NEW For Sale: Spacious Ravenswood town home with top location $399,000

For sale now: 4554 N Paulina, Unit 6 asking $399,000

4554 N Paulina #6 has a private deck and fenced in yard area

Details
Taxes $631.00 (yes, $631 now, will be back to around $4,200)
LOW assessment $114
Three bedrooms
Two full and one-half baths
Garage parking
Large master suite w/ renovated master bath
Master bedroom walk-in closet
Huge laundry/ storage room in lower level
Walk-out deck and private yard space
Spacious lower level works as third bedroom/ office/ family room
Lower level wired for sound and has tons of closet space
Wood burning fireplace
Extra wide, open main level for entertaining
Close to CTA Brown Line at Montrose, Metra at Ravenswood, and tons of restaurants!

Wood burning fireplace in open living/ dining

Living room has great windows and opens to private deck and yard

Large dining area with great light

Fully loaded kitchen, tons of cabinets and counter space

South facing window in kitchen with breakfast bar

Bright second bedroom with built-in shelves and french doors

Second bedroom

Spacious master bedroom suite, walk-in closet and second set of  8 foot wide closets!

New master bath, marble and double vanity

Master bath

Jet tub

Lower level bedroom/ office/family room.  Surround sound wired for media, lots of closets

Yard Photo www.VHT.com

Listed by Eric Rojas and Robert DePalma Real Estate Brokers, Kale Realty

  If you are not represented by a broker, Bob and I would represent you as designated agents on any showing. 

*Pre-approved buyers for showings please.  If you need to discuss mortgage pre-approval, please contact your bank or our associate Steve Dunnett, Loan Officer 1-708-289-3408. Steve's the best!

More Ravenswood posts HERE

Video! A drive around Ravenswood with Yo Chicago

We filmed some video yesterday with www.YoChicago.com of a new town home listing at 4554 N Paulina #6. Afterwards, we took a ride around the southeast Ravenswood neighborhood.  Check out the video drive with a little commentary by yours truly.  I could probably have used a little more coffee though.





More neighborhood and property videos HERE

Big House! More new luxury construction on Hermitage in Ravenswood

The double-lot shown below located at 4433 N Hermitage in Ravenswood was purchased last may for $905,000. A new custom luxury home rises on the land.

 North Hermitage Avenue in Ravenswood has seen a boom in significant luxury new homes in the past couple years. The gorgeous blocks are known for original ornate structures (including the Abbot Mansion), wide lots, deep setbacks and mature trees. The 4 blocks between Montrose and Leland has once again become a destination for double and triple lot purchases where owners are building their custom dream homes.

4443 N Hermitage between two original homes on the block

PHOTOS: A double lot custom home was completed last year at the 4500 Block of North Hermitage 

 and a contemporary custom home was completed on a triple lot at 4630 N Hermitage as well in 2011.

Completed just last year, the custom home on three lots opens to a courtyard to the south

A vacant triple lot sold at the the corner of Hermitage and Montrose in November 2010 for $1.4 million. The lot is still vacant as of this writing.

More Ravenswood posts HERE

Photos and analysis Eric Rojas, Real Estate Broker/ Realtor

Skyline views from Lincoln Park: Penthouse on North Dayton

The skyline view is closer than it looks here.  The "Big 3" Hancock Willis (Sears) and Trump towers all in view.

We showed our clients a top floor "penthouse" unit in Lincoln Park on the 1600 block of North Dayton on Saturday.  The home gets unusually great skyline views from it's east facing, large terrace.  The duplex-up home was nicely renovated and offered at $689,000.  We'll see if the great location and "wow" views will be enough.

For Sale NOW: Lincoln Square single family home 2164 W Leland $745,0000

2164 W Leland shown this winter. "Gut re-habbed" with great details!

This renovated Lincoln Square home is on an extra wide 37.5 foot lot with side drive. Steps to shopping, great restaurants, Old Town School of Folk Music, Lincoln Square Athletic Club, CTA Brown Line, Sulzer Library and more. Call Eric, Kale Realty at 773-510-1597. Calls only please.

The fully renovated kitchen with concrete counter-top island opens to the huge dining room.  

Lots of windows and light.

Dining room and kitchen.  This can also be arranged as the great-room 

with dining combined in the living room.

Dacor gas island cook-top, oversize refrigerator, double oven, awesome layout, windows and finish level.

 Large living room

Living room

Master bath, double-vanity sky-light and tub

Master bath with heated floors and separate shower

Two tier deck and patio

Master bedroom with luxury bath

Den off living room. 

Second bedroom

Organized mudroom with powder room, half-bath, double closet

2164 W Leland last summer.  Rare red brick side drive!

Awesome location, great block...minutes to everything!

 More Details:

The basement level is finished with drywall, new windows, canned lights, heating system and half-bath.  Three large rooms for office, family room/playroom and guest bedroom.  Large utility area with laundry, double sinks, storage and mechanical.

