First Lincoln Square condo sells for over $1M (but median price for attached units slips)

 

A top floor unit at 4854 N Damen in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood has sold for $1,057,000. It appears to be a record price. Photo Realtor.com and VHT.com

Last week I looked at Lincoln Square condo sales specifically on North Western Avenue.  I buried the lead! An attached condo sold for $1M for the first time in Lincoln Square. There had been a couple new construction units closed at $940,000 in 2021 (the precious record) but nothing over a million until this summer.

4854 N Damen Unit 3, Chicago IL 60625 sold for $1,057,000 earlier this year. The "duplex-up" penthouse features a 2nd floor family room and amazing walk-out terrace. It appears to be a record price sale for any attached unit (condo, townhouse) listed on the MLS in Lincoln Square. Despite the milestone, overall median price of a sold attached unit decreased 3.5% year over year. This could be due to high mortgage interest rates putting pressure on overall pricing or simply lower-end options becoming more readily available on the market.

Lincoln Square Condo Sales
Overall 240 attached units (condo and townhouse) have sold in Lincoln Square from January 1st to December 6th this year. The median price of a sold attached unit is about $351,000. Attached units with two bedrooms have a median of $320,000.  Units with three beds have a median of  $570K.

Surprisingly the median price for a sold Lincoln Square attached unit dropped 3.5% year to year from $364,000 in 2023 to $351,000 in 2024.  Median price for an attached unit same period in 2022 was $315,000 and $308,000 in 2021.

Eric Rojas, Broker

Chicago Real Estate Broker with Kale Realty

Over $100M sold! Have a question... ask Eric!

Kale Realty 2447 N Ashland, Chicago IL 60614 in Lincoln Park

Illinois Licensed Real Estate Broker No. 475.126105

Fair Housing Opportunity

erojas@kalerealty.com

PH: 773-510-1597

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Lincoln Square condo sales on North Western Avenue reach $850,000

Condo buildings along Western Avenue in Lincoln Square

My contractors and I made a visit to a client's Lincoln Square condo yesterday on Western Avenue. She needed help installing a closet system. I pulled our crew over from a nearby renovation to get it done quickly with no worries nor charge (we are grateful for our clients!). She bought the newer construction two beds, two baths condo unit with parking space for $299,900 six years ago. The idea was you get a newer, nicer condo for a discount due to the busy Western Ave.  A similar unit in the building just sold for $400,000. She's not only comfortable but in a great equity position.

Lincoln Square condo sales on Western Avenue

Western Ave condo development has been popular due to it's central location in Lincoln Square. City zoning also allows for larger buildings and less parking spaces when in range of the CTA Western Brown Line (Transit Oriented Development). The corridor is a great opportunity to add much needed housing units. 

Eight Lincoln Square condos have sold in the past 12 months with a Western Avenue address.  The median price of a sold condo is a hefty $550,000.  That's just the buildings listed on Western Ave. Several condo buildings that front North Western use a east/ west side street address (psssst we still know it's Western).

New construction condo building facing North Western Avenue but has a
West Farragut Ave address 😉

The highest priced condo sold with a western address is 5442 N Western Unit 3A, Chicago IL 60625 for $832,000. The four beds duplex-up has terrific outdoor space. There is a higher sale in a building listed on West Farragut (but faces Western Ave) for $859,570. 

Contact Eric Rojas, Broker to buy, sell, rent real estate in Chicago

Chicago Real Estate Broker with Kale Realty

Over $100M sold! Have a question... ask Eric!

Kale Realty 2447 N Ashland, Chicago IL 60614 in Lincoln Park

Illinois Licensed Real Estate Broker No. 475.126105

Fair Housing Opportunity

erojas@kalerealty.com

PH: 773-510-1597

Follow me on Facebook

Logan Square single family home median price up 100% over ten years ago

Large traditional homes in Logan Square, Chicago

I recently met with clients at their Logan Square home. I worked with them as their buyer's agent during the the supercharged 2021 season. They asked me to come by and consult on home improvements and it's affect on re-sale value. I'm always eager to provide prospective to my clients before big decisions! 

