Sconce for the stairway

We just completed a new staircase for our Chicago bungalow (forever in renovations).  We need a couple moderately priced wall sconces for large wall space running up to the second floor.  What do you think of this one?  It's glass, about 11" tall, $119.00 bucks at Horton's online.  Our style of the house is generally simple Scandinavian modern. At least, that's what we think.

Quick stats! Lakeview single family home sales up 21%, median price up 12% in 2013

It's been a very active and competitive single family home market this year in Lakeview. Our clients are exclusively in multiple offers on the homes they want to purchase. Inventory for nicely renovated three bedroom (or more) homes is low in terms of buyer demand.  Let's take a look at some interesting sales numbers.

I spotted this rare (and gorgeous) East Lakeview single family home among the many multi-unit buildings on the 2800 block of North Cambridge. It's not for sale, but the good market has prompted more vintage East Lakeview homeowners to sell than in past years.

Lakeview single family home sales January 1st to June 14th, 2013

67 Lakeview single family homes closed (sold) in just over the half-way point for the year.  Almost half of those houses (32 homes) sold over $1 million dollars.  The median price for a Lakeview house at this time is about $970,000.

Lakeview single family homes sales are up 21% over sales during the same period in 2012.  The median price is up about 12%.

At the Chicago lakefront in Lakeview (photo Eric Rojas)

The highest Lakeview single family home sale was 3830 N Wayne for $3,100,000.  The 5 bedrooms 37' wide lot home was built in 2007 and featured an attached front entrance garage.  The lowest sale was 1756 W Fletcher for $371,000 cash (and $4,000 over the list price).  The small bungalow on a standard city lot was a foreclosure sale and will most likely be torn down for new construction.  Pretty nice deal for that location regardless of some train noise from the Metra tracks.

8 of the 67 houses sold were listed as either foreclosure (bank owned, REO) or short sale.

Under contract, for sale

There are currently 49 single family homes under contract in Lakeview.  The median asking  price of the contracted homes is about  $1,175,000.  This could push the median price of house for the year in the Lakeview Community Area to over $1 million.

There are only 38 actively listed houses for sale (at time of this post).  Of those, 25 homes are priced over $1 million. 


All stats gathered from MREDLLC.com (our member MLS) and analyzed/ interpreted by Eric Rojas, Real Estate Broker. Stats are as accurate as possible and best used as a guide to market activity.

Welcome to Lincoln Park

Photo Bob DePalma

We showed a house to our clients last week on North Wayne in Lincoln Park.  Can you guess which one?  Here's a clue; it's a very nice and well cared for house priced just over $1 million.  And... it's in the middle.

Closed! Clients sell classic Lincoln Square Victorian with prominent porch

We represented the sale of 1913 W Leland in Lincoln Square's Ravenswood neighborhood.  The home closed last Thursday for $590,000 ($9,000 under list price). The house sold in a multiple offer situation.  Multiple offers are good but must be handled professionally. 

Great curb appeal (image Photo Light Chicago)

Many people love this wrap-around porch but only one couple calls it their new home.  The location near the Damen Brown Line and various city centers makes for perfect urban living in a single family house.

KAPOW kitchen! (image Photo Light Chicago)

 Congrats to our seller clients and our new neighbors too!  Call/ email us to buy or sell a home on the north side neighborhoods of Lincoln Square, Ravenswood, Lakeview, Lincoln Park, North Center and more. We have specific options for you.

A quick iconic dose of Streeterville on an early summer evening

The views exiting onto North Michigan Avenue and the Mag Mile never get old (and I had plenty of time on the ramp to take them in).

I parked easily at a meter near the 900/910 Mies building on East Delaware and the lake ($7.00).

Met the wife at an old standby.

House hunting along Diversey Parkway in East Lakeview

The Surf-Pine Grove Landmark District serves up leafy streets and vintage apartments near the Diversey Parkway shops, bars and restaurants (all photos Eric Rojas, Real Estate Broker)

We've been spending a lot more time lately in East Lakeview with our condo buyers.  The market has improved, so both buyers and sellers are feeling a little more confident and, well... buying and selling more.  One of our favorite spots in the city to hang out and look for condos is the area along West Diversey between Broadway and Sheridan Road near the lake.

