Crib Chatter

This 3-bedroom penthouse at 1555 W. Pearson in the Noble Square neighborhood of West Town came on the market in July 2022.

Built in 2007, this building has 6 units with an elevator, attached garage parking, storage and a central shared courtyard with a fireplace.

This unit is a penthouse and has tall ceilings.

The main level has the living/dining combo and kitchen along with two bedrooms, one which is en suite.

All bedrooms have blackout shades.

The listing calls the kitchen a “chef’s dream.” It has a pantry, a giant island with waterfall edge, Subzero refrigerator, wine cooler, a Viking stove, and 2 Fisher & Paykel drawer dishwashers.

It has a marble fireplace and surround sound.

The second floor has the primary bedroom with an ensuite bath that has a Jacuzzi and a separate frameless glass steam shower and double vanity. It also has a walk-in-closet with custom shelving.

You can access a partially covered terrace from the primary bedroom.

The unit also has a massive private rooftop deck with an urban garden, firepit and 360 degree views.

Both patios have irrigation systems and flower gardens.

The unit has the features buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and one car garage with a Tesla charger is included. There is also extra storage just behind the parking spot.

The listing says the unit has “newer” AC and furnace.

Listed at $779,000, is this a townhouse alternative?

Dave Stanton at KW Elite has the listing. See the pictures here (sorry, no floor plan).

Or you can see it in person at the Open House on Saturday, July 16 from 11 AM to 3 PM.

Unit #F: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, penthouse duplex up, no square footage listed

• Sold in September 2007 for $647,000
• Sold in September 2014 for $660,000
• Currently listed at $779,000
• Assessments of $403 a month (includes security, exterior maintenance, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $15,058
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Garage parking with a Tesla charger included
• Fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 18×16 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 11×12 (first floor)
• Bedroom #3: 11×12 (first floor)
• Living/dining combo: 18×25 (first floor)
• Kitchen: 18×9 (first floor)
• Walk-in-closet: 8×4 (second floor)
• 2 private terraces including a rooftop deck

This 2-bedroom duplex up at 1712 N. Wood in Bucktown came on the market in May 2022.

This is a vintage building but I don’t have a year that it was built. It has 6 units on a bigger than standard lot as it has a “half lot side yard and garden.” There are some garages.

The building was converted to condos in 2001.

This duplex-up is on the third and fourth floors. Both floors have hardwood floors.

The main floor has an open concept living room, dining room and kitchen along with a half bath and balcony.

The kitchen has what look like wood cabinets, granite countertops, a breakfast bar and stainless steel appliances.

The second floor has both bedrooms and 2 full baths, with one of them en suite. There are also skylights in one of the bathrooms.

This unit has the features that buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit (not sure which floor it’s on) and garage parking is included.

The listing says it’s on a street with million dollar homes and is near the 606 and shops and restaurants of Bucktown.

Listed in May 2022 at $575,000 it was reduced to $540,000 and then went under contract in June 2022.

It has since come back on the market and is now listed at $515,000.

Is this now a deal in this popular neighborhood?

Sabine Rolnick at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

Unit #3E: 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, no square footage listed, duplex up

• Sold in August 2001 for $435,000
• Sold in June 2012 for $360,000
• Originally listed in May 2022 for $575,000
• Reduced to $540,000
• Under contract in June 2022
• Re-listed
• Currently listed at $515,000 
• Assessments of $354 a month (includes exterior maintenance)
• Taxes of $7632
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Garage parking included
• Bedroom #1: 15×18 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 10×20 (second floor)
• Living room: 17×24 (main floor)
• Dining room: 12×14 (main floor)
• Kitchen: 9×14 (main floor)
• Balcony (main floor)

This 2-bedroom at 1049 W. Barry in Lakeview came on the market in July 2022.

Built in 1910, this building has 16 units and outdoor parking. There’s also storage.

The listing calls this “vintage yet updated.”

It has 10 foot ceilings and hardwood floors throughout.

The living room has built-ins and a wood burning fireplace with brick surround. There’s no dining room.

