Crib Chatter

Have you dreamed of living a truly urban life by living above the local restaurant in the middle of nightlife, coffee shops and stores?

This 2-bedroom brick loft at 1529 N. Milwaukee in Wicker Park is just that.

This loft has 10 foot high ceilings, a slate master bathroom, and a nice private deck off the back of the unit.

Aaron Share at Koenig & Strey has the listing. See more pictures here.

Unit #3: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1525 square feet

• Sold in January 2005 for $475,580 (although CCRD says $438,000- which is apparently incorrect)
• Currently listed for $499,900 (parking included)
• Assessments of $210 a month
• Taxes of $6539
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Wine Fridge

Many of you will remember this 1905 renovated vintage building at 928 W. Eastwood in Uptown.  We’ve chattered about the foreclosures there several times.

See our November 2008 chatter and pictures here.

Last November, two of the first floor 3-bedroom units were bank-owned and selling for “only” $80,000 each.

Unit #1E sold in January 2009.

But it’s now back on the market for $159,000 more than the prior sale.

The listing says the unit was just rehabbed and now has a “beautiful kitchen” with stainless steel appliances and granite counters. It also now includes a parking space (it was unclear whether or not the bank-owned units also included parking.)

Does the interior rehab work justify the current price increase?

Aaron Taylor at Real Living Helios has the listing. See the interior pictures here.

Unit #1E: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, no square footage listed

• Sold in August 2006 for $260,000
• Bank-owned
• Was listed in November 2008 for $80,000
• Sold in January 2009 for $80,000
• Back on the market and now currently listed for $239,000
• Assessments are now $152 a month (were $200 in the prior listings)
• Taxes are “new”
• Central air
• Parking included

I was going to chatter about how this 1-bedroom at 323 W. Belden in Lincoln Park was listed for nearly $400,000 but before I could, it was quickly reduced by $60,000.

The 1000 square foot unit has only been on the market a little over a month.

The listing says it has a formal dining room and that the kitchen and baths have been renovated by Eva Quateman. The kitchen now has cherry cabinets, granite countertops and stainless steel appliances.

However, the unit does not have central air or parking.

What would you pay for a 1-bedroom in Lincoln Park?

Marlene Saint George at Baird and Warner has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #2: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, dining room, 1000 square feet

• Sold in August 1995 for $150,000
• Sold in March 2003 for $245,000
• Sold in September 2005 for $295,000
• Originally listed in February 2009 for $399,900
• Reduced in March 2009
• Currently listed for $340,000
• Assessments of $443 a month
• Taxes of $4117
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• No central air- window units
• No parking

Some of you have been chattering a lot lately about multi-unit buildings.

This 1898 greystone 2-flat at 5207 N. Magnolia in the historic Lakewood Balmoral District in Edgewater has good vintage bones. The building still has the original woodwork, leaded glass and built-ins.

The first floor unit is 2 bedrooms, 1 bath while the second floor is the owner’s unit with 3 bedrooms, 1 bath and duplexed up to a family room with private deck.

Each unit has separate central air.

There’s also a 2 car garage.

Pamela J. Ball at Baird and Warner has the listing.  See more pictures and a virtual tour here.

5207 N. Magnolia: 5 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 car garage

• Sold in December 2000 for $537,500
• Sold in June 2006 for $820,000
• Listed in October 2008 for $830,000
• Currently still listed at $830,000
• Taxes of $6784
• Central Air

We’ve chattered about this 3-bedroom vintage unit at 2910 N. Pine Grove in Lakeview several times before.

Since December 2008, it’s been reduced by $50,000.

It’s 2000 square feet, has a sunroom and a fireplace but doesn’t have central air or parking.

Pam Lynch at Jameson Real Estate still has the listing. See the listing and more pictures here.

