A quick iconic dose of Streeterville on an early summer evening

The views exiting onto North Michigan Avenue and the Mag Mile never get old (and I had plenty of time on the ramp to take them in).

I parked easily at a meter near the 900/910 Mies building on East Delaware and the lake ($7.00).

Met the wife at an old standby.

House hunting along Diversey Parkway in East Lakeview

The Surf-Pine Grove Landmark District serves up leafy streets and vintage apartments near the Diversey Parkway shops, bars and restaurants (all photos Eric Rojas, Real Estate Broker)

We've been spending a lot more time lately in East Lakeview with our condo buyers.  The market has improved, so both buyers and sellers are feeling a little more confident and, well... buying and selling more.  One of our favorite spots in the city to hang out and look for condos is the area along West Diversey between Broadway and Sheridan Road near the lake.

A familiar sign along Diversey Parkway, The Market Place Food Store hangs on amongst the nearby Trader Joe's and Walmart market.

Large vintage apartment buildings (like this one on West Surf) have been home to generations of young professionals, families, dreamers, hipsters and eclectics in the bustling lakefront neighborhood.  I remember visiting my older cousins on West Surf when I was a kid.  I thought they were the coolest!

There are some good condo building options along North Cambridge near West Diversey Parkway.  Updated two bedroom, one bath units start in the $250,000s (with assessment in the $300s) and go up quickly from there (all photos Eric Rojas).

The busy West Diversey Parkway strip west of Broadway and near the lake is a great place to live if you are looking for hustle, bustle, the lake, bars, shops and people!  And of course all the action leads straight east to Diversey Harbor.  See you in the hood!

Diversey Harbor (photo Eric Rojas)

Buying a South Loop town house near Cotton Tail Park

We recently viewed this town house with buyer clients on the 1200 block of South Federal in the South Loop school district (photo Bob DePalma)

There are several leafy town home communities in the very urban South Loop.  The community atmosphere on an early summer night can rival the more traditional single family home enclaves around the city.  Neighbors and families of all sorts can conveniently commiserate in the tree-lined courtyards and parks of the planned developments.

Several town house communities surround Cotton Tail Park.  The park is bonkers with families in the late afternoon and weekend mornings (photo Eric Rojas).

Cotton Tail Park entrance at the 1400 block of South Plymouth (photo Bob DePalma)

You are HERE

Google map image of Dearborn Park town house communities located between Clark and State Streets

The most common town homes have two bedrooms, 2 baths, a small family room and a garage.  Sales prices average in the low to mid $400,000 range.  True three bedroom town homes are sought after and can sell for much higher.

Stop and look: Charming Bowmanville

Even our 3 1/2 year old Amalia can appreciate the curb appeal of these painted porch steps and planted parkways in Bowmanville.  She made me take a picture on our walk home from Dominick's.

 

If it impresses this little girl, think of what a little front landscaping will do for potential buyers (and for your pride of ownership.)

Photos! New construction update at Division and Ashland in East Village/ Wicker Park

Rent a new apartment here in East Village/ Wicker Park and "Eat Great, Even Late!"

You can read coverage of the new mixed commercial and rental apartment building at 1611 W Division at Curbed and Yo Chicago.  Here's a couple photos of the construction taken by Bob while doing business in the neighborhood today.

 

Quick STATS: Lakeview condo sales fierce, UP 33%

A "good" condo is a subjective thing.  But one thing we do well is know when a listed condo will sell quickly.  How?  As a wise person once said, "It is what it is".  This does not mean it's THE condo for YOU, it just means we have a good sense in a given market what will sell and at what price.

We saw this two beds, two baths Lakeview condo with garage parking last weekend.  $349,000 asking with this roof top cabana to boot.

And the good condo market is wicked fierce in our most active markets of Lincoln Square, Lakeview, Lincoln Park, North Center and South Loop.
Here's a look at Lakeview's condo sales for the first half of 2013.

From January 1st to May 31st of 2013 of this year 688 Lakeview condo units have sold.  That's up 33% from the 514 that sold same period in 2012...a good year in its own right.  216 condos closed in May 2013 alone.

What sold?  Here's a breakdown including attached townhouse units.
129 one bedroom condos sold with a median price of $155,000 (most in the lower half of pricing  reside in dated high rise and mid-rise buildings near the lake)

325 two bedroom condos sold with median price of about $335,000.  Two bedroom condos can vary greatly with one, two or two and one-half baths.  They also vary greatly in parking availability and outdoor space.

179 three bedroom condos sold with a median price of about $475,000.  Of course, styles and features vary greatly.

Only 29 Lakeview condos with at least 4 or more bedrooms sold with a median price of $651,000.  We sold one of them at 416 W Briar Place.

Another contemporary new house on West Winona in Lincoln Square

This looks like another contemporary, or modern, new build on the 2600 block of West Winona in Ravenswood/ Lincoln Square.  I took this shot late last week on my run over to the Northeastern Illinois University gym.

We've mentioned in the past that these couple blocks of Winona (just west of Western Avenue in Lincoln Square) are dotted with contemporary and modern new houses.  There are a handful traditional looking new construction houses as well.  The east-west blocks just east of Western Avenue (Winona, Carmen, Winnemac, Argyle, Ainslie etc) have very few new construction homes in comparison.

This modern home at 2540 W Winona with lower level garage just closed for $695,000 this year.

Land prices can be good in these "just off the path" locations. This location is near great amenities such as "downtown" Lincoln Square just to the south and lots of practical stores (Dominicks, Home Depot etc) and highway access just to the north.  Sometimes we can find little blocks of opportunity to build new and/or modern.

You can't escapeThe Container Store

We can't get get away from this place!

 Most homeowners I know that live in and around Lincoln Park sooner or later get sucked into this familiar shopping mecca of "mini" big box stores along Clybourn and North Avenue.  We're no different.  Our recent master bedroom renovation had us in "need" of more closet stuff to retrofit our sprawling collection of Elfa shelving.

So, we head hat in hand to The Container Store in Lincoln Park.  After seeing the results in our closet... it hurts so good!

Get a rebate on your new furnace, HVAC equipment

I just applied for a $550.00 rebate on my newly installed 95% energy efficient furnace and thermostat. It's called the Residential Prescriptive Rebate Program.

If you have had HVAC equipment installed in your home recently (furnaces, air conditioners, programmable thermostats), visit the Peoples Gas site now!
My HVAC technician tells me we have until June 15th, 2013 to get the application in for this rebate program.

 Check with all your particular utility companies for available rebates!

Green inspiration on North Bell in Ravenswood

The sleepy 4900 block of North Bell in Ravenswood has a few inspiring landscapes.

In Chicago, you own your little plot of land up to the parkway (the parkway is the area between the sidewalk and street).  The City owns the parkway but the homeowner generally cares for it and sometimes enhances it.  Remember to thank your neighbors for these beautiful parkways and front yards when you have the chance!

I took note of the many grasses and shrubs for my back yard planting beds surrounding our patio. It made my shopping easy!

Here's a couple more landscaped setbacks along the street.  When several neighbors enhance their front yards and parkways, it completely improves the aesthetic and desirability of the block.