Crib Chatter

This 6-bedroom 2-flat at 1529 W. Roscoe in Southport came on the market in August, just 14 months after it was previously purchased.

It is an 1887 Victorian and each unit has 3 bedrooms, 1 bath. There’s a 2 car garage.

The first floor unit has refinished hard wood floors and stainless steel appliances. The listing says you could duplex down into the basement.

There is no central air, but there are 2 washer/dryers in the basement.

The first floor unit appears to be rented for $1400 a month. The listing says “rents could be higher.”

Does this make sense for an investor?

Paul Thompson at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here.

1529 W. Roscoe: 6 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 car garage

• Sold in June 2008 for $550,000
• Originally listed in August 2009 for $595,900
• Reduced numerous times
• Currently listed for $519,000
• Taxes of $8986

Multiple offers haven’t gone away, there are just fewer of them.

This 4-bedroom brick house at 1322 N. Oakley in Wicker Park went under contract within 6 days with multiple offers.

The house, built in 1893, appears to have all the bells and whistles including a two car garage and central air.

It also has not only a backyard but a huge rooftop deck, so you can enjoy two outdoor spaces.

The kitchen has the usual granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances and maple cabinets. Three of the bedrooms are on the second level.

The home is also selling over its 2005 purchase price.

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

See the property website here.

1322 N. Oakley: 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 2 car garage, no square footage listed

• Sold in May 1994 for $105,000
• Sold in March 1996 for $234,500
• Sold in May 2000 for $100,000 (?)
• Sold in October 2001 for $460,000
• Sold in July 2005 for $650,000
• Originally listed in September 2009 for $699,000
• Increased
• Currently listed for $719,000
• Under contract in 6 days
• Taxes of $7057
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 19×12
• Bedroom #2: 16×10
• Bedroom #3: 11×10
• Bedroom #4: 15×11 (lower level)

This custom built 5-bedroom home at 2015 W. Fletcher in Roscoe Village is being sold “as-is.”

It’s also been on and off the market since 2006 and, during that time, has been reduced by over $460,000.

The house has a two-story living room, skylights, and a kitchen with maple cabinets and stainless steel appliances.  It also has 4 fireplaces to take away the chill of those cold Chicago winters.

The house has central air and a 2.5 car garage.

Is this a steal at this price?

David Piche at Re/Max Signature has the listing. See the pictures here.

2015 W. Fletcher: 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 4000 square feet, 2.5 car garage

• Sold in February 1999 for $135,000
• Originally listed in May 2006 for $1.2 million
• Cancelled
• Re-listed in September 2007 for $1.175 million
• Cancelled
• Re-listed in June 2008 for $1,099,900
• Cancelled
• Re-listed in March 2009 for $1,049,900
• Cancelled
• Re-listed in June 2009 for $772,900
• Under contract
• Re-listed at $756,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $737,900
• Taxes of $12,735
• Central Air 
• Sold “as-is”
• Must be pre-qualified by B of A

The listing for this 1892 Victorian at 5413 S. Dorchester in Hyde Park says it is owned by a preservation architect.

It sounds like the house has been nearly completely renovated in the last decade including new copper plumbing, a new furnace and central air.

The woodwork on the first floor was restored and a second bath added to the second  floor.

New cedar siding and trim was also apparently installed on the back addition to the house. The property was recently repainted.

It also has two vintage fireplaces, including one in the master bedroom.

The only thing that seems to be missing is parking.

Is that a deal breaker at this price?

John Wyman at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See the pictures and a virtual tour here.

5413 S. Dorchester: 5 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 half baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in June 1988 for $152,000
• Sold in June 1991 for $220,000
• Sold in May 2000 for $344,000
• Currently listed for $599,900
• Taxes of $7515
• Central Air
• No parking

This newer 2-bedroom condo at 1601 S. State in the South Loop is bank owned.

It has also been reduced by $20,100 from its original list price in July.

It has hard wood floors, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances in the kitchen. It also has in-unit laundry and central air.

The only thing it is missing is parking. There is no space allocated to this unit.

The listing also says the unit faces the El tracks.

There have been several other bank-owned sales in the building recently.

Unit #5H, in the same tier 2/2 but it had a parking space, recently closed in early September for $267,500.

Is this an attractive price for the square footage in this location?

Colin Hebson and George Furla at Koenig & Strey have the listing. See more pictures here.

Unit #3H: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1250 square feet

• Sold in September 2005 but I couldn’t find a sales price
• Lis pendens foreclosure in February 2009
• Listed in July 2009 for $259,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $239,000
• Assessments of $315 a month
• Taxes of $4115
• No parking with the unit
• In-unit washer/dryer
• Central Air

This 1958 Cape Cod at 1249 W. Lill in Lincoln Park has been on the the market since early August.

