House of the Day: 49 Rutland Road

Last traded at $969,000 in 2005. Why selling so quickly?

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 1:34 PM

If this house does not get more than the 10 offers the South Slope house got, it proves that we live in a racist society.

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 1:35 PM

You need that for proof, 1:35?

We live in a racist society.

Period.

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 1:38 PM

Anyone know what the landmarking/historic district deal is in that area?

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 1:39 PM

Or, maybe 1:35 people just prefer Park Slope over PLG.

Doesn't seem odd to me.

I prefer to live near shops, restaurants and grocery stores. I also prefer to live in a safe neighborhood.

You can twist that around all you'd like, but I like what I like.

Does it also mean that if I prefer Soho over the Harlem, that I'm racist?

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 1:40 PM

You bet we live in a racist society.

But this house will not get 10 offers because there is no main shopping drag as nice as 7th Avenue or 5th Avenue to walk to from there. And because crime statistics are much higher, and because the schools are not as good as those in PS.

Do we have to do this every single time?

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 1:41 PM

yes, of course.

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 1:42 PM

its a priced a bit excessively considering the area (as discussed above, shopping, schools and the criminal element)

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 1:45 PM

This is an amazing house but it needs more bathrooms!!!!

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 1:45 PM

1:41, i completely agree. has everyone forgotten the old real estate adage: location, location, location? the amenities in PLG are NOT what they are in PS. Period. If you prefer PLG, great. But don't try to pull the wool over anyone's eyes by pretending it has the same value proposition as Park Slope.

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 1:48 PM

I am the owner of the house.
Wait till you see the other rooms that are not shown in pics, plus the love you will feel in every square inch of the place.
There's a sun-drenched library room with bay window, ornate bathroom with original clawfoot tub and fixtures, plus marble pass-through sinks and tiled fireplaces in every bedroom.
The parlor floor has 3 floor to ceiling pier mirrors, all dating from the turn of the last century.
The yellow roses are still out in the front yard!
Come down and see for yourself this weekend.

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 1:59 PM

plus the love you will feel in every square inch of the place.

Kathie Lee Gifford...is that you????

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 2:06 PM

1.45 million could buy me a helluva lot more love down by the Christopher Street piers.

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 2:07 PM

"I am the owner of the house.
Wait till you see the other rooms that are not shown in pics, plus the love you will feel in every square inch of the place.
There's a sun-drenched library room with bay window, ornate bathroom with original clawfoot tub and fixtures, plus marble pass-through sinks and tiled fireplaces in every bedroom.
The parlor floor has 3 floor to ceiling pier mirrors, all dating from the turn of the last century.
The yellow roses are still out in the front yard!
Come down and see for yourself this weekend."

Put down the crack pipe homeboy. Come to Jesus!

LMAO

The What

Someday this war is gonna end....

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 2:09 PM

Jeez, The What...

The one time calling someone a retard was actually called for, and you go with... 'homeboy'. WTF?

"...the love you will feel in every square inch of the place."

Can I skip feeling the love in every square inch of the toilets?

K thx!

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 2:27 PM

yeah I will take a cold, leaning to the side, siding, ugly window house in a designer neighborhood anyday over this architectural beauty... I know we all live, entertain and sleep inside the "shops, restaurants and grocery stores"

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 2:31 PM

Why hate?
The place is beautiful and so is the block.

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 2:36 PM

"Jeez, The What...

The one time calling someone a retard was actually called for, and you go with... 'homeboy'. WTF?"

You think I'm getting soft?

The What

Someday this war is gonna end....

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 2:36 PM

If they could put this house in Crown Heights I would buy it.

The What

Someday this war is gonna end.....

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 2:38 PM

Wow, this place is really really beautiful. No question about that. But I wouldn't live in this neighborhood. If I had that kind of money (which I don't!), I'd keep my cozy 2-bedroom co-op in a safer, more convenient, more well-serviced Brooklyn neighborhood, and then buy a really really beautiful little house in the country.

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 2:44 PM

Hoo Boy! More shit coming down the pipe.

Bankruptcy Law Backfires as Foreclosures Offset Gains

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=ar909uO1CqHw&refer=home

Jay Westbrook, a professor of business law at the University of Texas Law School in Austin and a former adviser to the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.

