Winter Carnival at Amundsen High School...Tomorrow!

Hey Lincoln Square and North Center communtiy! Here's an easy, festive holiday event to take the kids and support your local high school.

Winter Carnival at Amundsen High School

Wednesday 12/19 at 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

The kids insisted on walking several blocks downtown (in the rain with no complaints) to hand deliver their letters to Santa this year at Christkindlmarket. 

Photo: New Gold Coast mega-Starbucks open!

Bob took this shot last week of patrons on the terrace at the newly opened upscale Starbucks in Gold Coast.  He quickly joined them (a couple times this week) at the hopping location.  Beer and wine sales after 4PM.

More Gold Coast posts here

Choose a great block when buying your condo

I had a couple recent showings on the 800 block of West Bradley Place in Lakeview.  The condo building parkways were well landscaped and the buildings looked in great shape. It reminded me again how important each individual block is!

It was a gray day...and this is a camera phone photo.  But, one can see the extensive parkway and front landscape plantings for several adjacent condo buildings on the 800 block of West Bradley Place.

We had a great sense of community and pride of ownership from the block and the properties we saw.  It was easy to imagine getting along well here. The location aesthetic is very important to many buyers (including myself). This value also shows up in the list and selling prices of the homes on great blocks over similar, nearby condos.

Rare: This huge front terrace overlooks the property's own birch trees planted in front. Really nice!

It may sound obvious or even cliche, but we still see buyers swayed by size and bling over a more coveted location - with perhaps - a less luxurious property upon it.  We ask our buyer clients to give good weight to the "feeling" of the location over the general finish level of the condo.

The well designed and cared for terrace next door... maybe a cocktail is in your future with the neighbors?

 

More Lakeview posts here!

Prairie burn at Winnemac Park in Lincoln Square

The Ravenswood neighborhood in Lincoln Square is home to Winnemac Park.  The unique prairie grass landscaping and plantings are a source of pride for the surrounding neighborhood.

Watch the video HERE!

Man made prairie burn at Winnemac Park (photo Eric Rojas, Real Estate Broker

Neighbor Amy Williamson has been involved with the Winnemac Park landscape for many years.  Here, she describes the burn:

This morning, 12/6, landscape crews in Winnemac Park cut and rake prairie plants away from wooden fences in preparation for an upcoming controlled prairie burn.  It is important for prairies to be burned periodically to kill off invasive plants, release nutrients into the soil and to germinate certain types of seeds.  Established prairie plants have long roots and are not harmed by the fires.

Photo Eric Rojas, Real Estate Broker

More posts from Winnemac Park HERE

You may also visit www.winnemac.org for hyper-local information around Winnemac Park.  Email info@winnemac.org to get involved with the Winnemac Park Advisory Council.  We'll put you in touch with other active neighbors.

Shopping slingshots and skulls in Andersonville

We try and do a fair amount of local gift shopping in Andersonville and Lincoln Square. One our kids' surprise favorites this year was the design store The Haymaker Shop in Andersonville.

 You'll shoot your eye out!

Chalkboard skulls

Despite the excellent argument for a slingshot...we bought a candle. The Haymaker Shop has a great Facebook page HERE  

Coincidentally, one of my favorite contractors, Artistic Construction (Facebook), did the build-out of the store when they were opening. Artistic Construction online HERE

More Andersonville post HERE

Ditch the car in Printer's Row

A recent client was so happy with her Printer's Row location that she decided to sell her car too.  Trains, cabs and buses are at your doorstep from this Loop locale.

She went all in; going from renting in a sleepy location to buying under budget in a sophisticated downtown building... and ditching the car. An upgraded lifestyle for less!

Condo sales on North Wells Street in Old Town

Old Town street markers (1212 N Wells building in background has affordable one bedroom units).  Photo: Eric Rojas, Broker

We were down in Old Town late last week prepping a new listing coming to market. The famous strip of North Wells Street in Old Town of Chicago's Near North community area is all wrapped up for Christmas and the holidays.  Here's a look at condo sales on North Wells Street from West North Avenue to West Division Street.

North Wells Street SOLD condos in the last 12 months from West North Avenue to West Division Street

14 condo units closed in the last 12 months from the time of writing (December 3, 2012). All the units were either one bedroom or two bedroom condos in mid-rise buildings with 30 to 95 units. This seems like a relatively low number of sales considering the many residential condo units along the strip.  However, it's a prime location in which people may hold units longer. In 2011, only 14 units sold on this section of Wells Street.

The median price for a condo over the last two years along the strip is about $369,000 with a $400+ assessment.

1414 N Wells is a popular mid-rise fetching the $500,000s for two bed, two bath condos

 The lowest sale in the last 12 months was $220,000 for a 1000 sq/ft one bedroom condo at the Neapolitan, 1212 N Wells Unit 1102.  Garage parking is included in that price and the assessment for the 2001 amenity building with elevator, doorman, tennis and basketball courts, fitness area and party room is $442.00 a month.

The highest sale in the last 12 months was at 1414 N Wells unit #405 for $578,500 at the 1995 built mid-rise with 52 units.  The 1700 sq/ft home with two bedrooms features two luxury baths, garage parking, two good sized balconies utility room, walk-in closets, spacious rooms and a $551 monthly assessment.

Wells Street businesses have a great holiday spirit... Fireplace Inn is a regular Christmas time tradition for us.

Currently, there are 5 units under contract on the strip which may push the closing numbers ahead of last year.  Only 3 units are listed for sale on the MLS. There will possibly be the highest and lowest closings for the year with a unit at 1414 N Wells under contract asking $615,000 and a foreclosure unit at 1212 N Wells  under contract asking $185,000 (will close for over list). 

More Chicago Market Statistics HERE

Under Contract in 2 days! Bomanville house snapped up

2209 W Farragut asking $419,900 was just listed on the market Thursday and under contract after the first day of showings.

 

These sellers had the home in tip top showing shape while pricing right.  We came up with a great plan to achieve their goals. Our last 3 single family home listings in Lincoln Square/ Ravenswood have all sold after the first day of showings.

 

 Please contact us if looking to sell or buy a house on the North Side of Chicago. 

 

 

Video, photos and information  HERE

"Gaming" at Navy Pier

We often do "touristy" and even quirky things in Chicago...because we can.  Groupon suggested we go to the Chicago Toy and Game Fair at Navy Pier...and we did.  Among other things we took pictures with Storm Troopers, played original board and skill games with kid inventors, slid down bouncy slides and ate CHEEZBORGERS at the Billy Goat Tavern.

Blowing up balloons!