New for Sale! Modern high-rise Edgewater home with spectacular lake views $219,000

1122 W Catalpa #707 in Edgewater asking $219,000

New paint and shows great (PhotoLightChicago.com and Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty)

The entire east side of the unit has terrific lake and city views.  Really cool! (PhotoLightChicago.com and Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty)

 

 

 Watch the video!

 

Check out our newest loft high rise listing with lake views!  The 2-bedroom, 2 full bath loft condo at 1122 W Catalpa in Edgewater has every feature that savvy buyers are seeking, including an affordable price tag: $219,900.

The home has high ceilings, hardwood floors, stainless kitchen package with gas range and granite counters, an in-unit washer dryer, a private balcony, fireplace, concrete between floors, fire sprinkler system. The master suite has ample closet space and a wall of east-facing windows.

The newer-construction building has a rooftop sundeck with sweeping views and a dog run, a fitness center and a heated garage.  $499.00 assessment INCLUDES all of the following:  heat and AC, cooking gas, fireplace gas, heated garage parking and all common amenities.  FHA APPROVED and you can rent the unit out.

Walk to grocery stores, CTA Red Line in the Bryn Mawr Historic District, Starbucks, the lake!

Great Starbucks in the Bryn Mawr Historic District

CTA Red Line two blocks away

Meet our real estate photographer Photo Light Chicago!

I was at our new listing at 416 W Briar #3 in East Lakeview yesterday to shoot photos and prepare the condo for listing on the MLS.  Joe Zekas of www.YoChicago.com and I take a second to introduce our real estate photographer Jola Jablonska. Working with Jola is one of my favorite parts of listing a home for sale.




Check out her company at www.Photolightchicago.com for real estate and business photography.

Two new homes being built on 2400 block of West Carmen, Lincoln Square

Two new single family homes are in development at 2418 and 2420 W Carmen (all photos Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty).

New single family home construction continues in Lincoln Square.  The 2400 block of West Carmen (just west of Western Avenue) is home to an enclave of recent new builds.  It's a nice block squeezed between North Western Avenue and North Lincoln Avenue.

There are plenty of retail amenities to walk to (including the heart of Lincoln Square restaurants and shops).  Most important, you can easily walk to a full service grocer (Tony's at 5233 N Lincoln) and two great parks.  Winnemac Park with it's stadium, tennis courts, baseball fields, play-lot and natural prairie walks just to the west and River Park with outdoor pool, lighted tennis courts, field-house, river walks and ball fields just to the east.

The two new houses will be on approximately 25'x110' lots

The very nice 2007 build 5 bedroom home adjacent to the east at 2416 W Carmen sold in 2012 for $648,000.  A bargain in today's market only two years later.  The new construction homes should be in the one million dollar range.

This little area is often overlooked by home buyers looking to get into hot Lincoln Square.  It might be worth the look. The blocks just west of Western Ave typically yield a 15% savings (apples to apples) on new construction homes over those built just east of Western Ave... and you are still close to the same amenities.

Happy Independence Day from the North Side of Chicago

Get out and celebrate!

Construction begins at new Lincoln Square apartments on Lawrence Avenue.

Another construction project begins at 2208 W. Lawrence Ave of mixed-use residential/commercial complex that would include 21 apartments and three to four small retail spaces (photo Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty). Read about the planned development HERE

The renewal (read construction) of West Lawrence Avenue in Lincoln Square has been a little bit of a tough pill to swallow for some locals.  The Lawrence Avenue Streetscape project between North Ashland Avenue and North Western Avenue has lingered a bit compounding the usual barrage of summer construction projects. 

I'm sure it will be pedestrian terrific (my phrase). At the moment it's still a minefield of equipment, cones and signs... lots and lots of signs. Don't forget to call us to buy, sell or rent in around Lincoln Square.

Realtor at work! What Bob and I do on a bank appraisal visit

I met an appraiser earlier today at our listing at 416 W Briar in the East Lakeview.  We have an executed purchase contract on the home and we are nearing completion of the attorney review and inspection periods.  The buyers and their lender have ordered the appraisal of the property.  

I met the bank appraiser on behalf of our client today at our listing at 416 W Briar.

