Ravenswood Mariano's coming soon!

Swift construction at the new Mariano's site located at West Lawrence and North Ravenswood Avenue.  YoChicago.com has a couple more photos and background information on the Ravenswood Station development HERE.

Singing the praises of downtown Chicago

Here's a quick shot of the Civic Opera building Bob took on the way to a closing.  We always enjoy our time around the city neighborhoods!

House hunting on the 4300 block of North Claremont, North Center

We showed a new house listing on the 4300 block of North Claremont in North Center to our clients this past weekend. The block has a private feel.  It's a little unusual in that North Claremont crosses one-way West Cullom (east bound traffic) and then stops at West Hutchinson... where you can only turn east to North Oakley... which is one-way heading north. The several one-ways and the short block keeps the traffic low in this active location.

Another unique aspect of the block is it is adjacent to Welles Park.  You can stand on the sidewalk and look right at the old play-lot on the south side of the park.  The tennis courts are also at the end of the block. The new play-lot and the amenity filled field house are located on the north end of the park.  Of course, you are also steps from many restaurants, bars and commercial amenities along North Lincoln Av.

In any event, it's a neat block in a great North Center location.  The block is also located in the popular and desirable Coonley School district.  Home sales in Coonley school district have a median price of about $800,000.

This double (triple?) lot gorgeous newer construction home sits on the 4300 block of North Claremont.  The block features a good mix of old and new homes...mostly single family houses with a few small multi-units (photo Eric Rojas)

Lincoln Park's big blue windmill down, but not out

Bob took this update photo last week. The Chevron sculpture by artist John Henry is conspicuously missing. However, reports are it will be back after some modification to the property.

The John Henry statue in sunnier times (photo Bob DePalma)

We've been supportive of the infamous Lincoln Park art installation at Burling and Armitage.  The once dilapidated corner on a not-so gorgeous stretch of Armitage has been brought to life with much private investment.  In general, we love the many public and semi-private art pieces that dot the city.

DNAinfo Lincoln Park had a good story in June on the controversy.

As politically controversial as this statement may be... we are for art!  In all seriousness, I just can't see this as a nuisance worth a legal fight that takes up city resources.  The corner lot position of the piece does not affect other properties along the block (for example, it doesn't appear to block a view or cast a permanent shadow on an adjacent house). 

Lincoln Square single family home sales 2013: Prices up, inventory low

It's been a dynamic year for Lincoln Square Community Area single family home sales.  In addition to houses changing hands, we've also seen significant renovations and custom new construction builds that have not been for sale (private builds).

New construction in the Bowmanville neighborhood of Lincoln Square (all photos Eric Rojas)

Lincoln Square single family home sales Jan 1st - July 5th

54 single family homes have sold between January 1st and July 5th of this year.  The median price is about $500,000.  Unit sales are only up about two homes over same period 2012.  Median price is up this year about $50,000.

The highest priced sale is a new construction house at 2104 W Sunnyside for $1,367,500 (closed in January). The original property was bought cash for $275,000... a steal considering the build and new sale! The lowest priced closing this year is a foreclosure sale at 5003 N Western for $169,900 cash (closed in May).   The busy and commercial Western Ave usually has the lowest residential sales in the Lincoln Square Community Area.

Foreclosure/ Short Sales

8 closed single family homes were listed as a foreclosure or short sale on the MLS.  The highest of these sales was a small, but renovated, house at 5255 N Damen for $310,000.  That was a short sale.

Under Contract

At the time of this writing, 29 single family homes are under contract. The median price of under contract homes is about $675,000.  Only 20 single family homes are actively listed in the Lincoln Square Community area at this time.

Bob about town: Summer lunch in Gold Coast

Bob rubs elbows with the Lamborghini lunch crowd outside Le Colonial on 937 N Rush, Gold Coast.

Two new gut rehabs in northern Ravenswood of Lincoln Square

I took a few shots of two new gut rehabs in progress on the 5100 blocks of North Oakley and North Claremont of the Ravenswood neighborhood in northern Lincoln Square.

5154 N Oakley gets new front window framing (photos Eric Rojas)

5154 N Oakley shown above was a foreclosure sale in March of this year for $281,200 cash (the listing price was $259,000).  The two-flat is getting a complete gut renovation.  A developer sign is up, but no listing on the MLS. The median price of a closed or under contract single family house for the last 12 months in this immediate area (West Lawrence to West Foster, North Ravenswood to North Western Avenue) is about $695,000.

Houses on the 5100 block of North Oakley

This frame two-flat on the 5148 North Claremont is quietly undergoing gut renovation.  There is no recent

The location between West Lawrence and West Foster and North Ravenswood and North Western has been a popular place for development and new construction.  We've talked about how land, re-sales and new construction have seen increased pricing over the last couple years. The single family home market has been very dynamic in this part of Lincoln Square.  An increased variety of single homes (from mid-range rehabs to higher-end new construction) have been sold in the last 12 months.

Sold! Wicker Park duplex closes for over list price

Our listing at 2124 W Evergreen #2 closed last week $2,000 over list price at $351,000.

Images of 2124 W Evergreen www.photolightchicago.com for Eric Rojas, Real Estate Broker

We just represented clients in the sale of their unique Wicker Park duplex at 2124 W Evergreen #2.  The spacious home featured two bedrooms, two and one-half baths and maybe the best bedroom closet space we've ever seen at this price.

Check out the video walk-through!


We congratulate our clients and the new owners on a smooth sale transaction.  Please call us to buy and sell North Side real estate.

Happy Independence Day!

Garage Parking a premium for Lincoln Square condos sales

We recently viewed a Lincoln Square condo on prime residential West Giddings Street.  The unit comes with garage parking shown above.

In the last 12 months 101 Lincoln Square condos have closed on the MLS with garage parking (either included with the unit or available for lease).  The median price for a condo with garage parking associated with it is about $315,000.

On the other hand, 89 condos sold with outdoor parking associated with them (either included or available for lease).  The median price for those sold condos is only $208,000.  This price also reflects the type of available units.  That is, units with garage parking tend to be larger and/or better finished and in more desirable buildings on average in my experience.  This includes newer construction buildings with heated garages that simply catch more money.

Coincidentally, 89 condos closed over the last 12 months that were listed with NO parking associated with the unit.  The median price for these closed condos is only $137,000.