Remember the bank-owned duplex penthouse unit in The Caravel, at 635 N. Dearborn, in River North?
We had a discussion of what it would take to bring it back to life and whether or not it was a deal back in April 2009.
See the prior chatter about the unit here (sorry- no pictures included- you’ll have to use your memories and the comments as a reminder about the condition of the property).
7 months later, the unit has finally sold for $88,900 under the original April 2009 listing price.
The 2-story unit had a 500-square foot private sun deck.
Robert Shutay at Realty Executives Ambassador had the listing.
Unit #2804: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2300 square feet
- Sold in January 2005 for $850,000
- Bank-owned
- Was listed in April 2009 for $713,900 (looked like one parking space was included)
- Reduced to $688,900
- Sold in October 2009 for $625,000
- Assessments of $1695 a month
- Taxes of $13,000
- Den is 29×12
October 16th, 2009 | Posted in River North | 9 Comments
This 2-bedroom unit at 323 W. Schiller in Old Town has been on the market since June 2009.
It’s a short sale and has now been reduced $60,000.
It is listed $83,500 under the 2005 purchase price and also listed under the 2003 purchase price.
The unit has hardwood floors throughout, granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances in the kitchen, and a balcony off the master bedroom.
Is this a deal at this price for Old Town?
Sharon O’Hara at @Properties has the listing. See more pictures here.
Unit #2E: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1450 square feet, covered parking for two cars included
- Sold in January 1996 for $174,000
- Sold in November 1998 for $231,500
- Sold in February 2000 for $271,000
- Sold in June 2001 for $298,000
- Sold in July 2003 for $324,500
- Sold in October 2005 for $392,500
- Originally listed in June 2009 for $369,000
- Reduced twice
- “Short sale”
- Currently listed for $309,000
- Assessments of $100 a month
- Taxes of $3260
- Central Air
- Full-sized washer/dryer
- Bedroom #1: 20×17
- Bedroom #2: 11×10
October 16th, 2009 | Posted in Old Town, Short Sales | 56 Comments
We’ve chattered about this 3-bedroom vintage unit at 3400 N. Lake Shore Drive twice in the last year.
See our last chatter in May 2008 here.
Since October 2008, it has been reduced by $102,000. It is now listed just $9,000 over its 2006 purchase price.
If you recall, this unit is unique because it once was the former lobby of the building so the woodwork is ornate. The 13-foot ceilings are beamed and arched and it has a majestic living room fireplace.
The unit also has the trifecta of central air, an in-unit washer/dryer and deeded parking. It’s somewhat rare to have all three of those features in one of the big pre-war buildings.
The kitchen has been renovated and has stainless steel appliances and granite counter tops.
Will this unit finally find some interested buyers at this reduced price?
Brad Lippitz at Prudential Rubloff now has the listing. See the pictures here.
See the property website here.
Unit #GB: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2000 square feet
- Sold in March 1999 for $302,000
- Sold in May 2001 for $459,000
- Sold in September 2006 for $585,000
- Was listed in October 2008 for $696,000 (parking included)
- Reduced
- Was listed in May 2009 at $629,000 (parking included)
- Reduced
- Currently listed at $594,000 (parking included)
- Assessments of $1433 a month (includes heat, water, doorman, cable)
- Taxes of $11,116
- Central Air
- Laundry in the unit
October 16th, 2009 | Posted in Lakeview | 8 Comments
235 W. Van Buren started closings at the beginning of June 2009. The new loop high rise near the Willis Tower has about 714 units.
The developer currently has 14 model homes available for viewing because of the numerous floorplans.
According to public records the current building stats are (out of 714 units):
- 136 units closed (through Sep 24)
- 13 currently on the MLS for sale
- 19 for rent
Some units may be both for rent AND for sale. Also, the developer is not listing all available units, obviously, on the MLS.
This 1-bedroom came back on the market nearly immediately after closing in June 2009. It has been reduced twice since then.
