Oak Park home sales in Whittier School district

Oak Park charm on a sunny warm February Sunday (All photos Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty)

We're working with clients selling their city town house and looking for a single family home in Whittier School district of Oak Park.  Let's take a look at home sales for this area of Oak Park - our neighbors to the southwest.

About 50 single family homes closed in Whittier School district over 2016.  The median price was about $433,000.  A median priced home will usually get you 3 to 4 bedrooms, 1.5 to 2 baths in a well conditioned typically vintage house.  About 35 homes sold in Whittier over 2015 for a median price of about $369,000.

47 homes sold in 2014 for a median price of about $430,000.
46 homes sold in 2013 with a median price of about $425,000.

There were three million dollar home sales in Whittier over 2016.  The highest priced sale was 518 N East Ave,  Oak Park, Illinois 60302 for $1,250,000.  The ornate vintage home sits on a 100' x 173' lot.

The lowest sale was 837 N Taylor Ave, Oak Park IL 60302 for $205,000 cash.  The small one story frame home was sold in a foreclosure sale and needs some work.

A typical Oak Park in February

Eight single family homes have closed so far in 2017 with a median price of $305,000.  Ten homes are currently under contract with a median asking price of $500,000.  Only six homes are actively listed for sale in Whittier at this writing.

Target takeover of Lake View

The new Target Express store space at 3200 N Clark Street in Lake View is taking shape.

We walked by the the new Clark and Belmont development today to see a near finished building.  The Target colors confirm the new reality at a once diverse, if not sketchy, corner of Lake View that was home to the infamous "Punkin' Donuts".  90 residential units will bring a lot of people to spend $$$ in the neighborhood.

A look a past construction photos here 


 

Community Meeting for Lincoln Square, Lawrence Avenue Chase Bank massive redevelopment

Just in from the 47th Ward office.

Chase Bank property at 1825 West Lawrence Avenue in Lincoln Square, Ravenswood neighborhood will be redeveloped. A community meeting is being held next week to view initial plans. All photos Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty

From the 47th Ward office of Alderman Ameya Pawar

Community Meeting
re: 1825 W Lawrence Avenue
Request Zoning Change from M1-2 & B3-2 to B2-3 PD

February 23, 2017 Thursday 6:30-8:30PM

4728 N. Wolcott Avenue McPherson Elementary School cafeteria 

Ald. Pawar invites you to an Open House format community meeting with poster boards and representatives from Harlem Irving, First Equity Group & Chase to answer any questions on their proposal for this 325’x300’ lot [currently two Chase Bank buildings, drive-thru and parking areas, and 2-story NE corner building] involving:

•3 New Buildings: 1-story Chase Bank branch at NE corner, 4-story all-residential building along Ravenswood and 4-story mixed-use building fronting Lawrence and continuing along Wolcott

•All rental units, 59 efficiencies in Ravenswood building and 107 studios to 2-BDRMs in Wolcott building, with total of 122 parking spaces

•Total commercial space: Chase building 6,793 sf & Wolcott building 9,985 sf (all on ground level)

For drawings, see www.chicago47.org/zoningdevelopment-cases.

 

More on Lawrence Avenue here

Video! Renovated Lincoln Park condo with skyline views $239,900

Wow! Unobstructed south views of the Chicago skyline from your condo.

Watch the video walk-through!
444 West Fullerton Unit 906 - Chicago, IL 60614 

asking $239,900

Live the Lincoln Park lifestyle in a fully renovated one bedroom, one bathroom condo at the Park West Condominium building. Brand new kitchen, hardwood floors, baseboards and bathroom! The home looks like a brand new construction condo! 

444 West Fullerton is a popular full amenity building at the Fullerton and Clark intersection. The commercial space includes Tower Cleaners, Izabella's Nail Salon, Lincoln Park Fitness Center, House of Hunan, and Standard Market Grill.

