Crib Chatter

Dreaming of the beach?

We last chattered about this 4-bedroom 1903-era home at 7237 S. South Shore in the South Shore neighborhood in June 2009.

See our prior chatter and pictures here.

It’s still available and listed for the same price as last June.

The property has 2 PIN numbers, one of which extends the lot all the way to the edge of the lake making it only 1 of just 2 dozen homes in the city limits that has actual private Lake Michigan access.

It has no garage, but has three parking spaces on the side drive. It also has an unfinished basement.

Tracey Taylor at Prudential Rubloff still has the listing. See the virtual tour here.

See the listing and more pictures here.

7237 S. South Shore Drive: 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2587 square feet, 3 parking spaces

• Sold in October 2007 for $1.2 million
• Was listed in June 2009 for $1.5 million
• Currently listed for $1.5 million
• Taxes of $7113
• Central Air
• Full unfinished basement
• Bedroom #1: 17×13
• Bedroom #2: 10×10
• Bedroom #3: 12×12
• Bedroom #4: 15×12

This 2-bedroom timber loft at 550 N. Kingsbury in River North just came on the market.

It is bank owned.

The loft is currently listed for $5,100 under the 1998 purchase price.

The 2-bedroom unit has central air, washer/dryer in the unit. It also appears to have 2 parking spaces which are included in the price.

I’ve been told that it doesn’t face the expressway but that neither bedroom has windows.

Is this a steal for River North?

Katy Elliott at Great Lakes Realty has the listing. See the listing here (exterior picture only.)

(By the way- notice that it resold every two to three years- supporting the statistic that lofts resell, on average, every 2 to 3 years.)

Unit #210: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 car parking

• Sold in June 1995 for $256,000
• Sold in June 1998 for $355,000
• Sold in September 2001 for $440,000
• Sold in August 2004 for $478,000
• Sold in May 2006 for $499,000
• Lis pendens filed in December 2008
• Bank owned as of November 2009
• Currently listed for $349,900 (parking included)
• Assessments of $499 a month
• Taxes of $4864
• Bedroom #1: 14×12
• Bedroom #2: 14×11
• Living room: 26×28
• Laundry room: 6×10

We’ve chattered about 1013 W. Webster #7, a 3-bedroom triplex, in Lincoln Park numerous times over the last 21 months.

In November 2009, it came back on the market with a further reduction. See our November 2009 chatter here.

It finally sold shortly thereafter for $266,500 under the 2006 purchase price.

The unit had a master suite on the top floor, exposed brick and a modern kitchen with stainless steel appliances and granite countertops.

It also had 2 parking spaces, which is somewhat rare for a condo in Lincoln Park, especially in this price range.

Is this property an aberration or a sign of the times even in Lincoln Park?

Linda Broznowski at @Properties had the listing. (If you have a redfin account, you can see the pictures by putting in the address.)

Unit #7: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 car private garage with storage, no square footage listed

• Sold in July 2006 for $686,500
• Originally listed in March 2008 for $685,000
• Reduced
• Listed in April 2008 for $659,000
• Reduced
• Was listed in June 2008 for $649,000 (included the two car garage)
• Reduced
• Was listed in October 2008 for $598,888
• Reduced
• Was listed in February 2009 for $525,000 (two car garage still included)
• Reduced
• Was listed in November 2009 for $449,000 (two car garage still included)
• Sold in November 2009 for $420,000
• Assessments were $271 a month in February 2009 (new listing didn’t list any assessments)
• Taxes of $8975 in February 2009 (most recent listing said they’re “new”)
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Master suite: 30×15
• Bedroom #2: 15×10
• Bedroom #3: 13×13

This 3-bedroom townhouse at 1742 N. Winnebago in Bucktown isn’t one of the small townhouses that were built during the boom.

Built in 1996, it has nearly 3000 square feet of living space alongside an open concept floor plan that most current buyers like.

We last chattered about this townhouse in September 2009. See our prior chatter and pictures here.

It has since been reduced by $10,000.

The house also has a roof top deck with a built in bar for those hot summer nights and a 2-car garage.

Robert John Anderson at Baird & Warner has the listing. See more pictures here.

Unit #B: 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2 car garage, 2934 square feet

• Sold in November 1996 for $304,500
• Sold in April 2004 for $542,500
• Sold in January 2006 for $611,500
• Sold in April 2007 for $662,000
• Originally listed in August 2009 for $649,000
• Reduced
• Was listed in September 2009 for $635,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $625,000
• Assessments of $55 a month
• Taxes of $7,040
• Central Air
• 3 bedrooms are on the upper floor and 1 is on the lower level

This 2-flat at 2610 N. Mildred in Lincoln Park just came on the market.

Built in 1878, each of the units are 2 bedrooms, 1 bath. The listing says the property is in “need of updating but has great potential.”

The units have hardwood floors and eat-in kitchens.

The listing also says the property is being sold “as-is”. (I can’t tell from public records if it is bank owned or not.)

The lot size appears to be 33×75 and there is no parking.

Is this a deal?

Arthur Cirignani at Chicago Realty Partners has the listing. See the pictures here.

2610 N. Mildred: 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2-flat

• Sold in October 2003 for $527,000
• Lis pendens filed in March 2009
• Currently listed for $515,950
• Taxes of $9544
• No central air
• No parking

We’ve chattered about several rowhomes on Alta Vista, the historic street in Lakeview which was modeled after London neighborhoods, over the last two years including this 3-bedroom one at 3832 N. Alta Vista.

