Crib Chatter

This 6-bedroom vintage house at 830 W. Wolfram in Lakeview came on the market in July 2021.

Built in 1885, it’s on an extra wide 43×125 lot and has an extra large 2.5 garage.

This house has some of its vintage features but has also been expanded and renovated.

It has 3 fireplaces, crown moldings, ceiling medallions, pocket doors and stained glass windows.

The first floor has a full and half bath along with the main living areas and kitchen.

The “designer” kitchen has gray cabinets, an island, a breakfast area with built-ins, a beamed ceiling and “chef grade appliances” including Subzero, Miele, Bosch, Waterworks and ILVE.

The house has the preferred layout for families with 5 of the 6 bedrooms are on the second floor, including the primary suite which has a bathroom with a soaking tub, a separate shower and marble finishes.

The second floor has vaulted ceilings and skylights along with lofted areas as well as the laundry room and a second full bath.

The lower level sports the recreation room, the 6th bedroom, a workout room/utility room, a full bath and an extra kitchen with white cabinets and appliances.

The listing says you can use the lower level as an in-law suite or for live-in help.

The house has a wrap-around porch and two terraces, including one on top of the garage.

It has central air.

The house is located near the shops and restaurants of Central and East Lakeview and is near various bus lines and the Diversey Brown line El stop.

This is a rare chance to own this property as it hasn’t changed hands since 1992.

Listed at $2.495 million, is this an ideal family home?

Brad Lippitz at Compass has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

830 W. Wolfram: 6 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, 5749 square feet, single family home

• Sold in January 1988 for $265,000
• Sold in April 1988 for $395,000
• Sold in September 1992 for $860,000
• Originally listed in July 2021 for $2.495 million
• Currently still listed at $2.495 million
• Taxes of $26,199
• 2.5 car garage
• Oversize lot measuring 43 x 125
• Central Air
• 3 fireplaces
• Skylights
• Wrap around porch
• 2 terraces
• Bedroom #1: 18×15 (second floor)
• Bedroom #2: 11×15 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 12×17 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 12×17 (second floor)
• Bedroom #5: 10×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #6: 9×16 (lower level)
• Living room: 13×17 (main level)
• Dining room: 13×17 (main level)
• Family room: 16×15 (main level)
• Kitchen: 27×19 (main level)
• Mudroom: 7×11 (main level)
• Laundry: 10×10 (second level)
• Recreation room: 12×49 (lower level)
• Utility room: 22×18 (lower level)
• Second kitchen: 10×11 (lower level)
• Wrap-around deck: 8×20 (main level)
• Terrace: 17×28 (main level)
• Terrace over garage: 24×21

This 1-bedroom in Fulton House at 345 N. Canal in the Near West Side came on the market in August 2021.

Built in 1903, Fulton House was originally an old cold storage warehouse.

It was converted to apartments in the 1970s by Harry Weese and then was converted into condos in the 1990s. There are 104 units.  However, it’s also a live-work building where businesses can operate.

It has a doorman but no garage parking.

This unit is a north and east facing corner unit which overlooks the Chicago River and Wolf Point.

It appears to have been renovated as it has new dark hardwood floors throughout and ceiling lights.

The kitchen has modern cabinets, luxury appliances including Wolf double convection ovens, Subzero and a Bosch dishwasher along with a cooktop with Grohe fixtures. It has a quartz dining island.

The bedroom has a large walk-in-closet and a “renovated” luxury white bath with a walk-in-shower.

The unit has a balcony which overlooks the River.

It appears to have washer/dryer in the unit, but no parking and no central air as it is electric heat/air in wall units.

Parking is available for rent in the neighborhood.

The listing says that this unit could be split up into a 2-bedroom, if desired.

Buyers love “new.”

Is this the perfect condo for someone who wants to be on the River?

Pamela Cirignani at Dream Town has the listing. The seller is a realtor and the listing agent has an ownership interest. See the pictures here (sorry, no floor plan).