Newly renovated Lincoln Park one bedroom home in full amenity Park West Condominium. Brand new gorgeous kitchen, hardwood floors, baseboards, paint and modern bathroom. Fantastic southern exposure with unobstructed skyline views. Be the first to live in the like-new unit!

Entry lobby with terrific 24hr doorman staff.

Building features 24hr door-person (Larry's the man!), outdoor pool, sun deck, laundry center, bike room and storage cage. Unit assessment includes heat, AC, Internet, cable and gas! A+ location at Clark and Fullerton. Restaurants, fitness centers and services at your doorstep. Close to the lakefront and easy commute to downtown. No rental restrictions and DOGS/ CATS OKAY! 

Brand new contemporary kitchen, new gorgeous hardwood floors, open floor-plan and southern exposure.

Entry foyer with coat closet. Large peninsula island with tons of storage.

Sleek kitchen design with excellent prep space for the chef in you!

Be the first to cook in this tasteful renovation.

Open living and dining floor plan.

Large bright bedroom with southern skyline views.

Clean, modern newly renovated bathroom.

You will love the sunlight in this unit throughout the day.

Pre-party at the pool!

Check out two of our favorites around the corner The Pasta Bowl and Frances Deli !

Enjoy the lagoons, nature walks, farmers markets and cultural events of Lincoln Park outside your door!

More property information HERE

Exclusively listed by Eric Rojas, Broker

Kale Realty - 2447 N Ashland

Chicago IL 60614

773-510-1597

erojas@kalerealty.com

ericrojasblog.com

Showing clients pre-MLS and "off-market" properties

2015 West Eastwood listed by 33 Realty pre-MLS. Our buyers were the first to see it!

 This past weekend we showed our clients this Lincoln Square home in a very desirable location before it hit the broader market on the MLS.  We scan our network and private resources everyday to help locate properties for our buyer clients. Our clients were the first to view the house!  Last week our clients were the first to see a Lincoln Square three flat at 4954 N Leavitt before it hit market... it sold first week of showings.

One of the values we bring to a home purchasing in addition to market research and home owning experience is competitive edge! From time to time we find an unlisted or pre-MLS property for sale to show our clients. 

A condo for Cubs fans! 3743 N Wilton #3 in Wrigleyville for sale $419,900... watch the video!

Wow! A three bedrooms, two baths condo with parking and awesome common roof top deck.  Just steps from Wrigley Field and the CTA Red Line at Addison. This large, renovated condo has great space for entertaining.  Enjoy the video walk through and call us to buy or sell more condo units in Wrigleyville, great Lake View and the North Side of Chicago.

Huge, open plan with fantastic kitchen for entertaining.

Amazing 360 degree roof deck views!

3743 N Wilton #3, Chicago IL 60613 for sale at $419,900

Three bedrooms

Two bathrooms

Master suite

Parking included

Private deck off master suite

Huge common roof deck

Check out more photos HERE

Awesome bay window area, tall ceilings, great light!

 Exclusively listed by Eric Rojas

Broker, Kale Realty 

2447 N Ashland, Chicago IL 60614

773-510-1597

erojas@kalerealty.com

ericrojasblog.com

New for sale! Lake View three beds condo with Wrigley Field views $419,900

Oversized bay window and tall ceilings accentuate the living room. Main living area features attractive gas fireplace, recessed lighting and large entertaining space. All photos Eric Rojas, Kale Realty and VHT.com unless otherwise noted.

3743 N Wilton #3, Chicago IL 60613 asking $419,900. 

Three bedrooms

Two bathrooms

Parking space included

Gas fireplace

Security system

New KitchenAid appliances

New washer and dryer

Renovated master bath

Private deck

Huge common roof top deck

New KitchenAid appliances!

 Feel like a World Series Champion in your new Wrigleyville condo! Spacious bright three beds, two baths, deck, and parking space included. Tastefully updated home looks brand new. Large living room, tall bay window with Juliette balcony, gas fire place, huge dining area, recessed lighting and security system. 

 

Kitchen overlooks dining and living area.

