Long version:
After three great years in this condo, we're putting it on the market. We've had a fabulous time here, and it's going to be a wrench to leave it, but the kid and dog have been demanding a house with a yard, so we're heading off to Oak Park.
Here's the details:
History: Built in 2004, first owner left for a job in Detroit a year later; we bought it in summer 2005. Seven units in building; great neighbors, beauty salon in commercial space on first floor that gives discounts to building residents.
Floor plan: 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bath; roughly 2400 square feet. Duplex up. Fabulous (and unusual) open floor plan makes for great entertaining space on first floor. It took me months of hunting through many many condos to find a space like this. Gas fireplace in living room, which we use all the time.
This is what it looked like when we bought it (realtor photos):
This is what it looks like now (my photos, not as well-lit due to my inadequate photography skills, but the place is just flooded with light):
Dining room can seat a crowd; we've had fourteen for Thanksgiving all around one big table. Large master bedroom (pictured below), with lovely organized California Closets installed. Good-sized second bedroom, which we currently use as a study.
The third bedroom we originally had as a guest room / TV room, and then converted into a nursery.
Guest bath:
Amenities: Master bath includes steam shower and jacuzzi tub; kitchen has granite countertops, cherry cabinets, stainless appliances, great island and tons of counter space. Truly stunning Brazilian cherry floors throughout. Washer/dryer. Elevator building.
Outside: Outdoor space includes two long balconies, plus large private rooftop deck. Comes with one covered parking spot; street parking is pretty easy for a second car -- I usually found a spot on our block.
Improvements: I love gardening, so we've added some nice features since we moved in-- cedar trellises built onto the roof for climbing vines; quite a few large, sturdy pots, including one large enough for a small tree. Most importantly -- we've run water up to the roof, so you can easily water as many plants as you care to grow! Tomatoes and herbs do particularly well up on the roof -- they just love all the sun up there. My roses have also been really happy. Some of the perennials come back after the winter, so you'd start out with some plants all ready to go.
More garden photos:
And here's the roof all dressed up for a party:
Location/Neighborhood: On a quiet, tree-lined street. 2.5 blocks from Blue line Damen stop; 6 blocks from 90/94. Just a ton of great restaurants, bookstores, coffeshops, bars, boutiques, library, parks and dog parks, etc. all in easy walking distance. We love Wicker Park, and if we could afford a single-family home here, we'd never leave.
Price: We're planning to list it officially at around $675,000 in mid-March, based on various realtors' recommendations. But if we can sell it directly without going through realtors, we're willing to go a bit lower. So direct asking price: $625,000, and hey, if you want to bargain lower, it might be possible. Can't hurt to ask. The monthly condo assessment is $346.32, and has stayed at about that level for the three years we've lived here.
If you're seriously interested and want to come take a look, just drop me a line and we can set up a time. We haven't yet done the whole de-cluttering / clean-up thing you do when you're going through a realtor, so you'll be seeing a slightly over-packed home, just as we live in it.
thanks,
Mary Anne
