Sunday Chicago Open House stories...

I have a rare Sunday "off" and I'm spending it watching my Packers (8-1) blow up the Vikings. But, I couldn't resist taking a peek at an open house in Ravenswood just down my block.

The place is a new conversion duplex down in a two flat building. I own a duplex-down, so I want to check out the competition along with previewing as many places as possible for clients. So in my Sunday best jeans and fleece, I made my way down the block.

When walking in, I always identity myself as a broker and I 'd like to check the place out. Now, after stating I'm a broker (and the agent there has met me before) you figure the agent would not have to point to the living room and tell me it was "the living room". I reckon you don't have to be in real estate to know it's the living room.

Annoyances aside, I proceed to take a look. Again, three bedroom, three bathroom, living room, family room, garage parking, nice kitchen with good sized deck adjacent.

Not a bad place, however there were some minuses here and questionable paint and layout choices. It has some nice formal room designations, but may not be open enough for some people.

However, with a $499K price-tag, it is a good alternative for a family looking to stay in Ravenswood. A move-in condition house, way outdated, will start at $600K in the neighborhood.

To get updated open house listings for any type of place you are looking for, please email or call me anytime. If we can't go out on showings, taking a look at some open houses is the next best thing.

Bike the drive... I-355 style. Or, "I can't drive I-355!"

As long as I'm on the subject of cycling...

The long awaited for some, and bemoaned by others, south extension of I-355 is set to open. The only reason I know, or care, about this is my in-laws live in Lemont, IL. It's a growing burg on a rolling hillside once know for it's bad water quality in the past (according to a health study my wife did in college).

Lemont now is a really great place to live. There is a good variety of single family home stock, a new giant condo and town home development downtown, a continued growth is quality retail and restaurants (someone beat me to opening a boutique wine shop in the downtown) and a Metra stop.
Speaking of living there, my mother-and-law has been making the case for Jillian and I to buy a house there for years. I told them we'll move next door when we can turn their house into an old folks home for them and my parents... with hired help.

And now Lemont has the south extension of I-355. See the only way in and and out of Lemont really (to the highways) was Lemont Rd., which bottlenecked at the bridge. Now my father-and-law can cruise the open highway just outside there sub-division they built in just over 7 years ago.

So, hurry on over to the great southwest and bike I-355 on Sunday.

You may hear a chorus of
"I can't drive I-355!"

Chicago Bike Maps: Ride your bike there next time

I was considering how out of shape and fat I'm getting and I realized I don't have the Chicago Bike Map posted. Maybe it will help me find my way to my bike.

The hardcores ride year round...
I have ceratin clients that prefer we cycle to showings on the weekends. It's awesome.

Here you go

It's now in the side bar as well.

Divison Street Wicker Park; "Most elegant in town"

Photo by www.yochicago.com

If you can't make fun of Realtors, who can you make fun of? I recently sent a listing on Division Street in Wicker Park to a client, in which the remarks... well... remarked:

"Luxury condo on most elegant street in town".


Really? Look, Divison is cool but if I wrote that, I'd make fun of me too.

High rise in Evanston: What are they smokin'?

This one's for my Evanston peeps...

Just a couple stories here concerning the next go around for a possible 40 plus story structure in downtown Evanston. Big.

The people don't seem to like it, but the city does and business folks do. My clients in Evanston are on the fence, but can't totally get their heads around a tower that size at that location in general.

Heres's some Background:

Chicago Business
Evanston Roundtable

Evanston Now

The Local goes to Rubloff

I recently accepted a position with Rubloff Residential Properties in Lincoln Park. The next few days may be rocky as I settle in at the new office and get all my new information out there. However, I'm pretty excited about the marketing and resources the long time Chicago company offers. I'm also excited about the garage parking in the heart of Lincoln Park... seriously, it's great.

If you have questions for me or want to look at some properties, just call or email from the information at this site. I'll have some Rubloff real estate links and property search options up in a day or so.

My clients have been taking up most of my time (thank goodness), so the "blog build" takes a back seat. See you in Lincoln Park.

Chicago Tribune Real Estate Section

I love grabbing the Chicago Real Estate Section from the Tribune on my way out the door. Lately, I've slowed down enough to even sit and read it with a cup of coffee in the morning (I admit to giving another good blogger a hard time for actually reading a "print" newspaper rather than going online!).