The kitchen is “new” as of 2021 and has white cabinets, stone counter tops, stainless steel appliances, a white tile backsplash and a breakfast bar which is open to the living room and seats 3.

The bathroom is also “new” as of 2021 and has a walk-in-shower.

The rear bedroom has a den area that the listing says would be perfect for a home office.

The unit has a south facing deck.

It has the features that buyers look for that are somewhat rare in vintage buildings including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and outdoor parking. The listing says the space is wide and can fit 2 cars.

The building is in the heart of Lakeview near the Wellington brown line station and shops and restaurants.

Listed at $365,000, does this property check all the boxes for first time buyers?

Robert Clifford at Compass has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

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

• Sold in March 1989 for $90,000
• Sold in May 1992 for $135,000
• Sold in June 1999 for $225,500
• Sold in December 2003 for $299,000
• Sold in August 2013 for $288,500
• Sold in August 2016 for $318,500
• Currently listed at $365,000
• Assessments of $269 a month (includes exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $5578
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• 1 large or 2 side-by-side outdoor parking spaces included
• Wood burning fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 20×13
• Bedroom #2: 11×10
• Living room: 18×12
• Kitchen: 12×12
• Deck

This 2-bedroom in 527 W. Surf in East Lakeview came on the market in July 2022.

Built in 1920, this building has 24 units, a laundry room, a bike room and private storage.

This unit has many of its original features including the hardwood floors, crown moldings throughout the living and dining rooms (unpainted), huge vintage windows and 10 foot ceilings.

It has a foyer and separate dining room.

The living room has a wood burning fireplace with wood mantle and built-in bookcases.

The listing says the kitchen has been “completely remodeled” in 2021 and has gray and white cabinets with gold finishes, a white farmhouse sink, white subway tile backsplash, stainless steel appliances and a 2-seats at a counter.

It leads to a private deck.

While the building has a laundry room, this unit has washer/dryer in the unit.

There’s no central air but there are window units. It doesn’t have parking but the listing says there are public garages nearby.

This building is in a prime East Lakeview location near the shops and restaurants at the Diversey, Clark and Broadway intersection, the Landmark movie theater, Trader Joe’s, Mariano’s and Walmart.

It’s near buses, Lincoln Park and the lake front.

Buyers love “new.”

Listed at $350,000, is this a better deal than renting?

Chris Stockwell and Michael Laubach at Compass have the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

Unit #2: 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, 927 square feet

• Sold in April 1993 for $119,500
• Sold in September 1997 for $139,500
• Sold in July 2006 for $283,000
• Sold in June 2012 for $250,000
• Sold in July 2017 for $309,000
• Currently listed at $350,000
• Assessments of $331 a month (includes heat, cable, exterior maintenance, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $6461
• No central air but window units
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• No parking but available to rent in the neighborhood
• Wood burning fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 11×14
• Bedroom #2: 12×13
• Living room: 14×12
• Dining room: 11×10
• Kitchen: 15×9
• Foyer: 10×6
• Deck: 5×16

This 3-bedroom townhouse at 2709 N. Racine in Lincoln Park came on the market in June 2022.

Built in 1975, this townhouse development has 10 units and outdoor parking. It has an assessment.

If this townhouse looks familiar, that’s because we chattered about it in 2013 when it was a short sale.

9 years ago, many of you commented that it was cramped and some of you who saw it in person said it was in poor condition.

See our 2013 chatter here.

But since then, it has been renovated while keeping its unique features.

This is a corner unit which fronts on Schubert, not on Racine.

It has a 20-foot timber ceiling in the living room with a stone wood burning fireplace.

The kitchen has white custom cabinets, granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances and a 2-seat peninsula along with space for a dining table.

The kitchen leads to the 800 square foot outdoor stone patio with a side garden.

The primary bedroom, a second bedroom and full bath, with double vanity and walk-in-shower and skylights, are on the third floor.

The third bedroom is on the second floor also with a full bathroom.

The listing says the windows have been replaced in “both bedrooms.”

