Crib Chatter

This 2-bedroom at 2754 N. Hampden, a 1973 high-rise with lake views in Lincoln Park, is listed at $300,000.

The listing says it is “perfect for someone looking to implement their own decorating ideas.”

Do you have the vision to turn this corner 2-bedroom/2 bath unit into your dream home?

It doesn’t have central air or a washer/dryer in the unit- but the w/d is allowed.

Parking is also available for extra.

Bryan Eugenio at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See more pictures here.

Unit #1908: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed

• I couldn’t find any prior sales price going back to 1988
• Currently listed for $300,000 (parking is extra)
• Assessments of $444 a month (includes cable, pool, doorman)
• Taxes of $4500
• No central air
• No in-unit washer/dryer (but can be added)
• Bedroom #1: 14×13
• Bedroom #2: 11×11
• Living room: 18×15
• Dining room: 14×9
• Kitchen: 13×8

We’ve chattered about The Palmolive, at 159 E. Walton, several times in the past two years.

It is the ultra-luxury Gold Coast building where actor Vince Vaughn allegedly purchased a penthouse several years ago.

A 2-bedroom short sale came on the market three weeks ago and has already gone under contract.

According to the listing, it has custom designed mahogany and small lake views. It also has a custom kitchen.

It is listed in short sale just $107,000 under the 2006 purchase price.

Is this even much of a deal at this list price?

Current stats on the building:

• 14 units for sale out of 99 units 
• Last unit to sell in the building was in January 2009

Marie Cabrera at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #13B: 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 1867 square feet

• Sold in May 2006 for $1.307 million
• Originally listed in February 2007 for $1.8 million
• Reduced several times
• Withdrawn in October 2007 at $1.6 million
• Re-listed in March 2008 at $1.629 million
• Reduced
• Withdrawn in October 2008 at $1.55 million
• Short Sale and re-listed in August 2009 for $1.15 million (plus $50k for parking)
• Under contract
• Assessments of $1,347 a month
• Taxes of $10,000

Behind the exterior of  this 2004-construction brick single family home at 522 N. Ada in West Town lies something you don’t see very often in Chicago- a private indoor pool.

The house is on a 25×169 ft lot and has a pool, spa and a covered lanai.

The house also has a gourmet kitchen with breakfast room and the usual stainless steel appliances.

But it’s the pool that is really unique about this property.

Maria Thanasouras at Jameson has the listing. See the pictures here.

522 N. Ada: 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, no square footage listed, 2 car parking

• Sold in February 2001 for $265,000
• Built the current house in 2004
• Originally listed in July 2009 for $1.65 million
• Currently still listed for $1.65 million
• Taxes are $12,533

In June, we chattered about this 2-bedroom unit at 2002 N. Howe in Lincoln Park that had gone under contract in less than a month on the market.

See our prior chatter here.

It had all the bells and whistles including central air, in-unit washer/dryer and a parking spot. It also was in a prime location near the lake and the Armitage/Halsted shopping district.

The seller originally priced it to sell- bringing it to market under the 2006 purchase price.

It closed in July 2009 for $44,000 under the 2006 purchase price.

Did someone get a deal or is this the new pricing reality in Lincoln Park?

Eric Rojas at Rubloff had the listing. You can read his real estate blog here.

Unit #2N: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, plus den, no square footage listed

• Sold in May 1991 for $200,000
• Sold in September 1996 for $220,000
• Sold in August 2001 for $354,000
• Sold in May 2006 for $459,000
• Originally listed in May 2009 for $440,000 (parking included)
• Reduced
• Was listed in June 2009 for $434,900 (parking included)
• Sold in July 2009 for $415,000 (parking included)
• Assessments of $239 a month
• Taxes of $5443
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 13×11
• Bedroom #2: 11×9
• Den: 11×8
• Living room: 24×12
• Kitchen: 9×9

This 3-bedroom triplex loft at 2250 W. Ohio in West Town with its own private rooftop pool has a reputation as being among the coolest cribs in the city (a private rooftop pool with views tends to do that to a property.)

We last chattered about it in October 2008 when it came back on the market with a new kitchen. See our chatter here.

But after nearly two years (on and off the market) priced at $995,000 and a new kitchen and floors, it is still looking for a buyer.

It is now also available for rent.

The loft has 3 bedrooms all on one level as well as a spare lofted bedroom next to the penthouse family room. There is also three car parking (1 single space and a tandem spot) included.

And, of course, your own resistance pool.

Will this rent before it sells?

Jennifer Ames at Coldwell Banker still has the listing. See the pictures here.

See the property website here.