2164 W Leland offered at $745,000.

 Taxes $7,925

37.5 foot wide lot

4 bedrooms, 2 full baths, 2 half-baths

Radiant heat

Central AC (SpacePac)

Main floor surround sound and speakers

Alarm system

New electrical, plumbing, roof, siding, windows in last 5-10 years

Luxury kitchens and bath

Organized mud-room

Flexible layout with tons of entertaining space

Listed by Eric Rojas and Robert DePalma Real Estate Brokers, Kale Realty

  If you are not represented by a broker, Bob and I will represent you as designated agents on any showing. 

More Lincoln Square posts HERE

Great Decks! A West Loop terrace that delivers

Our clients check out the private terrace for a condo at 843 W Monroe. Nice!  The unit sold in under 20 days.

We rushed to look at this terrace unit last weekend at 843 W Monroe last week.  The clients liked the great West Loop location near grocery, restaurants and jobs in the Loop.  The one bedroom plus den (with Murphy Bed), two baths unit asked $265,000 plus $25,000 for deeded garage parking (not my listing).  The assessments were low and building in great shape.

The terrace at 843 W Monroe.  The bright south facing open space was great.

All Photos Eric Rojas, Real Estate Broker and Realtor

For Sale: NEW Ravenswood, Lincoln Square homes coming on next week

One of our single family home listings is located near Selmarie in Lincoln Square!

If you are in the market for Lincoln Square and Ravenswood town homes or single family homes, we have a couple new listings (pocket listings) hitting the market next week in the $375,000-$750,000 range.  If you are looking for homes in this range, please contact us for first looks.  We do require our clients consult with a mortgage broker or their bank and get mortgage pre-approvals prior to showings (proof of funds please for cash buyers).


If you have questions about buying, selling or pre-approvals, give us a call.  We've referred our associate lenders and attorneys to many happy clients. Bob and I go the extra mile to make sure everyone is on the same page and we all have proper expectations for buying and selling homes.  No funny business!

Our Ravenswood town home listing coming on next week is steps from City Provisions!

Condo buying: Client's top picks over $600K are all selling

Large one floor and duplex high floor condos (2000 sq/ft plus) seem to be moving...at least the ones we want. Photo of 432 W Grant Place, Lincoln Park.  Eric Rojas

I've been putting together a schedule for my buyer clients.  They are in the $600K-$700K condo range with some more room for higher assessments.  They would love top floor, 3 beds, big open space...you know, "wow" stuff. The top 3 places in Lincoln Park and Lake View of about 7 we've identified are all under contract this week. We did view one of the three last week.  Now that it's sold (under 30 days) the buyer clients have a little more perspective and know what they really want.


Should be a fun Saturday!

Video! Remember last winter?

I can't stop talking to friends and neighbors about how much I've enjoyed this "non-Chicago like" winter. There's been not one week where I couldn't run in Winnemac Park in clear weather or comfortably take the kids outside somewhere.


Remember last winter?! It feels like a lifetime ago.



More property and neighborhood videos HERE

"Hamlin Park" vs Roscoe Village: Single family home sales

A Park District banner hangs at Hamlin Park last summer. The park has vast fields, a pool and field house

Just south of  the West Belmont boundary of popular Roscoe Village in the North Center Community is the area commonly known as "Hamlin Park".  For this purpose, I use the streets North Ravenswood to North Western Avenue (east to west) and West Belmont to West Diversey (I do not cross the angled North Clybourn on the southern border).  It forms a sort of triangle area bordered by major streets and the Metra tracks.


37 single family homes closed in 2011 for a median price of  just over $700,000. The high was a newer construction home with terrific over-the-top finish level at 3105 N Wolcott for $1.6 million and the low a pretty bombed out frame foreclosure at 2132 W Fletcher for $260,000.  4 homes have sold in 2012 so far with prices of $325K, $425K, $855K and $860K. 


Just north in Roscoe Village in 2011 (Belmont to Addison, Raveswood to Western) 49 single family homes closed for a median of about $870,000. So far in 2012 only one single family home has closed in the Roscoe Village borders...a new construction house at 3435 N Leavitt for $1.2 million.

Newer construction homes and renovations ring Hamlin Park.

Homes in this swath of Hamlin Park are priced and sold considerably less than it's adjacent neighbor of Roscoe Village just north of Belmont Ave.  So, you can benefit from Roscoe Village boutique retail, entertainment and restaurants along with other neighborhood shopping amenities to the north AND south (Costco for one). Easy access to other parts of the city and highway can be had on Clybourn or Damen and you'll be closer to Hamlin Park itself for less money.

 We represented a client of ours on a foreclosure home purchase in the Hamlin Park area recently.  He got a great value compared to similar sized single family homes nearby.



All photos Eric Rojas, Bob DePalma Real Estate Brokers. All sales data gathered from MREDLLC.com and analyzed by Eric Rojas, Broker and Realtor.

Home buying tips: Large modern condos on the North Side...for a price

Here our clients view a newer construction, modern condo unit that may fit the bill. It's cheaper to own than high-rise or a converted loft building renovations but more rare to find a "wow" factor.

