Crib Chatter

This 4-bedroom single family home at 1300 W. Roscoe in Southport recently came on the market as a short sale.

Two weeks later it was reduced $51,000 and is still available.

The house has mahogany hardwood floors, a renovated kitchen with cherry cabinets, granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances.

The listing says the master bedroom has its own private terrace.

The house has central air and a 2-car garage.

It is, however, on the El line.

The house is also still listed $189,000 over its 2004 purchase price.

Is this a deal at this price?

R. Matt Leutheuser at Sudler Sotheby’s has the listing. See more pictures here.

1300 W. Roscoe: 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 3600 square feet, 2 car garage

• Sold in May 1996 for $27,500
• Sold in August 2004 for $610,000
• Originally listed in September 2009 for $850,000 as a “short sale”
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $799,000 as a short sale
• Sold “as-is”
• Taxes of $10,047
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 24×21
• Bedroom #2: 12×11
• Bedroom #3: 12×11
• Bedroom #4: 12×11 (lower level)
• Family room: 20×10 (lower level)

This Beaux Arts building at 3314 N. Lake Shore Drive is unique on the Drive because it was built in 1916, not in the late 1920s like many nearby buildings,  and it has attention to detail rarely seen since.

It was the first shoreline high rise apartment building built north of North Avenue and it was built to house the rich.

According to “Chicago Apartments: A Century of Lakefront Luxury” when it opened, each story contained a single unit 18-room, 5 bath apartment that rented for about $10,000 a year. Residents included all the ritzy families of Chicago at the time, including those with the names of Spiegel, Ward, Peacock and Goldblatt.

Over the years, the units were reconfigured and when the building was sold to a new owner in 1951 for under $400,000 it contained 49 apartments. Since then, units have been reconfigured so that there are now 29.

The building was converted to condominiums in 1983.

This 3-bedroom top floor unit has 2 wood burning fireplaces, including one in the master bedroom. The listing says it has a 35 foot gallery with barrel vaulted ceilings.

The kitchen and two bathrooms have been renovated.

While the unit does not have a washer/dryer (it is one floor above the unit, apparently) it does have a rare deeded parking space. Not all units in the building have parking.

Stephen Bognar at Koenig & Strey has the listing. See more pictures here.

Unit #9C: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in February 2003 for $330,000
• Sold in June 2005 for $478,000
• Originally listed in July 2009 for $559,000 (parking $25,000 extra)
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $519,000 (parking $25,000 extra)
• Assessments of $1039 a month (includes heat, AC, cable)
• Taxes of $4312
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 13×13
• Bedroom #2: 12×11
• Bedroom #3: 11×10
• Gallery: 37×6

This West Ukranian Village church at 2558 W. Cortez is being used as a single family home.

Built in 1873, the red brick church has 4000 square feet.

The listing says it has the original hardwood floors.

It’s also on a double lot and has stainless steel appliances in the kitchen. I can’t tell if there’s parking or not from the listing.

The new buyer won’t have to fear about the cost of cooling the huge cathedral living room, as it doesn’t have central air.

The church is also listed as a commercial property. The listing says it is zoned RT4.

Bohdan Gorczynski at Koenig & Strey has the listing. See the pictures here.

2558 W. Cortez: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, 4000 square feet

• Sold in January 1994 for $172,500
• Originally listed in June 2009 for $970,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $890,000
• Taxes of $3166
• No central air
• Bedroom #1: 14×12
• Bedroom #2: 12×12
• Living room: 65×47
• Kitchen: 10×24

We’ve chattered about many church conversions over the past two years.

This 3-bedroom duplex at 2411 W. Walton in West Town just came on the market.

The church was converted into condos in 2008. This one has some authentic features including what looks to be a saved wood arched doorway.

It also has exposed brick and high ceilings.

The kitchen has all white modern cabinets and stainless steel appliances and the bathrooms have floor to ceiling marble with Grohe fixtures.

The listing doesn’t say anything about parking but the assessment appears to include parking so I can’t tell if a deeded space is included or if it is rented.