Unit #306: 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 3300 square feet, 3 car parking, triplex

• Sold in April 2005 for $760,000
• Was listed in November 2007 for $995,000
• Withdrawn from the market
• Was re-listed in October 2008 for $995,000 (with a new kitchen)
• Currently still listed for $995,000 (parking included)
• OR you can rent it for $4300 a month
• Assessments of $493 a month
• Taxes of $7,612
• Central Air
• Outdoor resistance pool with downtown views

Townhouses continue to be a popular single family home alternative in many neighborhoods such as this one at 1885 N. Maud in Lincoln Park.

With 3 bedrooms and its own garage, it is also a corner unit, so it affords a little more privacy than you might get with  some other townhouses.

It also has vaulted ceilings in the master bedroom. The third bedroom is lofted.

The townhouse is listed for $23,500 under the 2006 purchase price.

Randy McGhee at Koenig & Strey has the listing. See the pictures here.

1885 N. Maud: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed, 1 car attached garage

• Sold in March 1997 for $302,500
• Sold in October 2000 for $404,000
• Sold in August 2006 for $607,500
• Originally listed in May 2009 for $599,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $584,000
• Fee-simple
• Taxes of $6579
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 15×15
• Bedroom #2: 13×9
• Bedroom #3: 16×10 (lofted)
• Living room: 14×12
• Family room: 12×10 (second floor)
• Kitchen: 11×9
• Dining room: 10×12

This 3-bedroom stucco home at 2717 W. Windsor is one of the rare single family homes to come on the market near the Chicago River in Ravenswood Manor.

It is also just a few blocks from the Brown Line and a short stroll over to the shops in Lincoln Square.

The vintage home which was built in 1900 has hardwood floors throughout, beamed ceilings in the dining room, and 2 fireplaces.

The kitchen has been updated with granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances.

The listing says the attic is awaiting the buyer’s “finishing touches” and there is no central air conditioning.  It does, however, have a 2-car garage and professionally done landscaping.

Diana Duvall at Baird & Warner has the listing.  See all of the photos here.

2717 W. Windsor: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2 car garage, no square footage listed

• I couldn’t find an original sale price- same owner since 1986
• Currently listed for $699,900
• Taxes of $7445
• No central air
• Bedroom #1: 19×16
• Bedroom #2: 17×12
• Bedroom #3: 11×8
• Attic: 39×9

This 2-bedroom vintage unit at 747 W. Cornelia in East Lakeview just came on the market.

It is bank owned and listed $37,500 under the 2006 purchase price.

Looks like it was a 2006 conversion.

It has hardwood floors, a sunroom, and a porch.

The unit has all the bells and whistles you’d expect out of a recent conversion, including central air, in-unit washer/dryer and the granite counter tops in the kitchen (along with stainless steel appliances.)

The only thing that’s missing is parking.

Is this a deal for East Lakeview?

Anthony Hanas at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #S1: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, sunroom, no square footage listed

• Sold in April 2006 for $282,500
• Lis pendens in February 2008
• Bank owned in June 2009
• Listed in September 2009 for $245,000
• Assessment of $257 a month
• Taxes of $4062
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• No parking
• Bedroom #1: 16×10
• Bedroom #2: 14×10
• Living room: 15×13
• Kitchen: 14×8
• Sunroom: 8×8

This bank owned 2-bedroom unit at 2159 N. Stave in Logan Square is another property that needs some completion before you can move in.

The listing says the unit has been “brought to drywall.”

No HOA is in place for the building, which appears to be 2 units.

According to the listing, you also can’t obtain conventional lending in order to purchase the property. You’ll need all cash.

Will investors be jumping on this one?

Jim Murrin at Jameson has the listing. There are some interior pictures which can be seen here.

Unit #2: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1 car parking

• Sold in February 2007 for $325,000
• Bank owned
• Currently listed for $78,500
• No HOAs
• Taxes are “new”
• Central air
• Bedroom #1: 11×10
• Bedroom #2: 10×10
• Living room: 14×12
• Kitchen: 10×11

We’ve chattered about this Lincoln Park townhouse at 1616 N. Larrabee with the great outdoor patio several times.

Last June, it had been reduced a total of $80,000.

See our June chatter and pictures here.

But it’s still on the market and has recently been reduced another $29,000.

This is a fee simple townhouse so there are no assessments. The pretty backyard patio is huge- at 900 square feet.

It has hardwood floors throughout and a large 19×14 master bedroom.

Will a buyer finally step forward at this price?

Eileen Brennan at Prudential Preferred still has the listing. See more pictures and a virtual tour here.

1616 N. Larrabee: 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 1500 square feet

• Sold in June 1992 for $240,000
• Sold in October 1999 for $378,000
• Sold in April 2004 for $505,000
• Originally listed in September 2008 for $649,000
• Reduced several times
• Was listed in February 2009 at $609,000
• Reduced
• Was listed in April 2009 at $598,000
• Reduced
• Was listed in June 2009 for $569,000 
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $540,000
• No assessment – fee simple
• Taxes of $7,360
• 900 square foot patio
• 1 car garage
• Central Air