Studios: Studios start on the low end at $2,200 but many rent in the $2,400 / $2,700 range. The square footage of studio units range from 580 to 745sf.

One Bedrooms: There are two “style” One Bedrooms in the building. Standard 1 Bedrooms range from 928sf up to 1071sf. Larger One Bedrooms range from 1314sf to over 1400sf. The smaller One Bedrooms typically rent from $3,200 on the low side up to $4,000 depending on square footage, floor height and time of year. The larger One Bedrooms can rent from $4,500/mo to well over $5,000/mo depending on the view. Some of the larger One Bedrooms face the IBM building so these units will of course rent at a cheaper price.

Two Bedrooms: Currently the cheapest Two Bedroom on the market is listed at $6,500 and is an “F” unit which on lower floors faces the IBM building. Two Bedrooms can rent for as high as $10,000/$11,000 per month. These are larger Two Bedrooms, however, with South and East views. Most Two Bedrooms range from just over 1,800sf to over 2,700sf. There are some smaller “C” tiered units on lower floors which are 1500sf.

Three Bedrooms: Currently there are only two 3 Bedrooms on the market priced at $11,000 and $12,000 per month. Some have rented for north of $14,000/mo.

Paul Blackburn is an Illinois licensed Realtor and Broker with @ Properties in Chicago. He can always be reached via e-mail at Paul@PKBlackburn.com

Why am I specifically talking about $250,000? If you are familiar with the South Loop market you will know that many new construction buildings had built small 1 Bedroom units. 1720 S. Michigan and 1620 S. Michigan are the most popular and had the most foreclosures. Some small 1 Bedroom units sold for only $105,000 to $115,000 just over a year ago. Those same units are now selling for $150,000. It is amazing how things have changed in the past year. 1529 S. State also had a handful of units on the market in the past but even that building is rebounding nicely.

Rent prices have also remained high in the South Loop with most 1 Bedrooms renting above $1,500 without parking. This has spurred many renters to become homeowners but also has created a great demand for investors especially as most South Loop buildings do not have any rental restrictions.

What buildings are the hottest in the South Loop?

1201 S. Prairie – Recently taken over by Related Midwest, 1201 S. Prairie, part of the Museum Park development is doing extremely well and is definitely the “most modern” of any South Loop development. 1305 S. Michigan continues to be red hot. While some short sales are transacting at low prices, these units do have very poor views. They are selling fast and above list price. Most units, however, are selling at “market rate” with most 2 Bedrooms selling in the low $300s.

1400 S. Michigan and 1250 S. Michigan continue to see very low inventory. Only two 1 Bedroom units are currently on the market in 1400 S. Michigan. You may remember several years ago an auction was held for the remaining units in this building. 1250 S. Michigan currently only has 1 unit available (several others are under contract). The unit currently available for sale is a 3 Bedroom condo priced at $750,000.

Museum Park: All Museum Park buildings continue to be in demand. Specifically One Bedrooms which once flooded the market are now hard to come by.

Paul Blackburn is an Illinois licensed Realtor and Broker with @ Properties in Chicago. He can always be reached via e-mail at Paul@PKBlackburn.com

Keep your offer clean: Avoid asking for repairs at the beginning, avoid asking for closing costs to be covered, etc. The sellers want a nice clean offer so give them one! Don’t add any additional stipulations outside of the normal contingencies unless they are absolutely necessary.

Price: If you are in a bidding war it is probable that the unit will sell for over the asking price. What you need to do is forget everything you remember bout real estate over he past few years and focus on the present. Look at the property and compare it to other you’ve seen. What is it worth to you? Rely on your Realtor here to make sure you a not grossly over paying for the property but at the end of the day you need to figure out what it is worth to you and stick to that number. Put your absolute best price forward right away.

Shorten contingencies I typically ask for 7 business days or longer for attorney review or home inspection. If you are in a multiple offer situation you can lessen the time it takes for you to complete these items. It will allow the seller to get past all the contingencies quicker which is always a good thing

Closing Date: Dear Mr/Mrs. Seller, What works best for you? Sometimes a quick closing isn’t ideal for the seller of the property as it may not give the sellers enough time to find a place. Therefore I always ask the listing agent what the sellers prefer.

