Crib Chatter

This Georgian 2-flat at 4735 N. Whipple in Ravenswood Manor was built in 1916.

The top unit is 3 bedrooms/1 bath and the first floor unit is 2 bedrooms/1 bath. They also have dining rooms and updated sun rooms.

The property has many of its vintage features intact including the wood work.

The units also have individual washer/dryers in unit but no central air.

The 2-flat is on an oversized 30×125 lot and has a 2.5 car garage.

You can walk to the Francisco El stop from the property which is a selling point for the rental unit.

This property is cheaper than any of the single family homes in the neighborhood. Does it make sense to live in one and rent out the other?

Eric Rojas at Prudential Rubloff has the listing. See more pictures here.

See the property website here.

4735 N. Whipple: 5 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2.5 car garage, 2-flat

• Sold in June 1998 for $199,000
• Originally listed in April 2008
• Was listed at $475,000 in the fall of 2009
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $430,000
• Taxes of $6461
• No Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the units

This 3-bedroom Victorian with its own front porch at 2318 N. Central Park in Logan Square just came on the market.

According to the listing, nearly everything is brand new from the decks, the roof, the windows, the furnace, the air conditioning and the kitchen and baths.

The kitchen does not have granite counter tops or stainless steel appliances, however.

The house has front bay windows, hardwood floors and other vintage features.

It’s also on a slightly larger than normal Chicago lot of 30×125.

Didier Lepauw at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See the pictures on the property website here.

2318 N. Central Park: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 1 car garage, 3484 square feet

• Sold in August 1990 for $91,000
• Sold in September 2000 for $182,000
• Sold in July 2005 for $353,500
• Currently listed for $389,000
• Taxes of $4360
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 14×13
• Bedroom #2: 14×9
• Bedroom #3: 11×9
• Finished basement

This brick rowhouse at 204 W. St. Paul was built in 1878 in what has now become the prime part of the Old Town neighborhood.

On the market since June of 2009, the home has been reduced by $54,000.

It has been renovated to reflect modern times. The first floor has been opened into one great space with the living and dining rooms combined into a great room.

The kitchen has marble floors and a subzero refrigerator.

The third bedroom is on the lower level and is currently being used as a family room.

There is no parking.  But the rowhouse does have central air.

Douglas Bogenhagen at Urban Realty Group has the listing. See the pictures here.

204 W. St. Paul: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in September 1991 for $257,000
• Sold in March 1999 for $350,000
• Sold in May 2004 for $655,000
• Listed in June 2009 for $729,000
• Reduced several times
• Currently listed for $675,000
• Taxes of $9131
• Central Air
• No Parking
• Fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 16×18
• Bedroom #2: 8×12
• Bedroom #3: 13×16 (lower level- currently being used as a family room)
• Living room/dining room: 16×23
• Kitchen: 12×14
• Utility room: 12×12 (lower level)

This 2-flat at 1453 W. Foster in Andersonville has many of its vintage features in tact, including woodwork and built-ins in the dining room.

The building has a 2-car garage and laundry in the lower level.

Each unit has its own furnace. There is no central air, just window units.

The listing says it also has a 1-bedroom garden apartment that is currently rented but the legality of the unit is “not represented by agent or seller”. 

Here are the rents for each of the units:

1. Garden apartment: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, $625 a month
2. First Floor unit: 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, with one parking space, $1400 a month (currently vacant)
3. Second Floor unit: 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, with one parking space, $1275 a month

The property is near the shops and dining of Andersonville.

Is this a good starter property for a future land baron?

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

1453 W. Foster: 2 flat, 6 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2 car garage

• Sold in August 2002 for $415,000
• Originally listed in January 2009 for $574,000
• Reduced several times
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in September 2009
• Currently listed for $449,000
• Taxes of $8287
• No central air
• Individual furnaces
• Wood burning fireplace

We last chattered about a bank owned unit in Avenue East, the new construction high rise just off the Mag Mile at 160 E. Illinois, in September 2009.

See our prior chatter on the building here.

That 1100 square foot 2/2 ended up selling for $380,000 including the parking.

This latest bank owned 2-bedroom looks like a slightly larger unit.

According to the pictures, the kitchens and bathrooms are intact. None of the appliances are missing.

The kitchen has granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances. There are wood floors in the living/dining area but carpet in the bedrooms.

You also get a rare side-by-side washer/dryer.

A parking space is included.

Is this a deal?

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

Unit #902: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in December 2007 for $662,000
• Lis pendens filed October 2008
• Bank owned in October 2009
• Currently listed for $430,600 (including the parking)
• Assessments of $773 a month (includes heat, air conditioning)
• Taxes are “new”
• Bedroom #1: 11×16
• Bedroom #2: 10×12
• Living room: 14×19
• Dining room: 10×12
• Kitchen: 8×10

We’ve chattered many times about the large pre-war buildings along Lake Shore Drive on both the North and South Sides of the city.

But there exist a smattering of smaller pre-war buildings outside of the Lake Shore Drive corridor as well.

This 3 bedroom unit at 504 W. Barry, a 1o-unit elevator building that was built in 1927, recently came on the market in Lakeview.