See our September 2009 chatter here.

It is still available and has been reduced by $101,000.

It is on the side of the street that does have the garages, so the rowhouse has a 1 car garage and a small brick paved backyard.

All 3 bedrooms are on the second floor, though the listing says the third bedroom has no closet (so it’s really a den) but it is being used as a bedroom currently.

There is a newer office in the lower level. The rowhouse also has central air.

The kitchen has oak cabinets and sports a mixture of white and black appliances.

At this price point, is the lack of an updated kitchen with stainless steel appliances a dealbreaker?

Millie Rosenbloom at Baird & Warner still has the listing. See the pictures here.

3832 N. Alta Vista Terrace: 3 bedrooms, 4 baths, 1 car garage, 2100 square feet

• Sold in June 1992 for $318,000
• Sold in January 1994 for $325,000
• Was listed in September 2009 for $800,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $699,000
• Taxes of $7597
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 11×10
• Bedroom #2: 12×9
• Bedroom #3: 10×8

Some buyers want the feeling of a single family home but don’t want the maintenance associated with it. For them, this 4-bedroom triplex unit at 1821 N. Larrabee in Lincoln Park might be the perfect alternative.

This is a new construction unit in a two-unit building.

It has all the bells and whistles of a luxury property including a wine cellar in the lower level.

Three out of the four bedrooms are located on the second level (along with two baths.) The fourth bedroom is in the lower level.

It also has two fireplaces and a 400 square foot deck on the garage.

First listed in May 2009, it has been reduced by $200,000.

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

Unit #1: 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, 4050 square feet, triplex

• New construction
• Originally listed in May 2009 for $1.399 million
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $1.199 million
• Assessments of $304 a month
• Taxes are “new”
• 2 fireplaces
• 3 outdoor spaces
• Lower level wine cellar
• Family room
• Bedroom #1: 16×13
• Bedroom #2: 19×12
• Bedroom #3: 13×10
• Bedroom #4: 19×14 (lower level)

This large bank owned 1-bedroom unit at 1439 W. Elmdale in Edgewater is in an older court yard building on a tree lined street.

It doesn’t have central air or parking (though the listing says it does have parking- if you know the building and the street- it’s clear it does not). The listing doesn’t say if it has a washer/dryer in the unit (but I know other units in the building do have it.)

The unit was originally listed in mid-December and has since been reduced by $5,000.

There are no interior pictures of the unit, so it’s unclear if the kitchen and bathroom are intact.

This is no small 1-bedroom unit. It appears to have a full-sized dining room and large kitchen.

Are we getting closer to cash flow positive investing in Edgewater?

Michael Olszewski at Area Wide Realty has the listing. See the exterior pictures here.

Unit #1S: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, dining room

• Sold in March 1995 for $60,000
• Sold in March 1999 for $14,626
• Lis pendens in November 2008
• Bank owned in June 2009
• Originally listed in December 2009 for $89,500
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $84,900
• Assessments of $220 a month (includes heat)
• Taxes of $2158
• No central air
• No washer/dryer in the unit
• Listing says there is a parking space- but the building doesn’t have parking
• Bedroom: 16×18
• Living room: 16×15
• Dining room: 14×15
• Kitchen: 12×12

Chatterers had much to say about this 3-bedroom 2-story home at 3442 N. Paulina in Lakeview when we last chattered about it in November 2009.

It had been on and off the market since May, after having gone into contract at least once.

Built in 1888, it had no parking, but it had new HVAC, plumbing, electric and bamboo floors.

Elizabeth Bleeker at Prudential Rubloff had the listing. (If you are registered with Redfin, you can see pictures by putting in the address.)

3442 N. Paulina: 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, no square footage listed (but in May 2009 it said 1600 square feet)

• Sold in September 1988 for $106,000
• Sold in June 1991 for $136,000
• Was listed in May 2009 for $399,500
• Under contract in 3 days
• Re-listed several times
• Reduced
• Was listed in November 2009 at $385,000
• Sold in December 2009 for $365,000
• Taxes of $5593
• Central Air
• No Parking
• Bedroom #1: 20×13 (second level)
• Bedrooms #2: 12×10 (second level)
• Bedroom #3: 10×10 (second level)
• Living room: 14×13
• Dining room: 13×11
• Kitchen: 10×14

We chattered about this cute starter 1-bedroom loft condo at 20 N. State in the Loop several times. 

See our October 2009 chatter and pictures here.

The loft had authentic brick features and concrete ceilings. There was a lofted bedroom which freed up space for a dining room underneath.

The buyer would also have a short commute to any loop job and wouldn’t have to worry about the CTA or Metra.

The loft had all the amenities buyers look for except parking.

Linda Hoffman at Prudential Rubloff had the listing.

Unit #1002: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 716 square feet

• Sold in May 2003 for $123,000
• Was listed in June 2009 for $198,000
• Reduced
• Was listed in October 2009 for $189,900
• Sold in December 2009 for $176,500
• Assessments of $361 a month (includes heat, AC and the internet)
• Taxes of $1866
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in unit
• No parking
• Living room: 21×11
• Dining room: 10×9
• Kitchen: 11×6
• Bedroom: 11×9