wood cabinets that seats three. The listing says it has “all new appliances” including a double door refrigerator, a Bosch dishwasher, Quartz counter tops and backsplash.

The primary bedroom has a walk-in-closet and en suite bathroom, dual sinks, a large shower and separate tub.

The second bathroom is “new.”

The unit also has a private terrace which overlooks the terraced deck at the RH across the street.

This unit has the features that buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and indoor garage parking is included.

This building is in the heart of the Gold Coast, across the street from the RH but near the shops and restaurants of the Rush Street corridor.

Buyers love new, or renovated, properties.

Will the renovations help it find a buyer quickly?

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

• Sold in January 1998 for $343,500
• Sold in July 2008 for $690,000
• Currently listed at $979,000
• Assessments of $1329 a month (includes doorman, cable, exercise room, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $14,054
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Garage parking included
• Bedroom #1: 17×13
• Bedroom #2: 12×14
• Living/dining combo: 31×15
• Kitchen: 12×12
• Terrace

This 3-bedroom co-op at 1321 E. 56th in Hyde Park was listed in June 2022 (sorry, I don’t have a picture so I’m including one of the Gold Coast.)

Built in 1929, this building was designed by Henry Holsman and has just 12 units.

The building has parking, a yard and garden.

This unit is a full-floor unit which is one flight up.

It has some of its vintage features including crown moldings, an entry foyer, a separate dining room and a wood burning fireplace.

It has herringbone hardwood floors.

The listing says the unit has seen “modernization” including wiring, plumbing, central air and updated Pella windows.

The kitchen has black cabinets, what looks like wood counter tops, luxury appliances including Viking and Subzero and a breakfast bar with seating for 2.

The listing says there is an updated primary bath and shower.

The third bedroom has been “redone” and is opened as a den.

But the big feature is the private 50×10 private outdoor terrace with remote powered awnings and automatic irrigation.

This unit has the features buyers look for including central air and a parking space but there’s no washer/dryer in the unit. It appears there is coin laundry in the building.

This building is just steps from the University of Chicago, Metra and the shops and restaurants of Hyde Park.

This unit came on the market in June 2022 for $595,000 and has been reduced to $529,000.

That is still above the recent Sep 2021 sale at $465,000.

This unit is also being offered furnished.

Will the seller get the premium over the 2021 sale?

Timothy Salm and Donald Benson at Jameson Sotheby’s have the listing. See the pictures here. Sorry, no floor plan but it’s listed in the prior listing pictures.

Unit #1: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, no square footage listed, co-op

• Co-op makes it difficult to get prior sales price
• Sold in September 2021 for $465,000
• Originally listed in June 2022 for $595,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $529,000
• Assessments of $1342 a month (includes heat, gas, parking, exterior maintenance, snow removal, lawn care, scavenger)
• Taxes of $6072
• Central Air
• No washer/dryer in the unit. Coin laundry in the building
• On-site parking space included
• Wood burning fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 14×10
• Bedroom #2: 16×12
• Bedroom #3: 14×10
• Kitchen: 17×10
• Living room: 22×15
• Dining room: 14×12
• Walk-in-closet: 6×3
• Foyer: 9×6

The Illinois Association of Realtors is out with the December data. We already know that it was another slow month from Gary’s monthly updates.

From the Illinois Association of Realtors:

The city of Chicago saw a 41.2 percent year-over-year home sales decrease in December 2022 with 1,425 sales, down from 2,422 in December 2021. Annual home sales totaled 28,265, a 15.0 percent decrease compared to 33,246 in 2021.

The median price of a home in the city of Chicago in December 2022 was $288,000, down 8.1 percent compared to December 2021 when it was $313,500. The annual 2022 median price reached $335,000, the same as in 2021.

Reminder, last year was the highest number of sales since the housing boom year of 2005.

• December 2004: 3719 sales and median price of $267,000
• December 2005: 2847 sales and median price of $283,000
• December 2006: 2241 sales and median price of $279,000
• December 2007: 1629 sales and median price of $287,000
• December 2008: 1263 sales and median price of $235,000
• December 2009: 1820 sales and median price of $208,000 (34% short/REO sales)
• December 2010: 1475 sales and median price of $166,000 (43% short/REO sales)
• December 2011: 1536 sales and median price of $156,000 (44% short/REO sales)
• December 2012: 1806 sales and median price of $185,000 (39.7% short/REO sales- according to Gary Lucido’s data)
• December 2013: 2137 sales and median price of $210,000
• December 2014: 2020 sales and median price of $228,000
• December 2015: 2077 sales and median price of $242,000
• December 2016: 1974 sales and median price of $260,000
• December 2017: 2058 sales and median price of $265,500
• December 2018: 1708 sales and median price of $251,500
• December 2019: 1892 sales and median price of $276,000
• December 2020: 2267 sales and median price of $305,000
• December 2021: 2422 sales and median price of $313,500
• December 2022: 1425 sales and median price of $288,000

This was the lowest number of sales since the awful December of 2008 when millions were being laid off, the stock market was crashing and the economy was spiraling downward.

