A second home in Chicago is a great solution for buyers who commute from the suburbs, travel to Chicago often for business, or out-of-towners who simply want a place to call their own when visiting the Second City.
A high-rise studio has become available in the coveted Gold Coast neighborhood, a perfect location for a second home:

1122 N. Clark St. #1002
List price: $169,000
Monthly Assessments: $285.04

A Chicago home in the Gold Coast puts you in the heart of everything you’d need during a short or long-term stay. This unit in particular is just a half-block from the CTA Red Line, 3 blocks from the beach, 2 blocks from the boutiques, bars and restaurants of Rush St., and just a short walk to the chic shopping on Michigan Avenue.
Located on the 10th floor, this Gold Coast studio has floor-to-ceiling windows that fill the home with natural light and open it up to panoramic city views. It is also move-in ready with brand new carpet and paint.

The features of the building itself offer more conveniences for a buyer looking for a in-town Chicago home. A pool and exercise room are both in the building, along with a party room and a bike room. This Clark St. building is also staffed with a 24-hour doorman, and is pet-friendly.

The low assessments and marvelous neighborhood and low assessments of this studio make it a great opportunity for those looking for Chicago real estate that offers both elegance and affordability.

If you’d like to learn more about this property, contact agent Sheldon Salnick at (312) 264-5853 or by e-mail at ssalnick@rubloff.com.

A great Gold Coast property has become available that would be ideal for a buyer shopping real estate in Chicago for that second residence:

82 E Elm St. Unit 5
List price: $385,000
Monthly assessments: $252

This is a unique and unusual 1-bedroom Chicago condo, right down the block from Lake Shore Drive, with a skylight, loft space, great outdoor area, a redone, open kitchen and loft ceilings. The building also has very low assessments, a rare find in the coveted Gold Coast.

This top floor unit is in a stunning Elm Street brownstone building, similar to those surrounding Central Park in New York City. This Chicago home for sale puts you right down the block from restaurants, Michigan Avenue and Oak Street shops. Elm Street is one of the best streets in the Gold Coast, with a chic and elegant cachet. A few more highlights of this Chicago condo include:

• Hardwood floors throughout
• A 15’ x 16’ private deck
• Stainless steel appliances
• 42” cabinets
• Marble bath
• Skylight
• Stone fireplace
• Custom doors and trim
• Great storage
• Easy zoned street parking

The open layout and low assessments on this Chicago condo could also make it perfect for an individual searching for an elegant home in a fantastic neighborhood. Or if you’ve been scouring Chicago real estate for the perfect second home, this rare find in a Gold Coast condo could be a great option.

If you’d like to learn more about this property, contact agent Sheldon Salnick at (312) 264-5853 or by e-mail at ssalnick@rubloff.com.

The Palmolive Building was built in 1929 as a prestigious office building and highlighted as a premier example of art deco architecture. The building has undergone a transformation in the last decade to expand the base-level retail space and create luxury Chicago condos at a prime location.

The Palmolive Building offers chic, sophisticated condos with top concierge services such as a door person, exercise room, sauna, steam room and party room. If you’re planning an event, use the Palmolive’s space or have the concierge book you at the Drake Hotel across the street. Condos in the Palmolive Building are also a quick elevator ride or walk away from the finest shopping options in the city: Louis Vuitton, St. John, Gucci, Mont Blanc, Michael Kors, Bloomingdale’s, Max Mara and Chanel are all within a block of this prestigious piece of Chicago real estate.

Upscale buyers hunting for an exclusive, luxury condo now have an opportunity in the Palmolive Building, with 9 unique 2- or 3-bedroom properties currently listed:

Unit 13B
Square footage: 1,867
List price: $1,150,000
This spacious two bedroom features custom-designed mahogany walls along with sprawling lake views, and combines the vintage style of the building with modern warmth and elegance.

Unit 8D
Square footage: 3,014
List price: $2,250,000
With new interior construction, this 3-bedroom condominium offers exquisite finishes, large windows, 9 ½-foot ceilings, hardwood floors and two parking spaces included in the price.

Unit 12A
Square footage: 2,832
List price: $2,295,000
Also with recently reconstructed interiors, this Chicago condo includes white oak floors throughout, high ceilings, fireplaces and leading appliances.

Unit 5C
Square footage: 3,672
List price: $2,350,000
This 3-bedroom boasts generous space, wood floors and north, east and west views in this interior new construction condo.