Susan Pope at Keller Williams Lincoln Park has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #1A: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in June 2008 for $555,500
• Currently listed for $600,000
• Assessments of $309 a month (includes parking)
• Taxes are “new”
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the Unit
• Bedroom #1: 15×13
• Bedroom #2: 11×10
• Bedroom #3: 18×9

While some search for the elusive “affordable” single family home in Lincoln Park, there is lovely housing stock further north from which to choose such as this 4-bedroom home at 1830 W. Oakdale in North Center.

The house has 3-bedrooms located on the top floor, with skylights, and one on the lower level, which is not considered a basement according to the listing. It also has the all-important 2 full-sized bathrooms.

The kitchen has stainless steel appliances, granite counter tops and 42 inch cabinets. There is also a built-in hutch.

If you need outdoor space, the house has a large deck and a nice garden out back.

The property is now listed $75,150 under the 2007 purchase price.

Gary Lucido at Lucid Realty has the listing. See more pictures here.

1830 W. Oakdale: 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, no square footage listed, 2 car garage

• Sold in April 1995 for $264,000
• Sold in April 1998 for $340,000
• Sold in May 2000 for $444,000
• Sold in February 2003 for $492,000
• Sold in July 2007 for $700,000
• Originally listed in March 2009 for $724,850
• Reduced several times
• Currently listed for $624,850
• Taxes of $7459
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 15×12
• Bedroom #2: 15×9
• Bedroom #3: 10×7
• Bedroom #4: 11×10 (lower level)

We’ve chattered about 2625 N. Clark in Lincoln Park twice before.

The first time was in March 2008 when short sales were beginning to pop up in the highrise conversion. The one bedrooms in short sale were listed in the mid to low-$200,000s back then.

See the March 2008 chatter and pictures of the units here.

The second time was in November 2008 when some of the short sales became bank owned.

See the November 2008 chatter here.

Now, it appears that more short sales and other distressed properties have come on the market and are pushing prices down even further.

The cheapest unit in the building right now is Unit #1802, a smaller 1 bedroom.

Unit #1802: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 650 square feet

• Sold in December 2005 for $270,500
• Lis pendens in December 2007
• Currently listed for $105,000 (listing doesn’t say short sale or bank owned)
• Assessments of $460 a month (includes cable and doorman)
• Taxes of $3924
• Central Air
• No parking
• Betsy Green  at Lincoln Park Homes has the listing. There are no interior pictures listed but you can see the listing here.

Unit #601 is an upgraded 1-bedroom (back in 2005 you could either have bought them as-is from the developer or bought the kitchen/bathroom upgrade package.) It is listed as a short sale/pre-foreclosure.

Unit #601: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 705 square feet

• Sold in August 2005 for $323,500
• Lis pendens filed in December 2007
• Currently listed as a “short sale” for $150,000 (includes one parking space)
• Assessments of $497 a month
• Taxes of $4405
• Listing says it is tenant occupied through May 2010 and that the lease will transfer
• Kelly Rizzo-Parker at Koenig & Strey has the listing. See some interior pictures here.

Are any of these low-priced units deals?

In November 2008, we chattered about Unit #1504 which was then bank owned.

It finally sold in June 2009 for $61,900 under the original list price from the bank.

Here’s its history:

Unit #1504: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, about 700 square feet

• Sold in August 2005 for $304,500
• Was listed in March 2008 for $234,900 (parking extra)
• Bank owned
• Was listed in November 2009 for $209,900
• Sold in June 2009 for $148,000 (looks like parking was included)
• Assessments of $414 a month
• No W/D in the unit

This 5-bedroom single family home at 830 W. Buena in Uptown is listed as a “contemporary estate.”

It is on nearly 3 lots which measure 92x126x59x120.

The house, designed in 1978 by architect Marcel Friedes is described as having “fortress-like construction.”

The listing admits it needs updating, but the home has a unique 2-story central atrium  (that you can see in the pictures.)

Brad Lippitz at Prudential Rubloff has the listing. See the pictures, virtual tour and floor plans here.

See the property website here.