``Be careful what you wish for,'' Westbrook said. ``They wanted to make sure that people kept paying their credit cards, and what they're getting is more foreclosures.''

Yep! This shit is getting fun by the hour!!!!

The What

Someday this war is gonna end..........................

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 2:45 PM

Is this a condo? If so, it sucks.

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 2:46 PM

Well sure, you can buy this house if it were in Park Slope in PS 321 if you had $3.5 million.

Go ahead.

Oh right, you don't have $3.5. Some of you might have $1.5. This is what you can afford in that case. Deal with it and stop insulting those who are realistic enough to buy what they can afford, instead of continuing to rent and whining about prices in Park Slope like you all do.

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 3:06 PM

"Peewee's Playhouse" as written by David Mamet???

Sounds AWESOME!

Suck it, Brenda!

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 3:08 PM

"nothing is added by the "participation" of that troll."

Nope, just freedom of speech. who needs that. SO overrated.

"Maybe one ought to have to register to be allowed to post. At least then there would be a way to monitor the bile being spewed..."

the comments would go from 100 a thread to 10. not too good for business.

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 3:24 PM

Bush is monitoring this thread right now and doesn't like what he is seeing.

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 3:36 PM

Yes, Roberto...actually I have talked to a couple real estate broker friends and asked them how this website and others has affected their business...

I was surprised to find out that even the homes that were vigorously trashed received a huge amount of attention and that properties highlighted here sell much quicker and for higher amounts.

So the advertisers get what they want out of this site and really if your interest is primarily in learning new things about Brooklyn, then why bother reading the comments at all?

If you don't like what people are saying, just don't read the comments.

It's pretty simple. You will get the benefit of seeing what's new, what's for sale, what's coming and filtering out the parts that you seem to find offensive.

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 3:44 PM

Forget the bile; let's start with the great minds that somehow think Constitutional rights APPLY TO A FRIGGIN' BLOG'S COMMENT SECTION.

What the hell are they teaching in schools?!

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 3:55 PM

'Crap' is the only reason I tune in to this stupid website. And B'stoner doesn't mind one bit about the tone, he just wants your eyeballs so he can sell more ad space at better rates.

Didn't someone suggest posting more on sex parties. That's the way to go. Enough already with the crown moulding and original detail hot air.

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 3:56 PM

This website seems more popular than ever.

# of comments seem through the roof.

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 4:03 PM

Just IGNORE posts that you don't like or don't interest you. Really. It makes it easier for the rest of us reading the thread. Threads get ruined by troll feeding far more than the original troll posting. Just stop feeding the troll. Eventually s/he will get bored and go away.

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 4:21 PM

I love how people call those that don't agree 100% with their viewpoints, trolls.

It shows just how closed-minded you are.

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 4:28 PM

I love how trolls always complain about being called a troll. Like every time. Is that the sole troll defense? To claim no trolls exist anywhere on the internet and it's all a figment of our imagination? Nice strategy. Like something out of the Bush administration.

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 4:56 PM

Does anyone else think The What is not one person anymore? I can't help feeling that many others have borrowed his identity to rant or have fun...

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 5:13 PM

So, back to the topic of this house. Are crime rates in PLG really that much higher than in the Slope. I have walked both neighborhoods at night and felt safe in both.

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 5:17 PM

Who or what is The What? Only The What knows.

Someday this war is gonna end......

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 5:17 PM

If you are worried about crime rates in PLG, ask the 71st precinct who will gladly help you, or ask someone who actually lives in PLG. Don't ask anonymous people on the internet. Especially when you're considering spending serious money to buy a house. Do actual, real, reliable research. Brownstoner is nice for entertaining chit chat but that's about it.

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 5:29 PM

I never feel unsafe in PLG. We're in Lefferts Manor, so maybe that makes a difference. But I always stay alert and watch what's going on around me, regardless wherever I am in NYC. Manhattan is more scary to me than anyplace in Brooklyn, late at night. Just a vibe I get. More crazies in Manhattan, that's for sure.

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 5:35 PM

Bob Marvin wrote:
"With a few exceptions,aside from "the What's" nonsense, which is strewn over all threads here, this particular thread is far more civilized than anything devoted to PLG just a few months ago."

I think it's because Crown Heights is the new object of derision. If this keeps moving east, maybe soon we can lament how bad Hickville is!