Unit 13A
Square footage: 2,832
List price: $2,375,000
This Palmolive 2-bedroom-plus-study combines the historic building’s old-world charm with everyday technology. It offers exquisite finishes and neutral backgrounds so any buyer can make the space their own.

Unit 15A
Square footage: 2,832
List price: $2,595,000
A designer residence, this 3-bedroom Chicago “smart home” features a gourmet kitchen, lake and city views from every living space and lavish décor and finishes.

Unit 10FG
Square footage: 3,300
List price: $2,695,000
This one-of-a-kind condo in the Palmolive includes two bedrooms plus a study and is one of only six building units that feature 14-foot ceilings. This stunning unit also includes custom millwork, hardwood floors and a unique and generous master closet.

Unit 7D
Square footage: 3,157
List price: $4,995,000
World-renowned designer Alessandra Branca designed this unique luxury two bedroom, perfect for a buyer looking for timeless décor and upscale quality down to the tiniest details.

Unit 25A
Square footage: 5,400
List price: $6,250,000
This full-floor Chicago home is highlighted by three generously sized bedrooms, a private elevator entrance and a state of the art kitchen. Unit 25A provides large, open living spaces with a walnut-paneled corner library with a fireplace and wet bar, plus a state-of-the-art kitchen, marble baths and top technology.

If you’re interested in a coveted property in the Palmolive building, please give me a call to find out how long these properties have been on the market and to obtain a complete listing sheet. If you find a property that interests you, I can guide you through the legwork of getting into a sought-after unit in this prestigious building.

With more than 20 years of experience of assisting buyers of real estate in Chicago, I’ll make sure the negotiation process includes information based on cost per square foot, that I’ve done the due diligence on the property’s listing price history, and that we’ve looked at details like finishes and color palettes that could affect the future resale value of your home.

It’s important to make sure you have substantial information about a property, from ceiling heights to floor plan widths, so we can discuss the nuances of horizontal and vertical floor plans. It’s also a good idea to review the meeting minutes from the last six months to a year, plus the building’s 5-year plan so you have a big-picture perspective of buying in the building before we write up a contract.

If you’d like to discuss any of these properties further, contact agent Sheldon Salnick at (312) 264-5853 or ssalnick@rubloff.com.

The assessment cost can greatly affect the resale value and appreciation of your Chicago home, so a reasonable cost is important for you now, as a buyer yourself, as well as down the line when you’re ready to sell. For a high-rise building in a unit with a lot of square footage, assessments over $1500 typically aren’t buyer-friendly.

Combining low assessments with the best finishes money can buy is key, buyers’ want to find things like Viking or Miele appliances, steam showers, heated flooring, Dacor and Wolf appliances. Crown moldings, wainscoting and fireplaces also up the appeal of Chicago homes for sale, both for you as a buyer now, and for the buyer when your home is ready for resale.

Here 13 current listings that offer low assessment fees without compromising upscale features:

2700 block of Midred Ave.
List price: $839,000
This 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath new construction boasts large rooms, a steam shower, heated floor and garage parking with a monthly assessment of $250.

1000 block of W Webster
List price: $849,000
An 1800-square-foot luxury 4-bedroom in Lincoln Park with natural stone baths, heated flooring, a private rooftop deck and more has an assessment of $300.

2400 block of N Racine
List price: $849,900
A luxurious 3,000 square feet of space creates a floor plan more than 30 feet wide, with brick construction, subzero appliances, marble baths, crown molding and wainscoting, all with an assessment of $205 monthly.

2600 block of Southport Ave.
List price: $869,000
With a monthly assessment of $227, this Lincoln Park 4 bedroom spans 2800 square feet on a wide lot with Dacor and Bosch stainless steel appliances, granite counters, marble baths, two fireplaces and garage parking.

2700 block of N Kenmore
List price: $875,000
This 2800 square foot Lincoln Park new construction has 10-foot ceilings, the finest detailed finishes, a pro kitchen with Wolf, Subzero and Miele appliances and a monthly assessment of $285.

1600 block of N Mohawk St.
List price: $899,000
An exquisite penthouse property with an assessment of $194, this 3-bedroom Chicago home includes luxury finishes, custom lighting, and a private roof deck in a boutique building in the Lincoln School district.