Logan Square Home Sales

200 Logan Square single family homes were sold on the MLS from January 1st to November 22nd this year.  The median sales price is about $1,080,000. The median is slightly up from the same period last year ($1,012,000). It does mark two straight years Logan Square single family homes have hit the $1M median price mark.

In 2021 - when my clients bought their home - about 300 single family homes sold with a median price of $880,000. 

Over the same period in 2014 the median price of a single family home in Logan square was $529,000! In ten years the median price is up over 100%.

Eric Rojas, Chicago Real Estate Broker with Kale Realty

Over $100M sold! Have a question... ask Eric!

Kale Realty 2447 N Ashland, Chicago IL 60614 in Lincoln Park

Illinois Licensed Real Estate Broker No. 475.126105

Fair Housing Opportunity

erojas@kalerealty.com

PH: 773-510-1597

Lincoln Square house median price over one million dollars (Chicago)

The median price of a single family home in Lincoln Square Community Area is about $1,050,000 this year. When we moved to Lincoln Square permanently in 2007 the median price of a sold home was $615,000.  I've watched many changes in Lincoln Square to the streets, business, schools, politics... and the real estate!

Lincoln Square area map via Chicago Cityscape The area sprawls West Montrose to West Peterson and North Ravenswood all the way west to the North Branch Chicago River. 

95 single family homes  have sold from January 1st to November 15th, 2024. The median price is about $1,050,000.  Seven single family homes have closed over $2M and one house closed for $3.8M.

Over the same period last year (2023) only 75 homes closed with a median price of about $1,020,000.  

Homes in the furthest northwest portion of Lincoln Square sell for considerably less than those in the southeast portion. Proximity to the CTA Brown Line, Metra and retail/ shopping has much to do with the value discrepancy. For instance, homes NORTH of West Foster Avenue and WEST of North Western Avenue have a median closed price of about $561,000. While homes SOUTH of West Foster Avenue and EAST of North Western Avenue have a median sales price of $1.2M.

To buy, sell, rent or if you have nay questions involving real estate (attorneys, condo associations, improvements) please reach out to me! Ask Eric!

Eric Rojas, Broker

Chicago Real Estate Broker with Kale Realty

Over $100M sold! Have a question... ask Eric!
Kale Realty - 2447 N Ashland, Chicago IL 60614 in Lincoln Park
Illinois Licensed Real Estate Broker No. 475.126105
Fair Housing Opportunity
erojas@kalerealty.com
Ph: 773-510-1597

Recent Albany Park single family home sales

 

Kedzie CTA Brown Line station in Albany Park 4648 N Kedzie, Chicago IL 60625. This strip of Kedzie has slowly churned out retail and residential developments despite it's fantastic proximity to transportation. Homes just east of North Kedzie have higher value than homes west of Kedzie in the Greater Albany Park Community Area. All photos Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty

A client will need to sell her parents long time single family home in Albany Park Community Area. We looked at the immediate comparable sales for the house based on location, condition, current market trends and client goals. I also checked out recent sales in greater Albany Park.

Albany Park single family homes sales January 1st to October 31st.

Brick bungalows in the eastern portion of Albany Park

95 single family homes have sold in Albany Park from January 1st to October 31st, 2024.  The median price this year is $520,000. Over the same period of 2023, 96 single family homes sold with a median price of $518K. Two year sales are as even as you can get in any Chicago community area.

In 2022, 115 single family homes sold with a median price of $550,000. The high amount of closings and high median price are a reflection of the low mortgage interest rates of 2021 and 2022. The low rates were a supercharger especially for relatively affordable neighborhoods further out from the Chicago lakefront.

In 2021, 133 homes sold with a median price of $495,000

Values can swing from eastern Albany Park's Ravenswood Manor neighborhood along the river to the western edge near North Pulaski Road. 

