Greene Avenue Lofts Not a Shoe-In So Far

I don't know anything about the location or street it's on so I can only comment on the Corcoran listing: the staging and decor are awful. There are so many details that obscure light in there (sheers partially closed over the window, a shelf between the dining room and living room) and it's a light-challenged space to begin with. It gives me a depressed feeling when I look at the photos. Especially the beige throw-rug, ugh, nothing is more depressing than beige. Even pale gray, or an off-white can still be neutral but is more stylish and exciting. Beige reminds people of their first rental. And the beige puffy couch in another photo, ick. That kind of furniture is so suburban, not urban and exciting like they'd want for a former factory space. Generally it's like everything people like about living in a former factory is not here. I know everyone is convinced "staging" always works, but I believe some spaces show best when they're empty. As for the listing, why do they have the same 17 photos for every unit's listing? That's a turnoff. Serious buyers should always go see properties themselves, certainly, but you know, a lot of buyers are people who start out just casually looking and then fall in love with something. Buying in NYC is intimidating. So many first-time buyers beging with scanning listings online (i.e. the photos ARE important) or attending open houses where they won't feel as much pressure (i.e. providing the address IS important). Seems realtors would know that by now.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 27, 2006 11:28 AM

these are downright ugly (viewed a couple units in Oct-Nov. they've managed to completely strip away all of the shoe-factory-like qualities.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 27, 2006 12:00 PM

Not to start trouble, but isn't this pretty consistent with an abundance of supply of condos in blue chip areas.

I don't love Williamburgh or DUMBO personally, but they certainly have more Yup-menities than CL.

There are simply heaps of units in the $500/sq ft range in better areas.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 27, 2006 12:04 PM

I dunno - the cheapest 1 bdroom says 14' wide bdroom with almost 14' of closets. And the cheapest 2 bdroom has master bedroom with walkin closest and 11' wide.
Looks to me good layout. Are you just a complainer?
Yet, Brownstoner, I don't see how this bldg is so much more attractive than the new building that Pratt Comm whatever is constructing on Washington that you're not loving.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 27, 2006 4:06 PM

We were seriously considering 2C at $875,000 but then found a 10 room Victorian in Ditmas Park for the a little less. Thinking we did very good!

Posted by: Anonymous at December 27, 2006 7:03 PM

Isn't this just another example of Corcoran overpricing properties and then just sitting on them forever?

Posted by: Anonymous at December 27, 2006 9:10 PM

i don't understand some of these comments. there is a puffy couch? is it bolted to the floor? $10-15K in interior renovations? like what? curtains? furniture? paint? maybe some light fixtures? what place wouldn't require changing those things?

i don't know if these are underpriced or overpriced, but the stuff people will find to complain about is unbelievable.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 28, 2006 9:17 AM

9:17, the details are important. If bad furniture and decor make for a worse impression of a building with flaws, it won't sell. A fantastic building or house will sell, period, even if there are improvements to be done yes of course we all know that. But for properties that have challenging flaws, they need to do everything they can to put their best foot forward when being marketed. You know, it's why there are entire TV shows dedicated solely to showing people how to make a less desireable property more appealing.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 28, 2006 6:06 PM

Easy to cast blame on furnishings. They are only a small part of the equation. The main factor about selling is the price. Corcoran used to do quite well for themselves when the market was rising. They bought listings by just promising sellers and developers ridiculously high numbers. Then they just sat on the listings for as long as humanly possible and prayed the market would meet the price. Well, as if by magic eventually they were able to get their listings sold. Now I'm not so sure. I sell they still get a decent amount of listings, but I don't think they sell very quickly for the most part. Not sure if their overpricing was a corporate decision or simply bad management at the corporate level with their often-inexperienced agents.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 28, 2006 7:05 PM

I would make sense if it were so, but I don't know about price always being the biggest factor. I see people willing to overpay just because all the details are right, in a unit. This happened with a unit I sold recently. The price WAS realistic and did reflect the fact there wasn't a new kitchen. I don't believe in letting a property sit around forever, which is the kiss of death. I think the buyers set the price, in a slower market like it is now. If the property can go for more, then multiple offers will drive the price up. Anyway, I did sell after being on the market a few weeks, to ecstatic people who recognized a deal when they saw one. But it was SO strange to see people seemingly willing to pay $75-100K more for a similarly sized and located unit with a new kitchen, when they could put a new kitchen in the place I was selling for $20K. I say $20K because the kitchen already had brand new, high quality steel appliances, sink and faucet. And our location was fantastic; a very good block. Go figure! I think I'll always be baffled by that one. Until it comes time to sell the next place perhaps - ha. NYC real estate is really something. It's an adventure.

Posted by: Anonymous at December 29, 2006 12:31 PM

Does anyone know anything about that building that is being built a couple doors down from the Shoe Factory (closer to Grand)? It looks to be another condo, but I haven't seen any work being done on it recently.

Posted by: Anonymous at January 30, 2007 10:53 AM