The townhouse has central air, washer/dryer and an exterior parking space which is accessed directly through the fenced garden/outdoor terrace area.

In 2013, it sold as a “short sale” for $370,000 and then resold in 2017 after it was renovated for $595,000.

It has come back on the market at $699,000.

Are you kicking yourself for not buying it 9 years ago?

Mariah Dell at Compass has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

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

• Sold in May 1990 for $207,500
• Sold in January 1994 for $210,000
• Sold in May 1996 for $230,000
• Sold in November 2003 for $400,000
• Sold in November 2006 for $507,500
• Lis pendens foreclosure filed in January 2012
• Originally listed as a “short sale” in February 2013 for $425,000
• Sold as a “short sale” in November 2013 for $370,000
• Sold in June 2017 for $595,000
• Originally listed in June 2022 for $699,000
• Currently still listed at $699,000
• Assessments are now $317 a month (they were $136 a month in 2013)
• Taxes are now $11,395 (they were $7223 in 2013)
• Central Air
• Exterior parking space included
• Wood burning fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 16×16 (third floor)
• Bedroom #2: 16×13 (third floor)
• Bedroom #3: 13×12 (second floor)
• Living room: 24×16 (main floor)
• Dining room: 14×9 (main floor)
• Kitchen: 13×6 (main floor)
• Terrace: 16×13

This 3-bedroom in 5718 S. Dorchester in Hyde Park came on the market in June 2022.

Built in 1898, 5718 S. Dorchester has 6 units and a communal backyard with a garden.

It does not have parking.

The listing says this unit has been “completely renovated.”

It has vintage features like wainscoting, crown molding, and a wood burning fireplace.

There are hardwood floors throughout.

The unit has a separate dining room and a sunroom that overlooks the communal backyard.

The kitchen has “brand new” white kitchen cabinets, quartz counter tops and new stainless steel appliances.

The bathrooms also have current on trend finishes like gold and black light fixtures, mirrors and faucets.

The listing says there are new, high-quality windows.

It has washer/dryer in the unit but there’s no central air. It does have window units, however. It also doesn’t have parking.

The building is in the heart of Hyde Park, near the shops and restaurants on 57th, the University of Chicago and the Lab School.

Originally listed in June 2022 at $537,330, it was reduced to $498,220.

Buyers love “new.”

Does this vintage unit check all the boxes?

Yanfei Hu at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices has the listing. See the pictures here (sorry, no floor plan.)

Unit #2: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1800 square feet

• Sold in August 1990 for $130,000
• Sold in September 1999 for $150,000
• Originally listed in June 2022 for $537,330
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $498,220
• Assessments of $450 a month (includes heat, gas, exterior maintenance)
• Taxes of $6253
• No central air but window units
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• No parking
• Wood burning fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 11×11
• Bedroom #2: 11×11
• Bedroom #3: 11×7
• Living room: 16×11
• Dining room: 17×12
• Family room: 12×11
• Kitchen: 12×12
• Foyer: 13×6
• Laundry room: 6×5

This  corner 1-bedroom in LaSalle Terrace at 1540 N. LaSalle in the Gold Coast came on the market in June 2022.

Built in 1978, LaSalle Terrace has 140 units and attached heated garage parking.

The building has doorstaff and a “small” fitness room.

This unit has been “totally renovated” and has unobstructed south and east exposures.

The listing says it has new wood floors in the living area and hall and wool carpet in the bedroom.

The kitchen is “newer” with white cabinets, granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances, a backsplash and pantry.

There’s a full dining space which leads to an east facing balcony.

The listing says there’s also a “newer” bath with a white vanity and mosaic tile, porcelain gray floor.

It has all new lighting and “ample” closets.

While it has assigned heated garage parking included in the price and central air, the unit does not have a washer/dryer. There is coin laundry in the building.

This building is in the center of several popular neighborhoods including the Gold Coast, Old Town and Lincoln Park with all of its shops, restaurants and grocery stores.

