Crib Chatter

This 2-bedroom penthouse duplex at 1800 W. Grace in North Center came on the market in March 2021.

Built in 2013, 1800 W. Grace has 91 units and heated garage parking. (Sorry for the older picture. I DO have an updated one somewhere but I couldn’t locate it.)

The listing says this unit is a “move-in ready” duplex with 21 foot ceilings and a wall of windows.

The main floor has the living/dining space, the kitchen, a full bath and one of the two bedrooms.

That bedroom doesn’t appear to have windows.

The kitchen has modern appliances with “gourmet stainless steel appliances” and a new marble backsplash.

The unit has a suspended lofted den which leads to the primary suite which has windows, a walk-in-closet and an en suite bath with double vanities, a spa shower and tub.

There’s a private balcony on the main floor and a custom work from home space on the second floor that appears to have been a bar with a wine fridge in the prior listing.

The pictures of the rooftop deck are of the common, shared deck.

Heated garage parking is $25,000 extra.

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

Originally listed in March 2021 at $795,000, it has been reduced to $749,000.

With inventory low in the neighborhood, what’s holding back a sale on this duplex?

David Posegay at Corcoran Urban Real Estate has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

Unit #519T: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2000 square feet

• Sold in April 2013 for $681,000 (included the parking space)
• Sold in April 2017 for $670,000 (included the parking space)
• Originally listed in March 2021 at $795,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $749,000 (plus $25,000 for the heated garage parking space)
• Assessments of $853 a month (includes gas, security system, cable, exercise room, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $12,526
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 12×19 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 11×12 (main floor)
• Living/dining room combo: 16×20 (main floor)
• Kitchen: 13×16 (main floor)
• Laundry room: 9×10 (second floor)
• Family room/loft: 9×14 (second floor)
• Balcony: 5×20 (main floor)

This 2-bedroom corner loft in the Clybourn Lofts at 1872 N. Clybourn in Lincoln Park just came on the market.

The Clybourn Lofts was a 1980s loft conversion and has 57 units and outdoor, deeded, gated parking.

This listing says it was an old piano factory.

The building has bike storage, a courtyard garden, a rooftop deck and a laundry room.

Pets are allowed. The listing says you can have 2 dogs and 3 cats with no weight limit.

This loft has authentic features that loft fans love including exposed brick walls, timber ceilings and large 10 foot industrial windows that have U/V film and custom solar shades.

It’s a northeast corner loft with a split bedroom floor plan.

Both bedrooms have windows and both have floor-to-ceiling walls with French doors.

It has 2 full travertine marble baths, with one having a soaking tub.

The kitchen has custom white Neff cabinets, Bosch, Thermador and Subzero appliances, a custom floating stainless steel island and stainless steel counter tops.

It has the features buyers look for including central air, a Bosch washer/dryer in the unit and deeded, secure parking is included.

Listed at $555,000 for 1800 square feet, is this a loft lover’s dream?

Eileen Brennan at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here (sorry- no floor plan).

Unit #206: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1800 square feet, loft

• Sold in May 2000 for $462,500
• Currently listed at $555,000 (includes deeded parking spot)
• Assessments of $719 a month (includes heat, a/c, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal, Internet)
• Taxes of $10,315
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 25×14
• Bedroom #2: 22×13
• Living/dining room: 30×21
• Kitchen: 9×9
• Terrace: 11×8

This 5-bedroom penthouse at 506 W. Oakdale in East Lakeview came on the market in August 2020.

There’s no date on when this building was built (1880s?).

It has 4 units and garage parking and was converted to condos in 2003.

This penthouse unit is on the market for the first time since it’s original sale in 2003.

It’s a duplex up with 2718 square feet.

It has hardwood floors throughout, 14 foot ceilings on the main floor, crown molding and 2 fireplaces, including one in the primary bedroom.

4 bedrooms are on the main level with the 5th on the second floor.

The primary suite has a hallway of closets and an en suite bathroom with a double vanity, tub and separate shower.

The kitchen has modern cabinets, “new” stainless steel appliances and what looks like stone counter tops.

There’s also a small balcony off the kitchen.

There are skylights.

The second floor has a family room and the fifth bedroom along with a built-in wet bar.

The unit has a 700 square foot private rooftop terrace with an enclosed sunroom.