2000 block of N Sheffield
List price: $899,000
In the heart of Lincoln Park, this 3-bedroom is in a brick and limestone new construction building with concrete soundproofing between floors, oak flooring, natural stone baths and a custom kitchen. The assessment fee is $282 monthly.

300 block of W Webster
List price$899,000
With a monthly assessment of $300, this contemporary Chicago home offers more than1900 square feet with three bedrooms, a gourmet kitchen with Bosch appliances, a Juliette balcony, 11-foot ceilings, and mahogany floors near Frances Parker School.

1800 block of N Mohawk St
List price: $899,900
This rare find has a monthly assessment of just $186, with 2600 square feet of custom-built luxury, including open floor plans, 25-foot cathedral ceilings, a skyline view and a 300-bottle wine cellar.

2700 block of N Kenmore
List price: $909,900
Seated on an extra deep lot, this 4-bedroom duplex spans 2800 square feet with four parking spaces, a cook’s kitchen with Viking appliances, 2 fireplaces, full-home audio wiring and an assessment of $262.

2700 block of N Pine Grove
List price: $1,099,000
A 3 bedroom with a generous 3400 square feet, this Lincoln Park penthouse has an assessment of just $356 for a Subzero kitchen, 22-foot ceilings, two master suites, 2-car garage parking and much more.

1800 block of N Orleans
List price: $995,000
A historic boutique building with 2100 square feet, this Chicago condo lists a master quite with fireplace, 3 bedrooms with an office, stained glass windows, a gourmet kitchen with granite and stainless steel and an attached garage with an assessment of $339.

2100 block of N Halsted
List price: $1,195,000
With a low assessment cost of $200, this 3-bedroom as 30-foot wide interiors in an intimate boutique condominium building with a private roof deck and garden, spectacular city views and two levels of living space.

If you’re interested in any of these properties or want to find an upscale Chicago home without the added expense of high assessments, contact agent Sheldon Salnick at (312) 264-5853 or by email at ssalnick@rubloff.com.

*Click on a blue dot to find out about that festival: dates, location and Web site information



View Chicago Festivals – June 2009 in a larger map

Chicago Luxury Neighborhood Festivals:

Lincoln Park Festivals

• Chalk Festival, June 6, 2009
• St. Michael’s Celebration, June 13-15, 2009
• St. Josaphat Summerfest, June 19-21, 2009
• Chicago Summerfest in Lincoln Park, June 20-21, 2009

Lake View Festivals

• Halsted Tastes Better, June 13, 2009
• Belmont Arts & Music Festival, June 20-21, 2009
• Chicago Pride Fest, June 26-27, 2009
• Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade, June 28, 2009
• Girl Blast, June 28, 2009

Loop Festivals

• Taste of Chicago, June 26-July 5, 2009
• Close 2 Smooth Jazz, June 19-21, 2009
• Chicago Blues Festival, June 12-14, 2009
• Grant Park Music Festival, June-August, 2009

Old Town Festivals

• Wells Street Art Festival, June 13-14, 2009
• Old Town Art Fair, June 13-14, 2009

South Loop Festivals

• Printers Row Lit Fest, June 6-7, 2009
• Chicago SummerDance, June 11-August 23, 2009

West Loop Festivals

• Taste of Randolph St., June 19-21, 2009

Other Neighborhood Festivals:

Back of the Yards Festivals

• Fiesta Back of the Yards, June 12-14, 2009

Heart of Chicago Festivals

• Festa Past Vino, June 19-21, 2009

Hyde Park Festivals

• Community Art Fair, June 6-7, 2009
• 57th Street Art Fair, June 6-7, 2009

Humboldt Park Festivals

• Fiesta Puertorriquenas, June 15-21, 2009

North Side Festivals

• Andersonville Midsommar Fest, June 13-14, 2009
• Artist of the Wall Festival, June 20, 2009
• Back Lot Bash, June 27-28, 2009

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Burnham Plan, which ultimately shaped the city of Chicago, as we know it today. Co-authored by architects Daniel Burnham and Edward H. Bennett, the plan laid out six major improvements to the city, two of which were improving the lakefront and acquiring an outer park system. Without this plan, Chicago favorites such as Grant Park, Navy Pier and North Michigan Avenue would be nonexistent. To commemorate the Plan’s impact on Chicago, two temporary pavilions have been commissioned by the Burnham Plan Centennial Committee for Millennium Park and are set to open June 19 through October 31.

