A NOT SO GLAMOROUS LOOK AT THE UNDERBELLY OF CHICAGO'S HOUSING MARKET


All photos taken live from Chicago properties & environs

Friday, September 23, 2011

Saint of Cross-Dressers Harbors Virgin

The resident of this Humboldt Park two flat spent all afternoon searching for her beloved Virgin Mary only to find her hiding out inside Chupita, sacred Saint of Cross-Dressers.
HUMBOLDT PARK

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Vietnam Vet Still Hoping for Nixon Return

Despite losing the function of both arms in Vietnam, and receiving Vietnam quality healthcare at the local VA hospital, this homeseller clearly knows the outcome of electing a well intentioned progressive.
LOGAN SQUARE

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

The Walls...won't....stop...won't....stop

The upstairs hallway of this Andersonville home is currently receiving high doses of medication and unavailable for comment
ANDERSONVILLE

Monday, September 19, 2011

New Security Windows Gaining Popularity

Fed up with security bars and glass block windows, some paranoid Chicago homeowners are opting for Siding Windows, the latest in the vinyl siding craze that has swept the country since Carter left office. Siding Windows promise "All the beauty of Siding, without the hassle of a window"
HUMBOLDT PARK

Friday, September 16, 2011

Hipster Can't Make up His Mind

A local Chicago man, commonly referred to as "that hipster guy", was told he can choose one of these barely functioning energy inefficient appliances for his birthday, but as of press time, he is still figuring out which one works best with his Bruce Lee wallpaper and Smurf light fixture.
Albany Park, Mayfair

Thursday, September 15, 2011

TurboTax Offering Free Upgrades

In a formal notice, recently announced in this Bucktown 3Flat, those who wish to commit homicide against certain minorities can simply use TurboTax, or for those with incomes below $42,000, the official IRS website is providing free assistance.
BUCKTOWN

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Key to Seller's Heart Found

After days of trying to convince the seller of an overpriced Bucktown two flat that his outdated slanting two flat was no longer worth $700,000, the Buyer's located the key to his heart, located in the foyer right above his collection of Boca Raton condo brochures.
BUCKTOWN

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Ground Angry at Heating Devices


The ground continues to disappear beneath this long standing couple, having spent the last 16 years in tranquil, but firm solitude, casting shadows to scare outsiders from entering their damp confines. Then their Master deserted them, and they started leaking, so the ground decided to abandon them.
Old Irving Park

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Garfield Park Full of Women

In an effort to attract more men to this heavily female dominated block of Garfield Park, in Chicago's Near West Side, the extremely powerful, some say omnipotent, Sell-r is offering to train MEN for the challenge of living with so many women.
GARFIELD PARK

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

IKEA Offering Circuit Breaker Cabinetry

The increase in Do-it-Yourself home renovators has led IKEA to offer a KLÜTZKÅBINET specially designed for people who hang cabinets directly over electrical circuit breaker panels. They will extend the line to cover those who install medicine cabinets over light switches, and plan on introducing KRÅPKRÄPPR for those who forget to install their toilets over the waste drain pipe.
ALBANY PARK

Friday, September 2, 2011

Ralph Loren Using Chicago Garden Apt.

In an effort to appeal to the 'urban market', world renowned fragrance purveyor and closeted hunter, Ralph Loren, has set up a testing facility in a Logan Square garden apartment. A faint smell of rotting flesh would occasionally overwhelm the visitor which explained why Ralphie asked us to stay away from the locked second bedroom.
LOGAN SQUARE

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Chicago Cracks Down on Illegal Fireplaces

The City of Chicago, under fresh leadership from Mayor Emanuel, allegedly has been targeting owners of illegal fireplaces, such as the seller of this Albany Park home, who refused to give his address for fear that the notoriously ruthless city inspectors will discover his illicit heating device.
Albany Park

Monday, August 29, 2011

Ceasefire Reaches Out to Pretty Men

In order to fend off the alleged pending lawsuits of discrimination, rumors have it that Ceasefire, the nationally acclaimed local organization that intervenes in gang disputes to prevent further violence, is now reaching out to the white male preppy population, the white male hipster population, and the white male tight tee shirt population in order to settle long stemming feuds that are leading to a rabid increase in young white males coming home late to dinner or forsaking their dessert altogether. Young women throughout the city have been supporting Ceasefire in growing numbers as evidenced by this bedroom in a Logan Square home for sale.
LOGAN SQUARE

