Thursday, October 27, 2016

Possible record price for Lincoln Square tear down

The wide lot at 2236 West Ainslie, Chicago IL 60625 is cleared for a new construction house.
Just over a year ago the frame three-flat building at 2236 West Ainslie in Lincoln Square on a 37.5' wide lot was sold for $587,500. It has recently been torn down to build a new construction house. It may be a record price for a comparable sized "tear down" lot north of Lawrence Avenue in Lincoln Square. I reviewed sales over the last couple years and do not see a comparable price.

37ft wide lots (122ft deep) south of Lawrence have gone as high as $742,000 to tear down and build new. 2137 West Agatite near Welles Park was sold last summer for $742,000 and  was torn down. The newly built luxury house on that lot sold this year for $2,150,000.

2224 West Ainslie a couple doors down to the east sold last year for $1,420,000.  The 32ft wide lot sold for $450,000 (that property was torn down).
The sale of a $587,500 lot to build a new house will mean an asking price of around $1.8 million or so for a developer finished product.  The median price of all single family home sales north of West Lawrence Avenue in Lincoln Square in 2016 is about $750,000.

Contact me to buy or sell homes in and around Lincoln Square.


Wednesday, October 26, 2016

What's going on with North Center real estate and schools? I weigh in with DNAinfo.com

I took this photo of a typical new construction house going up in North Center adjacent to an original, modest ranch house.
Super writer Patty Wetli posted and interesting article today on the changing economics and demographics of the North Center neighborhood in Chicago. There is interesting info on real estate and the local schools in the article from Alderman Pawar. I have been selling and writing about the North Center market for many years.  Long desired Bell school and the emergence of Coonley and Audubon elementary schools have helped push up real estate values in North Center.

However, the luxury market demand has seemed to surpass the demand for good schools making North Center a "bedroom community" (my words) standing on it's own.  My take is that high income earners are grouping together as a socioeconomic thing regardless of public schools, transportation, jobs or other factors. The location is fairly central (important) and the real estate stock has been available for acquisition and redevelopment. You have to have willing sellers to redevelop all these houses.

Read the whole article HERE

More on North Center, Chicago here

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

New Lincoln Park town homes in DePaul neighborhood

1000 West Montana is not on MLS but Conlon Real Estate is advertising the project.
This corner of West Montana and North Sheffield in Lincoln Park has been vacant forever.  New town homes at 1000 West Montana have taken shape.  The first attempt at this development was back in 2007 when pre-construction homes were listed. The DePaul neighborhood has been a hot spot of new commercil and residential construction over the past couple years.  This development is located near some of DePaul University's student dorms, fitness center and the Sullivan Athletic Center.

The town homes are not listed on the MLS as of yet.

Monday, October 24, 2016

New Price $624,900! Fully finished Lincoln Square, Bowmanville home with spacious master suite

2329 West Berwyn in the Bowmanville neighborhood of Lincoln Square.
Watch the video walk through of this three beds, four baths single family home at 2329 West Berwyn, Chicago, IL 60625 offered at $624,900.  This is THE ONE at a real value price.




Bowmanville, Lincoln Square single family home!
2329 West Berwyn, Chicago IL 60625
Offered at $624,900
Three bedrooms
Four full baths
30'x125' lot!
Backyard, two large decks and two car garage
Kitchen/ great room
True master suite!
Open floor plan with quality finish level.
True master suite with walk-in closet and awesome French door and deck!
Master suite deck


Charming outdoor space for entertaining or quite summer nights.
Awesome kitchen/ great room layout!
View more photos and information here!

Bowmanville is a desirable community of long time owners and new construction homes alike. Walk to Andersonville night life, Lincoln Square entertainment and Winnemac Park. NEW Half Acre tap room/ patio coming soon across the street. Check out the Bowmanville Community Organization for neighborhood events!