A familiar sign along Diversey Parkway, The Market Place Food Store hangs on amongst the nearby Trader Joe's and Walmart market.

Large vintage apartment buildings (like this one on West Surf) have been home to generations of young professionals, families, dreamers, hipsters and eclectics in the bustling lakefront neighborhood.  I remember visiting my older cousins on West Surf when I was a kid.  I thought they were the coolest!

There are some good condo building options along North Cambridge near West Diversey Parkway.  Updated two bedroom, one bath units start in the $250,000s (with assessment in the $300s) and go up quickly from there (all photos Eric Rojas).

The busy West Diversey Parkway strip west of Broadway and near the lake is a great place to live if you are looking for hustle, bustle, the lake, bars, shops and people!  And of course all the action leads straight east to Diversey Harbor.  See you in the hood!

Diversey Harbor (photo Eric Rojas)

Buying a South Loop town house near Cotton Tail Park

We recently viewed this town house with buyer clients on the 1200 block of South Federal in the South Loop school district (photo Bob DePalma)

There are several leafy town home communities in the very urban South Loop.  The community atmosphere on an early summer night can rival the more traditional single family home enclaves around the city.  Neighbors and families of all sorts can conveniently commiserate in the tree-lined courtyards and parks of the planned developments.

Several town house communities surround Cotton Tail Park.  The park is bonkers with families in the late afternoon and weekend mornings (photo Eric Rojas).

Cotton Tail Park entrance at the 1400 block of South Plymouth (photo Bob DePalma)

You are HERE

Google map image of Dearborn Park town house communities located between Clark and State Streets

The most common town homes have two bedrooms, 2 baths, a small family room and a garage.  Sales prices average in the low to mid $400,000 range.  True three bedroom town homes are sought after and can sell for much higher.

Stop and look: Charming Bowmanville

Even our 3 1/2 year old Amalia can appreciate the curb appeal of these painted porch steps and planted parkways in Bowmanville.  She made me take a picture on our walk home from Dominick's.

 

If it impresses this little girl, think of what a little front landscaping will do for potential buyers (and for your pride of ownership.)

Photos! New construction update at Division and Ashland in East Village/ Wicker Park

Rent a new apartment here in East Village/ Wicker Park and "Eat Great, Even Late!"

You can read coverage of the new mixed commercial and rental apartment building at 1611 W Division at Curbed and Yo Chicago.  Here's a couple photos of the construction taken by Bob while doing business in the neighborhood today.

 

Quick STATS: Lakeview condo sales fierce, UP 33%

A "good" condo is a subjective thing.  But one thing we do well is know when a listed condo will sell quickly.  How?  As a wise person once said, "It is what it is".  This does not mean it's THE condo for YOU, it just means we have a good sense in a given market what will sell and at what price.

We saw this two beds, two baths Lakeview condo with garage parking last weekend.  $349,000 asking with this roof top cabana to boot.

And the good condo market is wicked fierce in our most active markets of Lincoln Square, Lakeview, Lincoln Park, North Center and South Loop.
Here's a look at Lakeview's condo sales for the first half of 2013.

From January 1st to May 31st of 2013 of this year 688 Lakeview condo units have sold.  That's up 33% from the 514 that sold same period in 2012...a good year in its own right.  216 condos closed in May 2013 alone.

What sold?  Here's a breakdown including attached townhouse units.
129 one bedroom condos sold with a median price of $155,000 (most in the lower half of pricing  reside in dated high rise and mid-rise buildings near the lake)

325 two bedroom condos sold with median price of about $335,000.  Two bedroom condos can vary greatly with one, two or two and one-half baths.  They also vary greatly in parking availability and outdoor space.

179 three bedroom condos sold with a median price of about $475,000.  Of course, styles and features vary greatly.

Only 29 Lakeview condos with at least 4 or more bedrooms sold with a median price of $651,000.  We sold one of them at 416 W Briar Place.