Over the past twelve months 18 homes sold in the smaller area of Albany Park east of Kedzie. The median price of a closed house is $800,000.  90 single family homes closed west of Kedzie with a median price of $465,000.

To buy and sell Albany Park properties and real estate all over the North Side, Loop and near suburbs contact:

Eric Rojas, Broker

Kale Realty

Chicago Real Estate Broker with Kale Realty

Over $100M sold! Have a question... ask Eric!

Kale Realty 2447 N Ashland, Chicago IL 60614 in Lincoln Park

Illinois Licensed Real Estate Broker No. 475.126105

Fair Housing Opportunity

erojas@kalerealty.com

PH: 773-510-1597

Rented! North Center three beds, one bath apartment with huge deck! $2,550/ month

 

The living room at 4022 N Western, Unit 2, Chicago IL 60618 All photos and exclusively listed by
Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty 

. 
We recently helped our client lease a North Center three bedrooms apartment to great tenants. The two-flat building features a restaurant on the main level and an apartment on the second floor. We advised on needed updates and repairs to receive top monthly rent and arranged contractors to do the work. We found a perfect fit for the property owner through local advertising on our social media channels and our tenant application process.

North Center rental prices over the last twelve months

The median price of a one bedroom rental in North Center is about $1,700 per month. A unique 1,800 sq/ft loft with garage parking rented for as high as $3,600 / month.

Two bedroom rental apartments have a median price of $2,200 / month. 

Three bedrooms or more units have a median rent price of about $3,600 a month (this includes single family homes). The lowest priced single family home rental over the past twelve months is $3,800 / month.

Chicago Real Estate Broker with Kale Realty

Over $100M sold! Have a question... ask Eric!

Kale Realty 2447 N Ashland, Chicago IL 60614 in Lincoln Park

Illinois Licensed Real Estate Broker No. 475.126105

Fair Housing Opportunity

erojas@kalerealty.com

PH: 773-510-1597

Evanston co-op apartments half the price of a condo purchase ($160,000 vs $300,000!)

The living room at 1585 N Ridge, Unit 411, Evanston, IL 60201. We sold the large one bedroom, one bathroom unit pre-MLS for $130,000 Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty

Cooperative apartments in Evanston might be the value you have been looking for in our relatively expensive Chicago and North Shore housing markets. Is a co-op apartment for you?

- 41 co-op apartments sold in Evanston over the last 12 months.
- The median price of a sold co-op is about $165,000.
- Over the same period 397 condos sold with a median price of $300,000.

Check out some of the differences purchasing into a co-op apartment building.

Contact me to buy, sell, rent or invest in Chicago and near suburban real estate. erojas@kalerealty.com

We recently sold three Evanston Co-Op apartments... ask me about Co-Ops!

 

The kitchen at 1585 Ridge Avenue, Unit 310, Evanston, IL 60201 pictured above. The two beds, one bath Unit 310 sold for our list price of $149,900. We worked with three separate Co-Op apartment sellers in the same building earlier this year. All photos Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty or VHT.com

We recently sold three Evanston co-op apartments. Apartment cooperative (co-op) ownership is different than condo ownership. We help you understand the difference so you don't make a Co-OOOPS!

"You’re buying shares in the nonprofit corporation that owns the building. You’ll receive stock instead of a title as you would with a traditional home purchase" as described by Rocket Mortgage. The nonprofit corporation has much more control and "leeway" concerning the apartment building rules, regulations and final decision in approving a sale of those company shares.

The living room at 1585 Ridge Avenue, Unit 411, Evanston, IL 60201 pictured above. We sold the large one bed, one bath unit to a well qualified buyer for $130,000 prior to the unit hitting the MLS.

Some "Pros" to buying a co-op in Evanston or Chicago can be the price and stability. Due to often stricter rules and stricter conditions buying into a co-op the purchase price can be lower than market rate condos. Those stricter rules can also be a PLUS for a shareholder who wants a stable building with no renters (or no pets for example) and less owner turn-over. 