This penthouse has the features that buyers look for including central air, washer/dryer in the unit and it has one covered garage parking space which is EV equipped.

Originally listed in August 2020 at $1.25 million, it has been reduced to $924,000.

The property sold in 2003 for $762,000.

Is this a rare chance to get 5-bedrooms for under $1 million in this neighborhood?

Chloe Reynolds at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

Unit #4: 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 2718 square feet, duplex up, penthouse

• Sold in August 2003 at $762,000
• Originally listed at $1.25 million
• Reduced several times
• Currently listed at $924,000
• Assessments of $374 a month (includes exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $13,834
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• 1 car garage parking included
• 2 fireplaces
• Bedroom #1: 11×17 (main floor)
• Bedroom #2: 10×11 (main floor)
• Bedroom #3: 10×13 (main floor)
• Bedroom #4: 10×11 (main floor)
• Bedroom #5: 10×13 (second floor)
• Living room: 23×11 (main floor)
• Dining room: 10×9 (main floor)
• Kitchen: 12×14 (main floor)
• Family room: 21×12 (main floor)
• Den: 21×12 (second floor)
• Laundry room: 7×4 (main floor)
• Enclosed porch: 23×11 (second floor)
• Terrace: 21×20 (second floor)

This 2-bedroom in Avenue East at 160 E. Illinois in Streeterville came on the market in January 2021.

Built in 2007, at the height of the of the housing boom, Avenue East is 130 units and has an attached garage.

The building has a doorman, an exercise room and a party room.

It sits just off of Michigan Avenue, across from the Tribune Tower, which is currently being renovated into condos.

This unit is a southeast corner unit which the listing describes as the most “coveted tier” in the building.

It has Brazilian hardwood floors, crown moldings and wainscoting in the family room that is off the kitchen.

The kitchen has dark wood cabinets, granite counter tops, stainless steel appliances and a breakfast bar.

It has a balcony.

The unit has the features that buyers look for including central air, side-by-side washer/dryer in the unit and garage parking is included.

This unit sold in 2009 for $740,000 and then sold again in 2015 for $687,000.

It has come on the market in 2021 at an even lower price, at $648,000.

The listing describes it as an “incredible new price below market.”

At 1716 square feet, is this a deal?

Here’s an old listing where you can see different pictures and unit description: see it here.

Lisa McGuirt at Baird & Warner has the current listing. See the pictures here (sorry, no floor plan).

Unit #1108: 2 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 1716 square feet

• Sold in March 2009 for $740,000
• Sold in March 2015 for $687,000
• Originally listed in January 2021 for $648,000
• Currently still listed at $648,000 (includes garage parking space)
• Assessments of $1228 a month (includes heat, a/c, gas, doorman, cable, exercise room, scavengers, snow removal)
• Garage assessment is $40 a month
• Taxes of $14,879
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 15×13
• Bedroom #2: 11×10
• Living room: 24×14
• Dining room: 12×11
• Family room: 13×8
• Kitchen: 10×9
• Laundry room: 5×4
• Balcony

This 2-bedroom loft at Fairbanks at Cityfront Plaza at 240 E. Illinois in Streeterville originally came on the market in June 2019.

Built in 2008, Fairbanks at Cityfront Plaza has 281 units, including some in the “loft” portion of the building which is the base of the building.

It has an attached parking garage.

It’s a full service building with doormen, an outdoor pool, fitness room, dog run, yoga room, clubhouse and theater room.

This unit is a southeast corner unit with a split floor plan where both bedrooms have windows and full walls.

It has concrete ceilings and exposed ductwork.

There’s a balcony accessed off of both the living/dining room and the primary bedroom.

The kitchen has modern wood cabinets, a breakfast bar, what appear to be stone counter tops and backsplash, and stainless steel appliances including a gas stove with hood.

The primary bedroom has an en suite bathroom with dual vanities, a walk-in shower and soaking tub.

This loft has the features buyers look for including washer/dryer in the unit, central air and parking is $50,000 extra.

Originally listed in June 2019 at $675,000 it has been reduced numerous times and is now at $449,900.

Even if you include the $50,000 for parking, it’s now listed $175,600 below the 2007 purchase price of $675,500.

The listing says it’s “listed 10% below comparables sold.”

Is this loft a deal?