Unit #2: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2000 square feet

• Sold in March 1995 for $210,000
• Sold in August 2003 for $376,000
• Was listed in December 2008 for $599,000
• Reduced
• Was listed in February 2009 for $574,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $549,000
• Assessments of $523 a month
• Taxes of $5,045
• No central air – window units
• Rental parking nearby

4015 N. Milwaukee, otherwise known as the historic Klee Building, was converted into loft condos in 2007. The building is at the intersection of Milwaukee and Irving Park on the edge of the Portage Park neighborhood.

This 2-bedroom unit has been on the market since October 2008 with no price reductions.

It has concrete beamed ceilings and some authentic brick features.

It appears that the developer has not yet completely sold out the building.

Current status of the building (out of 64 units):

• 6 for sale
• 0 for rent (on the MLS)

Nicholas Tufano at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #206: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, 989 square feet

• Sold in November 2007 for $219,500
• Originally listed in October 2008 for $229,900 (plus $7500 for parking)
• Currently listed for $229,900 (plus $7500 for parking)
• Assessments of $184 a month
• Taxes are “new”
• Central Air
• W/D

This 2-bedroom vintage unit at 2157 N. Seminary in Lincoln Park has had its kitchen and 1-bath renovated with top of the line appliances such as Miele and Ann Sacks tiles. According to the listing, even the working fireplace has Ann Sacks tiles.

It also has new floors and windows. However, there’s no central air or parking with the unit.

Diana Peterson at PMD Realty has the listing. See more pictures and a virtual tour here.

Or see it for yourself at the open house this Sunday, Apr 5 from 11:00 am – 1:30 pm.

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

• Sold in June 1990 for $154,000
• Sold in November 1992 for $235,500
• Sold in March 2004 for $270,000
• Originally listed in February 2009 for $424,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed for $409,000
• Assessments of $265 a month
• Taxes of $4152
• No Central Air
• Fireplace
• In-unit W/D
• No parking
• Living room: 17×12
• Dining room: 11×8
• Kitchen: 13×10
• Bedroom #1: 16×10
• Bedroom #2: 15×9

This 585 square foot studio unit at 330 W. Grand in River North just came on the market as a short sale.

The listing says it is a “good opportunity for an investor.”

Is it?

Nice studios rent fairly quickly in River North (if they’re priced “right.”)

Nicholas Katsafados at R.E.I.T. Homes has the listing. See the listing and one more picture here.

Unit #1305: studio, 585 square feet

• Sold in March 2006 for $194,500
• Currently listed in “short sale” for $129,000
• Assessments of $283 a month
• Taxes of $2020
• Central Air
• In-unit W/D
• No parking

We last chattered about this 2-bedroom condo at 2239.5 N. Lincoln in Lincoln Park in September 2008.

See our prior chatter and pictures here.

It’s now been on the market for a year and has been reduced $50,000.

The listing says the sellers are relocating, it is now an “unbelievable price” which is “well below market” and that “this is the deal of the century!”

This top-floor unit has 20 foot high cathedral ceilings. What it doesn’t have is parking.

Zoe Carne at Prudential Preferred has the listing. See the pictures and the virtual tour here.

Unit #3B: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, family room, no square footage listed

• Sold in June 2005 for $388,000
• Originally listed in March 2008 for $449,000
• Reduced several times
• Was listed in September 2008 at $420,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $399,000
• Assessments of $303 a month
• Taxes of $5,335
• No parking
• Central air
• Washer-dryer in the unit

We last chattered about this giant 5-bedroom American Four Square in Logan Square at 2048 N. Humboldt Boulevard in June 2008.

See our prior chatter and pictures here.

Built in 1921, it has a woodburning fireplace, stained glass, beamed ceilings and is on a large lot of 50×150.

It’s back on the market and has been reduced $300,999.

It has no central air and as you can see from the kitchen picture, it needs updating.

Is this now a deal at this price?

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

See the property website here.

See the floorplan here.

2048 N. Humboldt: 5 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 half baths, 2 car garage, 4200 square feet

• I couldn’t find a prior sales price
• Was listed in June 2008 for $1,099,999
• Withdrawn
• Back on the market and currently listed for $799,000
• Taxes of $6,069
• No central air- window units