Crib Chatter

This 1-bedroom duplex at 340 E. Randolph, in 340 On the Park, in Lakeshore East, boosts not just one south facing terrace but two.

You can wake up with your views of the lake and Millennium Park and you can have after work drinks off your living room doing the same.

This is no small duplex, as the listing says it is 1314 square feet.

It has hardwood floors in the main living area and carpet in the bedroom. The kitchen is the standard kitchen put into every unit unit the building- with modern wood cabinets and stainless steel appliances.

If this unit sounds familiar, it is. We chattered about it in March 2008 when it was available for rent for $3500 plus $300 for parking.

See our March 2008 chatter and pictures here.

(Where we also had a long discussion about rent versus owning, flipping and the health of the overall housing market- which is quite interesting to look at nearly 2 years later).

It rented for $3500 (including the parking) in June 2008.

Recently, it came on the market for sale.

340 On the Park is one of the few buildings where prices have held up amidst the recession.

Is the sizzle still on at 340 On the Park?

Nancy Nugent at Prudential Rubloff has the listing. See the pictures here (no pics of the interior of the unit, however- but you can see the fabulous views).

Unit #2702: 1 bedroom, 1.5 baths, 1314 square feet

• Sold in January 2008 for $626,500
• Currently listed for $869,000 (includes the parking)
• Was available to rent in March 2008 for $3500 a month plus $300 for parking
• Rented in June 2008 for $3500 a month (parking included)
• Assessments of $565 a month
• Taxes of $8380
• Bedroom: 14×13
• Living room: 13×14
• Dining room: 13×7
• Kitchen: 10×9
• Laundry: 10×5
• Terraces: 23×05 (each)

This is the quiet period for real estate (in Chicago and elsewhere.) Inventories are down as listings have been pulled and as sellers wait to list in early 2010.

Crib Chatter will be taking this time to contemplate, as we always do during this slow period, what will be the top Chicago real estate stories in the coming year.

Anyone have any suggestions?

In the meantime, Crib Chatter will be operating on a holiday shortened period this week and next week.

There will be no new posts on Thursday, December 24 or Friday, December 25.

There will also be no new posts on Thursday, December 31 and Friday, January 1.

Happy Holidays everyone. And keep sending me your tips and suggestions.

Thanks also to all of the agents who have generously supplied me with information and pictures during 2009.

Here’s to an interesting 2010 in Chicago real estate!

Sabrina

This 2-bedroom vintage unit at 1241 W. Grace in the Southport neighborhood of Lakeview has been on the market since early November.

It is bank owned.

The property has been reduced by $20,000 and is now listed for $100 less than the 2000 purchase price.

The unit recently went under contract.

It has some vintage features like a decorative fireplace in the living room and built-ins in the full-sized dining room.

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

A third floor unit in the building is also currently on the market for $60,000 more than this bank-owned unit and has been listed since May 2009.

Is this a deal at this price?

Grazyna Przybysz at North Central Realty has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #1W: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, dining room, 1100 square feet

• Sold in July 1995 for $111,500
• Sold in March 2000 for $240,000
• Sold in July 2002 for $274,000
• Bank owned as of September 2009
• Originally listed in November 2009 for $259,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $239,900
• Under contract
• Assessments of $225 a month
• Taxes of $2773
• No central air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• No parking
• Bedroom #1: 14×10
• Bedroom #2: 11×10

We’ve chattered about this 4-bedroom single family home on an oversized lot at 4337 N. Paulina in Ravenswood several times.

See our November 2009 chatter and pictures here.

It has now sold for $125,000 under the August 2005 purchase price.

The house had an open concept contemporary interior with skylights. It also had a lovely backyard with a 2.5-car garage.

Timothy Sheahan at Conlon Real Estate had the listing.

4337 N. Paulina: 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 2.5 car garage, no square footage listed

• Sold in April 1988 for $56,500
• Sold in March 2000 for $700,000
• Sold in August 2005 for $955,000
• Originally listed in May 2008 for $1.099 million
• Listing cancelled in October 2008
• Re-listed in June 2009 for $999,900
• Reduced
• Was listed in August 2009 at $949,000
• Reduced
• Was listed in late August 2009 for $899,000
• Was listed in November 2009 for $899,000
• Sold in December 2009 for $830,000
• Taxes of $11,471
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 17×21
• Bedroom #2: 16×14
• Bedroom #3: 11×12
• Bedroom #4: 10×11

Thanks to “Architect” for pointing out this 1943 2-bedroom Andrew Rebori designed home at 3252 W. Victoria in North Park.

It is currently under contract but only after being reduced by $50,000 since July 2009.

The home isn’t big, at 1345 square feet, but it has an original Edgar Miller sculpture and an “urban retreat” with a built-in barbecue.

Who says you have to buy a cookie cutter condo?  You can have this historic home with its two-story windows for the same price.

Frank Maguire at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here.