Michael Michalak at Re/Max 10 has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

Unit #607: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, 1494 square feet

• Sold in June 2007 for $675,500 (CCRD doesn’t show the parking selling with it so it’s unclear if that was included in the original sales price or not)
• Originally listed in June 2019 at $675,000
• Reduced
• Was listed in June 2020 at $549,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $449,900 (plus $50,000 for parking)
• Assessments of $1239 a month (includes heat, a/c, gas, doorman, cable, Internet, clubhouse, exercise room, pool, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger.)
• Taxes of $10,654
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Bedroom #1: 13×12
• Bedroom #2: 14×11
• Living/dining room combo: 20×20
• Kitchen: 14×9
• Office: 4×6
• Laundry room: 4×4

The Illinois Association of Realtors is out with the March sales.

We already know from Gary’s updates on his blog that March was red-hot.

But what you might not remember was that LAST March was also strong, with the median home price rising 10%.

Last spring’s housing market was already heating up before COVID hit.

In the city of Chicago, home sales (single-family and condominiums) in March 2021 totaled 2,877 homes sold, up 35.5 percent from March 2020 sales of 2,123 homes.

The median price of a home in Chicago in March 2021 was $345,000, up 7.8 percent compared to March 2020 when it was $319,950.

Historic data courtesy of G:

City of Chicago condo/TH/SFH closed totals March
year/closed/median/% REO-Short Sales
Year Closed Median %REO/SS
1997 1,226 $126,875
1998 1,540 $137,003
1999 1,766 $152,125
2000 1,793 $167,500
2001 1,800 $195,000
2002 2,112 $210,000
2003 2,261 $225,000
2004 2,772 $244,950
2005 2,822 $271,125
2006 3,000 $275,862
2007 2,399 $285,000
2008 2,098 $300,000
2009 1,219 $217,000 37%
2010 1,860 $207,750 38%
2011 1,481 $163,763 49%
2012 1,630 $170,500 44%
2013 1,894 $187,500
2014 1,875 $235,000
2015 2,173 $260,000
2016 2,149 $269,000
2017 2,546 $295,000
2018 2,343 $310,500
2019 2,062 $290,700
2020 2,123 $319,950
2021 2,877 $345,000

What is striking is that the number of sales surpassed even the hottest of the housing bubble March numbers of 2004 and 2005 and trailed only 2006 for an all-time high.

“In March, the demand for homes remained high, with the condo market picking up steam, resulting in a 44.6 percent increase in sales and 2.8 percent increase in median sales price for attached homes,” said Nykea Pippion McGriff, president of the Chicago Association of REALTORS® and vice president of brokerage services at Coldwell Banker Realty.

“It’s important to work with your REALTOR® to discuss different property types to see what the best options are at your price points.”

Condo sales rose 44.6% to 1957 sales while single family home sales jumped 19.5% to 920 homes.

The single family home median price rose 22.3% to $315,000 while the median condo price gained just 2.8% to $365,000.

Statewide, inventory declined 53.2% to 23,381 homes from 49,946.

In Chicago, inventory declined 13.1% to 7,404 from 8,521 homes.

Statewide, number of days on the market fell to 46 from 62 days last year. In Chicago it fell to 44 days from 47 last year.

For the second month in a row, the average 30-year mortgage rate actually rose month-over-month to 3.08% from 2.81% in February.

It was still below the March 2020 rate of 3.45%.

“The housing sector recorded strong month-to-month and year-over-year changes in March in both sales and prices,” said Geoffrey J.D. Hewings, emeritus director of the Regional Economics Applications Laboratory at the University of Illinois.

“The main concern in the coming months will be the low inventory levels, currently 1.5 and 1.3 months at current sales rates in Illinois and Chicago respectively. The strong growth in the pending sales index suggest that demand remains strong with buyers facing a very competitive market.”

March 2021 seems to have taken the Chicago housing market to the next level.

But with inventory at record lows, will sales growth stall in the coming months?

Where does the market go from here?

Illinois home sales and prices shift higher in March [Illinois Association of Realtors, Press Release, April 22, 2021]

This 6-bedroom single family home at 2902 N. Burling in Lakeview came on the market in August 2020.

Built in 2019, this modern, contemporary home is on a double lot measuring 52×140.

The house has a brick, stucco, stone and limestone exterior and a professionally landscaped lot including mature trees.

It has heated double connected garages for 4 cars.

The house has some unique features, including a 5-level window wall and an elevator.