Solid Pre approval:For the love of all that is good use a decent mortgage broker. Don’t use some random person or someone who is a mortgage lender “on the side.” Using a well established mortgage lender can let the sellers rest knowing there will not be unexpected delays with the mortgage.

Earnest Money Put your best foot forward on earnest money if need be. In chicago we typically turn over earnest money in two stages: First, is the initial earnest money that gets turned over with the contract and the Second is turned over after the completion of attorney review. If you are can increase your amounts on earnest money you will again make the seller feel much more comfortable.

Remember price is important but many times it is not the most important thing when negotiating a sale.

The reason I mention this in my Real Estate Blog is because the average reader needs to be aware. All media coverage needs to be taken with a grain of salt or better yet a shot of tequila and a lime. Here are some basic things to look for or keep in mind when you are reading any article about Real Estate:

Focus on Year over Year Data:  Reporters love to quote an index and compare “January to February.” They do this not because they want to mislead you but more than likely because they fail to grasp the basic economic evaluational skills to interpret the data. You are smarter. Instead, you want to look at Year over Year data. Month to Month fluctuations happen all the time for various reasons. If we try to explain each variation from month to month we will drive ourselves mad and will not have any definitive results. Year over Year data is always want you want to evaluate.

Understand Supply & Demand Levels: We need to understand sales relative to supply levels. For instance if “New construction condo sales are down from last year” this could simply mean there are not many new construction condos left to sell! However, if the reporter simply quoted a statistic you could be mislead to believing the condo market is again sluggish.

Who is Buying? If you see articles that quote “Sales up 25%” then you want to ask yourself who the buyers are. Are they sustainable buyers? What I mean by sustainable is are these buyers part of a new trend that will continue or were many of these buyers institutional and simply picking up foreclosure/bank inventory which can cause a quick “spike” in sales data.

What is the goal of the article? Lets face it; the goal of any article is to get readership. The more attention grabbing the headline the better, even if it is out of context with reality.

Paul Blackburn is an Illinois licensed Realtor & Broker with @ Properties in Chicago. He can always be reached via e-mail Paul@PKBlackburn.com

Over the weekend I put a 2/2 loft under contract. My clients had to pay more than $7,000 above list price. We put an offer in after the property was only on the market for a day. Our goal was to get the property under contract by the weekend. We were up against one other buyer but we knew if it dragged into the weekend we could easily be up against multiple buyers. This property was in Bucktown.

Another property down the street in Bucktown had 22 showings in a 2 hour period last weekend. My buyers looked at this property on Sunday (the first day of showings for this new listing). On Wednesday they e-mailed me saying they wanted to make an offer. Unfortunately it already sold. Of the 22 showings the property received 3 offers from buyers. More than likely it sold for above list price as well.

A colleague of mine was showing a home in the $600,000 to $700,000 range in Old Town. She was one of 6 agents with buyers submitting offers. Her clients went $30,000 above list price….guess what? They didn’t get it. While we don’t know the exact sale price it has been eluded that it likely sold for almost $50,000 above list.

The most obvious question people may have is “What the h*ll is going on?!” Is this sustainable? Well here are my thoughts on the subject.

Currently in Chicago, in the more desirable neighborhoods, we have an inventory problem. Inventory has decreased to all time lows and buyer demand has increased dramatically. Lets start with demand, however. Why has demand increased?

The Hangover Effect: After 2008 everyone had a hangover in the real estate market. Just like in real life, when you wake up with a hangover the last thing you want is another shot of tequila that you had the night before. This hangover lasted in the market for several years. People simply wanted nothing to do with the market. Granted, many people did not have the finances to buy and many were worried about their jobs and lending (the bars) were not very open.

Now the “hangover effect” has mostly lifted. The economy is rebounding and consumer confidence in the housing market is back. During this hangover period many people rented and saved cash. Now, as they have seen the market stabilize we are seeing a rush of buyers into the market. With increased confidence we are also seeing record low interest rates and property values are back to normalized levels.

It is important to note that in distressed areas most of the demand is made up of investors. However, in prime “Class A” areas the majority of demand are first time, Second time and second home buyers who plan to use the property.

Where is all the supply? There are a couple reasons for low supply. First, we haven’t seen any new construction for condos or single family homes in almost 5 years. Only now is construction starting to pick up again and it is doing so at a slow pace.