The main difference in purchasing and selling a co-op apartment is the current shareholders can accept or deny a purchaser based on their finances and their intended use of the unit.  For instance the managing shareholders may require a full cash purchase or 20%- 50% cash down for a purchase (much stricter than a mortgage lender for example) for a purchase or a certain level of current income. Additionally they may only allow shareholders to live in the unit (and not a roommate without shareholder status). The nonprofit conducts an interview with prospective shareholders and can deny their purchase if the whole package does not meet shareholder qualifications.

The kitchen at 1585 Ridge Avenue, Unit 302, Evanston IL 60201. We sold this two beds, one bathroom co-op apartment sold for $170,000 including a garage parking space.

There is no interview process in a condo building. Generally if you can buy a condo with cash or you qualify for the mortgage... you CAN buy it.  Current owners cannot deny you based on finances or require more money down. A condo purchaser/ owner is subject to the home owners association by-laws and rules and regulations but the purchase and sale are less restrictive processes.

Ask us about buying and selling co-op apartments!  We have experience in helping buyers and sellers understand the ins and outs of making a transaction happen! Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty erojas@kalerealty.com

North Center small multi-unit sales down in 2024, prices up slightly

 

A view of original two-flats and a new construction home in North Center. Several of these may be single family home conversions now. We also see a two-flat has been torn down for new construction. All photos Eric Rojas, Broker, kale Realty

41 small multi-unit buildings (two-four flats) have sold from January 1st to October 4th of this year.  The median price of these sales is about $790,000. In 2023, 57 unis sold with a median price of $775,000 over the same period. in 2022, 69 units sold with a median price about $780,000.  Unit sales are down significantly like most housing types. Low inventory has been the main culprit as owners hang on to their low mortgage interest rates from a few years ago.

4146 N Campbell, Chicago IL 60618 in North Center sold for $579,900 by
Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty erojas@kalerealty.com
All photos property of VHT.com or Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty

The purchase of small multi-units offer flexible options for property owners.  You can live in one unit and rent out the remaining units (traditional lease or possible vacation rental business). New Additional Dwelling Unit (ADU) city ordinances may help you realize further investment opportunity by adding a basement apartment or backyard "coach house" unit depending on allowable zoning capacity. You may opt to convert the multi-unit to a single family home (popular choice with two-flat purchases in North Center). Some multi-units are completely torn down for brand new single family home construction.

While some areas in the city face stricter ordinances that slow down demolition or conversion of multi-units, the North Center community area faces less scrutiny. Despite higher than average median purchase prices and relatively higher interest rates North Center is still a popular area to convert two-flats to single family homes or tear down completely and build a new house.

  

Client buys Mid-Century gem in Flossmoor, median price up 15%

 

Built in the 1950s this super cool ranch sits on a large corner lot close to Flossmoor downtown and Metra station. Photos Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty

Earlier this year we helped our clients secure a sprawling Mid-Century ranch home at 934 Gardner Road, Flossmoor, IL 60422 for $450,000. Our buyers shed their long time East Lakeview condo for greener pastures (a big yard and garage!). However, they faced the decision of convenience vs commute.  With the influence of long-time friends they realized Flossmoor provides easy Metra access to our clients' offices in downtown Chicago. Not only that... there are some cool houses and a cute downtown!

Flossmoor features a traditional downtown with a Metra station to downtown Chicago. 

Flossmoor single family home sales

Median price of a sold home in Flossmoor is up 15% over last year. 79 single family homes sold from January 1st to October 3rd with a median price about $365,000. 77 homes sold over the same period of 2023 with a median price of about $320,000. A whopping 129 homes closed over the same period of 2022 with a median price of $325,000. In 2021, 150 single family homes sold with a median price of $290,000.

Contact Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty to buy, sell and rent real estate on the North Side of Chicago AND the suburbs. erojas@kalerealty.com