First time buyer on the Hudson! Great east Lincoln Park location

Looking north on the 1800 block of North Hudson, Lincoln Park

One of our clients just wrapped up a buy-side deal on a fee-simple town house on the 1800 block of North Hudson.  Not a bad location.  The affordable town home under $350,000 is steps from the lake, restaurants, bars and surrounded by beautiful architecture and multi-million dollar homes.

These small town houses sport new roofs and are affordable relative to this pricey location

The neighbor's full city lot yard adjacent to the town house (just had to post!)

The smart purchase will allow the buyer to live in his #1 location, enjoy the Lincoln Park lifestyle and has room enough for roommates if wanted.  The FEE-SIMPLE property has flexibility as a very attractive rental property demanding top rents should the owner want to hang on to it when moving.  The town home also has parking which is huge in this dense and popular Lincoln Park neighborhood.

Call us to purchase Lincoln Park properties and check out more Lincoln Park posts HERE

Fitness, kids swimming at Northeastern Illinois University

The sports complex at NEIU has just about everything you could want for an affordable membership

Two of my kids contemplate the public art before swim lessons

I recently joined the Northeastern Illinois University Physical Education complex as an alum of the school and enrolled my son in swimming lessons.  The university offers community memberships, swim lessons and discounted programs for alumni. The complex has one of the biggest pools in the area, locker facilities, racquetball courts, weight and cardio room, three full size basketball courts and an auxiliary gym with climbing equipment, indoor running track, outdoor tennis courts and more.


As a member of the NEIU Alumni Advisory Board, I stay active with the university in many ways. It feels great that I can take my kids to my college for swim lessons. If you are either a community member or alumni, the university offers fitness membership options.  As parents, you do not have to be a member to enroll your kids in swim lessons.

Location! Buyers choose unique West Eugenie Street of Lincoln Park

Public art at Eugenie and Cleveland: All photos Eric Rojas, Real Estate Broker

Our buyer clients recently purchased a condo on the 500 block of West Eugenie in Lincoln Park.  The home is set to close in a couple weeks.  The quiet block is located in east Lincoln Park, in the Abraham Lincoln Elementary School district and close to Old Town shopping and restaurants.  The block has a cul du sac feel with several open plaza spaces around a popular church (and home of a huge summer block party!).

St. Michael Church anchors the pedestrian pleasing two block radius

More wide plaza space just east of St. Michael

Vintage buildings dominate the blocks.

The condos at 535 and 545 Eugenie.  Two homes are under contract.

A single family home neighbor on the block

The corner of Eugenie and Cleveland

North Center single family home sales: 1st quarter units, median price down but expect busy year

We were in North Center again yesterday with a client viewing a house listed at over $1 million.  North Center single family homes were one of the hottest markets of 2011. With over 30 percent of houses offered at over $1 million, unit closing numbers up and prices strong compared to other North Side neighborhoods North Center transcended the market. There appeared to be one or two new construction homes in progress on every block! Let's see how sales went first quarter 2012.

Town Square farmer's market in North Center. Photo Eric Rojas, Real Estate Broker

Closed:
21 single family homes closed in the North Center community area from January 1st, 2012 to March 30th, 2012. The median price of a house was about $525,000.  Most of the homes below $525,000 were in need of significant renovation, located on Western AVE or need to be torn down. 28 homes closed in the first quarter in 2011 with a median price at $725,000.

Under Contract:
At the time of this writing 47 homes are under contract in North Center with a median asking price of about $925,000 for those houses.  We should see a pretty good year in units sales and prices once it is all said and done for 2012


 
The Highs:
The highest priced closing was 2216 W Grace for $1,435,000 as a short sale.  This was the "controversial" conversion of a corner 6 unit building to an enormous single family home.  Listed at $2,115,000 the truly opulent house took a considerable lower offer but needed considerable finish work as well. 


The Lows:
The lowest priced house to sell was 2425 W Fletcher for $120,888 as a short sale.  This is a small frame "tear down" house on a 25' x 120' lot in a somewhat isolated little section just south of the Western, Clybourn, Belmont intersection.


Distressed:
8 of the 21 houses sold in the first quarter were listed as foreclosure or short sale in our MLS.

Million dollar views in South Loop...for less!

Looking north from State Street in South Loop: Photo Bob DePalma, Real Estate Broker

 Our buyer clients are under contract on a South Loop full amenity high-rise condo on South State Street. This is their view from the terrace! There are opportunities for great views and location under $300K in South Loop.

Photo! Fire on North Side from Gold Coast perch

Photo Bob DePalma, Real Estate Broker

Bob snapped this yesterday looking north along the lake.

Back in Oak Park!

The wide setbacks of South Scoville near the Green Line: Photo Eric Rojas, Realtor

We'll have some photos and posts up over the next several weeks of Oak Park houses and market data.  We have more and more clients outgrowing their current environs and discovering Oak Park for their long term homes.  Good schools, attractive prices and proximity to a city-like down town are tops on the list for our buyer clients.

Photo: All quiet on the Oak Street front

Oak Street looking west last Saturday at dusk: Photo Eric Rojas

PHOTO! Gold Coast Esquire Theater construction update

Photo by Bob "Gold Coast" DePalma, Real Estate Broker

Bob snapped this construction photo above today of the new look, new use Esquire Theater building on Oak Street in Chicago's Gold Coast.

Past Esquire construction photos and updates on the blog HERE

West Loop 2 bedrooms condo sales up, median price up first quarter 2012

Looking east from West Loop: Photo Bob DePalma, Real Estate Broker

Since we are working with more buyers and sellers in West Loop again this year, I figure we'll take take a look at 2 bedrooms condo sales this first quarter of 2012.  

Closings, Price Up:
22 two bedrooms condos have closed in West Loop at the time of this writing with a median price of about $290,000 (January 1st to March 29th).  Sales are already up 4 units (with Friday still to go) and median price up $10K over first quarter 2011. The lower half of the price range for sales tended to be west of 1200 West (Racine) or along the Eisenhower. There are currently 53 units under contract, so we should see a handful of closing tomorrow (Friday and last day of the month).  That could push the sales numbers up another 10 units.


The Highs:
The highest closing this year thus far for a two bedrooms condo was $402,000 for 955 West Monroe #3B.  It is a two beds, two baths, huge terrace with garage parking. A 2008 built, 12 units building...prime location and an elevator to boot.


The Lows:
1224 W Van Buren, a two beds, one and one-half baths small soft loft conversion with garage parking sold for ...wait... $154,000 with a $395 monthly assessment.  This is a large converted condo building along the Eisenhower that has struggled with sales over the years...but, still a pretty good deal!


Distressed:
6 of the 22 closed sales in our MLS were designated either a short sale or a foreclosure.