Bowmanville is dotted with community gardens
A public green space developed by the Bowmanville Community Organization is located steps from 2329 W Berwyn.
Exclusively listed by:
Eric Rojas, Vice President/ Broker
ericrojasblog.com
erojas@kalerealty.com

Kale Realty - Lincoln Park
2447 N Ashland Avenue
Chicago IL 60614
773-510-1597

We love to help you buy and sell Bowmanville, Lincoln Square and North Side properties.  Contact us today!





Lincoln Square Costello space to be new authentic Italian restaurant

The well located former Costello Sandwich space has a new tenant. All photos Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty.
The colorful Costello space is close to having a new restaurant.  I met the new lease holders at the vacant Lincoln Square retail space at 4647 N Lincoln Avenue this morning. The really friendly couple told me they have several restaurants in Italy but this would be their first in Chicago.  "Hand made pastas" would be featured.  With luck they can open in a few months.

I'm excited to quench the Italian food desert along Lincoln Ave with the recent closings of La Bocca della Verita and Trattoria Trullo  (Due Lire down the road a bit notwithstanding).

In bocca al lupo!

Thursday, October 20, 2016

New for sale! Logan Square three bedrooms condo on the Boulevard $329,000: Open House Saturday October 22nd, 1p to 3p


Spacious living room with wood burning fireplace walks out to private terrace.
2623 W Logan Boulevard #1W, Chicago IL 60647 
Asking Price $329,000
*Open House Saturday October 22nd, 2016 *
*1pm to 3pm*
 
Huge open floor plan with fantastic dining and kitchen area for entertaining. Great windows along the entire wall!
Wow! A three bedrooms two baths newer construction condo on historic and beautiful Logan Boulevard in Logan Square for only $329,000.  This home looks brand new. 2623 W Logan Boulevard #1W includes parking.  The attractive corner building was built in 2005... one of the last new construction condo buildings allowed on Logan Boulevard due to the  Chicago Landmarks  designation.

2623 W Logan Boulevard is a beautiful newer construction building on a corner lot.  Unit 1W has a private walk-out terrace shown on the lower right of the photo and shares a common roof-top deck area. All photos Eric Rojas, Broker Kale Realty and VHT.com
CLICK HERE FOR PROPERTY INFO AND PHOTOS

2623 W Logan Boulevard #1W asking $329,000
2005 new construction
Three bedrooms
Two bathrooms
Parking spot (outdoor)
Full corner unit tons of light
10.5 foot ceilings!
Private entrance
Large private front terrace
Side by side washer/ dryer closet
Huge 12x6 interior walk-in storage closet
Walk-in kitchen pantry
Wood burning fireplace/ gas starter
Many new fixtures
Tastefully painted
Assessment approx $273.00, taxes approx $4,000

Walk-out private terrace.

Huge room with tall ceilings!

Spacious master bedroom suite with walk-in closet.

Double vanity master bathroom with jetted tub.



Master bedroom walk-in closet!
Walk out of your home onto gorgeous Logan Boulevard.  This is truly a special location.  The home is around the corner from the popular Starbucks and top restaurants on North California Avenue and just blocks away.  Haas Park Field House and soccer field is a couple blocks south down North Fairfield.  Easy access to 90/94, Target, Mariano's, Home Depot... anything hip or practical is within walking distance.


Watch the video walk-through of the unit from a couple years ago.



Second bedroom
Interior storage closet!
Kitchen pantry closet!
Side by side washer and dryer closet.
Exclusively listed by:
Eric Rojas, Vice President/ Broker
ericrojasblog.com
erojas@kalerealty.com
Kale Realty - Lincoln Park
2447 N Ashland Avenue
Chicago IL 60614
773-510-1597

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

The good life! Retired clients buying second home in Glenview, Northbrook area

The Meadow Ridge sub division in Northbrook features a gated entry with guard, pretty landscaping and floor plan with first floor master bedroom. All photos Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty
We are working with a recently retired couple that need a second home in the Chicago area. The snowbirds will split time with Florida.  They want to be close to the city, maintenance free life and a first floor master suite. There is no better area to consider for the many "lifestyle" communities than Glenview and Northbrook down the North Shore. These are gated condo associations with attached homes.