1909 Plan of Chicago

The first pavilion, designed by London-based architect Zaha Hadid, is a tent-like structure constructed from aluminum and covered with silver tensile fabric. According to the Centennial Committee, the outer portion of the tent is ribbed to represent “the diagonal lines and avenues in Burnham and Bennett’s 1909 Plan.” Inside the tent, visitors can reflect on Chicago’s amazing transformation via a video installation by London-based artist Thomas Gray.

The second structure, designed by Amsterdam-based Ben van Berkel of UNStudio, is reminiscent of a canopied roof resting atop a tripod. The structure will be made from steel and covered with plywood painted in a high-gloss white. At night, it will be lit with ever-changing LED lights that vary in color and pattern.

These pavilions are sure to add some pizazz to Millennium Park, not to mention the views along Lake Shore East. The scenes from 340 on the Park and 360 E. Randolph would have any condo owner singing Burnham’s praises, as they look out on an unobstructed view of Grant and Millennium Parks. If the view doesn’t quite satisfy, residents can simply walk across the street to take look at the centennial celebration up close. Both buildings have available units for sale.

Spectacular views that celebrate the essence of Chicago—Burnham would be proud!

If you’re interested in purchasing a luxury Chicago condo along Lake Shore East, or want to learn about Chicago real estate, get connected with helpful buying and selling resources here.

The article described the transformation of both a bedroom closet and a hallway closet—neither should be neglected—orchestrated by a consultant from Closet Works, based in Elmhurst. If you can afford to call in experts like these, they’re an excellent resource: They go for permanent solutions, not quick fixes. But if not, here are the expert rules of thumb:

1. Go for a luxury look and make it uniform. Wooden hangers look the best in the closets of Chicago condos for sale, and wire should be avoided at all costs. Try to use the same type of hangers throughout, and if you’re not doing that, at least group them. The doors, shelves, etc., of the closet should be wood also, or painted a dark brown to make the clothes stand out.

2. Get organized and define your areas. Everything should have its place in the closets of Chicago condos — preferably with separate, appropriate storage units for different items. If many things are hanging, they should at least be grouped. Here are some suggested storage devices, all of which would be included in the ideal closet:

-Multiple rods
-Shelves
-Drawers—a jewelry drawer for instance
-A space for laundry

For those trying to sell luxury Chicago homes for $1-2 million or more, a remote-controlled rotating suit rack is a must.

4. Keep the floor clear. Once you start piling things in the underbellies of closets in luxury Chicago homes, the situation’s bound to go downhill. Use holders such as tie racks, utility hooks, etc. to create a proper place for everything.

5. Out with the old! Clutter does NOT say luxury. Purge the things you don’t need anymore to keep the closets of luxury Chicago condos sleek and refined.

Because when it comes to closets in Chicago condos for sale, it’s not just about space, but about grace.

So open up your condo or home to the outside, and bring the outside in. Here are some tips on what to add, based on the hot trends:

Flickr Creative Commons/Per Ola Wiberg (Powi)

A garden on your garage roof. Everyone want to be able to grow their own beautiful flowers and organic vegetables in the comfort of their Chicago real estate nowadays—even the President and first lady are doing it. The entry point to the garden area should be a “wow” statement, according to a recent feature on Christy Weber Landscaping in Chicago Home + Garden magazine—it should be lush and the plants should brush up against everyone who enters. Rooftop gardens that are part of Chicago homes for sale should also include sunbathing space, comfortable outdoors chairs for a mingling/cocktail area, an outdoor dining area, and …

Flickr Creative Commons/WoodleyWonderWorks

An outdoor kitchen, including a grill that’s to-die-for. People who are buying luxury Chicago real estate are investing in their homes, and therefore will be eating more at home. So it followed that all Chicago luxury homes should be equipped with top-of-the-line outdoor grills—and they’re not just for summer. Over half of all grill owners say that they grill year-round, according to the Chicago Home + Garden article. Weber’s new Genesis Collection offers stylish color options such as brick red and steel gray grills.

Flickr Creative Commons/Yandle

Green your interior. Make sure potential buyers know that living in luxury Chicago real estate doesn’t have to mean being isolated from nature. Fill the corners of your home with rare plants in sophisticated, architectural pots.

If you fill your house with green, inside and out, it’s far more likely you’ll get green in return from buyers.