The largest reason supply is low is due to many homeowners still underwater on their values. Many “would be” sellers simply cannot afford to sell their homes. Many homeowners are still refinancing using HARP and similar programs and some are still completing mortgage modifications. These homeowners are not selling anytime soon.

Who is selling now? I’ve noticed that many current sellers were buyers back in the early 2000′s before prices ran up. Some were buyers at the peak in 06 but put more than 5% down so they can at least walk away from the sale with some cash.

What is most interesting are tenant occupied properties selling. Many of the condos I have been showing in Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Near North, etc. have tenants in them. These are not standard “investment” condos for the owners but instead were their primary residences they could not sell back in 08, 09 so they rented them. They are now able to unload them for what they feel is a “decent” price.

What does the future hold? The inability for developers to obtain financing on large buildings is a good thing. This will help supply remain low. Interest rates will likely stay low for a while. The FED is talking about slowing or limiting their purchase of MBS however they will likely continue for a short while. The MBS market is in recovery mode especially with treasuries at record prices (low yields).

At the end of the day interest rates should remain low through 2015 and supply will likely remain low. This will start to push up pricing in your better markets which will slowly allow those who could not sell before to start to sell. The hope is that supply will be introduced slowly into the market.

The Lancaster: 1203 recently went under contract in just three days! It is a 1 Bed / 1 Bathroom but faces West. The west views in the Lancaster are the prime views as those who face east will eventually have their view obstructed with a new development. 1203 went under contract when the list price was $349,000 + 40k for parking.

340 On the Park:  Another great deal in the area was at 340 E. Randolph when 2406 sold (after 2 weeks on the market) for $530,000. 2406 is a north facing, corner 1 Bedroom unit with 1244sf. It appears to have sold without parking for this price.

The Regatta: A combo unit recently sold, unit 1011 having just over 1500sf. The unit had great views facing north and also slightly east. The unit sold after 45 days on the market and closed for $692,000.

A penthouse unit also recently sold. Unit 4301 sold for $1,340,000 and took just around 4 months to sell. This unit had an oversized terrace as well as a balcony off the master bedroom.

The Chandler: A foreclosure in the Chandler, 450 E. waterside, sold for $801,101. It was unit 402 which is a 3 Bedroom / 2.1 Bath facing North which gives you views of the River, skyline, Navy Pier, Lake Shore Drive, etc. This unit did sell with parking and actually sold for over list price. The original list price was $789,000. The unit had an offer within a week.

Paul Blackburn is an Illinois licensed Broker & Realtor with @ Properties in Chicago. He can always be reached via e-mail at Paul@PKBlackburn.com

Several years ago the real estate market in Chicago was a scary sight and Trump Tower Private Residences was not at all immune to market conditions. As a matter of fact, Trump Tower was probably hit harder than the average condo building in Chicago due to the delivery of condos in the building. Thankfully, those who could not afford to hold onto their units quickly sold. While this temporarily pulled down pricing in the building it allowed the “dead weight” who should never have purchased in the building to get out. Now, in the spring of 2013, the building is doing exceptionally well. Some buyers who purchased in 2009 are up over 20% or more on their investment in the building.

The developer still has a handful of units to sell and will likely be active in the building for years to come. However, the prime units with the best views have mostly sold. The “A” tier, which changes in square footage depending on the segment of the building, is the most desirable tier and this is a wrap around unit facing east. You get great views south as well as north. The view looking down the river, however, is priceless. All “A” tier units are over 3,000sf.

Outdoor Space?  Those seeking a balcony will need to look elsewhere as all terrace units have already sold. There are only in the entire building on the 29th and 51st floors. The most recent to change hands was 29I selling for $1,640,000. It is a 2/2.1 with a 350sf balcony.

Cheapest entry point into the building? On the condo side the cheapest entry point is going to be a Studio unit. They typically sell around 400k give or take 50k. One Bedrooms start in the mid $500′s to low $600′s and move up from there.

Amenities in Trump Tower: Trump Tower is a fully amenity building in Chicago. The fitness center does not disappoint and because you are connected to the hotel you get 5 star services in the fitness center such as bottles of water on each machine, fresh towels, etc. There is an indoor pool, spa, 24hr doorstaff, etc. You also always have access to Room Service as well as concierge.