830 W. Buena: 5 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, no square footage listed,  2 car garage

• Sold in December 1992 for $630,000
• Currently listed for $2.199 million
• Taxes of $18,627
• Central Air

Long before there was The Heritage, The Legacy or 340 On the Park there was 330 S. Michigan.

Among the first buildings converted into residential use on Michigan Avenue, this building is often forgotten by those who want to live near Millennium Park and Grant Park.

This 2-bedroom unit corner unit is priced under $300,000 (with the parking at $339,900).

But even with the parking included, that would make this 2-bedroom similar in price to many of the 1-bedroom units available in the area.

It has hardwood floors throughout, a recently rehabbed kitchen with maple cabinets, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances and updated bathrooms.

It is also listed for $94,100 under the 2008 purchase price.

Is this the best deal in the Millennium Park area?

Susan Dickman at Koenig & Strey has the listing. See more pictures here.

Unit #1813: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, corner unit, no square footage listed

• Sold in March 2000 for $291,000
• Sold in May 2008 for $434,000
• Originally listed in April 2009 for $360,000 (included the parking)
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $299,900 (parking is $40,000 extra)
• Assessments of $490 a month (includes cable and doorman)
• Taxes of $3746
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 15×12
• Bedroom #2: 11×10
• Living room: 10×17
• Kitchen: 14×11

6030 N. Sheridan is a highrise with 262 units in the Edgewater neighborhood along the lakefront.

At the height of the market, 1-bedrooms in the building were selling for up to $180,000. Now, with numerous of the units either in short sale and foreclosure, you can get one for 60% off that price. 

Current building stats (out of 262 units):

• 15 for sale
• 4 for rent

Some may be both for rent AND for sale.

Unit #805, a 1-bedroom, is currently the cheapest unit for sale in the building. It is a bank-owned unit with the kitchen still intact (at least according to the one picture.)

There is no central air, only window units. And no in-unit washer/dryer. There appears to be some parking with the building.

Sally Crachy at Applebrook Realty has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit#805: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, no square footage listed

• Sold in December 2002 for $134,500
• Lis pendens in July 2008
• Bank owned in July 2009
• Came on the market in late September 2009 at $57,900
• Assessments of $478 a month (includes cable and doorman)
• Taxes of $1594
• Bedroom: 11×15
• Living room: 16×17
• Kitchen: 10×6

Unit #1909, also a 1-bedroom, has been on the market since March and has been following the market down.

It has now been reduced by $50,200 and is still not selling.

Eva La Mantia at Grove Realtors has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #1909: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, no square footage listed

• Sold in December 2006 for $180,000
• Originally listed in March 2009 for $120,000
• Lis pendens filed in April 2009
• Reduced several times
• Was listed in June 2009 for $99,800
• Reduced
• Was listed in July 2009 for $90,000
• Reduced
• Was listed in August 2009 for $74,900
• Reduced
• Was listed in September 2009 for $69,800
• Assessments of $554 a month (includes cable and doorman)
• Taxes of $2140

Are any of these steals at these prices?

I’ve been getting a few inquiries about this new 9-unit building at 118 N. Halsted in the West Loop.

Anyone who drives down Halsted can’t miss the building, as it’s the only new construction building between the restaurants of Randolph Street and the Dominick’s on Washington.

There are several addresses associated with the building including 114 N. Halsted, 118 N. Halsted and 120 N. Halsted.

The listing says the unit has ebony hardwood flooring, viking and bosch appliances in the kitchen and imported porcelain and mosaic tile from Italy in the bathrooms.

The listing also says the building has “skyline views from every unit.”

You can read more about the building on YoChicago which wrote an update on it in December 2008.

Just by walking or driving by, it is clear there are no commercial tenants in the bottom floor commercial spaces.

How hard is it to sell these types of units in this market? The listing says that a special 5% down loan is available.

It appears that one unit out of nine has sold:

114 N. Halsted #4 for $630,000 in June 2009.

Renata Williamson at @Properties has the listings. See more pictures here.

118 N. Halsted Unit #4: 4 bedrooms, 3 baths,  1900 square feet, 1 car garage included

• Originally listed in March 2009 for $629,900
• Currently still listed at $629,900
• Assessments of $140 a month
• Taxes are “new”