03/29/07

New on the Market - Highland Park houses

List price: $1.85 million / $1.65 million

The Property: When the Northbrook developer Greg Weissman built on these two neighboring lots in Highland Park, he decided to go as green as he could while still building houses that would appeal to the upper-end North Shore market. Designed by Nate Kipnis (see "A Place in the Sun," Deal...

03/28/07

Housing Bulletin - Chicago's real-estate scene

For some time now, homeowners in Chicago have realized that they are more insulated from volatility on the real-estate scene than other U.S. markets. There are two main reasons for that relative stability. Prices here don't go up as fast as in the big cities on the coast; that means they don't have as far to fall in an economic downturn. What's more, the Chicago market doesn't have as many speculators, who tend to run from the market once prices lose their buoyancy.

Now, the fallout from failing "subprime" mortgage lenders-companies that make home loans to buyers with poor credit ratings or no down payment-has revealed two more ways that Chicago's housing market may be more resilient than markets in other parts of the country. Dianne Swonk-the chief economist at Mesirow...

Posted at 05:30 AM in Housing Bulletin | Permalink | Comments (5)

03/26/07

Sale of the Week - Hinsdale mansion

Suburb: Hinsdale
List price: $3.1999 million
Sale Price: $2.65 million

The Property: Designed and built in 1929 by the Buurma Brothers-the two Dutch immigrants who put up several of River Forest's best-looking mansions-this lavishly restored, 13-room Spanish Revival–style mansion has many of its...

Posted at 05:30 AM in Sale of the Week | Permalink | Comments (0)

03/23/07

Housing Bulletin - Bridgeport Village

A few years ago, the Bridgeport Village subdivision was the lead horse on the team pulling forward the housing stock in Bridgeport, the onetime blue-collar South Side neighborhood that has given Chicago five of its mayors (including, of course, Richard M. Daley). Now a significant piece of the plan is on hold because the development has filed for bankruptcy protection.

Back in...

Posted at 03:10 PM in Housing Bulletin | Permalink | Comments (1)

03/22/07

New on the Market - $8.2 million Glencoe house

List price: $8.2 million

The Property: Built in 1966, this 12-room house overlooking Lake Michigan has five bedrooms, approximately 9,500 square feet of living space, and a three-car garage. Bruce and Betsy D'Alba have lived there since 1991 and transformed the place from its simpler early incarnation. Today the stucco exterior has shapes and...

Posted at 06:15 AM in On the Market | Permalink | Comments (0)

03/19/07

Sale of the Week - University Village home

Neighborhood: University Village, Chicago
List price: $1.4 million
Sale price: $1.35 million

The Property: This new 4,299-square-foot, eight-room house has four bedrooms, three-plus baths, and a detached three-car garage. Situated in the fast-growing neighborhood that was once home to the...

Posted at 02:59 PM in Sale of the Week | Permalink | Comments (0)

03/15/07

New on the Market - Avondale brick-and-stone

List Price: $795,900

The Property: This new brick-and-stone house has four bedrooms, three-plus baths, two fireplaces, two laundry rooms, and a rooftop deck that sits atop a two-car garage. Three of the four bedrooms are on the second floor; the fourth is in the basement. The master bath has a steam shower with body sprays and a separate Jacuzzi tub....

Posted at 02:56 PM in On the Market | Permalink | Comments (0)

03/12/07

Sale of the Week - Winnetka mansion

Suburb: Winnetka
List price: $3.775 million
Sale price: $3.55 million

The Property: This new 13-room mansion has six full bathrooms (plus two partials), six fireplaces, and six bedrooms; the master bedroom and two others are on the second floor, there are two more on the third floor, and the sixth bedroom is...

Posted at 02:52 PM in Sale of the Week | Permalink | Comments (0)