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.

West Andersonville YARD SALE! Tomorrow Saturday June 28th, 2014

There are several great neighborhood yard sales on the North Side in Ravenswood, Edgewater, Bowmanville and Andersonville throughout the year.

Next up is West Andersonville Neighbors Together sponsored yard sale in western Edgewater tomorrow, Saturday June 28th from 9a to 4p

Click HERE for info and map

Hurry! Mini-golf at Oscar Mayer school in Lincoln Park

City Mini Golf is taking over schools near you!

Bob was out showing our new listing today at 1307 W Wrightwood #106 and sent me this photo.  He knows my kids LOVE mini-golf.  Here's your last chance weekend to play in Lincoln Park at Oscar Mayer school 2250 N Clifton thru June 29th.

Click City Mini Golf Facebook page for more schools and dates!

Photo of the Day: May the Lucas Museum be with you Jedi

Photo by AJ LaTrace, Editor Curbed Chicago

Big LOL to our friends at Curbed Chicago for this photo and story on the big news: The Lucas Star Wars Museum will call Chicago home sweet home.

New for sale! Three beds, two baths, attached garage in modern Lincoln Park building $599,900

A true newer construction three bedrooms, two baths home at 1307 W Wrightwood 106 asking $599,900!  Wrightwood Crossing is a modern boutique elevator building in leafy Lincoln Park.  The high first floor unit provides the option of NO STAIRS by taking the quick elevator or just going up a short fight of stairs.  Three parks within two blocks and Mayer School District.

Attached garage, laundry room, good sized terrace and concrete between floors compliment the luxury finish.  Freshly painted, like new!

Watch the video tour! View new photos below!

This is a great value.  Unit 104 with the same layout and western exposure closed for $649,000 in 2013.

Features

Completed in in 2010

Three bedrooms

Two baths

Terrace

Laundry room

Stone and marble finishes

Master suite

Master bath w/ double vanity, separate steam shower and over-sized jet tub

Home faces quiet courtyard on leafy block

Concrete between floors

Garage parking included

Elevator building

Mayer School District

Assessment $276.00

Taxes $7,471 (no Homeowners exemption taken)

 

Listed by Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty

548 W Roosevelt Road

Chicago, IL 60607

We got this! Meeting contractors in Lincoln Park for our repeat real estate client

Our clients are busy with work and family. Although their situations vary all of our clients value their time and piece of mind.   It sounds cliche but Bob and I pride ourselves on taking over the entire home selling process for our sellers.  We come up with a solid plan and personally execute each step of the sales process using our experience and  vetted group of referral services.  We'll be highlighting some of our day to day activities on behalf of clients. "We got this!"

I spent yesterday morning inspecting contractor work and taking new photos of a new condo listing in Lincoln Park on behalf of our repeat client (Photo Eric Rojas, Real Estate Broker). We commission Photolightchicago.com for professional photos of all our listings when ready to present on the MLS.

A valued client of ours owns several investment properties.  He recently contacted us to evaluate and sell a condo holding that he has been leasing for several years.  

 

We first listed the home tenant occupied.  It photographed pretty well but the unit definitely needed some paint and refreshing. Photo by Photolightchicago.com

Before: We made a recommendation to plant shade trees adjacent to the rear windows and terrace to improve privacy.

A tree will go here!

In this case the plan was two-fold: First, prepare and list the property on the market while tenant occupied. We listed at a higher price requested by our seller than our initial recommendation (that's cool, we'll give it a try).  In many cases it's best to avoid listing a tenant occupied unit.  However, market demand for this particular type of unit was good and the home showed fairly well.  So, it was reasonable to try this route at a higher price.

 We provided the tree proposal with photos to the management and condo association Board on behalf of our client. Once we received approval new shade trees were quickly planted by landscapers at a fair price.

We used the data from the first couple weeks on the market to determine next steps. It would be best to take the listing down until tenants were out and prepare the unit for sale at a new price.  We quickly 1) met with our contractors at the property, 2) outlined the work, 3) arranged the planting of trees adjacent to the unit for privacy, 4) inspected all work and 4) coordinated new photography. 

 Our client never had to visit the property or make a single phone call for any appointments.

We made recommendations and handled the condo preparation from start to finish. The home photographs, shows and smells like brand new construction.