Unit #805: 1 bedroom, 1 bath, 1275 square feet, corner unit

• Sold in February 1998 for $85,000
• Sold in August 2008 (but recorded in 2017?) for $85,000
• Currently listed at $525,000
• Assessments of $821 a month (includes a doorman, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal, Internet)
• Taxes aren’t listed
• No central air- wall units
• Washer/dryer appears to be in the unit but building also has coin laundry
• No parking
• Bedroom: 17×14
• Living/dining combo: 13×20
• Family room: 20×16
• Kitchen: 18×13
• Laundry: 2×10
• Balcony: 7×5

This 4-bedroom triplex in Block X at 16 N. May in the West Loop came on the market in August 2021.

Built in 1999, Block X is a gated community with large shared, landscaped gardens and award-winning architecture with unique layouts.

It has 99 units and attached parking.

This triplex is “oversized” at 2650 square feet.

It has a bath on every level with a powder room on the main level, a powder room on the second floor and 2 full baths on the third floor.

3 bedrooms are on the third floor, including the primary suite which has an en suite bath with a marble dual vanity.

The 4th bedroom is on the main level and could also be used as a den/office.

The second level has the living room, dining room, kitchen and family room.

The kitchen has white Shaker cabinets, granite counter tops, including a breakfast bar, and stainless steel appliances.

There are two outdoor spaces including a balcony off the family room on the second floor and a main floor, private terrace that faces the landscaped courtyard.

It has central air, washer/dryer in the unit and an attached 2-car heated garage.

This triplex is in a prime West Loop location near supermarkets, shops and restaurants.

Listed at $1.025 million, is a million dollars the new price point for 4-bedrooms in this neighborhood?

Bari Levine at @Properties has the listing. See the pictures here (no floor plan but the 2017 listing has it.)

Unit #512: 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2650 square feet, triplex

• Sold in September 1999 for $397,000
• Sold in October 2003 for $515,000
• Sold in December 2012 for $547,500
• Sold in June 2017 for $899,000
• Currently listed at $1.025 million
• Assessments of $638 a month (includes exterior maintenance, security, snow, scavenger)
• Taxes of $17,018
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• 2-car heated attached garage
• Bedroom #1: 16×15 (third floor)
• Bedroom #2: 13×10 (third floor)
• Bedroom #3: 11×11 (third floor)
• Bedroom #4: 12×10 (main floor)
• Family room: 12×20 (second floor)
• Kitchen: 13×9 (second floor)
• Living room: 19×14 (second floor)
• Dining room: 11×10 (second floor)
• Balcony: 10×8 (second floor)
• Terrace: 25×14 (main floor)

This 4-bedroom Victorian single family home at 3526 N. Marshfield in Lakeview came on the market in May 2020.

If it looks familiar, that’s because we have chattered about it several times over the last decade: in both 2013 and 2016, which was the last time it was on the market.

See our 2016 chatter here.

We also chattered about it in May 2020 when it came back on the market.

See the 2020 chatter here.

Last year, most of you thought it was overpriced.

It’s still available but has been reduced further.

If you recall, the house is unique.

Built in 1893, it’s on an irregular lot measuring 22.5 X 73.5, 8.60 X 51.5  but the public listing now says it’s 23×125.

It has ornately carved faces on the exterior (no longer prominently shown in the listing pictures) and there are underground tunnels from the prohibition era that have been “blocked off” (also no longer mentioned in the listing).

There’s a marble fireplace in the living room and an oak staircase.

The living/dining rooms and kitchen are on the main floor.

The kitchen has dark cabinets and white and black appliances as well as a kitchen island.

3 bedrooms are on the second floor with a full bath.

The third floor has a bonus room/den/bedroom that has skylights.

The house has a lower level family room/den, a full bath, and the laundry and utility rooms.

The house does have central air and there is 1 outdoor parking spot along with a back deck and gated yard.

The listing says it’s had a “new roof in June 2021” which has a 10-year transferable warranty.

It was listed in May 2020 at $809,000 and has been reduced to $699,000.

The house is in a popular location in Lakeview, near the shops and restaurants of Southport and the Addison brown line stop.

Is this house finally a deal?

Arden Baranowski at Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices has the listing. See the pictures here.