Several gated sub-divisions in Glenview and Northbrook rest along (or very near) several golf courses. Westgate at the Glen is shown below.


We've found that three bedrooms homes with main floor master bedrooms in the several gated condo associations around Glenview and Northbrook run from low $500s for re-sales to the high $800s for re-sale and new construction. Features vary. A smaller percentage of available re-sale homes have basements while most newer construction units (from the last few years) do not. The newest construction homes we've viewed do not have a basement options.

We walked some of the last homes to be built at Meadow Ridge early this week.  The "F" floor plan is the largest and features a few changes from the original floor plans.
Our clients are interested in a new construction home.  They'll consider a unit that has just been built or one that can be built on a remaining plot in the sub division. Another important aspect is the feel of the neighborhood and surrounding amenities.  A few of the sub-divisions are walk-able to shops, restaurants and grocery stores while most would probably require driving to stores.

Certain units in Meadow Ridge have a terrific view of the Techny Towers

Saturday, October 15, 2016

Lincoln Square Open House! 2329 W Berwyn Sunday October 16th, 1PM to 4PM

Open House
2329 West Berwyn, Chicago IL 60625
 Sunday October 16th, 1PM to 4PM

Watch the video walk through!

This is a fantastic house at a great price in the Bowmanville neighborhood of Lincoln Square. Come by to view the house and discuss selling and buying in the neighborhood.

Thursday, October 13, 2016

St. Matthias Parish and school bring out the stars to raise money at Friends of the Grape


I'd like to thank my old business friend and Chicago's Anthem Singer Jim Cornelison for kicking off our 17th Annual Friends of the Grape fest and auction.  The St. Matthias community was pumped up and excited to bid on LIVE auction items last Sunday October 2nd. Thanks JIM!

Special thanks to television personality Ted Brunson of "Chicago's Best" fame for serving as our auctioneer.  What a fantastic job bring in the auction dollars!  Our community really enjoyed Ted's involvement.



Thank you to a first time sponsor Bang Bang Pie and Biscuits.  What awesome avocado biscuits and key lime pie among other items. The new 4947 North Damen shop in Ravenswood/ Lincoln Square is walking distance to St. Matthias and many of our community are regulars! Contact Bang Bang Pie Catering and Events!

Monday, October 10, 2016

Lincoln Square multi-unit (two-four units) sales in 2016: Median price up $150,000 since 2012

We spent some of the weekend showing Lincoln Square two-flats to a great client of ours.  They want to stay in the neighborhood and a two-flat will make the most financial sense for them. The Lincoln Square two-flat market has been very active this year.  Many two-flats are still bought and converted to single family homes. I suspect the trend has shifted back slightly to "owner operators" as the prices in the area have gone up for the past 5 years.

Lincoln Square Two-Flat to Four-Flat Sales Jan 1st to Oct 7th, 2016
  • 63 multi-unit buildings (two-four units) sold thus far in 2016.  The median price is about $550,000.  41 of those sales were two-flat buildings with a $530,000 median price (highest price sale is $865,000). 19 buildings were three-flats with a median price just over $550,000 (highest sale was $719,000). Only three buildings were four-flats for a $550,000 median price (highest sale for four unit was $635,000).
  • In 2015, an almost identical 65 units sold with a median price around $550,000 as well. 
  • In 2014, 56 multi-units sold with a median price of $525,000.  
  • In 2012, when things started to trend upward, 42 units sold with a median price of only $379,000!

