Chicago Real Estate News & Neighborhood Notes

Mega Mansion on Lake Geneva, WI Sets New State Sales Record

A pricey Lake Geneva home just set a new record in terms of its sale price. The Driehaus Estate recently sold for $36 million.

That’s makes it the most expensive home ever sold in the State of Wisconsin. The more than 14,000-square foot mansion is situated on 40-acres of Geneva Lake.

Originally built around the turn-of-the-century, the estate has 13-bedrooms and 10 full baths. It also has five additional half-baths.

There are 13 fireplaces in the home, and its great room boasts sweeping 30-foot ceilings. The massive property also comes with its own four-bedroom guest house, some staff offices, a carriage house and a boathouse.

There’s even something described as a “children’s village” on the property. The home went on the market last October following the…

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Modbox Homes Growing in Popularity Throughout Chicago

Bungalows and two-flats may be commonplace in some Chicago neighborhoods, but there’s a new home style that seems to be sweeping across the city. The homes are often called “Mod Boxes”, but no matter what you call them, they’re boxy, contemporary new residences.

It’s said these types of homes are the result of using computer-aided design programs. The homes are box-shaped, and sometimes covered by fiber cement panels or an aluminum-like façade.

They’ve been called “McModerns” or even “Gentrification Cubes” because these boxy homes are often constructed as replacement homes or infill homes in existing neighborhoods. In some cases, they’ve spread across entire blocks.

One editor and former columnist coined the named “Minecraft Modern”, because the homes seem…

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Where to Rent a Luxury Apartment in Chicago in 2022

If you’re in the market to rent a luxury apartment in 2022, there are some fantastic options to choose from in Chicago.

Wolf Point East

The newly built Wolf Point East overlooks a riverfront park with some stunning apartments ranging from studio to three-bedroom penthouse layouts. The luxury apartments come with floor-to-ceiling windows, wide-plank flooring, and plenty of other high-end additions. The stylish building adds in an indoor/outdoor pool, a full-floor fitness club, a dog run, and more.

Parkline

Parkline is a luxury apartment building with floor-to-ceiling windows, private terraces and wide plank flooring throughout the homes. The units also come with spa-like baths, gourmet kitchens and plenty of desirable features. Because there…

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Where to Buy a Luxury Condo in Chicago in 2022

As we start a new year, buyers will find plenty of great options when it comes to Chicago luxury condos. Here are some of the top buildings to select in 2022:

St. Regis

For sweeping views of Lake Michigan and the city itself, consider the St Regis. This visionary property rises up a full 101-stories above Downtown Chicago. The building offers such exclusive amenities as a 47th floor amenity space with a Zen garden terrace, a swimming pool, a wine tasting room and a demonstration kitchen. You’ll also find a fitness center, a screening room and an incredible Sky Lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows to admire the surroundings.

Reed at Southbank

The Reed at Southbank is a luxury property that sits right along the river. The building is home to…

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Mortgage Rates Expected to Rise in 2022

If you’re planning to finance a new home or refinance in 2022, the new year could be ushering in higher mortgage rates. While the Federal Reserve doesn’t exactly set mortgage rates, its actions are in some way tied to rates.

Due to the fallout from COVID-19 and its impact on the economy, almost a year ago the Fed started buying up a certain type of bond that helped rates go low and stay low. Those rates can’t stay low forever, though.

Recently the Fed announced it plans to begin tapering off the monthly purchase of mortgage-backed securities in 2022. That’s expected to begin in January, with an end to it in the coming months.

Previously the plan was to stop in the middle of the year, but now that plan has been accelerated. In turn, it means mortgage rates…

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Inside Wolf Point East: Chicago’s Newest Riverfront Apartment Tower

A brand new option in luxury living comes to Chicago at Wolf Point East. The new residential tower is the newest tower to join the Chicago riverfront, and it includes some exciting opportunities.

Prime Location

The building sits at a prime location right along Chicago’s Riverwalk. The address makes it easy to enjoy time in the nearby park or enjoying nearby cultural attractions. The building also sits within a short walk of some of the best dining options and nightlife in the West Loop and River North. It doesn’t hurt, either, that residents can easily access 17 miles of lakefront trail from Wolf Point East.

Amenities

As for some of its most popular on-site amenities, the building comes with a full-floor fitness club and plenty of options for…

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Ultra-Luxury $6 Million Condos Planned For Fulton Market/West Loop

A new condo building planned for the West Loop is expected to offer some units priced at nearly $6 million. The 25-unit condo building is going in on the northwest corner of Morgan and Madison streets where a surface parking lot now exists.

Called Momad, the building is expected to list condos priced starting at just under $2 million, with some of its most expensive condos priced at nearly $6 million.

At least one of the two penthouse units in the building is already under contract. The 10-story building will also include some outdoor space and more than 40 garage spaces.

Despite its smaller size, buyers at Momad will have eight different floor plans to choose from. Options start with a one-bedroom plus a den layout, including around 2,300 square feet of…

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Tips For Securing a Mortgage in 2022

As we enter a new year, some people are preparing to buy a new home. Over the course of 2021 we experienced high home prices and a limited number of homes on the market. But what about 2022?

If you’re considering buying a new home you likely need a mortgage. You’ll want to put yourself in a good position to qualify for a home mortgage. Here are a few tips to help you out:

Tip #1 Compare lenders

Each lender out there has the ability to set its own rates. If you compare lenders by shopping around a bit, you may end up with a better deal. Keep in mind, though, every time a lender pulls your credit report it’s a hard inquiry. Too many spread out over too long could bring down your credit score.

Tip #2 Know what’s on your credit report

It’s…

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REPORTS: Tax Hikes Expected To Increase Apartment Rents in Chicago

With large tax increases expected to impact landlords, renters in parts of Chicago should probably brace for some significant apartment rent hikes in 2022. The large tax increases are being blamed on a couple of things.

First, over the course of 2021 the entire city was reassessed. That assessment level is 10-percent of a residential property’s market value.

Landlords should expect to start seeing the assessment increases from 2021 on their property tax bill in summer of 2022. Recently, the Chicago City Council approved a budget for 2022 that includes an automatic property tax increase of more than $76 million for the first time.

Higher market-value increases on properties in Chicago means higher assessed values. Analysts are already predicting that could…

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European-Style Cafe Comes to The Gold Coast

A brand new dining option is opening up in Chicago’s Gold Coast. Cafe Sophie is a European-style café from the same owners that brought us Maple & Ash and Etta.

Cafe Sophie is described as an all-day café with wood-fired breakfast sandwiches, pastries and a full bar. This isn’t exactly the kind of place to eat your food quickly and leave.

While service should be fairly quick, the idea if for customers not to feel too rushed. Cafe Sophie is designed as the kind of place people might want to stay for a while, much like the kind of cafes you would find in parts of Italy.

There’s room for about 20 people to eat inside, plus another 60 or so out on the patio. The cafe also includes some space to purchase kitchen supplies.

Cafe Sophie takes the place of the…

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