Epain Homes

Is this cool with the by-laws?

Rooftop views from West Chicago Avenue in Ukranian Village.
Newer contruction close to downtown for less? UK Village. Downtown looks closer and much more stunning than this when on th actual roof top deck.

Condo unit sales in Lincoln Square area were down 19 percent in third quarter 2009 from the 2008 numbers. We saw 91 units sold. Median price of $269,900 was down 13 percent from third quarter 2008.

As predicted on these pages, sale activity was up from the second quarter of 2009. 83 units were sold in second quarter 2009 and 91 units sold in third quarter 2009. Much of this due to stabilizing employment situations, low mortgage interest rates and the looming deadline for the first $8,000 first time buyer’s credit.

Units sales prices lagged again year to year in Lincoln Square. The area covers condos in much of the Ravenswood and Bowmanville neighborhoods that have seen pretty stable pricing. However, locations in Lincoln Square heading northwest along Lincoln Avenue have suffered higher decreases in sales price due to under preforming newer construction re-sales and short sales.

This drives me nuts… I should have just went ahead and offered on a house in Wilmette we looked at two weeks ago (pictured here). Mint condition, a huge master suite addition and a terrific yard. Turns out we are not “ready” for that just yet. And trying to sell our place with the kids right now is more than we can take!

The rates and lower home prices in good locations are making it hard for me to just settle down in my current home. I can’t help myself.

From the Chicago Tribune:

Average rates for 30-year home loans stayed below 5 percent for the second consecutive week, kick-starting refinancing activity, Freddie Mac said.

The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage was 4.87 percent, down from 4.94 percent last week, the mortgage financing giant said. The last time rates for 30-year home loans were lower was the week ending May 21, when they averaged 4.82 percent.

This week’s average rate remained slightly above the lowest level on record, 4.78 percent established in the spring. Last year at this time, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 5.94 percent.

Meanwhile, refinance applications climbed 18 percent from last week, the Mortgage Bankers Association said.

A look at the 500 block of West Oakdale in East Lakeview is a bit of a transformation. Touched by some ugly 1960s and 1970s apartment buildings and dotted by a few new construction three to six unit condo buildings, the block is mostly influenced by turn of the century architecture.

The classic red door is a nice touch on this ancient row house.

This poor girl has remained gutted and vacant (over two years I believe) near the corner of West Oakdale and North Broadway. This is a vibrant location and shameful it’s sat unfinished and empty.

The street.