3526 N. Marshfield: 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2500 square feet

• Sold in July 1991 for $160,500
• Sold in February 1994 for $176,000
• Was listed in March 2012 “as-is” for $550,000
• Re-listed in July 2013 for $650,000
• Re-listed in October 2016 “as-is” at $685,000
• Withdrawn
• Re-listed “as-is” in May 2020 for $809,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $699,000
• Taxes are now $10,821 (they were $8641 in 2016, $8056 in 2013 and $7958 in April 2012)
• Central Air
• 1-car outdoor parking
• Fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 20×12 (second floor)(is this the attic room?)
• Bedroom #2: 15×13 (second floor)
• Bedroom #3: 16×12 (second floor)
• Bedroom #4: 9×12 (second floor)
• Living room: 27×14 (main floor)
• Dining room: 14×13 (main floor)
• Kitchen: 16×13 (main floor)
• Family room: 30×17 (lower level)
• Laundry room: 12×7 (lower level)

This corner 1-bedroom loft in the Daily News building at 222 S. Racine in the West Loop came on the market in July 2021.

Built in 1930, the Daily News building was converted into lofts in 2001. It has 43 units and a parking garage.

This unit is a unique corner loft with 2 walls of windows.

It has exposed brick walls and terra cotta ceilings along with hardwood floors throughout.

The loft has a galley kitchen with 42″ cabinets, granite counter tops and “updated” stainless steel appliances which opens to the wall of windows and a 42×5 private balcony.

The bedroom also has windows which look out on the balcony.

It has a walk-in-closet.

The loft also has 1.5 baths and a gas fireplace.

In addition to the large balcony, the loft also has a smaller balcony off the front of the unit that has views of the Willis Tower and the Chicago skyline.

The listing says it has a newer furnace (2018) and a new washer/dryer (2021).

It has central air and garage parking is $25,000 extra.

Originally listed in July 2021 at $359,900, it has been reduced to $325,000.

With the West Loop so hot the last few years, is over $300,000 the new starter condo price tag?

Morgan Sage and Christian Chacon at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices has the listing. See the pictures and floor plan here.

Unit #308: 1 bedroom, 1.5 baths, 1037 square feet, loft

• Sold in July 2001 for $205,000 (no parking)
• Sold in March 2003 for $253,500 (no parking)
• Sold in January 2008 for $305,000 (included the parking)
• Sold in June 2017 for $310,000 (included the parking)
• Sold in November 2018 for $315,000 (included the parking)
• Originally listed in July 2021 for $359,900
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $325,000 (parking is $25,000 extra)
• Assessments of $410 a month (includes gas, exterior maintenance, scavengers, snow removal)
• Taxes of $6008
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• Bedroom: 13×10
• Living room: 19×17
• Kitchen: 19×7
• WIC: 10×5
• Balcony: 10×5
• Balcony: 42×5

This 3-bedroom duplex up penthouse at 2236 W. Armitage in Bucktown came on the market in June 2021.

Built in 2001, it has 14 units and a heated garage.

The building has an elevator.

This penthouse unit has a unique layout with all 3 bedrooms on the main floor and a lofted den/office on the second floor.

It has soaring ceilings and custom built-ins including in the living room, the den and the third bedroom.

The kitchen has white cabinets, stainless steel appliances and a hood, granite counter tops and an island that seats 4.

There are two full bathrooms on the main floor, including one with a double vanity.

The living and dining room round out the first floor along with a front balcony, with city views.

In addition to the den/office on the second floor, there is also a large, private rooftop deck.

The penthouse has central air, washer/dryer in the unit and 2-tandem heated parking spaces are included.

This building is near the 606, the Western Blue Line el stop and the shops and restaurants of Bucktown and Logan Square.

Originally listed in June 2021 at $725,000, it has been reduced to $679,000.

Is this a good townhouse alternative at this price?

