680 Lake Shore Drive was formerly the American Furniture Mart, and had an address of 666 N Lake Shore Dr. After the building's conversion to a mixed-used condo development, the address was changed at the behest of the Playboy Company as a condition of its moving into the building. In this video, Joe Zekas and Prudential Rubloff agent Francesca Rose discuss 680's history, its condo association structure, and current availability of condos in the building.

As of this afternoon, 18 units were listed for sale in 680 Lake Shore, ranging from a one-bedroom / two-bath priced in the $230s to a 3,400 square-foot four-bedroom priced at $1.49 million.

interested in this place..has anyone know anybody who lives there?

Optima's Old Orchard Woods is a dominant presence on the western edge of the Edens Expressway in Skokie. It appears as a complex city skyline but is actually just three towers comprising the largest recent condo development in Chicago's near north suburbs.

As of this writing 5 units are listed for rent in the MLS through private owners. A 3-bedroom, 3-bath with 2-car parking is listed at $2,600 a month and is also offered for sale at $419,900. Four 2-bedroom, 2-bath units are priced from $1,950 to $2,000 a month. A selection of units is still available for sale from the developer.

One of our company's newest clients is Frank DeNovi, a Coldwell Banker agent who has worked with bank-owned properties for 25 years. We're still editing the first batch of Frank's sponsored videos -- expect to see a couple on YoChicago every month -- but in the meantime you can hear him give a basic overview of foreclosures, short sales, and the shadow inventory in Chicago area in this recent interview with First Business.

With the introduction of a new decorated model, $50,000 worth of incentives, great mortgage rates, and pricing from the upper $200s, sales are gaining strength at Acadia on the Green, an in-town condominium complex located in the heart of downtown Downers Grove. This mixed-use development is a vibrant pedestrian-friendly environment where residents can live, work and play.

Acadia on the Green sits on a 3-acre triangular property located in the heart of downtown Downers Grove, opposite the village's new Metra station. The three-building community features upscale single-level condominium homes with two to three bedrooms and one to two and a half baths, priced from $293,900 to $435,900.

Prospective buyers can choose from over 15 floor plans with 1,340 to 1,900 square feet. Many showcase open floor plans, cozy dens, dual access to balconies, panoramic views of downtown, and heated parking and storage.

They feature luxuries like 9-foot ceiling heights; painted, solid-core, six-panel doors with colonial trim; wood-cased, double-glazed windows with low-E glass; stainless steel kitchen appliances; laundry hook-ups for side-by-side or full-size stackable washer and dryer; and a secured vestibule entry system.

"In addition to a fabulous downtown lifestyle where everything you love is right outside your door, we are offering $50,000 worth of incentives for a limited time," said Chris Rintz, executive vice president of New England Builders. "Your incentive package includes a host of benefits that will make your life easier and keep your budget intact. New England Builders provides you with six months free from mortgage payments, $10,000 in free upgrades, half off your second parking space, and one year assessment, free.

Acadia on the Green's sales center is located east of the lobby at 945 Burlington Ave., and is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

To reach Acadia on the Green, take I-88 west to the Highland Avenue exit, go south on Highland Avenue / Main Street past the Metra tracks, turn left on Curtiss Street, left on Mochel Drive, and left on Burlington Avenue.

For more information, call 630-963-5300 or visit nebinc.com.

Just around the corner from the Brown Line station in Lake View's Southport Corridor is a new 4,800 square-foot single-family home at 1337 W Roscoe St, which Fresh Horizon Realty brought back to market earlier this summer. Its $1.59 million price tag translates to just $333 a square foot, in an area where other new-construction single-families run from $350 to $500 a square foot.

The four-bedroom / 4.5-bath home has a brick and limestone exterior and features marble and limestone baths with two steam showers; a custom kitchen with Thermador, Sub-Zero, and Bosch appliances; 10-foot ceiling heights and 8-foot doors; a radiant-heated lower level; two laundry rooms; a balcony and a rooftop deck; and a two-car detached garage. The home is located in the Hamilton Elementary School district.

View all of Fresh Horizon Realty's listings at FreshHorizonRealty.com.

Recently, John Hall Jr, of John Hall Homes, was interviewed about their homes available in Highland Woods of West Elgin. Please feel free to check out the interviews here:

Incentives for John Hall Homes, two inventory lots in Highland Woods, include a free finished walkout lower level with Bathroom!

That's Brad Butler's take on the new home he and his life partner bought at 235 Van Buren in Chicago's Loop.

Butler previously lived in an amenity-rich building at Lakeshore East and looked at many other properties before settling on 235 Van Buren. He opted for lower assessments, noting that common area amenities such as pools are often unused.

Brad and Joe Zekas talked at the prestigious Metropolitan Club, just two short blocks from 235, during an owner's party last week.

We've recently received the Second Quarter 2010 Suburban Chicago Apartment & Condo Conversion Benchmark Report from Appraisal Research Counselors ("ARC").

Highlights of the report, which covers the 7-county suburban Chicago region, include a 6% year-over-year increase in net effective rents, and an increase in occupancy levels to 93%.

ARC expects continuing strength in the rental market, anticipating that rents will continue to increase, and that occupancy levels will reach 95% - the level that most rental professionals consider full occupancy.