 Congrats!  You're home is under contract.  But the process is far from over.  The bank appraisal is one of several very important steps to a successful transaction.  We advise our clients in preparing for the appraisal visit by treating it like a showing.  This will help protect the contract price of your home.

Bob and I personally schedule and attend the appraisal appointment at the home when the appraisal company contacts us.  We provide any requested and helpful information to assure no details are missed.  For example we may provide floor-plans, condo association contacts, building information, the executed contract, recent sold comparable homes and information about the property not easily noticeable. 

We may point out surround sound wiring, show the storage unit, make note of the parking situation and have them walk out on all terraces and decks. Today I made sure the appraiser knew the sale price included two car parking.  This is a huge value in East Lakeview near the lakefront!

"You have to come out on this terrace!" (Photo Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty)

Let us devise a plan and take care of all steps involved in your home sale or purchase. 

 

Sold! Client buys two-flat in great Albany Park location

 A fantastic repeat client of ours was done with high-rise living.  He wanted a yard for his babies... two cute dogs.  He decided being an owner operator of a multi-unit building would be a great way to get a good location, a yard, garage and basement while keeping the mortgage payment low.

 He bought 4517 N Sawyer, Chicago 60625 for an amazing deal of $375,000 in a multiple offer situation.  The property is in excellent condition and is located just around the corner from the bustling Wilson and Kedzie Starbucks, the Kedzie CTA Brown Line stop, popular Noon-a-Kabob, Andy's Fruit Ranch and more.  The home is located just west of Ravenswood Manor and the river.

Congrats to our client on his new home!  You are HERE

World Cup fever in Chicago! River North to Lincoln Square

I met a large group at Fado Irish Pub in River North for the USA v Portugal match last weekend.  Chicago is a great place to watch World Cup matches.  Many great pubs to gather and most countries are heavily represented in the city (we did boo some fans in Ronaldo jerseys last weekend though).

My favorite spot for soccer in the Lincoln Square area is The Atlantic Bar.  They have lively viewing of the USA matches.  I'll be there for tomorrow's huge USA v Belgium match. The Atlantic welcomes kids for the day time matches in particular (the back bar has large tables set up decent for kids).  I brought my kids along for the last match (my 7yr old is a big fan... my 5yr old liked the chicken fingers.)

A great pub to watch World Cup when you are in Streterville/ Mag Mile area is Timothy O'Toole's.  This has been a favorite stop of ours for international soccer for many years... especially when hosting overseas friends. The basement level bar makes it even more fun to sneak down during business hours for a match and a pint!

I believe!

Sold! East Lakeview penthouse with rooftop deck $685,000

Our clients closed their sale on an "urban tree house" in East Lakeview.  622 W Oakdale #5 was listed for $689,000 and the home received a great offer for $685,000 in the first week. Watch the video walk-through of the upgraded penthouse we filmed earlier this year.  You truly had to be in this place to feel the open, airy space.



The sellers and building Condo Association took great care to have information and records in great order to help a smooth transaction.  The home showed wonderfully as well.

Thank you and congratulations to our seller clients and the new owners.  True city people, the buyers lived on the next block over and wanted to stay in Nettelhorst School district.  If you have real estate needs on the North Side of Chicago and would like a well run transaction please give us a ring.

What's up with that? Large, broken down West Andersonville development lingers

An Edgewater building along the 5300 block of North Ravenswood Ave in West Andersonville neighborhood sits vacant. The original commercial building was expanded and converted to residential units at some point.  It sits vacant and in bad shape despite the very good location. All Photos Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty

I took a ride on my bike to survey some developments and recent sales in Western Edgewater/ Andersonville early this week.  The pictured vacant building on the 5300 block of North Ravenswood once again caught my eye.  Any locals want to update us on the situation?

Ground and second floors.  There is an old construction permit in the window of a gutted second floor unit.

Split block and a "Dryvit" like material were used to build additions on to the structure.

View between two adjacent houses on West Berwyn. A not so close examination suggests the building needs work.

A converted condo building at 5313 N Ravenswood sits adjacent on the south to the vacant property. Re-sale loft units at this building sell from the $200s and $300s.