“In December, closed sales, inventory and median sales price decreased, likely because of a few factors: seasonality and inflation, combined with the hope that mortgage rates will taper off soon,” said Sarah Ware, president of the Chicago Association of REALTORS® and principal and designated managing broker for Ware Realty Group in Chicago. “Buyers and sellers should approach their home pricing and offer strategies with this in mind.”

Statewide, inventory fell 9.7% to 20,671 from 22,896 in December 2021.

Meanwhile, Chicago saw a sharper inventory decline, falling 15.5% to 5,310 properties from 6,281 last year. The inventory remained at multi-year lows in December.

• December 2020: 8254
• December 2021: 6281
• December 2022: 5310

“Although the housing market in Illinois has slowed since its peak in June, the decline is largely due to the usual seasonality in house prices and sales,” 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.

“However, the median home price and the number of sales are currently lower than at this time last year. The number of foreclosures has declined over the last year and is not high by historical standards. Although consumer sentiment has become more positive recently, there still is significant uncertainty about the outlook for the housing market. Our forecasts indicate that house prices and the number of sales will increase as the housing market picks up during spring.”

The average 30-year fixed rate mortgage came down  to 6.36% from 6.81% in November. It was still over double that of last December, when it was 3.1%.

Chicago average time on the market stayed the same year-over-year at 38 days. It actually fell 15.2% statewide to 28 days from 33 days a year ago.

In Chicago both single family homes and condo sales were hit equally as hard. Single family home closings were down 41.4% year-over-year to 630 while condos fell 41% to 795.

There’s no doubt both buyers and sellers retreated to the sidelines in December. This is why inventory remains near record lows.

However, the market is showing some signs of life in January. Will December be the low in sales for this cycle?

Is the worst already behind the housing market?

Despite dip in December 2022, annual median price of Illinois homes rose as economy seesawed and inventory tightened [Illinois Association of Realtors, Press Release, by Bill Kozar, January 20, 2023]

This 3-bedroom in Malibu Condominiums at 6007 N. Sheridan in Edgewater came on the market in January 2023.

Sorry, I don’t have a picture of this building but I will get one by this summer.

Built in 1969, Malibu Condominiums has 356 units and attached valet parking.

It’s a full service building with 24/7 door staff, an outdoor pool, sundeck, sauna, party room, dry cleaners, bike room, exercise room and on-site manager and engineer.  The listing also says that a new gym, locker rooms and sauna are in future plans.

The listing says the building has “never had a special assessment.”

This unit has been renovated with “luxury and elegance.”

It has floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the beach and Lake Michigan.

It has hardwood floors through the living and dining rooms as well as the bedrooms. The listing doesn’t say if they are oak or luxury vinyl.

The chef’s kitchen has been opened to the living/dining space and has an island with seating for 2, gray cabinets with bright quartz countertops and gold finishes including the faucet, stainless steel appliances, an extra built-in oven/microwave, a range hood and custom lighting.

There appears to be two walk-in showers and no bathtubs.

The listing says the AC unit, furnace and water heater are brand new.

The unit has some of the features buyers look for including central air and valet garage parking but there’s no washer/dryer in the unit. There’s coin laundry in the building.

This building is near Mariano’s, Whole Foods, beaches, coffee shops, restaurants and shops of Edgewater and Andersonville. It’s also near Red Line stops and express buses.

Bought in September 2022 for $211,500, it has come back on the market renovated for $459,900.

Should buyers who love beaches and views set their sights on the Malibu?

Ada Belson at @Properties Christie’s has the listing. See the pictures here. Sorry no floor plan.

Or you can see it in person this weekend at the Open House, on January 29 from 12 – 2 PM.

Unit #9J: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1656 square feet

• Sold in October 1994 for $115,000
• Sold in September 2022 for $211,500
• Currently listed at $459,900
• Assessments of $822 a month (includes doorman, cable, exercise room, pool, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal, Internet)
• Taxes of $5076
• Central Air
• No washer/dryer in the unit. Coin laundry in the building.
• Valet attached garage parking
• Bedroom #1: 14×13
• Bedroom #2: 11×13
• Bedroom #3: 11×10
• Living/dining combo: 23×14
• Kitchen: 8×15
• Foyer: 5×9
• 3 Balconies