But the truth is, he’s right. There’s not much better things than reading the real estate sections on Sunday in your favorite place at home. Mine being my kitchen hightop table...

I believe they truly feature stories that can set you on the right path when considering buying or selling a home. You can always skip the section and ask me, but maybe you like the Sunday paper too. More important still are the articles that deal with condo associations and mortgage finance.

For instance, one of the more interesting stories today concerned how folks are dealing with getting mortgages... and those who are providing options.

It seems that IRA holders are getting into the loan shark game to "fill the gap" on portions of mortgages. Just don't borrow from the guy named Joe Bag of Doughnuts....

Sunday Open Houses in Chicago

If you haven’t noticed already, there are A-LOT of open house in Chicago… particularly on Sundays. Tomorrow, in fact, I’ll take my clients to various showing appointments, including open houses throughout the day. They have limited time and the open houses give us the opportunity and flexibility to view as many places as possible. (BTW, if you have a kick-butt three bedroom town home with garage parking for sale, shoot me an email).

Sellers… as a marketing tool, the open house is great because it allows Realtors to easily schedule weekend showings of your property.

There are safety concerns to open houses and arguments to their effectiveness in selling homes. But, both these issues can be addressed. As in anything you do safety precautions can be taken in open house situations. And as for selling the home, the open house is a way to get showings… period. The have to be conducted with good advance advertising and professionalism at the “point of sale”.

Chicago… how do you feel about open houses? Have you ever walked by one during the house hunt and eventually bought the home? In my experience, consumers look for open houses to visit with the intent of making a purchase if it’s the “one”. On our first place, my wife and I walked into an open house for a new development in the neighborhood we targeted… and eventually bought the first unit in the building.

For a targeted list of Open Houses every weekend, just email me or call. Stop squinting at the newspaper! I'll be nice and set you up. I promise it's much easier on you.

Chicago furniture stores... not all the same

One of my favorite stops in Lincoln Square is Northern Home Furnishings. It's a real mix of furniture, but the best pieces are a sort of reserved modern style... German, Danish, Scandinavian.

Jill and I have purchased a terrific bed and dresser there for our guest room. It was our master set in our last condo, but now looks better in our guest room. My flat screen T.V. stand is from there. Recently, I popped in and found several new lamps that just came in... I'd been looking for some affordable cool lamps for our duplex for awhile. I picked out four different styles that really look great in the house.
Prices can be very competitive.

In fact we just picked up a new tall kitchen table with stools for $199! It looks higher-end, great color and the quality is terrific for an eat-in kitchen table. They ordered several of them as a promotional piece and they flew out the door. Seriously, I'm not cheap when it comes to furniture. The table actually looks and feels good.

It's a privately owned store (say hi to Michael and Helmut), so when picking up a good volume of furniture, make sure you bargain a bit. Also, they deliver and set up for free.

Streeterville and New Eastside for under $200K

Last weekend I met a client from Wisconsin downtown to view condos under $200K. Yes it can be done. And frankly, I'm jealous... young guy, gets his first big job out of grad school and moving to the City of Big Shoulders.

He'll land in a studio... but so what? You're in Downtown Chicago!

His criteria was to be two miles within Millennium Park. No prob.
To be honest, I initially thought we'd only find some badly placed units. You know, no light, next to air conditioning condensers, low floors, dumpy buildings. Maybe have to share a bathroom with the studio next door (just kidding).

However, I found a few places that were really nice... I could see my self living in them (when Jill kicks me out for bringing home a dog... but that's another story).

A couple favorites:

31st floor spacious studio unit in great shape with clear unobstructed views south at 400 E Randolph for $189K. This building is constructing a new work-out facility and has a unique location. Being so far east on Randolph gives it a little serenity. However, it's right across the street from Millennium Park and it's band shell... so you better love the music.

A modern and updated studio at 230 E Ontario for 189K in Streeterville. 21st floor and on a terrific location for happy hour action. Trader Joe's is close by as well! This unit also was bright. Less view, but a much more happening spot.


If I was single (and I'm soooo not single) and worked downtown, I would love the opportunity to buy a studio in one of these buildings. Renting one of these places can run $1,100 to $1,300. With a decent down payment, these resale units will make much more sense than renting. You have the option to hold on to the unit as well as you move up the property ladder.

Just watch out for the bridges.