Party at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Lincoln Park

This year we planned our boys' birthday celebrations at The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in Lincoln Park.  The parties are getting too big for our house!  Our family has been members for a couple years so we thought it would be a good option.  The staff and coordinators made things really easy...especially the day of the party.  We pulled right up to the receiving area and carted all our party gear right up to our room.

We had a choice of several areas for the party.  We selected the northern most event room. My photos do not do the room justice...it is huge and bright.

The calm before the storm!

The view from the north room was fantastic!  This was the first visit to the museum for many of our guests and they really loved the facility and amazing location.

Looking north over the lagoons from our Nature Museum party room

One of the terrific advantages for hosting a party at the museum is the guests receive free admission to the facility.  If the weather is decent, the kids can spill outside from the party room and explore the amazing grounds too.  The over-all price for hosting a birthday party - considering all that you get - is very reasonable.

Stump jumpin' just outside our party room at the museum

We thank the folks at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum for a memorable day.  It was one of our favorite family events!

Sold: Clients close Oak Park bungalow and get their "buzz" on

We were in Oak Park today for our client's closing of a renovated brick bungalow.  The previous owners added an entire second floor....and opened up the main floor to create a very surprising contemporary house. Great street, great deal and cool house!

Our clients purchased this spacious Oak Park bungalow north of the Harrison Street Arts District (photo Eric Rojas)

After the smooth closing we hit Buzz Cafe for brunch...this little neighborhood center with shops and restaurants is just a few minutes walk from their house.  It's great when you just want a bite without going a little further to downtown Oak Park.

 

Our clients were "buzzing" after closing on their house...congrats!

Under Contract! Ravenswood house with killer kitchen sells fast

Great location, size and price for this attractive Victorian style renovation was too good to pass up.  1913 W Leland (asking $599,000) drew immediate showings and went under contract within a few days of hitting the market.


1913 W Leland offers a wide lot with side yard and fantastic porch!

 

Best kitchen for the money in Ravenswood/ Lincoln Square!

We look forward to a smooth closing process with the buyers and sellers.  It's a great place to call home and be close to all conveinences you can think of.

Watch the video walk-through!


We represent buyers and sellers from Lincoln Park to Lincoln Square and work with them exclusively to acheive their goals.  We help buyers get the opportunity to purchase a single family home in this fast paced market.  We advise sellers on proper listing strategy and help them understand the market activity to avoid mistakes.

Bob and I are some of the most active brokers in the Lincoln Square area for houses and condos.  Please consider working with us before buying or selling your home.

Roscoe Village single family home sales, inventory low

We have clients looking for a quality house in the Roscoe Village neighborhood of North Center.  Here's a look at single family homes sales this year.

3536 N Bell is under contract asking $1,689,000.  The luxury new construction in Roscoe Village was completed this spring (photo Eric Rojas)

 
Roscoe Village Single Family Homes Sales January 1st - April 14th, 2013

12 single family homes closed so far this year in the Roscoe Village boundaries (North Ashland to North Western, West Belmont to West Addison).  The median price is about $1.1M.  The highest closing this season is $1,751,309 (and .50 cents) for 3330 N Oakley.  The 6 bedroom luxury new construction on a 30' wide lot was sold to the owner during the development/ construction phase.

The popular retail stretch of West Roscoe Street on a cold March morning.

The lowest sold single family home sold this year in Roscoe Village was 2326 W Melrose closed for $615,000.  This was a nicely renovated 3 bedrooms house with a one bedroom rental unit in the lower level.

All of the closed homes were in Audubon Elementary school attendance boundaries with the exception of 1845 W Newport (a new gut renovation closed $1,050,000).  1845 W Newport was in Hamilton school district (another popular school).

Roscoe Village (generated by Eric Rojas using MREDLLC.com)

Homes for sale, under contract

The real story this year is single family home inventory.  As of this writing, seven homes are actively available for sale.  The median asking price is about $980,000.  Contrast that with 21 homes under contract in this relitively small area.  We'll see about 40-50 single family houses change hands the first six months of this year...that's pretty dynamic for this single neighborhood.

All sales stats pulled from MREDLLC.com and interpreted by Eric Rojas, Real Estate Broker with Kale Realty. Unit sales and median prices approximate and based on available data at time of writing.

New luxury house coming near Winnemac Park in Lincoln Square

A new "$1.2 million dollar house" is coming to the 4900 block of North Hoyne in the Ravenswood neighborhood of Lincoln Square.  This particular area surrounding the large and popular Winnemac Park has been very active for new construction and gut rehab home buyers over the past two years.