Friday, August 26, 2011

Gremlin Locked in Room During Showing

A recent showing was met with loud noises behind a highly secured door. These weren't your typical domesticated pet noises but rather something like this, "GrrrrAAAAAwackwackwackGrrAhhhhhhhhhhhh"
When the seller was asked why he went with the Bungee Security System rather than ADT or something more local like Schlage or Kwikset, he responded, "Oh, that, uh, uh, that's just to keep the door shut cause, you know, uh, it, uh, like opens, all the time.
"GrrrrrrAAAAAwackwackGrrAhhhhhhhhhhhhh"

Humboldt Park

Short Selling Owners Dealing Moonshine


In an effort to hide money from their lender, some homesellers, attempting to shortsale their home, are resorting to basement speakeasies where they are easily able to disguise the $34 in revenue they earn from weekend Miller Lite sales. It's probably no coincidence that these underground watering holes are popping up in the mayoral umbilical cord of Bridgeport.
Bridgeport

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Tenant Re-purposes Hunk of Iron

Confused about the 'stupid piece of tall metal on the bathroom floor', a recently arrived tenant from Miami decided to turn it into a towel rack. He was later overheard asking the owner where the thermostat for the air conditioner was.
Old Irving Park

Monday, August 22, 2011

Owner Forgot about THAT Wall

The seller of this Avondale multi-unit was allegedly overheard telling people, "hey, I had no idea that wall was there. I Swear. The Builder told me he could make me a nice deck." Luckily for this seller, the real estate industry is composed of many junior college advertising majors, and now this building is being advertised with a "unique Manhattan terrace." At least they didn't say it's located in North Logan Square.
AVONDALE

Friday, August 19, 2011

Wired for Surround Sound


Developers have always been a crafty lot, bringing the buying public such needed amenities as berber carpet, ceramic tile, and granite. Ohhhhh, how we swoon for granite. Well, times are a changing, and despite buyers still demanding luxuries like pre-wired walls for home entertainment systems, developers are being forced to cut on expenses. In this recent rehab, in the Chicago neighborhood of Humboldt Park, the developer showed off his green building techniques by using less wire, same full sound.
HUMBOLDT PARK

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Shh @t Properties Cares

In an effort to show how much the realty industry cares about it's clients, this note was originally found attached (with a very fine paperclip) to the unfortunate cyclist who locked his bicycle to the outside of this fence while he briefly went inside a neighboring house which did not have a fence.

Well the secret may not be out, so....shh @t properties is a valued member of the community who refuses to let careless bike owners utilize the exterior of a fence. And to celebrate it's impeccable property care, that is, shh @t properties, has recently announced a generous price cut to the property from whence this caring noticed was placed. That's right, shh @t properties is now offering this new construction split face block brick faced home for the low low price of 1.25 million dollars. That is a steal...and you know why, well,
shh @t properties originally wanted 1.7 million dollars, but four years of market time later, they have come to realize that their client deserves the best representation possible. And now that the neighboring home is selling for $335,000, a lucky buyer will benefit. You heard it here, but it's still our secret:
Shh @t properties. They're everywhere.

LAKEVIEW

DIY WTF

In an effort to utilize natural resources for modern day comforts, these Bridgeport tenants have harnessed the power of the sun to power their space heater, which then runs their washing machine, which doubles as a meat grinder to produce kitty nibble which can be proudly displayed atop the 'Miracle Box'.
BRIDGEPORT

Friday, August 12, 2011

Automobiles Now Facing Foreclosure

After three years of a home mortgage crisis, in which owners are abandoning their properties rather than pay the bank money they had previously agreed to pay, the disease of irresponsibility seems to be spreading to the collector car market. The owner of this American Classic was overheard telling friends at a Sox game, "I put over fifteen k into that car, and nobody wants to buy it. You know how much I owe on that...fugeddaboutit. Let 'dem come to my place and take it."
McKinley Park