Future of Trump Tower in Chicago: We can never predict what the future will hold for Trump Tower but the future does look bright. I believe we will continue to see many buy into the building. We will also see many extensive renovations. While the finishes in the building are nice, they are just basic for a high end building. We will continue to see buyers gut units and replace with premium finishes which will only help increase prices more in the building.

Paul Blackburn is an Illinois licensed Broker and Realtor with @ Properties in Chicago. He can always be reached via e-mail at Paul@PKBlackburn.com

Inventory is at all time lows and demand has surged as new buyers have entered the market. The pendulum has swung the other way and we do not have enough properties on the market. Do you want to sell? Now might not be a bad time. With demand so high and inventory so low the question then becomes: “Why are more people not selling?”

I hoped that we would see more properties come to market this spring but we have not. The main reason is that many homeowners are still underwater on their homes. There are also those who do not want to sell because they cannot get what they WANT for their homes.  This has lead to many multiple offer situations and properties selling within only a few days on the market if priced appropriately.

Have prices increased?

Yes and no. It depends on how you measure price levels. Some foreclosures sold at very cheap prices in recent years. So if we are comparing current sales to distressed sales then yes prices have increased. However, if we look at the market as a whole, year over year prices have only increased a small amount.

Aren’t investors the main cause for demand?

If you’ve watched the talking heads on CNBC and all the “real estate analysts” you may have the impression that investors are the main cause of increased demand. This may be true in certain markets and may even be true in certain buildings in Chicago but as a whole, in Chicago’s more desirable neighborhoods, investor demand is not driving the market. First time and second time home buyers are what currently make up demand.

What are the hottest neighborhoods in Chicago?

The Near North side is doing very well which includes Streeterville, River North, and Old Town. However the hottest areas have been Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Wicker Park, Bucktown, West Loop and even the South Loop. Areas such as River West and West Town have also seen a great deal of demand.

If demand is so great why aren’t developers building condo buildings?

Financing is next to near impossible to obtain to build a large condo project. But, it is very easy to obtain to build apartment buildings. This is where developers have been focusing their energy especially with the rents increasing throughout the country. There are still developers building condos but they are doing so on a smaller scale focusing on 4, 8, and 12 unit style buildings. Some larger projects, up to 40 units are in the plans for areas such as the West Loop. Chances are they will do fairly well.

What about rentals? What is going on with rent prices?

Rent prices remain in an upward trend. While they are not increasing by double digit gains they are increasing steadily. We will probably see a 3 to 5% year over year increase in 2013 and perhaps slightly higher in the downtown / near north side market. Rental inventory remains low but may spike soon as roughly 5,500 Class A rental units hit the market between now and the end of 2014 in the downtown area.

My recommendations

If you have been holding off on selling and want to “test” the market, now is a good time to list your home, as you will get instant feedback on the pricing and desirability of your home.

If you are looking to buy it is still a great time to buy, as prices haven’t jumped. However, you must be prepared to view places as soon as they come on the market. You also need to be working with an agent from a large firm that has access to “off market” properties as these are some of the better deals that are transacting.

Still pay particular attention to the condo association you are buying into. While most have recovered from the issues of the crash there are still some broken associations dealing with repairs from poor construction to poor management. It is extremely important to understand when you buy a condo you are also buying into the association.

Provided by Crain’s Chicago Business

This new boutique hotel would likely include a rooftop bar, spa as well as entertaining space for weddings and large functions. Some rumors indicate that the hotel lobby will have a sidetrack entrance.

Naturally there are some against the hotel as some residents are worried about increase traffic in the area or the aesthetics of the new structure. I am sure that in the coming weeks residents, business owners and neighborhood patrons will get all the answers they’re looking for. This deal still have a long way to go before plans are finalized and ground is broken. However, I am very excited to see plans such as these discussed. I think a hotel of this nature will be great for the community, will increase tax revenue as well as revenue for all the businesses in the area. This will continue to drive new restaurant openings as well as new boutiques as Boystown becomes more of a “destination” versus just a place to go out to the bars.

Currently inventory in Lakeview, especially among 3 Bedroom condos is very slim. Very little new construction  has hit the market in recent years but as buyers get back into the game they crave new construction. Completion for this project is expected in August or September of this year.

Pricing for the project:

3 Bedroom Simplexes from  $430,000

3 Bedroom Duplexes from $550,000

4 Bedroom 2600sf Penthouses from $700,000

Courtesy of Crain’s Chicago Business – Rendering of Project