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$850K price drop on Evanston lakefront home

Last June, when the property first came to market and I saw listing copy describing 581 Ingleside Park in Evanston as the “most beautiful lakefront home” I was skeptical. So, I called the listing agent, Sally Mabadi, and arranged a tour. A quick walk around the home and the grounds quickly overcame my skepticism. If... Read more »
By Joe Zekas,
Wednesday at 9:22 am
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A North Shore real estate news roundup

If you’re homeward bound to the North Shore, the local media can help you learn the flavor of the different communities and keep you up-to-date on real estate news.. Not all of the stories linked below qualify as actual “real estate news,” but they may affect your decision on where to move. Evanston sued by... Read more »
By Joe Zekas,
February 5, 2012 at 5:57 pm
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Is the Super Bowl depressing North Shore open houses?

One might think there would be a normal complement of open houses for new listings this Super Bowl Sunday, given the lack of participation by the Bears and the Packers. One would be wrong. Redfin is the answer that I hear most often when I question North Shore buyers about the venues they search for... Read more »
By Joe Zekas,
February 2, 2012 at 10:08 pm
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On the North Shore, lakefront isn't always beachfront

Chicago Magazine’s Dennis Rodkin recently reported on the sale of four multi-million lakefront properties, one each in Evanston, Wilmette, Winnetka and Glencoe. Rodkin’s report prompted me to revisit a video I shot in May of 2010 with Maureen Mohling, one of the grandes dames of Winnetka real estate. I asked Maureen to chat about what... Read more »
By Joe Zekas,
January 31, 2012 at 9:12 pm
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Adjectives in abundance at new Winnetka home

The website for Glenn Gutnayer Custom Homes touts the first in a series of “Live Forward Today” homes. I paused for a moment, wondering what other direction one might live in, before taking a look at the online brochure (PDF) for 887 Spruce St in Winnetka. The brochure pictures a traditional-style home “right-sized for the... Read more »
By Joe Zekas,
January 29, 2012 at 7:12 pm
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An updated Ernest Mayo home in Evanston

Ernest Mayo immigrated to Chicago from his native England in 1891. Although his architectural work spanned a variety of commercial, educational and residential projects he’s best known for the many homes he designed in Chicago’s North Shore suburb. Mayo lived in Evanston, where he designed more than 30 homes. The architectural practice he founded with... Read more »
By Joe Zekas,
January 26, 2012 at 9:01 pm
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Tour a restored David Adler gatehouse in Lake Forest

David Adler was one of the most prolific and prominent architects and designers during the era of the “great American house,” and the North Shore suburb of Lake Forest is a showcase for some of his best. Adler’s clients were often willing to spend lavishly on detailing even the outbuildings on their estates to create... Read more »
By Joe Zekas,
January 25, 2012 at 11:01 am
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Looking to buy new construction on the North Shore?

Looking back to 2007 it’s now clear that a cottage industry of home builders overbuilt the market for new single-family homes in the $1 million and up range. Prices collapsed for a while, and speculative new construction – homes built without a buyer in hand – came to a virtual halt. We’re now seeing a... Read more »
By Joe Zekas,
January 22, 2012 at 1:46 pm
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It's price reduction season on the North Shore

North Shore homes for sale often are pulled from the market before the holidays and relisted as “new” after the first of the year. Genuinely new first-time listings start appearing with greater frequency after the Super Bowl – or earlier depending on what kind of a season the Bears have had. Although you won’t see... Read more »
By Joe Zekas,
January 20, 2012 at 10:49 am
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Want to trade for a Wright-inspired home in Kenilworth?

After having their home at 154 Kenilworth Ave off and on the market for five-and-a-half years, the owners are apparently looking for creative ways to move on. The listing copy for the home, which was recently featured as the Wall Street Journal House of the Day, suggests the owners are willing to trade for a... Read more »
By Joe Zekas,
January 17, 2012 at 9:58 pm
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