Listed at $290,000, that is just $12,000 above the 2018 sales price.

Are 1-bedrooms still a hard sell downtown?

Elena Theodoros and Stacy Terpsma at @properties Christie’s have the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #1901: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, no square footage

• Sold in October 1996 for $88,000
• Sold in November 2002 for $205,000
• Sold in March 2005 for $195,000
• Sold in May 2018 for $278,000
• Currently listed at $290,000
• Assessments of $634 a month (includes heat, central air, doorman, cable, exercise room, exterior maintenance, scavenger, snow removal, Internet)
• Taxes of $4718
• Central Air
• No washer/dryer in the unit but coin laundry in the building
• Assigned, heated garage parking included
• Bedroom#1: 12×14
• Living room: 18×15
• Dining room: 8×9
• Kitchen: 9×10
• Balcony: 5×16

The Illinois Association of Realtors is out with the May market report. Chicago remains a robust market even as mortgage rates rise.

It was the second best May for sales in the last 14 years.

From the IAR:

In Chicago, home sales (single-family and condominiums) in May 2022 totaled 3,299 homes sold, down 4.5 percent from May 2021 sales of 3,453 homes.

The median price of a home in the city of Chicago in May 2022 was $352,500, a 0.7 percent increase from May 2021, when it was $350,000.

May Sales:

• May 2008: 2119 sales
• May 2009: 1557 sales
• May 2010: 2057 sales
• May 2011: 1705 sales
• May 2012: 2037 sales
• May 2013: 2834 sales
• May 2014: 2453 sales
• May 2015: 2750 sales
• May 2016: 2980 sales
• May 2017: 3046 sales
• May 2018: 3047 sales
• May 2019: 2952 sales
• May 2020: 1701 sales
• May 2021: 3453 sales
• May 2022: 3299 sales

Median Price Data:

• May 2008: $319,500
• May 2009: $225,000
• May 2010: $230,000
• May 2011: $190,000
• May 2012: $203,000
• May 2013: $234,000
• May 2014: $269,250
• May 2015: $281,000
• May 2016: $290,750
• May 2017: $305,600
• May 2018: $305,000
• May 2019: $315,000
• May 2020: $313,000
• May 2021: $350,000
• May 2022: $352,500

“Despite rising mortgage rates and a significant drop in inventory, buyer activity remains high, as shown by the continued decline in days on market and slight uptick in median sales prices,” said Antje Gehrken, president of the Chicago Association of REALTORS® and president and designated managing broker of A.R.E. Partners. “The market continues to slowly return to pre-pandemic behavior and normalize after a frantic pace.”

Inventory continued to tighten statewide, declining 24.4% to 21,718 from 28,717 properties. Days on the market fell to 24 days from 33 last year.

“Prices increased again while the number of sales remains low throughout Illinois,” said Dr. Daniel McMillen, head of the Stuart Handler Department of Real Estate (SHDRE) at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Business Administration. “The SHDRE forecast now indicates an increase in the number of sales over the next three months. Foreclosures are down significantly since the same time last year. Inflation continues to be a concern for consumers, particularly among higher-income household, and interest rates are expected to rise this summer.”

Inventory also fell sharply in Chicago down 24.1% to 6497 properties from 8558 last year. Days on the market until sale fell to 29 days from 34, or a decline of 14.7%.

Single family home sales were up 2.1% to 1056 sales while condos fell 7.3% to 2243 sales from last year.

The 30-year average fixed mortgage rate jumped to 5.23% from 4.98% in April. That’s up dramatically from last May when it was just 2.96%.

We’ve all been waiting for Chicago’s housing market to slow this spring.

But we now have the data from March through May and it remains the strongest in the last 15 years.

Will summer finally bring the slowdown as mortgage rates rise into the 6s?

Prices rise, available Illinois homes sell quickly in May as demand stays high [Illinois Association of Realtors, Press Release, by Bill Kozar, June 21, 2022]

This 3-bedroom duplex-up at 1532 N. Paulina in Wicker Park came on the market in June 2022.