It has hardwood floors throughout.

There are 4 fireplaces.

The finishes are all done in the modern style including the kitchen which has luxury stainless steel appliances and an island, as well as a breakfast bar.

There’s also an attached breakfast room.

The primary suite is on the third floor and it has a massive master bathroom with a tub and shower that appears to measure about 31×9 as well as a huge walk-in-closet with built-in organizers that is 13×20.

3 of the other bedrooms are on the second floor.

The fifth bedroom is in the lower level along with the laundry room, the exercise room, the theater room and a second kitchen that is also outfitted with modern cabinets and a large island.

The sixth bedroom is on the third floor, along with the primary suite.

There’s a family room on the main level, off the kitchen.

Looking for a study? That’s on the third floor.

There’s also a game room on the second floor.

The house has a custom 12 foot chandelier.

Looking for outdoor space? It has 4 walk-out decks, including an outdoor kitchen.

One of the decks appears to be a rooftop deck, which has not been built out.

Listed in August 2020 at $6.28 million, it remains priced at $6.28 million.

In this hot housing market, will they get their price?

Linda Marcus at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices has the listing. See the pictures and floor plans here.

2902 N. Burling: 6 bedrooms, 6 baths, 2 half baths, 10,500 square feet, single family home

• I don’t know a prior sales price as it was new construction in 2019
• Originally listed in August 2020 for $6.28 million
• Currently still listed at $6.28 million
• Taxes of $64,513
• Central Air
• Heated double connected garages for 4 cars
• 4 fireplaces
• Elevator
• 4 decks
• Outdoor kitchen
• 12 foot chandelier
• Bedroom #1: 17×18 (third floor)
• Bedroom #2: 14×19 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 17×17 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 13×23 (second floor)
• Bedroom #5: 16×20 (lower level)
• Bedroom #6: 14×17 (third floor)
• Living room: 17×18 (main floor)
• Family room: 18×20 (main floor)
• Dining room: 15×17 (main floor)
• Kitchen: 16×17 (main floor)
• Laundry room: 15×16 (lower level)
• Breakfast room: 7×15 (main floor)
• Study: 13×20 (third floor)
• Game room: 20×33 (second floor)
• Exercise room: 12×17 (lower level)
• Theater room: 17×25 (lower level)
• Second kitchen: 16×25 (lower level)

This 1-bedroom in Chicago Place at 100 E. Huron in River North came on the market in April 2021

Chicago Place was constructed in 1991 and has 204 units and commercial space on the first 10 floors.

It has an attached rental parking garage.

It’s a full amenity building with doormen, an exercise room and an indoor pool just off the Mag Mile.

If this unit looks familiar, that’s because we chattered about it when it was last on the market in October 2017.

It had just been completely renovated and was on the market for the first time since 1993.

See our chatter here.

If you recall, it has custom oak floors throughout and crown molding.

The kitchen was renovated in the last sale and has white cabinets, stainless steel appliances and white counter tops along with a breakfast bar.

There are French doors to the master bedroom where it also has a master bath that has also been renovated.

The unit also has a half bath.

It has upscale appliances throughout the unit by Bosch, FisherPaykel and Toto.

But the real selling point of this unit is still the private 385 square foot west-facing terrace.

It is landscaped and has what looks to be wood decking, which even the building’s own terrace doesn’t have.

There’s also a pergola.

I believe there are only 2 terraces on this level and a few on one of the upper levels so outdoor space is rare in this building.

Listed in October 2017 at $615,000, it ended up selling in February 2018 at $530,000.

It has come back on the market in 2021 at $599,000.

Will it get the premium?

Julie Harron at Jameson Sotheby’s has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

Unit #1107: 1 bedroom, 1.5 baths, 1045 square feet

• Sold in January 1991 for $186,000
• Sold in November 1993 for $258,000
• Sold in February 2018 for $530,000
• Listed in April 2021 at $599,000
• Currently still listed at $599,000
• Assessments are now $774 a month (they were $673 a month in 2017)(includes heat, a/c, doorman, exercise room, pool, scavenger, cable)
• Taxes are now $7783 (they were $6055 in 2017)
• Parking is rental in the building
• Central Air
• Washer/Dryer in the unit
• Bedroom: 12×17
• Living/dining combo: 16×24
• Kitchen: 11×14
• Terrace: 10×38

This 4-bedroom full floor condo at 545 W. Stratford Place in East Lakeview came on the market in October 2020.