The house is being built by an active area developer who built the home directly behind this lot on North Hamilton.  The home is in development for new owners who have already purchased from the developer.  In these cases, it's usually a client of a broker/ developer that is looking for a site to build on.  The homes are not listed on the MLS for sale during construction, but, may be listed as CLOSED once the owners complete the transaction.

Welcome to the neighborhood!

Under Contract! A few hours is all it took for this Ravenswood classic bungalow

2236 W Carmen received a qualified offer within hours of listing. Photo by Photolight Chicago Photo property of Eric Rojas, Broker at Kale Realty

Our newest single family home listing at 2236 W Carmen in the Winnemac Park area of Ravenswood is under contract.  The asking price was $379,000 and the home sellers received a well qualified offer and great terms in a matter of hours.  Contract pending.

If you need a broker in the areas of Lincoln Square, Ravenswood, Andersonville, Bowmanville, Lakeview and Lincoln Park... contact us.  We work aggressively and exclusively one-on-one with our buyers and sellers to maximize their opportunities.

Three NEW CONSTRUCTION single family homes coming to Burley school district in lakeview

A deal was struck for three contiguous lots on the 1200 Block of West Barry in Lakeview.  The home to the left of the cleared lots will also be torn down for new house construction according to my sources (photo Eric Rojas, Real Estate Broker)

I was at a client and friend's home last Saturday and noticed these lots (pictured above) behind their home. They had just been torn down that week according to our host. It's rare to see three single family homes being built adjacent to each other on a popular Lakeview residential block. 

The addresses at approximately 1248-1252 W Barry are located in the desirable Burley Elementary School attendance boundaries.  In a time of low single family home inventory in well ranked school districts these houses could not come too soon.

I generated this "Bird's Eye View" photo below from our MLS (MREDLLC.com) that shows the original structures.  Looks like a garage was the further most western lot with a couple of multi-unit buildings adjacent to the east.

Photo generated by Eric Rojas from MREDLLC.com shows the original structures on the 1200 Block of West Barry that stood just a week or so ago.

The lots were sold off the MLS.  The 1250 W Barry structure was briefly listed at a two-flat for sale at $499,000 and then cancelled over one year ago.  I'm sure the properties were then shopped around as a package deal to professionals with the means to purchase and build luxury homes. 

It's a great upgrade to my client's home whose huge deck will now overlook new high-end houses. The median price for a house in Burley school district boundaries is over $850,000.

Video! Walk through our new house listing in Ravenswood of Lincoln Square

1913 W Leland asking $599,000.  Click here for more photos and info!

New For Sale! Lincoln Square, Ravenswood house with killer kitchen $599,000...wow!

Wide 39' lot and wrap around porch!

Awesome, sunny renovated kitchen

 We just listed 1913 W Leland for sale at $599,000 in the vibrant Ravenswood neighborhood of Lincoln Square.  This is urban single family home living at its best!  Spacious Victorian style home with modern updates.  Tons of flexible space and storage.  Wonderful side yard and outdoor patio.  Walk to everything!
--------
4 beds
2.5 baths
Family room
Sun room
3rd floor finished attic space
Unfinished basement with laundry/ workshop and storage
Central HVAC
Steps to Metra at Ravenswood, Damen Brown Line, new Mariano's grocery, cafes...everything!

Entry with coat closet

Large, open double parlor living room

Eat-in kitchen

Side yard on 39' wide lot

Private patio

 

Large, bright corner master bedroom...tons of light.

Double closets (second set not shown)

2nd bedroom

3rd bedroom

2nd floor sun-room (south facing)

2nd floor flexible space (family room, play area, den)

Finished attic bedroom/ office (larger than it looks here!)

3rd floor deck, great views of the neighborhood

Amazing location.  New French International School being built at Damen and Wilson, new Mariano's Fresh Market underway at Ravenswood and Lawrence, major Lawrence Avenue Streetscape improvements, many new million dollar homes built in last few years!  Established shops on Damen and 3 blocks from Lincoln Square's famous retail and entertainment strip.

Between popular Chase, Welles and Winnemac Parks too!

Video! Chase Park a great place to live by

We stopped by Chase Park's Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday with the kids.  www.YoChicago.com was there to film for CMK development...they are building new town homes close to the park in the Ravenswood/ Andersonville area.  I give my personal endorsement of Chase Park in my cameo appearance... at about 1:00 into the video.

Click for the video of Chase Park

Somehow our one year old didn't cry!