3252 W. Victoria: 2 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, 1345 square feet, 1 car garage

• Sold in April 1989 for $172,000
• Sold in August 1998 for $220,000
• Originally listed in July 2009 for $429,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $379,900
• Under Contract
• Taxes of $4664
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 14×11
• Bedroom #2: 13×13

Spanish revival architecture is rare, but does exist within the Chicago city limits. Patterned after a mix of Spanish and Latin American architectural styles, it is usually characterized by arched doors, beamed ceilings, columns and tiled roofs.

This 4-bedroom Spanish revival home at 5232 N. New England in Norwood Park is a good example of the period.

Built in 1927, it has a juliette balcony and a deck with iron railings.

It also has  the arched doors as well as the beamed ceilings in the living room.

The house has two fireplaces, including one in the master bedroom.

It only has a 1-car garage, however. And it does not have central air. But it’s on a 45×123 lot.

Arthur Gregg at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here.

5232 N. New England: 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1 car garage

• Sold in October 2001 for $347,000
• Originally listed in March 2009
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $399,900
• Taxes of $4222
• No central air
• Bedroom #1: 20×12 (second level)
• Bedroom #2: 13×10 (main level)
• Bedroom #3: 13×10 (main level)
• Bedroom #4: 12×10 (main level)

This 3-bedroom duplex up penthouse at 1866 N. Halsted in Lincoln Park just came on the market.

It has the feeling of a loft, with the open spaces and bright light, without the exposed pipes and other accruments of a “true” loft.

The unit has enough square footage, at 2712 square feet, to be a sizable single family home.

It appears that the 3-bedrooms are on the second level with the living/dining and kitchen area duplexed up on the top floor. There are roof rights.

It has central air and an in-unit washer/dryer. What it is missing, however, is parking. The listing points out that there is easy rental parking nearby.

Matt Garrison at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See more pictures here.

Unit #PH: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2712 square feet

• Sold in February 1994 for $292,500
• Sold in November 2006 for $585,000
• Currently listed for $649,900
• Assessments of $310 a month
• Taxes of $7298
• Central Air
• In-unit Washer/Dryer
• No parking
• Bedroom #1: 20×13
• Bedroom #2: 14×12
• Bedroom #3: 13×10

We last chattered about these 2 units which were combined into one 3-bedroom custom built unit at 200 N. Dearborn in the Loop in October 2009.

See our prior chatter here.

Since then, the unit has been reduced by another $150,000.

It is now listed for 60% less than its original listing in August 2009.

It has a completely custom kitchen with cabinets made to look like antiques. It also has unique wide plank wood floors.

The unit has three exposures.

The listing now says: “Come on cash buyers, you need to see this!”

Kim Olson at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #3801: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 1800 square feet

• I couldn’t find an original sales price but two units combined
• Originally listed in August 2009 for $1.25 million
• Reduced several times
• Was listed in October 2009 for $649,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $499,000
• Assessments of $1020 a month (includes heat, AC, doorman, pool, cable)
• Taxes are “new”
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Central Air
• 2 parking spaces available

This 8-unit building at 4968 N. Milwaukee in Jefferson Park was constructed (and units sold) in 2007. It sits within steps from the Jefferson Park Metra stop and the Jefferson Park El stop.

The building is also near the shops and restaurants of Gale Street.

This top-floor 2-bedroom unit is in short sale and is priced $93,100 under the 2007 purchase price.

It has hardwood floors throughout. The kitchen has stainless steel appliances, granite countertops and 42 inch kitchen cabinets.

The unit also has marble baths and a marble fireplace in the living room.

Parking is included and the building has an elevator.

Is this a deal for a unit with such a transit friendly location?

John Gall at Axis Realty has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #4S: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1500 square feet

• Sold in May 2007 for $333,000
• Currently listed as a “short sale” for $239,900 (parking included)
• Assessment of $179 a month
• Taxes are “new”
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Central Air

This 4-bedroom rowhouse at 1919 N. Lincoln Park in East Lincoln Park (or some might still call this Old Town) looks like it could be found in London.

Built in 1888, it has the vintage bones but also all the modern conveniences such as central air and 2 parking spaces (which the listing says can be covered or a garage built.)

After first being listed in August 2008, and withdrawn, and then being off the market most of 2009, it has now gone into contract in just 2 weeks after re-listing.

It has three wood burning fireplaces and high ceilings with period details. The kitchen has luxury appliances by Bosch and Wolf.

Was this the case of the property simply needing to be priced correctly or is it a sign the housing market is improving?

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

See the property website here.

1919 N. Lincoln Park: 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 2 car parking, no square footage listed

• Sold in June 1999 for $437,500
• Sold in November 2003 for $810,000
• Originally listed in August 2008 and withdrawn in January 2009
• Recently came back on the market at $899,000
• Under contract in 14 days
• Taxes of $14,539
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 20×17 (third level)
• Bedroom #2: 18×12 (second level)
• Bedroom #3: 11×11 (second level)
• Bedroom #4: 12×10 (lower level)