Built in 1913, 545 W. Stratford has 4 units with a shared yard and common storage.

It’s a rare vintage boutique elevator building where the elevator opens directly into the foyer.

This unit has 4 exposures.

The living room has a marble gas fireplace and there’s a sunroom off the front of the unit that overlooks the street.

It has a formal dining room which appears to be one of the few rooms with hardwood floors.

Most of the other main living spaces have carpet.

The listing says the unit has a “newer” eat-in Chef’s kitchen with white cabinets, a farmhouse sink and porcelain floors along with stainless steel appliances and what look like stone counter tops.

It has 4 large bedrooms with two connected by a Jack and Jill bathroom.

The primary suite has a study and a private sunroom.

The listing says the fourth bedroom is used as a family room and it opens onto the 10×38 private, landscaped terrace.

The unit has the features that buyers look for including space pak cooling and washer/dryer in the unit in a large laundry room with built-ins.

The only thing it’s missing is parking but the listing says rental parking is available nearby.

This building is located in a prime East Lakeview location near shops, restaurants and the lake front.

From the CCRD and Redfin, it appears the last sale for this property was in 1986.

Originally listed in October 2020 at $1.075 million, it remains listed at $1.075 million.

What’s holding back a sale on this property?

Brad Lippitz at Compass has the listing. See the pictures here (sorry- no floor plan)

Unit #2: 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 3650 square feet

• Sold in June 1986 for $257,500 (per Redfin as the CCRD doesn’t list a price)
• Originally listed in October 2020 for $1.075 million
• Currently still listed at $1.075 million
• Assessments of $1,025 a month (includes heat, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $14,341
• Space Pak cooling
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Marble gas fireplace
• No parking- rental in the neighborhood
• Full floor
• Bedroom #1: 16×12
• Bedroom #2: 15×17
• Bedroom #3: 16×13
• Bedroom #4: 15×11
• Study: 7×12
• Sitting room: 13×10
• Foyer: 10×11
• Sunroom: 14×9
• Living room: 19×20
• Dining room: 16×20
• Kitchen: 12×16
• Laundry room: 17×10
• Landscaped terrace: 38×10

This 3-bedroom townhouse at 1818 N. Dayton in Lincoln Park came on the market in March 2021.

Built in 1981 (although one listing said 1978) it has 41 units around a cobblestone courtyard.

This is an end unit and has a first floor attached one car garage.

The first floor also includes a bonus room that leads to a fenced in outdoor space.

There’s also a powder room on the first floor.

The second floor has the living room, dining room, kitchen and a second powder room.

The living room has a wood burning fireplace with blue lacquered built-ins.

The kitchen has been renovated with white custom cabinets, stone counter tops, stainless steel appliances and a white tile backsplash as well as an island with a gray cabinet base.

The kitchen is open to the dining room.

All three bedrooms are on the second level along with 2 full baths.

The primary suite has a walk-in-closet as well as an en suite bath with a dual vanity.

The listing says the townhouse has a new roof and mechanicals.

The townhouse is located near the shops and restaurants of Armitage and Halsted, as well as North & Clybourn.

Originally listed at $850,000 in March 2021, it has been reduced to $835,000.

Is this living the Lincoln Park dream, without the million dollar price tag?

Alexandra Solak at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

You can see it at the Open House on Sunday, April 18 from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm.

Unit A: 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, 2 half baths, no square footage listed, townhouse

• Sold in December 1987 for $251,000
• Sold in August 1993 for $246,000
• Sold in December 1997 but I couldn’t find a price
• Sold in April 2002 for $425,000
• Sold in August 2008 for $650,000
• Sold in December 2018 for $500,000
• Originally listed in March 2021 for $850,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $835,000
• Assessments of $393 a month (includes exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $11,536
• Central Air
• 1 car attached garage
• Wood burning fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 14×13 (third floor)
• Bedroom #2: 15×9 (third floor)
• Bedroom #3: 11×9 (third floor)
• Walk-in-closet: 13×4 (third floor)
• Living room: 18×14 (second floor)
• Dining room: 11×10 (second floor)
• Kitchen: 14×9 (second floor)
• Laundry room: 5×8 (second floor)
• Family room/Bonus room: 15×13 (main floor)