Giant updated kitchen with new KitchenAid appliances, fantastic storage and counter space. Private master bedroom suite with glass sliding doors to deck. Renovated master bath, big 2nd bedroom, guest bath and 3rd bedroom give you the space and amenities you need. Show stopping common roof deck with 360 degree views overlooking Wrigley Field and the skyline. 

 

Huge common roof top deck just two flights up from the unit.

Wow! Great views and hear the during the World Series!

 

Master bedroom with sliding glass door to a private deck.

 

Renovated master bath.

 

Good sized 2nd bedroom.

 

Guest bath near 2nd bedroom.

Steps to CTA Addison Red Line, easy to LSD, amazing major new condo developments, hotels, restaurants modernizing the neighborhood! Listen to Jimmy Buffet and Lady GaGa live at Wrigley from the roof deck! The best of Lake View outside your door. Not on train side!

True 3rd bedroom great for den, office or... sports museum!

 

Wrigley Cub's games and concerts are steps away. 

Live in one of the most vibrant and vastly improving neighborhoods in Chicago. 

Home of the World Series Champion Chicago Cubs!

New Cub's plaza, hotels, restaurants and high end residential are improving Wrigleyville and infrastructure.

How cool is this view?!

New AT&T store (probably) coming to Lawrence Avenue in Ravenswood, Uptown

1724 West Lawrence retail plaza in Ravenswood neighborhood of Uptown is getting a facelift for a new store. All photos Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty

The Duke's shopping plaza at 1724 West Lawrence in the Uptown/ Ravenswood was sold for $725,000 in 2015. I passed by earlier today to see most, if not all, tenants out and more work going on.  Permits estimated around $300,000 in work  suggest the entire one story retail building is being remodeled for a new AT&T store.  It will be good to see the investment on West Lawrence Avenue continue east of North Ravenswood Avenue. For the record I'm a valued T-Mobile customer since 2001.

New improved street followed by new improved retail.

New modern development coming to Lawrence Avenue, Lincoln Square

One of the bigger Lincoln Square announcements last year was the redevelopment plans for the Sears store at 1900 West Lawrence Avenue, Chicago IL 60625. All photos Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty unless otherwise noted.

Curbed Chicago points out a new development proposal at 2247 West Lawrence in Lincoln Square.  This continues a string of boffo redevelopment announcements along West Lawrence Avenue that picked up significant pace in 2016. 2247 West Lawrence is a bit buzz worthy as the architect Studio Dwell is known for contemporary and modern design. The vast majority of development in Lincoln Square is red brick traditional buildings. 

2247 West Lawrence could be a modern 24 unit addition to a booming Lincoln Square stretch. Rendering above at 47th Ward

Typical new construction mixed use residential condos and apartment design in Lincoln Square.

Read more on Lawrence Avenue development at ericrojasblog HERE

DNAinfo.com with a nice development run down here  

Be in the know at the 47th Ward development pages

Buyers nab Roscoe Village condo asking $575,000 after multiple offers

Our clients viewed a couple of top floor condos on Roscoe street and nabbed one in a multiple offer situation. All photos Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty

West Roscoe Street in Roscoe Village is a highly desirable location on Chicago's North Side.  Two similar top floor condo units our clients viewed in January have been sold in multiple offer situations. Our buyers were not ready to act on the first unit as other buyers put in bids. We spent some more time researching different neighborhoods and units (even single family homes) with our clients. With added market knowledge they acted quickly on the second and almost identical unit that hit the market later in the month.

The three bedrooms condo with large rooftop deck, parking and private elevator at 2151 West Roscoe #2, Chicago IL 60618 is listed at $575,000. After speaking with the listing agent we helped our buyers put together an offer with an escalation clause.  They won the unit without paying too much unnecessarily.

Smart looking newer construction condos, shops, bars and restaurants line the blocks from North Ashland Ave to North Western Ave along Roscoe Street in Roscoe Village neighborhood of North Center, Chicago.

Long live independent shops along West Roscoe Street!

