Crib Chatter

This 2-bedroom condo at 6441 N. Bell in West Rogers Park is big on space and vintage features but small on price.

It has crown molding, a large formal dining room and french doors. But it also has an updated kitchen, in-unit washer/dryer and a parking space.

The unit is a rare 1920s-era condo that has outdoor space, with a 10×11 deck.

Jenifer McCartney at Rubloff has the listing. See more pictures and a virtual tour here.

See the property website here.

Unit #2N: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, 1600 square feet, 1 car parking

• Sold in March 1989 for $32,500
• Sold in October 1991 for $53,000
• Sold in July 1993 for $64,500
• Sold in May 1997 for $85,000
• Sold in February 2000 for $143,000
• Originally listed in August 2008 for $229,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $218,900
• Assessments of $353 a month
• Taxes of $1257
• No central air- window units
• In-unit washer/dryer
• Listing says a second bathroom can be plumbed

Want some space and your own private top floor terrace in the West Loop?

This 3-bedroom bank owned penthouse unit just came on the market at 933 W. Van Buren and has already been reduced by $11,000.

From the pictures, it appears to have the kitchen cabinets and bathrooms still intact. The appliances are missing in the kitchen, however.

It has a south exposure, hardwood floors and a fireplace. Two heated parking spaces are apparently included with the price.

Is this a steal?

Two other penthouses on the same floor are also currently on the market.

1. Unit #903: 2100 square foot, 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2 car parking for $600,000 plus $50,000 for parking.  See the pictures here.
2. Unit #918: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 3 car parking for $549,900 plus $30,000 for tandem parking spot and $25,000 for extra wide spot. See the pictures here.

John Forsythe at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #912: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 1800 square feet, 2 car parking

• Sold in July 2003 for $620,000
• Lis pendens in June 2008
• Lis pendens in July 2008
• Bank owned in June 2009
• Originally listed in August 2009 for $418,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $407,900
• Assessments of $812 a month (includes the assessments for the two parking spaces)
• Taxes of $7338
• Central Air

This 2-bedroom unit at 2151 N. Southport in Lincoln Park has what many condo owners covet: its own rooftop deck.

The unit also has 4 skylights, south and west exposures, and a wood burning fireplace. It has central air and an in-unit washer/dryer. The only thing it appears to be missing is deeded parking.

It’s listed just $5,000 over the 2002 purchase price.

Is this a deal?

Stephanie Cutter at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See pictures of the big rooftop deck here.

2151 N. Southport: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, no square footage listed

• Sold in April 1996 for $164,500
• Sold in June 2000 for $243,000
• Sold in December 2002 for $316,000
• Currently listed for $325,000
• Assessments of $360 a month
• Taxes of $3163
• Central Air
• In-Unit Washer/Dryer
• No Parking
• Deck: 17×15
• Bedroom #1: 14×11
• Bedroom #2: 11×10
• Living room: 28×12
• Kitchen: 12×9

There are a lot of 1920s-era homes in the Indian Boundary Park neighborhood of West Ridge on the north side, including this 3-bedroom one at 2601 W. Coyle.

It has full length windows with juliette balconies and a vintage wood burning fireplace in the living room.

The kitchen has been remodeled and it has a lower level family room.

The house has also been reduced $100,000 since it’s April 2009 original listing.

Mary Ann Dooley at Coldwell Banker has the listing. See more pictures here.

2601 W. Coyle: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, no square footage listed, 2 car garage

• Sold in September 1988 for $200,000
• Sold in April 2000 for $351,000
• Originally listed in April 2009 for $575,000
• Reduced several times
• Currently listed for $475,000
• Taxes of $7344
• No central air- window units
• Bedroom #1: 21×12
• Bedroom #2: 14×10
• Bedroom #3: 14×10

CS Magazine’s August issue is all about real estate. It lists 5 of the hot neighborhoods of the moment and one of the five is Old Irving Park.

This 3-bedroom brick Victorian at 3656 N. Tripp is among the more affordable options in the neighborhood.

Built in 1903, it is actually a brick home with all three bedrooms on the second floor. It has a separate dining room, a woodburning fireplace and a full, finished basement.

The kitchen is updated and has stainless steel appliances.

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

Irene Yungerman at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here.

3656 N. Tripp: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 1700 square feet, 2 car garage

• Sold in May 1989 for $170,000
• Sold in May 1999 for $273,000
• Originally listed in June 2009 for $499,000
• Currently still listed at $499,000
• Taxes of $6378
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 15×13
• Bedroom #2: 13×12
• Bedroom #3: 13×11

This bank-owned 7-bedroom vintage brick mansion at 5438 S. Hyde Park Boulevard in Hyde Park has been on the market a month and is listed at 50% off its 2006 purchase price.

The listing says it retains many of its vintage features (but there are no interior pictures listed).

Built in 1902, the listing says it has a newer 2.5 car garage. However, it also has water, and now, mold damage.

Will this piece of history be saved?

Bev Labuda at Re/Max Team 2000 has the listing. See the picture of the front of the house here.

