Off Market Properties Chicago: Spacious Top Floor Two Bedroom with Parking

My clients are moving on... we'll list this Albany Park top floor condo later this month. It's about 1300 sq/ft in a three flat building. All the needs and wants... two car parking, walk to the train, washer/dryer in-unit, big deck off the kitchen... the works. Open layout and a gut rehab two years ago.



Asking $265,000


If you don't know much about Albany Park... just ask. I use to live there and several friends and clients live there now. This area has lots of new and eclectic retail, easy transportaion, grocery stores, two(!) university campuses, parks... all within a few blocks. Go west young man.

Sunday Open House Stories: Lakeview Below Zero

If you think the market is dead... you're crazy. Or at least you were smart enough to stay in on Sunday's "20 below Hell" wind-chills and didn't notice the action. I had nine groups through my open house at 920 W Barry. These were no walk ins.
For many, It's not even spring yet. But serious buyers are out looking now and would like to see something worth buying. Buyer's will take longer to make a decision, but there is only one Lakeview, one Lincoln Park. Sooner or later they will have to buy your place.

Each group visiting me Sunday was either with a Realtor or picked out their open houses for the day from my various advertisements. At least it was sunny...

I was too busy to read my Sunday Tribune Real Estate Section.

Ravenswood Government at Work: A New Stop Sign at Damen and Winnemac

It doesn't take much for me to get excited in our little burg here on the North Side. A new stop sign was erected some time last week at the intersection of North Damen and West Winnemac at the crosswalk to Winnemac Park. You must now stop if traveling north or south on Damen.

As a Realtor, my car is an extension of my being... and the $400 I just plunked down on brakes (even though under 20,000 miles) should make me less than pleased for another stop sign. But this intersection was flat out dangerous. It was a joke trying to cross to the park or turn on to Damen.

The stop sign follows the new kid's play lot just completed before the winter. The area around Winnemac Park just keeps improving with real estate development and infrastructure improvements.

Why Knowing a Good Buy in Chicago is like Knowing Your Kid

I know Ravenswood and Lincoln Square like I know my kid. And no one knows your neighborhood or your kid like you do.

I know when a great deal in Ravenswood and Lincoln Square comes up for purchase just like I know if my kid is hungry or tired. And I'm right... most of the time.

It's no coincidence I'm bringing this up today. Two things happened. First, we had a substitute nanny today as ours had to take the day off. I meet the caregiver in the morning and orientate them to the house and Ryne. I talk about his schedule for the day then I retire to my home office.

But it doesn’t matter… when he cries, they don’t know if Ryne wants up or down, needs to sleep, is hungry, wants to climb, crawl… whatever. But I know.

Secondly, a unit in a building I like came up for sale and sold in 18 days. This one under contract for 20K more than a comparable condo in the same building last fall season. I sent the unit located near Wolcott and Montrose to my clients and asked them to make a decision because it wouldn’t be around long. I pushed the condo because I knew it was the best two bedroom, two bath unit with parking and storage in the neighborhood at the price-point. $380K if you were wondering.

They don’t know that yet and they may never know. Just like they won’t know if Ryne wants up or down, needs to sleep, is hungry, wants to climb, crawl… whatever. But I know.

What Chicago Neighborhood is for the "Newlyweds and the Nearly dead"?

I've heard Boston's South End neighborhood described as a place for the "Newlywed and nearly dead"... if you catch their drift (i.e. the demographic).

What Chicago neighborhood would fit this description?

What Color Paint Would Axl Rose Use?

I'm prepping a condo to go to market next month at 2700 N Halsted in Lincoln Park. The bathroom needs a repaint and a little work to be perfect.

What paint to use....

Whenever I have a difficult question like this, I just ask myself: W W A R D?
That's right... what would Axl Rose do?

He'd choose Benjamin Moore's November Rain

When I look into your eyes
I can see a love restrained
But darlin' when I hold you
Don't you know I feel the same
'Cause nothin' lasts forever
And we both know hearts can change
And it's hard to hold a candle
In the cold November rain
We've been through this such a long long time
Just tryin' to kill the pain
But lovers always come and lovers always go
An no one's really sure who's lettin' go today
Walking away
If we could take the time to lay it on the line
I could rest my head
Just knowin' that you were mine
All mine
So if you want to love me
then darlin' don't refrain
Or I'll just end up walkin'
In the cold November rain

Do you need some time...on your own
Do you need some time...all alone
Everybody needs some time...on their own
Don't you know you need some time...all alone
I know it's hard to keep an open heart
When even friends seem out to harm you
But if you could heal a broken heart
Wouldn't time be out to charm you

Sometimes I need some time...on my
own Sometimes I need some time...all alone
Everybody needs some time...on their own
Don't you know you need some time...all alone

And when your fears subside
And shadows still remain, ohhh yeahhh
I know that you can love me
When there's no one left to blame
So never mind the darkness
We still can find a way
'Cause nothin' lasts forever
Even cold November rain


Don't ya think that you need somebody
Don't ya think that you need someone
Everybody needs somebody
You're not the only one
You're not the only one

New Two Bedroom Condo Plus Den in Ravenswood/Lincoln Square

This condo will hit the market tomorrow in Ravenswood/Lincoln Square.
4814 N Damen #314.

Some quick stats...
New construction in 2005
Two bedrooms plus a separate den
Elevator building
Garage Parking
Concrete floors/ceilings for sound insulation
Unique and open floor plan
Huge master bedroom
Master bath with double vanity, separate shower, whirlpool tub
Open kitchen with stainless, granite, cherry cabinets, peninsula island
Wired for sound
Large 10x20 terrace off living room
Common Rooftop Deck
Common Green Roof
Walk 5 minutes to the Damen Brown Line and Ravenswood Metra

Asking $400K! $247 for assessment...includes parking.

The condo faces an interior courtyard. This is priced with two bedrooms in the area.

A Lincoln Square Single Family Home I Love

Dear Homeowner,

If you ever decide to sell this home, please let me list it. I will give it the respect and marketing it deserves.

Bravo, good show.

Single family homes in this here part of Lincoln Square range from $699,000 for a fixer-upper backed up to the Brown Line to 'what do you want to spend?" for an oversized corner lot with new construction.

I'd say the home pictured above could list for $1,200,000. But, I have no idea what's inside, nor do I know the lot size off hand. If it's a long lot, it could get more.

Lincoln Square Graystone Two-Flat and Three Flat for the Ages

A few more shots from our walk yesterday... I know people who would wet themselves over a graystone like these...

My laptop is almost out of juice... I'll get back to this in the morning.

The New and the Old in Lincoln Square Single Family Homes

It was Daddy Day Care Day once again and Ryne and I were out on our walk despite the snow. The weather was quite charming... snowflakes falling, temps pretty good. Ryno was wrapped in his snow suit, so no worries there. He always falls asleep.

Anywho, I've walked by this house above on many an occasion and quite like it. It's definitely had some restoration work. But, it has it's original look and brick I reckon and was probably built on the backs of the original owner.

Walk down the street a bit on Giddings in Lincoln Square and you come across this beauty below. Looks terrific and is a good example of building a huge house that fits in the neighborhood. I'm not crazy about the windows, but it's very appealing in general.

Think they were inspired by an original down the street?