Thursday, October 06, 2016

New for sale! Bowmanville, Lincoln Square single family home delivers on quality for $649,900

2329 West Berwyn in the Bowmanville neighborhood of Lincoln Square.
Watch the video walk through of this three beds, four baths single family home at 2329 West Berwyn, Chicago, IL 60625 offered at $649,900.  This is the one!!




Bowmanville, Lincoln Square single family home!
2329 West Berwyn, Chicago IL 60625
Offered at $649,900
Three bedrooms
Four full baths
30'x125' lot!
Backyard, two large decks and two car garage
Kitchen/ great room
True master suite!
Open floor plan with quality finish level.

 
True master suite with walk-in closet and awesome French door and deck!

 
Master suite deck




Charming outdoor space for entertaining or quite summer nights.
Awesome kitchen/ great room layout!
View more photos and information here!

Bowmanville is a desirable community of long time owners and new construction homes alike. Walk to Andersonville night life, Lincoln Square entertainment and Winnemac Park. NEW Half Acre tap room/ patio coming soon across the street. Check out the Bowmanville Community Organization for neighborhood events!

Bowmanville is dotted with community gardens
A public green space developed by the Bowmanville Community Organization is located steps from 2329 W Berwyn.
Exclusively listed by:
Eric Rojas, Vice President/ Broker
ericrojasblog.com
erojas@kalerealty.com

Kale Realty - Lincoln Park
2447 N Ashland Avenue
Chicago IL 60614
773-510-1597

We love to help you buy and sell Bowmanville, Lincoln Square and North Side properties.  Contact us today!





Wednesday, October 05, 2016

Chicago Property Tax Rebate program: Application due November 30th, 2016



Rising property taxes are certainly on the minds of Chicago homeowners.  The Chicago Association of Realtors provided our members information on a Chicago Property Tax Rebate program. In person applications are due November 30th, 2016. Click here for more information.  


 Income and age restrictions apply:

  • Chicago Homeowner;
  • Received the Cook County Homeowners’ Exemption in the most recent property tax year;
  • Household adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less in 2015;
  • City of Chicago portion of property taxes increased on most recent tax bill;
  • Current on the payment of property taxes;
  • Do not owe real estate taxes on other property located in Chicago; and
  • Do not have City debt (e.g. parking tickets, overdue water bills). In cases where City debt is owed, the rebate will be applied to the debt.
Click here for the City of Chicago property tax rebate program.
  

Tuesday, October 04, 2016

Property Tax Appeal seminar TONIGHT Lincoln Square (It makes you smart)


Late notice on this blog.  However, your Alderman's and Commissioner's offices are there to help you appeal your property taxes.  I appeal each opportunity without an attorney.  The Board of Review makes it easy. 

If you can't make this info session contact your Alderman and Commissioner offices for more opportunities for one-on one help.

How to appeal your property taxes:
Tuesday October 4th, 2016
6:00pm
Sulzer Library
4455 N Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, IL 60625

Monday, October 03, 2016

New Uptown, Andersonville townhomes could replace commercial building at Chase Park

More changes a coming to North Clark Street in Uptown. 4740 N Clark Street, Chicago IL 60640 looking north. All photos Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty
A large commercial building at 4740 N Clark Street just north of Chase Park could be redeveloped into 24 townhomes.  The current property is owned by Community Counseling Centers of Chicago and consists of three conjoined buildings and a surface parking lot.  The large parcel spans some 254 feet along North Clark Street. View proposal drawings here
A front surface parking lot at the north end of the property. 
This Uptown Community Area location is walking distance to Andersonville retail/ restaurants and Ravenswood neighborhood amenities.  It's also near the busy intersection of West Lawrence and North Clark that has been developed with residential units and retail improvements over the last few years. 

The new townhome development would sit adjacent to Chase Park where adults and children alike can enjoy the track, fields, pool, tennis courts, basketball gym and more.


The morning traffic can be very busy on North Clark Street.  The location is close to the CTA Red Line trains and plenty of bus routes.
 You can view 47th Ward development cases here