5438 S. Hyde Park Boulevard: 7 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, no square footage listed, 2.5 car garage

• Sold in 1987 (no price listed)
• Sold in August 2002 for $647,000
• Sold in December 2006 for $1.1 million
• Lis pendens in August 2008
• Bank owned as of July 2009
• Originally listed in July 2009 for $550,000
• Currently still listed for $550,000
• Taxes of $11,200
• Space pac cooling system
• 2 wood burning fireplaces

The No. 10 Lofts at 1040 W. Adams was among the last of the authentic loft conversions in the West Loop. Converted from a warehouse in 2006, the 259 units have exposed brick and timber ceilings.

This 2-bedroom unit is currently on the market. It has all the bells and whistles including central air, in-unit washer/dryer, stainless steel appliances and granite countertops.

Parking is also available for sale in the building.

Lori Wyatt at Dwell One Realty has the listing. See more pictures here.

Unit #269: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1300 square feet

• Sold in August 2006 for $369,000
• Originally listed in June 2009 for $395,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $384,900 (plus $25,000 for parking)
• Assessments of $495 a month
• Taxes of $4917

While sales rose year over year for the state and the 9-county Chicagoland region in July, according to the Illinois Association of Realtors, Chicago still saw a 11.3% sales decline and the median price fell 18.3% year over year.

More interestingly, sales also fell month to month, declining 0.4% from June into July.

From the IAR:

In the city of Chicago, July total home sales (single-family and condominiums) were down 0.4 percent to 1,975 sales compared to June 2009 sales of 1,982; sales were down 11.3 percent from 2,226 homes sold in July 2008.

The city of Chicago median price increased 1.1 percent to $245,000 in July 2009 compared to $242,275 in June 2009; it was down 18.3 percent from $299,999 a year ago in July 2008.

“Chicago continues to show a leveling of the marketplace as we see distressed properties being absorbed. With that said, we are a long way from seeing a stable real estate market in Chicago, and we face challenges surrounding lending that do not take into account real local market conditions,” said David Hanna, president of the Chicago Association of REALTORS®. “Policy changes are still needed before Chicago can have a healthy real estate market, and a full economic recovery.”

Sales continue to be slow for homes over the conforming loan rates and those needing jumbo loans, where credit is tighter.

“There appears to be increasing evidence that the housing market is segmenting—by price and location—generating significant heterogeneity in performance. Thus, the housing market is not only varying in performance across metropolitan areas but there is almost more variation within each of the metropolitan areas,” said Dr. Geoffrey J.D. Hewings, director of the Regional Economics Applications Laboratory (REAL) of the University of Illinois. “It appears that there are more problems at the high and low ends of the market but there is evidence that distressed sales—through foreclosure and short sales—decreased in May and June to the 31 to 33 percent range of total sales from a high close to 50 percent during the first part of the year.”

Adds Hewings: “Once again, while sales have exhibited a rebound, there has been no rebound in prices—a phenomenon observed nationally and not just confined to Illinois and Chicago.”

July Illinois Home Sales Show Solid Activity, Sales Totals Nearly Even with a Year Ago; Sixth Monthly Increase [Press Release, Illinois Association of Realtors, Aug 21, 2009]

We last chattered about this 2-bedroom new construction loft at 833 W. 15th in University Village in April 2009.

See our prior chatter and pictures here.

It is still available and has been reduced $5100.

Built in 2005, the unit has all the bells and whistles including a kitchen with 42 inch cabinets, granite countertops and stainless appliances. The master bathroom has a separate jacuzzi tub.

The unit faces north, with unobstructed views of the downtown skyline.

Michelle Liffick at Dreamtown Realty still has the listing. See more pictures here.

Unit #602: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1181 square feet

• Sold in February 2005 for $347,000 (included the parking) 
• Was listed in April 2009 for $325,000 (parking is $30,000 extra)
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $319,900 (parking is still $30,000 extra)
• Assessments of $408 a month
• Taxes of $4397
• Fireplace
• In-unit Washer/Dryer
• Central Air
• Bedroom #1: 11×14
• Bedrooms #2: 11×10

Some buildings are simply unique.

Among those would include this 1923 Andrew Rebori building at 40 and 50 W. Schiller in the Gold Coast.

We last chattered about this completely renovated 2-bedroom duplex, Unit #D2, in May 2009.

See our prior chatter and pictures here.

It has since been reduced by $26,000.

The kitchen and bathrooms were renovated and the the original limestone woodburning fireplace in the living room was restored.

The co-op allows 70% financing. There is no parking with the building. It is leased nearby.

Pam Lynch at Jameson still has the listing. See more pictures and a virtual tour here (the virtual tour has 30 pictures of the property.)

Unit #D2: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1400 square feet, duplex

• I couldn’t find an original sales price but it last sold 3 years ago and then was renovated
• Originally listed in December 2008 for $775,000
• Reduced
• Was listed in May 2009 for $725,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $699,000
• Assessments of $1860 a month (includes the taxes)
• Taxes of $5937
• Space Pac
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Leased parking nearby
• 70% financing allowed
• Bedroom #1: 14×11
• Bedroom #2: 10×10