Archive for September, 2006



Freezing a Variable Line of Credit

Some homeowners are beginning to feel squeezed by payments on their variable rate home equity lines, especially after two years of interest rate increases by the Fed. Traditionally, they had two options: refinance their first mortgage and take out another credit line to pay the first, or sit tight and try to make [...]

2418 W. Cortland #1

2418 W. Courtland #1Three bedroom duplex down in Bucktown

Price: $464,900
Take a Virtual Tour

2300 square feet of incredible space! This Bucktown three bedroom two and a half bath, duplex down is gorgeous! The spacious living room features a wood burning fireplace. Granite and stainless steel appliances are ingredients in this generous kitchen. Step into the oversized master bedroom and pamper yourself in the luxurious bath which includes limestone, whirlpool tub, separate shower and body sprays. The colossal family room has stereo surround and plenty of space for entertaining. Washer dryer in unit as well as garage parking included. Two outside spaces include a front patio, and a private back deck. Magnificent space, truly impressive!

The Wisdom of a Half-Century Committment

Today’s Tribune features an editorial about the mindset of locking yourself into a 50-year mortgage. That’s right: 50 years, i.e. 600 payments. As the article points out, for the average homebuyer, that means you’d pay it off just in time to shop for a retirement home.
The point of the piece isn’t that [...]

88 W. Schiller #2802

88 W. Schiller #280228th Floor with Amazing Views

Price: $239,900
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Come see the amazing views from this 28th floor, 1 bed/1 bath condo in stellar building. Premier tier: walls of windows surround this southeast corner facing condo w/ expansive views of the city and lakefront. Balcony. Great closet space. Bring your rehab/decorator ideas – amazing potential! Walk to transportation, restaurants and lakefront.

1635 W. Belmont #615

1635 W. Belmont #615Two bedroom condo in the Cinema Lofts

Price: $399,900
Take a Virtual Tour

Spacious and bright 2 bedroom 2 bathroom condo in popular Cinema Lofts. This large unit has ample space for living and dining areas, is wired for surround sound, and has a cozy fireplace, pristine hardwood floors, and laundry. A fantastic balcony with views of the skyline and Wrigley Field is right off the living room. The kitchen is perfect for entertaining with granite countertops and maple cabinets, large wrap around island, and convenient pantry. The master suite has a walk-in closet, oversized window and a marble master bathroom complete with dual shower heads and Jacuzzi tub. Cinema Lofts is a full amenity building with doorman, exercise room, rooftop deck & cable included in the assessments. Its great Lakeview location is just steps from the “el”, restaurants, and shopping. To top it off, storage and 2 separate garage parking spots are INCLUDED in the asking price!

The Market Blame Game

The recent housing market boom is winding down, but that means now it’s time for someone to take the fall. Who’s to blame for creating the irrational exuberance about real estate? Well, pretty much everyone. As the Tribune’s Mary Umberger explains, the finger can be pointed at just about anyone involved in [...]

700 W. Van Buren #703

700 W. Van Buren #703Two bedroom loft just steps from the Loop

Price: $274,400 + $30K parking
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Enjoy the luxury of walking to work from this unit just steps from the Loop. Awesome 1000 square feet one bedroom plus den concrete loft. Unit features hardwood flooring, custom paint and window treatments. Huge master suite with organized closets and soaking tub. The den is open to the living room and can easily be enclosed to create a second bedroom. Kitchen boasts 42” maple cabinets and black appliances. Spacious living area with east facing balcony. No wasted space. Garage parking $25K. This is a must see!

Cavalcade of Homes

On October 7, the city will be sponsoring a showcase of more than 35 mixed-income housing developments, ranging from Rogers Park on the north side to West Pullman on the south side. The tours will include model units from $139,000 to $800,000. The developments have been partially funded by the government, which supports [...]

Remodeling No-no’s

Not every home upgrade pays off when you try to sell your home. In fact, a few can actually hurt your resale value. Don’t get mad at your boss for cheaping out on the holiday bonus this year, you might not have wanted that pool anyway. The top four downers:

Swimming pools
Poorly-designed additions
Trendy [...]