Condos command strong prices on the 1600-2400 blocks of West Roscoe.  56 condo units have sold on these blocks over the last 12 months.  The median price of an attached unit on the eight blocks is $402,000.  The most expensive sale over the past 12 months was a new construction four bedrooms unit at 2250 West Roscoe Unit 2 sold for $1,100,000.   The lowest sales were one bedroom units in the low $200,000 range. Three condo units on the same strip are currently under contract after the first days of showing on the market.

Is "win a lake house" contest a better way to sell?

Me and my oldest son in the lake... live the dream with your own lake house!

Bob sent me this link where I (you) can "win" a privately owned upstate New York lake house "estimated at $750,000".  The catch? It costs about $149.00 to enter and you must write a 200 word essay to be judged by a committee.  


Here's the web site for one such contest.

Basically, it is a clever way to try and sell your home for more than the market will bear by spreading the cost to many parties and offering to donate to charity.  The "win a house contest" is a creative concept on it's own.  The "giving back" and charity angles are a little questionable.  There is a minimum on the amount of entries that will trigger the sale and that dollar amount more than covers the "estimated market price" of the house and the donations.


Several states are prohibited by law from participating in the contest... so it appears some governments may have reservations on this type of "contest".

Two beds, one bath Lincoln Park condo sales 2016 and more

Buying a two bedrooms, one bath condo (rather than a "two, two") can be a way to get more living space and better finish level while saving a few bucks.  With all the redevelopment to high-end houses and luxury rental units two bedrooms, one bath condo inventory is low. (All photos Eric Rojas, Broker, Kale Realty)

We have a client who is looking to sell her Lincoln Park two bedrooms, one bath condo later this year. It's a rare combination of a small four unit building, an (relatively) affordable unit at around $299K with great deck, in-unit washer and dryer AND garage parking near Diversey and Halsted. No it does not back up to the train! I often suggest clients get a really nice two beds, one bath unit than a smaller "two, two" with less features.

Let's take a look at two bedroom, one bath condo sales in Lincoln Park 2016
80 two beds, one baths condos sold over-all in 2016.  The median price of was $323,000. Wow, compare that with 362 two beds, two baths units with a median price of $436,000.  That extra bathroom will cost you!

The highest two bedrooms, one bath sale in 2016 was 2003 N Howe Street #3N for $526,000. The renovated vintage unit does have an outstanding kitchen but no designated parking included.  The lowest sale in 2016 was 619 W Drummond Place for $210,000. The garden unit had standard gut renovation finish level but no in-unit laundry, outdoor space nor parking.

53 of those sold units included some form of parking (designated or easily rented).  The median for these is still about the same at $327,000. 

Give up a 2nd bathroom and get a better location!

In 2015, 97 two beds, one bath units closed with a median price of $310,000.
2014, 102 units closed with a median price of $315,000.
2013, 78 units closed with a median price of $298,000.

Median price is up about $25,000 since 2013.

Under contract! Jefferson Park buyers jump at "perfect house" (Jeff Park median price up 29% since 2013)

Watch the video walk through of our latest Jefferson Park home listing.  




5201 West Foster, Chicago IL 60630 asking $269,900 received many qualified offers on our first day of showings.  The purchase contract is in attorney review and inspection period. 

A stucco bungalow in a quiet, leafy Jefferson Park neighborhood (photo Eric Rojas, Kale Realty).

 Jefferson Park single family home sales 2016
228 single family homes are recorded on MLS as sold in 2016. The median price is about $296,000 making it one of the more affordable community areas near transportation on the North Side.  In the past few years many low end homes are being scooped up for redevelopment.  I see that median price continuing to trend up over the next few years as newer finished homes sell in the market.

The highest closing for 2016 was 5862 N Luna, Chicago IL 60646 for $705,000.  The new construction home is on an oversized 42'x189' lot. 

In 2015, 210 single family homes closed for a median price of $275,000.
2014, 192 single family homes closed for a median price of $245,000.
2013, 206 single family homes closed for a median price of $230,000