Author: barry pearce
Developer smackdown, round IV: which feels safer, South Loop or West Loop?
In round IV of our developer smackdown, two builders debate which neighborhood is safer and which has more housing options - the West Loop or the So [...]
Onion: Mortgage market collapse threatens nation's banner ads
The Onion, America's finest news source, examines an unanticipated side effect of the subprime mortgage debacle:
NEW YORK—With the mortgage market [...]
Deal of the day: 2 years of taxes, assessments at 2 conversions
Some developers like to save deals for the sales center even in a market like this one, sweet somethings to be whispered in the ears of hesitant buy [...]
Comment of the day: Hey, analyst, leave my home alone!
"I hate all of this 'sellers are being greedy,' or 'sellers haven't figured it out yet' kind of talk. I would expect anyone selling their home to try [...]
Developer smackdown, round III: Better appreciation in West Loop or South Loop?
In round III of our developer smackdown, two builders debate which neighborhood will see better appreciation - the West Loop or the South Loop.
Da [...]
NAR: resales likely to fall in coming months
Sales of existing homes are likely to fall in the coming months as turmoil in mortgage markets continues to affect housing, according to the National [...]
State law would force mortgage brokers to be buyers' buddies
MSNBC's Red Tape Chronicles posts on why mortgage brokers might not have buyers' best interests at heart and on efforts in Illinois and other states t [...]
Developer smackdown, round II: Higher-density South Loop vs low-density West Loop
In round II of our developer smackdown, two builders compare the volume and variety of development in their neighborhoods as we try to figure out wh [...]
Why buy on a commercial street? Price, convenience, urban excitement…
We recently asked why so many buyers have been willing to buy condos on busy commercial streets such as Halsted, Belmont and Ashland, and received a f [...]
Chicago deal of the day: $5,000 closing costs credit at Sheridan Tower
Twenty Nine Thirty Sheridan Tower, a 22-story condo conversion at 2930 N Sheridan Rd, is offering buyers a $5,000 closing cost credit through Sept 30. [...]
Quote of the day: Nothing's a done deal in North Center
"At least in North Center, it shows nothing is a done deal and you really can make a difference."
--Developer Jim Jaegar quoted in The Booster newspa [...]
Comment of the day: Halsted unit offers rare deal
"Where will you find a top-floor new-construction unit in an ELEVATOR building, 1,800 square feet with a front terrace off the living room with skylin [...]
Why buy a condo on a busy commercial street? Why not?
Yesterday's post on the monster balconies / terraces at 2852 N Halsted St drew some groans, including this comment from "Bad Kroupa" (copied verbati [...]
Lereah's forecasting skills still in high demand – new book coming in spring
David Lereah has remained the darling of journalists and a go-to source for housing stories even though he left his post as chief economist at the [...]
Chicago part of 1st drop in median home prices since 1950?
Normally, residents of the Second City are thrilled with a mention in The New York Times or The Wall Street Journal - makes us feel validated someho [...]
Remaining 16 Lehmann Court condos selling from $530s
Impressionist Homes has sold 20 condos at Lehmann Court Condominiums, 2702-2720 N Lehmann Ct, in Lincoln Park, leaving 16 units on the market. The r [...]
Lakeview East condo conversions – variety in product and price
Lakeview East is a pretty dense enclave, so much of the residential development is in rental buildings converting to condos. We perused the offerings [...]
Sum bigger than parts at architect David Hovey's Winnetka house
In a feature in Architectural Digest Magazine, local architect David Hovey, known for strikingly modern high-rises in Evanston as well as for the ne [...]
West Loop vs. South Loop – get in on Yo's Developer Smackdown
You can only truly assess a neighborhood in relief against other neighborhoods, and the most immediate and natural comparison point for the West Lo [...]
And then there were 4 – West Loop loft roundup
We recently rounded up loft developments on the North Side and South Side and were surprised by how quickly loft development south of Cermak is starti [...]