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Boogey Man Trapped


Since last Friday, when this Logan Square couple re-arranged their twin sons' bedroom, the resident boogeyman has been unable to escape his closet cave and inflict psychological torment upon the two little innocents who sleep here. The downstairs tenants have complained that every night, around 3am, they hear a high pitched squeal followed by a few kicks, and a faint odor has begun to creep through their windows.
LOGAN SQUARE

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Stairs Unhappy About Wife's Decorating

After nearly a century of uninhibited views across the foyer, this 93 year old Little Italy staircase has had enough. First the new owners, mainly that 'woman who thinks she knows where everything goes', filled the foyer with large tropical plants. Then she moved the plants and put a table covered with vases. But now, now she's really done it by placing two couches and a coffee table right in the 'god damn entryway'.

The staircase voiced his concern about the future of foyers, and for that matter, grand staircases, "I'm afraid I may be the one out of the times. Afterall, I've spent my whole life inside this handcrafted brick rowhome. And this woman, well she is the future. Soon doors will open directly into the living room and stairs will be hidden behind doors. I think I'm going to die now. Goodbye."

LITTLE ITALY

Monday, August 1, 2011

Poor People are Hungry

A group of Logan Square residents, upset over the fact the no one wants to pay them a living wage to create clothes hanger sculptures that represent the symbiosis between modern culture and ancient cloth, have taken to decorating the sides of garages, including this foreclosure, with their new mantra. When asked to explain their motives, a spokesperson said, "hey man, it's cause of these rich people that I'm stuck eating raw ramen noodles every night. So LET'S EAT THEM!!" When asked who he thought would support his art, the spokesperson meekly quipped, "Somebody who will pay me what it's worth."
LOGAN SQUARE

Friday, July 29, 2011

Brick Shortage Changing Chicago Architecture

The famous 'Chicago Pinks', the highly coveted brick used in the majority of the city's turn of the century buildings, are rapidly depleting due to a rapid rise of 'Chicawovilles' throughout China. Desperate bricklayers here in Chicago have been forced to construct walls as sparsely as possible. Meanwhile, the burgeoning middle class in China is enjoying 'Chicawo bwick' by building bathtubs and boxsprings out of our beloved fired pink clay.
WICKER PARK

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Watching Neighbor Shower Got More Difficult

Residents of this quiet Portage Park street had spent generations watching first floor tenants utilize their extremely light filled bathroom. That all changed with the recent installation of this 'Chagall for Menard's' window. One stoop peeper put it this way, "Not a good day, use know? My gramps, and my pops, and me too, we spent so many hours here, learnin' bout, use know, uh, the human body. And now, how 'm I suppose to teach my boy about dat. Dese gentrify peoples be ruining Chicago."
PORTAGE PARK

Bungalow Not So Sure About Haircut

In an effort to keep up with his neighbors, this classic northwest side Chicago bungalow, who had been quite comfortable with his tasteful woodwork, sunny parlor, and roomy attic perfect for one of 'dem master suites that couples always dream about, started suffering from what housing psychologists deem 'roofline envy'.

Convinced by his caretakers that a massive second floor addition built from sophisticated modern stucco rather than peon's brick would allow the caretaker's one child to have the room necessary to grow up 'healthy', the historically confident bungalow underwent a 17 month makeover. It's gonna take while for it to grow out.

JEFFERSON PARK

Monday, July 25, 2011

New Owners Can't Figure Out Avant-Garde Stove


After purchasing what they assumed to be a 'one-of-a-kind' oven, the new owners of this Jefferson Park three flat were unable to find those things you put pots and pans on, you know, the things that get real hot. After suffering an evening of frustration and empty staring, they realized it had been years since they used a stove-top anyway, and went back to the microwave "cause you don't be needin' a flame for the micro honey."
JEFFERSON PARK

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Sock Fairy is Getting Old


After years of depositing socks in faraway places, from Saturn to China, from deep inside the Earth's mantle to fast moving clouds, old age is catching up with the Sock Fairy, and she has pleaded with external sources to find a replacement. A recent Craigslist ad, located in the always difficult to interpret 'ETC.' section, stated "Are you energetic? Do you have an innate ability to do things without people knowing that you did it? Can you travel at the speed of light? Do you hate socks? Then we may have the job for you."
HUMBOLDT PARK