The unit has the signature concrete ceilings and walls of CMK developments. The kitchen has cherry cabinets and stainless steel appliances. There’s no kitchen island.
Erin Wolkowitz Swinson at Quest Realty Group has the listing. See the pictures here.
Unit #1510: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, no square footage listed (but Unit#1410 is listed at 828 square feet)
- Sold in June 2009 for $252,500 (I don’t know if this included parking, but I’m assuming it did)
- Originally listed for $264,900 in June 2009 (parking extra)
- Reduced twice
- Currently listed for $249,900 (parking $30,900 extra)
- Assessments of $257 a month (includes water, gas, heat, AC, doorman)
- Taxes are “new”
- Bedroom: 11×10
- Living room: 14×12
- Kitchen: 9×10
- Unit #1410 is available for rent for $1275 a month (parking extra) and has been on the market since July 2009. It was just reduced.
October 15th, 2009 | Posted in Flips, Loop | 175 Comments
Want a townhouse but don’t want a plain square box?
This 2 bedroom townhouse at 1757 W. Sunnyside in Ravenswood has unique features as it looks like it was built in an existing industrial building when originally converted in 1995.
The 4-story unit has a two car garage and a family room on the first floor.
The second floor has unique windows across the length of the unit lining the floor as well as a contemporary staircase and vaulted ceilings.
The master bathroom has been renovated with a new jacuzzi tub and spa shower.
The loft space on the fourth floor leads to a 1000 square foot private deck with city views.
Liz Whatley at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See more pictures and a virtual tour here.
See the interactive floorplan with all the levels here.
Unit #A: 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 1362 square feet
- Sold in July 2000 for $380,000
- Sold in July 2005 for $480,000
- Was listed in June 2009 for $649,900
- Reduced several times
- Currently listed at $599,900
- Assessments of $50 a month
- Taxes of $6552
- Large private rooftop deck
- Central Air
- 2 car parking
- Bedroom #1: 16×12
- Bedroom #2: 14×11
- Living room: 19×12
- Dining room: 15×9
- Family room: 14×14
- Kitchen: 15×9
- Loft: 9×9
October 15th, 2009 | Posted in Ravenswood | 45 Comments
This 3-bedroom unit at 200 N. Dearborn in the Loop was originally two units that were combined into one big 1800 square foot unit.
Although the building was built in 1989, and was apartments until recently, you might not know it when you’re inside this home.
Forget the standard cherry cabinets and granite counter tops. The kitchen is completely custom to look like antique furniture.
The floors are antique wide plank red oak. The 3 bathrooms have unique marble and glass tile.
The unit has also been reduced by $601,000 since August.
And the listing says the seller is “motivated.”
Is this now a deal for this original home?
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
- Currently listed for $649,000
- 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
October 15th, 2009 | Posted in Loop | 27 Comments
We last chattered about this renovated 1-bedroom unit in the Mies Van Der Rohe designed 880 N. Lake Shore Drive two years ago- in October 2007.
See the pictures in our October 2007 chatter here.
Back then, it was just about to be featured on HGTV’s “Small Space, Big Style”.
The unit has Brazilian slate floors throughout and a renovated kitchen and bathroom in keeping with the Mies style.
It has finally sold two years later for $47,500 under the October 2007 listing price.
880 N. Lake Shore Drive is one of the co-op buildings of the 4 Mies buildings on the Drive.
The unit does not have central air and there is no in-unit laundry. The building has valet garage parking available.
Unit #20G: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 785 square feet
- I don’t know the prior sales price
- Was listed in October 2007 for $285,000
- Reduced to $259,000
- Sold in October 2009 for $237,500
- Assessments were $572 a month in October 2007
- Current assessments of $916 a month (includes taxes, heat, electric and cable)
- Parking $250 a month extra
- Taxes of $1869
- No washer/dryer in the unit
- No central air- window units
October 14th, 2009 | Posted in Gold Coast | 21 Comments
Forget new construction. They really knew how to build them back in 1924 as they did with this elegant building at 739 W. Brompton in Lakeview.