Our buyer clients are looking for modern, big open 2400 sq/ft plus space on the Near North side to Lincoln Park with "wow" factor. This often means big monthly assessments.  We have to take all costs into consideration and get creative when looking for modern aesthetic condo homes that meet a client's budget.


Large, one floor spaces or appropriate duplex-up spaces are often located in high-rise buildings with "combined units".  In the Near North Side (Gold Coast, River North, Old Town), this can mean assessments well over $1,000 a month.  Another option is a converted industrial loft space in a former warehouse.  These offer the most flexibility in layout. But large spaces, over 2400 sq/ft for example, are a little more rare in Lincoln Park and Near North locations...and can easily approach $800,000 plus.

Great Decks! Condo buyers consider outdoor space in South Loop

A unit at 1620 S Michigan featured a 550 sq/ft deck with pergola (Photo Eric Rojas)

We were out this weekend showing condos in the South Loop to buyer clients. We identified several units that had great outdoor space. The unit shown above at 1620 S Michigan had a 550 sq/ft terrace off the two bedrooms, one bath condo unit with garage parking. The asking price was $275,000 with a $354.00 assessment.

The terrace had open exposures, but, a vacant build-able lot was behind the building (Photo Eric Rojas)

 Our first-time buyer clients will have to make a choice: Do they want a little smaller condo with only one bathroom, but have a tremendous outdoor terrace? Or, they may opt for a two bedrooms, two baths home with a smaller balcony...but interior space a finish may be better. The South Loop location is perfect for their busy professional lives and commutes.

More on home buying HERE!

Chicago Restaurant Week 2012 NOW! February 17-26

Bob started Chicago's well loved 5th Annual Restaurant Week last Friday with great views at Park Grill at Millennium Park.  He ate and let others do the skating!

Cloud Gate overlooks the ice rink and the Park Grill

More Downtown posts HERE

Local School Council candidates to address Winnemac Park Neighbors

VOTE for your local school council members this APRIL!

Football practice: Amundsen High School at the Winnemac Park campus

We have a couple prospective candidates for Amundsen High School's Local School Council signed up to address Winnemac Park Neighbors in Ravenswood this Tuesday February 21st, 7PM at Dolce Casa Cafe (4947 N Damen).  If you are running for LSC at Chappell, McPherson or Amundsen High Schools...please contact info@winnemac.org to address an upcoming meeting prior to the election.


Visit the CPS site for information on LSC Elections! Anyone over 18 in their local school district may vote.  Please call the CPS Local School Council office at 773-553-1400 if you have voter and candidate eligibility questions.


Very few people vote in these important elections.  Make this your first year to impact your schools!

Visit www.winnemac.org and email info@winnemac.org for WPN updates

Video: Tour an Andersonville condo for sale, steps from the action

 Take a video walk-through of 5027 N Hermitage!



The two beds one bath condo is in a popular well managed building just off the Clark Street retail and restaurant mecca of Andersonville, Chicago.  The home is a top floor, corner unit. In-unit washer and dryer, hardwood floors, central air conditioning and heat, deck off the kitchen, large storage room in the basement and a terrific furnished and landscaped back courtyard for owners' use.


More property and neighborhood videos HERE

Local developer buys vacant lots in Ravenswood, plans luxury condos

 Lincoln Square and Ravenswood residents have been asking me for years about these large vacant lots along the 4800 block of North Damen Avenue.

 Bob and I were recently told by local developer that he's purchased the long vacant 6 city lots on the 4800 block of North Damen Avenue in the Ravenswood neighborhood (greater Lincoln Square Community Area).  Candea Development is planning to build quality, luxury condo units. 

Vacant lots on Damen, looking southeast.

Looking northeast

The lots have long been an eyesore since another eyesore -a beat up commercial strip mall- had been torn down over 4 years ago. The original developer way back planned a 14 unit condo building from what I heard.


The new owner and developer of the lots sent along this photo below of the type of buildings he plans to construct on the lots...I believe there would be three buildings.

This is an existing project by Candea development...similar buildings could find a home on Damen.

This Damen location in Ravenswood is a great candidate for continued condo and apartment density now that we see the real estate market settling a bit.  Already an established community with great amenities...the Damen Brown Line is a couple blocks away, Ravenswood Metra stop a few blocks, a brand new Mariano's Fresh Market in development a couple blocks east, close to the Lincoln Square retail/ restaurant strip, Winnemac Park and new, high-end Lycee Francais school in development a few blocks south.


Below are some examples of existing condo developments along the block...some re-sales less pummeled by the market than others.

The CTA Brown Line is in site along with several convenient amenities like an Budacki's (for Italian Beef!) Crystal Cleaners, Bagel on Damen, Thai restaurants, coffee shops, brunch joints, CVS (yes CVS!), grocery, tailors, hair salons, phone and electronics stores, a Sears store etc.. And, this stretch of Damen Avenue maintains a more residential feel rather than commercial.

The CTA Brown Line is close, but not TOO close.

Candea development has offered to address the project at one of our local neighbor group meetings in Ravenswood (check out  www.winnemac.org   and sign up for updates). It's an interesting development as there have been NO new construction condos built for almost three years in Lincoln Square.