It seems to have all the modern amenities buyers are looking for along side the pre-war ambiance.

The listing says it was completely renovated with a new chef’s kitchen with granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances.

It has french doors and rarely available outdoor space in the form of a private terrace that is 10×13.

The fireplace is woodburning.

The unit also has garage parking, washer/dryer in the unit and is cooled by space pac.

Is this a dream unit for those looking for pre-war elegance without the bigger building?

Pearce Lashmett at Koenig & Strey has the listing. It is agent owned. See the pictures here.

Unit #4W: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in August 1991 for $305,000
• Sold in June 1994 for $320,000
• Sold in August 2005 for $518,500
• Currently listed for $799,900 (parking included)
• Assessments of $681 a month (includes cable and heat)
• Taxes of $7089
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Space pac
• Bedroom #1: 17×12
• Bedroom #2: 16×13
• Bedroom #3: 8×12
• Living room: 24×16
• Dining room: 16×13
• Kitchen: 15×10
• Foyer: 10×8

We’ve chattered several times about these large 3-bedroom newer construction duplex down units, like this one at 914 W. Wrightwood in Lincoln Park, that sprang up on the north side in the last ten years.

They are not townhomes but give you the space of one and are priced less than single family homes in the same neighborhoods.

This duplex down unit has been on the market since May and has now been reduced by $125,000.

It is also listed for $65,100 under the 2007 purchase price.

The unit has cherry cabinets in the kitchen with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. The bathrooms are marble and limestone.

It has a large 26×18 family room on the lower level along with two of the three bedrooms.

Is this a deal at this price for the space and the location?

Elizabeth Ballis at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See more pictures here.

Unit #1: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, duplex down, 1 car parking

• Sold in September 2001 for $577,000
• Sold in July 2007 for $690,000
• Originally listed in May 2009 for $749,900
• Reduced several times
• Currently listed for $624,900
• Assessments of $190 a month
• Taxes of $7716
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 14×14 (main level)
• Bedroom #2: 12×10 (lower level)
• Bedroom #3: 12×10 (lower level)
• Living room: 14×11
• Kitchen: 14×8
• Dining room: 13×11
• Family room: 26×18

I don’t cover many rental units, but I couldn’t resist this penthouse unit at 215 E. Chestnut in the Gold Coast.

They just don’t build them like this anymore.

This 1920s top floor vintage unit in this apartment building has vaulted wood beamed ceilings, a stone fire place and arched door ways.

Those are french doors going out to the private terrace with gas grill.

The kitchen and baths have been renovated to today’s standards with marble and stone. There is also an in-unit washer/dryer and parking.

Keller Williams Gold Coast has the rental listing. See the pictures here.

#PH: 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, 3900 square feet, duplex

• Currently listed for $9,000 a month (heat and air included)
• Parking included
• Hardwood floors
• In-unit washer/dryer
• Bedroom #1: 17×17
• Bedroom #2: 9×14
• Bedroom #3: 9×14 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 9×14 (second floor)

When the Vetro had its auction in February 2009, we chattered about possible better deals in 1255 S. State, or Vision on State, a new construction building that started closings in 2007.

Now we’ve had the auction in 1400 S. Michigan. But the short sales also continue in 1255 S. State.

It appears that the 1-bedrooms priced under $200,000 in short sale, with parking included, are selling. Several recently went under contract.

But there are also some two bedroom units, with the parking included, that appear to be available for the price of a 1-bedroom at 1400 S. Michigan.

According to the listing, this 2-bedroom has an upgraded kitchen with stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops. It also has central air and a washer/dryer in the unit.

Is 1255 S. State the best deal in the south loop?

Mark Ahmad at Coldwell Banker Leader Realty has the listing.  See the pictures here.

Unit #1117: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, 945 square feet, west facing

• Sold in April 2008 for $438,000
• Short Sale
• Originally listed in January 2009 for $279,000 (parking included)
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $239,000 (parking included)
• Assessments of $519 a month (includes water, doorman) – listing says it will pay assessments until April 2010
• Taxes are “new”
• Bedroom #1: 13×11
• Bedroom #2: 11×11
• Living room: 15×10
• Kitchen: 10×7

This 1-bedroom modern unit at 340 W. Diversey in Lakeview is the result of a 6-month down to the studs complete renovation that took it into the new century.

The unit was formerly a two bedroom but now is a spacious one bedroom with a huge 20×34 living/dining space.

There are no traditional cherry cabinets here. The kitchen has european flair with Scavolini cabinets, and Bosch, Liebherr and Grohe finishes.

The two bathrooms have also been updated.

While the unit has central air, it doesn’t have a washer/dryer in the unit (it’s not allowed by the building.) Parking is also rental in the building.

Vik Wadhwa at Modern Chicago Homes has the listing. (It is agent owned.) See more pictures here.

Unit #2018: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in August 1993 for $167,250
• Sold in July 2005 for $260,000
• Currently listed for $379,900
• Assessments of $727 a month (includes heat, a/c, cable, doorman, pool)
• Taxes of $3547
• Central Air
• No in-unit washer/dryer
• Rental parking
• Bedroom: 14×11
• Living/dining: 20×34
• Kitchen: 12×10