Built in 1920, this building is all-brick construction and has 16 units and garage parking.

This corner unit has hardwood floors throughout the first floor with a wood burning fireplace and built-in bookshelves.

The kitchen is open to the living and dining room combination and has 42″ Shaker wood cabinets with upgraded pulls, an upgraded backsplash, granite counter tops including on the peninsula with seating, stainless steel appliances and a 6×3 walk-in pantry.

The third bedroom is also on the main floor accessed through double doors.

The primary and second bedroom are both on the second floor and both are en suite. The 2nd bedroom bathroom  has been “renovated.”

The primary suite has exposed brick walls and a triple organized closet.

It also has a private 350 square foot roof top deck accessed by an interior staircase with skyline views.

The unit has the features buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and garage parking.

This building is near all the shops and restaurants of both Wicker Park and Bucktown and close to El and bus routes.

Originally listed in March 2022 at $650,000, it went under contract within a week but dropped out and was withdrawn from the market in April 2022.

It has come back on the market this month at $649,000.

Will it go under contract quickly once again even at higher mortgage rates?

Elias Masud and Sal Mazzulla at Compass have the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

Unit O: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, no square footage listed, duplex up

• Sold in October 2001 for $414,000
• Sold in March 2004 for $465,000
• Sold in July 2016 for $530,000
• Originally listed in March 2022 for $650,000
• Under contract
• Listing removed in April 2022
• Re-listed in June 2022 for $649,000
• Assessments of $441 a month (includes exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $10,182
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Garage parking included
• Wood burning fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 19×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 12×10 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 12×10 (main floor)
• Living/dining room: 22×13 (main floor)
• Kitchen: 15×9 (main floor)
• Foyer: 9×7 (main floor)
• Rooftop deck: 19×18

This 3-bedroom in The Pattington at 684 W. Irving Park in Uptown came on the market in June 2022.

Built in 1904 by architect David E. Postle, The Pattington has won architecture awards. It has 84 units and first come, first served outdoor parking, which has a waitlist.

It has a grilling area, playground, and gardens, including a vegetable community garden.

The listing says that this apartment is on the market for the first time in 30 years.

It has many of its original details including woodwork, columns, doors and hardwood flooring.

At 2,000 square feet, the listing says it “lives like a single family home.”

Like many luxury pre-war apartments, it was expected to be a home for the rich. It has deep crown molding in the living room, a gas starting wood burning fireplace with a quarter sawn oak mantel, and a maid’s room which has been turned into a laundry room and half bath.

There are beams and a built-in cabinet in the dining room which has French doors which lead to a private balcony.

The unit also has French doors off the living room which leads to a den or office with custom built-in bookcases.

The listing says the kitchen was remodeled in the “last few years” and has white Shaker cabinetry, quartz counter tops and stainless steel appliances.

There’s a primary suite with 2 walk-in-closets and an en suite bathroom which was “recently updated” with new vanity, tile and walk-in-shower.

There are 5 walk-in-closets in the unit. But you have even more storage as the unit has 2 storage lockers, including one that is as big as a room.

The listing says there is 1 foot thick concrete between floors.

It has some of the features buyers look for including central air and washer/dryer in the unit. Parking is available in the neighborhood.

It’s near the shops and restaurants of both Lakeview and the Buena Park neighborhood of Uptown.

Listed at $524,900, is this apartment a single family home alternative?

Alex Wolking at Keller Williams ONEChicago has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

Unit #E5: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2000 square feet

• Sold in June 1983 for $136,000
• Sold in June 1993 for $189,000
• Currently listed at $524,900
• Assessments of $1323 a month (includes heat, gas, cable, Internet, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $6283
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• No parking- rental in the neighborhood. Waitlist for onsite parking.
• Gas starting wood burning fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 16×10
• Bedroom #2: 12×12
• Bedroom #3: 19×11
• Living room: 17×14
• Dining room: 20×12
• Den: 13×10
• Kitchen: 16×13
• Gallery: 17×16
• Laundry room: 15×8
• Balcony