It has recently been reduced and is now listed $130,000 under the listing price.

The listing calls it an “incredible value” for someone to rehab or build new. It also has a separate listing just for the land.

The house is on a corner lot which is approximately 40×70.

Is this a deal for the lot?

Yehuda Cohen at Dream Town Realty has the listing. See the pictures here.

1249 W. Lill: 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, 1118 square feet, no garage

• I couldn’t find an original sales price (sometime before the 1980s)
• Originally listed in August 2009 for $629,000
• Reduced several times
• Currently listed at $499,000
• Taxes of $1,207
• Bedroom #1: 10×10
• Bedroom #2: 10×10
• Bedroom #3: 10×11

Someone commented that we haven’t chattered much about The Regatta, at 420 E. Waterside, in Lakeshore East, so I will wrap up the recent chatters we’ve been having about Lakeshore East with this building (until Aqua flips pick up steam,  that is.)

Unit #2701, a 1546-square foot 2 bedroom, is the cheapest 2-bedroom for sale in the building (another 2/2 priced less is under contract.)

It has a split floor plan and views of the lake and Navy Pier.

The listing also says it has hardwood floors, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances in the kitchen.

The unit is now listed $67,500 under its 2007 purchase price. The listing says “motivated seller says sell!”

Is this unit a deal at this price?

Robin Depeder at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #2701: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1546 square feet

• Sold in January 2007 for $616,500 (looks like parking was included)
• Listed in July 2009 for $584,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $549,000 (parking included)
• Assessments of $553 a month (includes cable, pool, heat, AC)
• Taxes of $4457
• Bedroom #1: 14×11
• Bedroom #2: 12×11

This 3-bedroom townhouse at 1742 N. Winnebago in Bucktown has more square footage than most single family homes at a similar price point in the neighborhood.

Built in the mid-1990s, it also has the open concept floorplan that is missing in most of the vintage homes nearby.

At 2934 square feet, the townhouse has 11-foot ceilings, stainless steel appliances and granite countertops in the kitchen and a large family room with custom cherry built-ins.

It also has all 3 bedrooms on the same level and a 2-car garage.

As an added bonus, for those summer months, the townhouse has a roofdeck with built-in bar.

Is this townhouse a good alternative to the Bucktown single family home?

Robert John Anderson at Baird & Warner has the listing. See more pictures here.

Unit #B: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2 car garage, 2934 square feet

• Sold in November 1996 for $304,500
• Sold in April 2004 for $542,500
• Sold in January 2006 for $611,500
• Sold in April 2007 for $662,000
• Originally listed in August 2009 for $649,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $635,000
• Assessments of $55 a month
• Taxes of $7,040
• Central Air

Two years ago, in the first month of Crib Chatter, we chattered about a large 1-bedroom unit in the Benjamin Marshall classic building at 1550 N. State Parkway in the Gold Coast that was asking over half a million dollars.

See our prior chatter and pictures here.

The unit finally sold after 9 months on the market for $10,000 under its September list price.

It’s back on the market again, just 14 months after the prior sale.

This time they’re asking $160,000 over the 2008 purchase price.

The listing says there has been a “total renovation sparing no expense.”

The unit still has no deeded parking nor in-unit washer/dryer.  It does have vintage charm and a stellar location near Lincoln Park, Old Town and the beach.

Victoria Amoroso at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #504: 1 bedroom, 1 baths, 1100 square feet

• Sold in May 1989 for $100,000
• Sold in February 2006 for $255,000
• Sold in February 2007 for $490,000
• Listed in September 2007 for $525,000
• Sold in May 2008 for $515,000
• Currently listed for $675,000
• Assessments of $1084 a month (includes heat, gas, cable, doorman)
• Taxes of $3621
• No parking
• No in-unit washer/dryer
• Central Air
• Bedroom: 13×13

Looking for something unique?

Not much tops this 1898 built 3-bedroom barn at 4309 N. Bell in Lincoln Square.  Yes, it truly is a barn.

It has a stone fireplace, wood beams and lots of charm. It also has modern amenities such as central air.

What it is missing, however, is a parking space.

The listing says it’s a townhouse alternative. Is it?

Susan Romano at Real Estate Solutions, Inc. has the listing. See the pictures here.

4309 N. Bell: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1500 square feet

• Sold in December 1990 for $77,000
• Sold in July 1996 for $105,000
• Sold in April 2002 for $220,000
• Originally listed in February 2009 for $644,900
• Reduced several times
• Lis pendens filed in June 2009
• Reduced in July 2009 to $469,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $429,000
• Taxes of $4288
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 14×12
• Bedroom #2: 14×10
• Bedroom #3: 9×9