Climber Locked in Attic By Acrophobes



A young college graduate, forced to live in her parent's stinking boring flat midwestern home due to economic circumstances beyond her stinking control, has been quarantined to her family's attic where she has been plotting her route over K2, which she assures the potential buyers of her family's Lincoln Park mansion that she will summit as soon as her parents release her and somebody gives her a stinking job.
LINCOLN PARK

Monday, July 18, 2011

Fat People Forbidden From Washing Machine


During a 15 month South Beach Atkins Egg Salad Beetle Juice Diet, a Jefferson Park homeowner measured her weight loss by decreasing the amount of space she could use to access the washing machine. With re-built walls, washing is now limited to those under 100 pounds. But the Seller of this home swears it keeps her motivated. "If I put the weight back on, I'll have to live with dirty clothes and I just HATE dirty clothes!"
JEFFERSON PARK

Friday, July 15, 2011

Mold Artists Now in High Demand


After struggling for years to get discriminating homeowners to see the value of their work, Chicago mold artists are now witnessing a huge boom in their business as Sellers are no longer willing to pay for travertine tile and slate flooring.
JEFFERSON PARK

Alchoholic Owner Says Beer Isn't Alcohol


In a concerted effort to eliminate liquor from his daily diet, a local homeowner in Chicago's Mayfair neighborhood installed a beer faucet ("Old Style, whadja think I drink") in the family kitchen. After two years of forgetting to pay the mortgage, the bank decided it was left with no choice but to foreclose. The Owner is now submitting leniency papers to stall his foreclosure due to his recently diagnosed alcoholism. When asked by the bank's appraiser why he still had the beer tap, the owner said, "Dat ain't no beers tap, dats where my kids get fresh apple juice."
MAYFAIR

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Seller Offers a Variety of Flooring


Having to meet the demands of a discriminating home buying market, some sellers are beginning to offer buyers choices. No longer is a buyer forced to live with stained moldy industrial carpet, but they can opt for finely aged vinyl, or delicately scratched hardwood. Creative Sellers are now offering a combo so that a floor will be completed with all three highly coveted elements.
EDGEWATER

Monday, July 11, 2011

New Interior Decorator Struggles


Trying to transition from the doldrums of corporate America to the glamorous world of real estate staging, this young interior decorator was given a budget of $8.25 from his first ever client, a seller eager to vacate his property, who allegedly told his new hire, "Me leaving house. I no more pay bank. Too much money they are wanting from me. Not fair. Not like this system. Here is good money. You make home look beautiful, yes?" The seller is currently using his credit cards to buy a new RV and drive across America, ("I am live where I want, how I am want, not be like stupid American people."), periodically checking in with his decorator, "You make house look good, many people wanting? You can do it, Yes, I am trust you."
AVONDALE

Thursday, July 7, 2011

Refrigerator Still Embarrassed

After being threatened over and over by a frustrated homeowner unable to sell his overpriced hovel that he would replace that 'brown piece of sh*t' with one of 'dem stainless jobs, the 1973 Frigidaire PooPoo Deluxe ducked into an abandoned pantry hoping that he could please his demanding master by convincing prospective homebuyers that he is a purpose built SubZero.
ANDERSONVILLE

Tuesday, July 5, 2011

Peeping Made Easier


In a new effort to watch his attractive upstairs neighbor pass his door at exactly 8:17 and 6:34 each weekday, and various times throughout the weekend, a 2nd floor Albany Park tenant has upgraded his standard peephole for the highly coveted Peepinator XL2000, a controversial peephole apparatus that was banned in the United States in 1952 when scared women began reporting that communists were utilizing them to x-ray vision their underpants. Shortly thereafter, a local businessman began advertising an inferior eyeglass version in the back of comic books.

ALBANY PARK

Family Prays For Dying Citrus


After buying a 10 pound bag of oranges to save $1.68 from buying the four she originally wanted, an Edgewater homeowner was forced to ask a higher power to help salvage her slowly rotting breakfast fruits.
EDGEWATER