Crib Chatter

We last chattered about this 3-bedroom unit at 50 E. Chestnut in the Gold Coast a year ago, in January 2009.

See our prior chatter here.

At the time, it had come on the market only 9 months after it was purchased.

50 E. Chestnut is an exclusive new construction high rise with only 1 unit per floor. The units have luxury finishes.

There are currently 6 other units on the market (out of a total of 34 in the building). Those appear to be from the developer.

A year ago, the unit was listed for $508,000 more than the purchase price only 9 months before. Since then, the price has been reduced by $325,000.

Tricia Fox at Keller Williams Gold Coast still has the listing. See the pictures and listing here.

Unit #1001: 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 2 car parking, 3904 square feet

• Sold in May 2008 for $2.692 million
• Was listed in January 2009 for $3.2 million
• Reduced several times
• Currently listed at $2.875 million (parking extra)
• Assessments of $1835 a month (includes doorman)
• Taxes are “new”

We chattered about this 3-bedroom stucco home at 2717 W. Windsor in Ravenswood Manor in September 2009.

See our prior chatter and pictures here.

The house was built in 1900 and had a professionally landscaped yard along with a 2-car garage. It had hardwood floors throughout and beamed ceilings.

The large attic was “awaiting the buyer’s finishing touches.”

In the prior chatter, some of you thought $699,000 was a dreaming price and some thought it would sell in the $500,000s mainly due to the fact that it had no central air.

Diana Duvall at Baird & Warner had the listing.

2717 W. Windsor: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2 car garage, no square footage listed

• I couldn’t find an original sale price- same owner since 1986
• Was listed in September 2009 for $699,900
• Sold in January 2010 for $625,000
• Taxes of $7445
• No central air
• Bedroom #1: 19×16
• Bedroom #2: 17×12
• Bedroom #3: 11×8
• Attic: 39×9

This 1-bedroom vintage unit at 627 W. Barry in East Lakeview was recently reduced by $10,000.

The listing says it has the original moldings. While there is hardwood floors in the living room there is carpet in the dining room and bedroom (I wonder if hardwood is underneath?).

The kitchen has been renovated with white cabinets and appliances and granite counter tops.

While there is no central air or parking, there is an in-unit washer/dryer.

Is this type of unit an attrative starter 1-bedroom condo?

Ruth Karel at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #3D: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, dining room, no square footage listed

• Sold in December 1985
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in July 2009
• Originally listed in December 2009 for $235,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $225,000
• Assessments of $297 a month
• Taxes of $2169
• Bedroom: 12×11
• Living room: 14×13
• Dining room: 13×11
• Kitchen: 14×12
• Fireplace

This bank owned 2-bedroom unit recently came on the market at 120 W. Oak in the Gold Coast, just a short stroll to the bars and restaurants on Rush Street.

The 14-unit building was built in 2002.

The unit has hardwood floors and, from the pictures, it looks like the kitchen is intact, with stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops.

This unit has 1-car parking included (a definite selling point for the neighborhood.)  It also has central air and in-unit washer/dryer.

Is this a deal?

Gerald Williams at Allpoints Realty Group has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #2D: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1000 square feet

• Sold in December 2002 for $340,000
• Lis pendens in August 2008
• Bank owned in September 2009
• Recently listed for $380,000 (parking included)
• Assessments of $392 a month
• Taxes of $4934
• Central Air
• In-unit washer/dryer
• Bedroom #1: 12×18
• Bedroom #2: 10×12
• Living room: 20×12
• Kitchen: 16×12

This 3-bedroom rowhouse at 822 W. Windsor in Uptown just returned to the market.

Built in 1893, many of the vintage features are still intact.

It sports a greystone facade and a stunning wood staircase.

All 3 bedrooms are on the top floor.

The listing says it has a “newer kitchen” and the basement is partially finished with a full bathroom and an extra kitchen.

There is no parking, but the listing says there is rental available across the street for $75 a month. There is also no central air.

Joe Siciliano at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See more pictures here.

822 W. Windsor: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in November 1993 for $95,000
• Sold in December 1995 for $110,500
• Sold in February 1997 for $136,000
• Originally listed in September 2009
• Re-listed in January 2010 for $429,000
• Taxes of $5098
• No central air
• No parking
• Bedroom #1: 17×16
• Bedroom #2: 12×11
• Bedroom #3: 11×10

We’ve chattered about this 3-bedroom vintage greystone unit at 2127 N. Sheffield in Lincoln Park several times.

In April 2009, it was re-listed with a brand new kitchen with stainless steel appliances and white cabinets.

See our April 2009 chatter and pictures of the kitchens here.

Since then, it has been reduced several times and is now listed for $17,000 under the 2004 purchase price.

It has parking and central air but no in-unit washer/dryer.