Rashmi Mehta at Baird & Warner has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #401: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2100 square feet, duplex up

• Sold in May 2001 for $422,500
• Sold in November 2004 for $487,000
• Sold in September 2006 for $494,500
• Sold in June 2009 for $588,500
• Sold in August 2015 for $626,000
• Sold in November 2018 for $595,000
• Originally listed in June 2021 for $725,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $679,000
• Assessments of $463 a month (includes exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $12,020
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• 2 tandem heated parking spaces included
• Fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 15×13 (main floor)
• Bedroom #2: 14×12 (main floor)
• Bedroom #3: 14×10 (main floor)
• Living room: 17×14 (main floor)
• Dining room: 14×11 (main floor)
• Kitchen: 14×10 (main floor)
• Laundry: 2×4 (main floor)
• Den: 17×10 (second floor)
• Rooftop Deck (second floor)
• Front balcony (main floor)

This 3-bedroom penthouse loft in The Donohue at 727 S. Dearborn in Printers Row came on the market in June 2021.

The Donohue was built in 1883 and was converted into lofts in 1990. It remains one of the few live/work loft buildings in the neighborhood.

It has 98 units and an exercise room. There’s no doorman nor garage.

This corner penthouse has 11 foot and 21 foot ceilings along with a dome vaulted 40×20 skylight.

See the pictures for what that looks like.

It has authentic loft features including a wide open floor plan and exposed brick.

The loft has hardwood floors and built-ins.

There’s a spiral staircase to the private 67×47 roof top with panoramic city views but the roof is not built out.

The kitchen has wood cabinets and granite counter tops.

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

Listed at $1.175 million, is this a loft lover’s dream unit?

Susan Dickman at Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #1012: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 3500 square feet, loft

• Sold in October 1990 for $300,000
• Sold in August 1992 for $550,000
• Sold in June 2006 for $1.05 million
• Originally listed in June 2021 for $1.175 million
• Currently still listed at $1.175 million
• Assessments of $2227 a month (includes heat, exercise room, exterior maintenance, scavenger, Internet)
• Taxes of $15,793
• Central Air
• Washer/dryer in the unit
• No parking but there is rental parking in the neighborhood
• Skylight: 40×20
• Fireplace
• Bedroom #1: 16×15
• Bedroom #2: 15×11
• Bedroom #3: 16×16
• Living room: 33×18
• Dining room: 16×16
• Kitchen: 18×9
• Office: 16×15
• Library: 16×15
• Foyer: 12×10
• Walk-in-closet: 11×5
• Laundry room: 10×7
• Deck: 67×47

The Sun-Times took a look at the soaring single family home prices in the neighborhoods this week and wondered whether the middle class would be able to stay in Chicago and buy a home.

From the Sun-Times:

“It’s heartbreaking to an extent that even someone like myself is being priced out of the area as it relates to homeownership,” Bandera said. “We probably earn double the average salary for our household in the area and we would love to stay here, but it is becoming harder and harder to find a home within our price range.”

Bandera grew up on Chicago’s Northwest Side in Belmont Cragin, a neighborhood where, as in much of Chicago, the housing market is hot. Owning a home in the neighborhood she loves is, she fears, becoming a distant dream.

In June, the median list price of homes in Belmont Cragin was $360,000 — up 19% from June 2020, according to Realtor.com. But the median sale price in the neighborhood was even higher: $375,000, indicating people were willing to overpay to get the home they want.

To stay within their family’s budget, Bandera said she hopes to spend about $250,000 on a home. They could manage $300,000 — but it would be tight.

The hottest neighborhoods in Chicago in 2020-2021 haven’t been in the GreenZone. They have been in the south and west side neighborhoods.

This Institute for Housing Studies is for the 4th Quarter. It’s likely prices are even hotter in 2021.

The Institute for Housing Studies also monitors housing affordability. Its Cook County House Price Index measures the quarterly prices of single-family homes.

The report groups neighboring communities and suburbs into 33 submarket categories to see how prices are fluctuating. The latest report, issued in April, compared the fourth quarter of 2020 with the same period in 2019. It found the biggest annual price increases occurred on the South and West sides.

Despite having the bulk of the city’s new construction permits, the North Side’s annual single-family prices either remained flat or even decreased.

According to that index, the areas with the largest increase in single-family sale prices in that time frame were in the submarkets of Englewood/Greater Grand Crossing (23.7%), Humboldt Park/Garfield Park (20.1%) and Auburn Gresham/Chatham (17.3%).