An extra wide unit, at 28 feet, just came on the market. It has a full-sized dining room as well as a sunroom.
Yes, that is a wood burning fireplace, with antique mantle, in the living room.
The unit also has modern amenities, with central air, a washer/dryer in the unit, and a newer kitchen with stainless steel appliances and a breakfast bar.
Mary Ann Genellie at Prudential Rubloff has the listing. See more pictures and a virtual tour here.
See the property website here.
You can also see this property in person this weekend at the open house: Sunday Oct 18 from 12:00-2:00 pm.
Unit #2N: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed
- Sold in February 1989 for $178,000
- Sold in July 1995 for $194,500
- Sold in January 2000 for $315,000
- Currently listed for $437,700
- Assessments of $265 a month
- Taxes of $4684
- Central Air
- Washer/Dryer in Unit
- No Parking (leased in the neighborhood)
- Bedroom #1: 18×14
- Bedroom #2: 15×12
- Living room: 19×15
- Dining room: 19×12
- Kitchen: 14×13
- Sunroom: 16×8
October 14th, 2009 | Posted in Lakeview | 29 Comments
This hotel/condo unit just came on the market at Trump Tower, at 401 N. Wabash, in River North.
Unit #1714 is currently listed, according to the listing, at nearly 50% off its 2007 purchase price.
This listing says the seller paid “close to $800k in 2007. What a steal!”
It also states that “this investment will pay for itself. Income statements available.”
The sellers are, apparently, motivated because it says to “make us an offer!”
It is now the cheapest 1-bedroom hotel/condo unit available for purchase on the MLS.
Prior to its listing, that title belonged to Unit #2018 which boasted thait was the “least expensive hotel room in the building.”
There are no pictures of Unit #1714 yet on the MLS. So, I’m going to link you to pictures of Unit #2018 instead (both units are 604 square feet.)
See pictures of Unit #2018 here.
Are either one of these a “steal”?
Can you actually use these as an “investment?”
Unit #2018: hotel room, 604 square feet
- Sold in February 2008 for $664,000
- Originally listed in June 2009 for $469,700
- Reduced several times
- Currently listed for $439,770
- Assessments of $1100 a month (includes doormen, AC, cable, pool, master association fee)
- Taxes are “new”
- Andrew Glatz at Crown Heights Realty has the listing.
Unit #1714: hotel room, 604 square feet
- I couldn’t find the original sales price in the public records but the listing says it was “close to $800k in 2007“
- Currently listed for $398,999
- Assessments of $1099 a month (includes doorman, AC, cable, pool, master association fee)
- Taxes are “new”
- Katie Malone at Hansen Realty has the listing. See the listing here (no pictures yet.)
October 14th, 2009 | Posted in River North | 49 Comments
We had a heated chatter about this 4-bedroom single family home at 1354 W. Webster in Lincoln Park last June 2009 that evolved into a debate about the riskiness (or lack thereof) of ARMs.
See our prior chatter here.
The vintage house is still on the market and was just reduced $50,000.
This house appears to have it “all”- including central air, a garage, 3 of the bedrooms are located on the second floor, and a lush garden in the backyard that has been featured on the Sheffield Garden Walk.
Carol Duran at Prudential Rubloff has the listing. See the pictures and a virtual tour here.
See the property website here.
1354 W. Webster: 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, no square footage listed, 2 car garage
- Sold in August 1996 for $355,000
- Sold in June 1998 for $385,000
- Sold in May 2000 for $592,000
- Public records indicate it sold in 2003 but I can’t find a price
- Listed in April 2009 for $849,900
- Was still listed in June 2009 at $849,900
- Reduced
- Currently listed at $799,000
- Taxes of $9769
- Central Air
- Living room: 17×11
- Dining room: 11×10
- Office: 11×7
- Kitchen: 19×11
- Bedroom #1: 15×13
- Bedroom #2: 11×10
- Bedroom #3: 15×13
- Bedroom #4: 11×11
October 13th, 2009 | Posted in Lincoln Park | 40 Comments