The unit has also come on the market as a rental available for $2100 a month.

Mary Haight at @Properties now has the listing. See more pictures here.

Unit #3: 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, 1400 square feet

• Sold in June 2002 for $288,000
• Sold in August 2004 for $325,000
• Was listed in March 2008 for $369,900
• Withdrawn
• Renovated with new kitchen
• Re-listed in April 2009 for $369,900
• Reduced
• Was listed in April 2009 for $349,900
• Reduced
• Was listed in July 2009 for $327,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $308,000
• Assessments of $200 a month
• Taxes of $4662
• OR available to rent for $2100 a month
• Central Air
• Parking included
• No washer/dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 13×11
• Bedroom #2: 12×10
• Bedroom #3: 10×8

We last chattered about this 3-bedroom unit in the Fordham at 25 E. Superior in River North in May 2009.

See our prior chatter here.

It has been on and off the market since then but is still being sold “as-is.”

It has also been reduced by $190,000 since our last chatter.

The unit has hardwood floors in the main living/dining areas. The kitchen has stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops.

The property was actually listed at this reduced price last September and still didn’t sell (so I’m not going to ask if it’s a deal at this price.)

What will it take to sell this 1750 square foot unit?

Helen Oliveri at Keller Williams Realty Partners still has the listing. See the virtual tour here.

Unit #3204: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 1750 square feet, 1 car parking (included in price)

• Sold in March 2005 for $900,000
• Lis pendens filed in February 2008
• Was listed in May 2009 as “as-is” for $864,900
• Reduced
• Was listed in September 2009 for $674,900
• Withdrawn
• Just came back on the market still listed “as-is” for $674,900
• Assessments of $1208 a month
• Taxes of $11,609
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit

We’ve chattered a lot about flippers.

But what about true renovators? Those who dare to take a beaten up property, restore it and then re-list it?

Such is the case with this 4-bedroom brick single family home at 1135 N. Spaulding in Humboldt Park.

Bought in June 2009, the listing says it was stripped down to the bricks and renovated. Everything in it is new, including the kitchen, baths and the 2-car garage out back.

The basement has been completely finished and it has central air.

The house recently went under contract.

Will we see more of these “renovators” (instead of the flippers) as bank owned properties come down further in price?

Bob Safranski at Saffron Realty has the listing. See more pictures here.

1135 N. Spaulding: 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2 car garage

• Sold in December 1999 for $25,000
• Bank owned in September 2008
• Sold in June 2009 for $36,700
• Was listed in September 2009 for $299,000
• On and off the market
• Listed in January 2009 for $299,000
• Under contract
• Taxes of $2966
• Central Air
• Finished basement
• Bedroom #1: 17×14 (second level)
• Bedroom #2: 15×12 (second level)
• Bedroom #3: 18×7 (main level)
• Bedroom #4: 18×17 (lower level)

We first chattered about this 4-bedroom Gold Coast coach house at 20 E. Goethe 2 years ago, in January 2008.

See our prior chatter and pictures here.

It’s a unique property because it is situated behind the mid-rise building of 20 E. Goethe and has alley access to the garage on its first floor.

The 4-level vintage property which was built in 1900, also has roof top access where the listing says there is a staircase and you can build your own deck.

It sold in April 2008 and has now come back on the market only $4,000 above its 2008 purchase price.

This time around we actually get to see pictures of the cool “home theater” on the lower level that has brick and stone walls.

The home has central air and doesn’t appear to have any assessment connected to the building that sits in front of it.

John Irwin at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See the pictures here.

20 E. Goethe Coach House: 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, 1.5 car garage

• Sold in December 2004 for $773,000
• Was listed in January 2008 at $1.069 million
• Sold in April 2008 for $985,000
• Currently listed for $989,000
• No assessments
• Taxes of $10,125
• Bedroom #1: 16×15 (upper level)
• Bedroom #2: 13×11 (upper level)
• Bedroom #3: 11×10 (upper level)
• Bedroom #4: 18×13 (main level)

We last chattered about this English bungalow at 2601 W. Coyle in the Indian Boundry Park neighborhood of West Ridge in August 2009.

See our August 2009 chatter and pictures here.

It sold for $162,500 under the original list price.

The 3-bedroom house had juliette balconies and a vintage wood burning fireplace in the living room.

Mary Ann Dooley at Coldwell Banker had the listing.

2601 W. Coyle: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, no square footage listed, 2 car garage

• Sold in September 1988 for $200,000
• Sold in April 2000 for $351,000
• Originally listed in April 2009 for $575,000
• Reduced several times
• Was listed in August 2009 for $475,000
• Sold in December 2009 for $412,500
• Taxes of $7344
• No central air- window units
• Bedroom #1: 21×12
• Bedroom #2: 14×10
• Bedroom #3: 14×10