Even with the lowest mortgage rates in history, a $300,000 or $350,000 home is still out of reach for many in the middle class.

Is the era of the $100,000 to $200,000 Chicago bungalow over forever?

Or can new homes be built to address this market?

Longtime Chicagoans fear hot housing market could drive them out [Chicago Sun-Times, by Manny Ramos, August 11, 2021]

This 2-bedroom townhouse in Dearborn Park II at 1254 S. Federal in the South Loop came on the market in August 2021.

Built in 1995, Dearborn Park II has 118 units with attached 1-car and 2-car garages.

Because it’s an older development, it’s surrounded by mature trees and landscaping.

If this townhouse looks familiar, that’s because we chattered about it the last time it was on the market, in 2016, which was also a “hot” housing market.

Back then, the chatterati thought it was over priced by at least $100,000 when it was listed at $595,000.

See our chatter here.

If you recall, it has floor-to-ceiling wrap around windows on three floors and a skylight on the top floor.

There’s an office, or third bedroom, with custom cherry built-ins on the first floor.

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

It has hardwood floors, a wood burning limestone fireplace and a large deck off the dining room.

The kitchen has white cabinets, granite counter tops, a white subway tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances.

The two bedrooms are on the top level with the full bath.

This is one of the townhouses that fronts Federal Street and has its own fenced, private “secret garden” with lush landscaping and a stone patio.

It has central air and an attached 2-car garage.

The townhouse has come on the market 5 years later at $665,000, or $95,000 more than the 2016 sales price of $570,000.

With low inventory, will it get the premium?

Susan Dickman at Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit F: 2 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, 1630 square feet, townhouse

• Sold in April 1994 for $186,000
• Sold in September 1998 for $285,000
• Sold in September 2016 for $570,000
• Currently listed at $665,000
• Assessments are still $275 a month (they were $275 a month in 2016 )(includes lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes are now $9417 (they were $6929 in 2016)
• Central Air
• Wood burning fireplace
• 2-car garage
• Bedroom #1: 18×13 (third floor)
• Bedroom #2: 19×11 (third floor)
• Office: 10×10 (main level)
• Living room: 16×15 (second floor)
• Dining room: 14×10 (second floor)
• Kitchen: 14×9 (second floor)
• Laundry: 3×3 (second floor)
• Balcony
• First floor patio

This studio in Lowell House at 88 W. Schiller in the Gold Coast came on the market in June 2021.

Lowell House is part of Sandburg Village. Built in 1968, it has 29 stories and attached parking.

It has a doorman.

This unit is a south facing studio with a unique layout.

It has 7″ white oak floors throughout.

At 675 square feet, it is big enough that the room can be divided.

The listing says this unit has a custom white oak room divider which functions as a dresser and features a TV pivot.

The kitchen has been renovated with high gloss white cabinets, a Liebherr refrigerator, a Bosch dishwasher and a GE speed oven/microwave along with a flamed granite waterfall counter on the peninsula which seats two.

The bathroom has a walk-in-shower and a high gloss gray floating vanity.

All of the windows have room darkening blinds.

There’s wall a/c.

There’s no washer/dryer in the unit but there’s coin laundry in the building.

Parking is leased in the building.

This building is at the intersection of the Gold Coast and Old Town, with all the shops and restaurants of both within a few blocks.

Originally listed for $199,000, it has been reduced $9,000 to $190,000.

Would this make a good in-town or starter condo?

Andrei Savtchenko at Compass has the listing. See the pictures here.

Unit #705L: studio, 675 square feet

• Sold in August 1992 for $39,500
• Sold in March 2002 for $147,000
• Sold in August 2006 for $178,000
• Sold in July 2014 for $155,000
• Originally listed in June 2021 for $199,000
• Reduced
• Currently listed at $190,000 
• Assessments of $532 a month (includes heat, gas, doorman, cable, exterior maintenance, lawn care, scavenger, snow removal)
• Taxes of $2360
• No central air- wall unit
• No in-unit washer/dryer (coin laundry in the building)
• Parking is leased in the building
• Living room: 14×12
• Dining room: 10×8
• Kitchen: 6×6