We just re-listed 1307 W Wrightwood #106 at Wrightwood Crossing yesterday and have several showings for this evening.

Radio Flyer in Chicago: A quirky tourist stop

After some business in the Galewood neighborhood I stopped for some quick photos at Radio Flyer headquarters (6515 W Grand Avenue).  Although I have read there are no official tours you can still get a few great shots around the property. I'd call ahead and see if you can arrange anything special.

Make sure to get a shot of the HUGE wagon pictured HERE...  I did not get a photo on this last quick visit.

Welles Park Baseball at "Thillens" Stadium... a Chicago tradition

Our son safe at second base with the Stadium scoreboard in the background. Ryne led off the big game with a base hit.

We spent our first Sunday morning of baseball at the Stadium at Devon and Kedzie (formerly known as Thillens Stadium).  Our 7yr old's team took the field for the Welles Park Parents Association weekend.  The fields were in great shape after a wet evening of downpours.

It was an "old school weekend" with the kids making the game call from the announcer booth.  The players were smiling and laughing as their new nicknames were called over the loudspeaker. Our seven and eight year old players dreamed of swinging for the fences.

Ryne lines a base hit late in the game

 We've enjoyed our first season with Welles Park Baseball and look forward to many more Stadium games with our whole family.  Our son may even find his team jersey by then!

Rented! Galewood house with a touch of whimsy

Classic Chicago bungalow at 1807 N Natchez on a super manicured block

Busy family friends reached out to us to lease out their single family home in the Galewood neighborhood of Chicago.  We secured two qualified applicants within a week and the house was rented for $1,550 a month BEFORE any vacancy.

The extra long lot offers a terrific yard

Large, bright dining room

Fun mudroom!

Bright and vintage kitchen with all important dishwasher

If you have a real estate need or question... contact us!

Rented! We found an "off market" unit at the Marlborough in Lincoln Park

The Marlborough at 400 W Deming Place in Lincoln Park has pre-war New York style apartments in a hard to beat location. Well managed condo buildings are appealing to professionals that don't want to be in a strictly rental building.

A client contacted us looking for an in-town home for work.  He specifically asked for The Marlborough condo residence building at 400 W Deming Place in Lincoln Park.  Although there were no listed units for rent on the market we were able to identify a home that was coming up for rent in a month. 

Our Streeterville professional did not want to be located immediately adjacent to work.  There are few places we like better than the Lincoln Park lakefront location of West Deming Place and North Lake View Ave.  A large vintage apartment in this prime location is a dream lifestyle.

The going rate for a relatively updated one bedroom rental apartment at the The Marlborough is about $1,800 a month.  That includes your heat and basic cable.  The homes have radiant heat and coin laundry is located in the building.

We secured the rare condo unit rental before it went to market.  Enjoy summer in the city across from beautiful North Pond!

Under contract in one week! Full floor East Lakeview penthouse home offers rare space

416 W Briar #3 offered at $599,000 is now under contract.  This is an extra wide, large condo in prime location.  Bright space among the tree tops in an attractive boutique vintage building.

Front terrace off living room

3 bedrooms, 2 full baths
2 car parking pad (deeded)
Approximately 2300 sq/feet
Central heat and air conditioning
Extra storage locker in basement
Large front terrace
 Family room
Sun room
Master bath
In unit washer/dryer
Assessment apprx $467.00
Taxes (including parking, 3 total PINS) apprx $10,000
FLOOR PLAN available soon
Building has 3 guest parking spots
Boutique 4 unit building
Fantastic near lakefront location
Nettelhorst School

Move-in condition, however master bath needs gut renovation. Paint the home and live comfortable "as is" or renovate to more luxury standards.  Space and location are fantastic. Master bedroom, master bath and 2nd bedroom not pictured.

Top floor unit!

 

Huge, gallery foyer and hallway

Family room or dining room

Family room or dining room

Large 3rd bedroom

Second bath

Updated kitchen with large island

 

Large sun room

Listed by Eric Rojas, Vice President/ Broker at Kale Realty
erojas@kalerealty.com 

 *PRE-APPROVED or proof of funds required prior to any showing appointment to be considered.  No exceptions. Please, serious inquiries only that are familiar with the area prices and vintage buildings.*



Kale Realty
548 W Roosevelt Road
Chicago IL 60607

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