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 5:41 PM

Hicksville sucks! And is aptly-named!

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 6:08 PM

There are many The Whats.

Some day this thread is going to end.

PS: Investment bank Morgan Stanley reported late Wednesday that it was taking a new $3.7 billion hit from exposure to subprime-mortgage securities, the latest sign that the global credit crisis hasn't subsided.

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 6:26 PM

Ok, since we're comparing/talking crime stats now, here are the numbers. Straight from the precincts themselves. Both neighborhoods are pretty even on the grand larceny.

78th Precinct, covers Park Slope--Year to Date:
0 MURDERS
8 RAPES
134 ROBBERIES
74 FEL. ASSAULTS
163 BURGLARIES
342 GR. LARCENIES
90 G.L.A (GR. LARCENY AUTO)

71st Precinct, covers PLG, Crown Heights South (and this HOTD)--Year to Date:
9 MURDERS
17 RAPES
327 ROBBERIES
265 FEL. ASSAULTS
273 BURGLARIES
371 GR. LARCENIES
200 G.L.A

Sources/Links:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/downloads/pdf/crime_statistics/cs071pct.pdf
http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/downloads/pdf/crime_statistics/cs078pct.pdf

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 6:36 PM

And for comparison, these are the stats for the 88th Precinct, which covers Ft. Greene, Clinton Hill--Year to Date. Pretty even with the 71st Precinct (Crown Heights) on the murders, and has more grand larcenies.

8 MURDERS
9 RAPES
185 ROBBERIES
146 FEL. ASSAULTS
128 BURGLARIES
396 GR. LARCENIES
106 G.L.A

http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/downloads/pdf/crime_statistics/cs088pct.pdf

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 6:48 PM

Yes, Bob Marvin, I agree. The statistics are generally more representative of certain high crime sub-pockets within neighborhoods. The most recent Ft. Greene police blotter in the Brooklyn Paper was really frightening, for example.

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 6:55 PM

Nice nabe, great block, fabulous house.
The rest is just noise from people with time on their hands to rehash the same stuff week after week.

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 7:13 PM

I agree it is a great house and I like the neighborhood. But, I was warned by friends who live on the block that the Rutland/Flatbush corners have a serious problem with people hanging out all night in nice weather and making incredible amounts of noise. The buildings at the corner are section 8 housing and, I'm told, generate a lot of nosie. My friends say they always detour to Maple to avoid the corners. The block association has evidently worked hard to solve this problem, and the police occasionally respond to calls, but the problem never really changes. This house is far enough from Flatbush to not hear the noise, but it does give me pause. Call me a wuss, but I'd rather not have to walk by that all the time. This may not be an issue for others.

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 7:28 PM

The police WILL tell you the crime stats for the exact block and area you are considering, people. Hello, buying a house is a big deal, it's worth one phone call to learn this information. Anybody who gets all they need to know from doing a google search deserves to rent forever.

As for comparing to Park Slope.....why? The difference between paying $3-4 million and $1-2 million is huge. It's not even the same buyer. If you want a 1200 square foot condo for $1.5 million in Park Slope like at the Vermeil, go ahead and buy it. But no need to get all down on the people who prefer to own a house for that money. Just make your choice and live with it.

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 7:40 PM

Oh please, relax 7:40. Sure, it's great to know what happens on your block, but the statistics reflect the blocks around you and the neighborhood in general. Do you never leave your block? Give me a break.

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 7:45 PM

Mmm, nice try 7:45, but I believe I said "block and AREA" meaning I wasn't just talking about one single block.

And no actually, we seldom go walking 20 blocks away into the heart of Crown Heights, so yep, the stats there don't apply.

(No bash on Crown Heights intended; it's just the farthest we walk into Crown Heights is the post office on Empire.)

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 7:49 PM

I think it kinda sucks to have to worry about certain blocks not being safe, others more so, etc., when you spend $1.5 million dollars, no?

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 9:08 PM

THANK YOU, 9:08!

That is exactly the point, and it's exactly whey I would rather have a smaller space in a neighborhood in which there is not an added stress about safety, however small.

Life in New York City is stressful enough as it is. If I'm gonna drop a small (or large) fortune, I sure as hell don't want to feel uncomfortable or worry about the area being unsafe.

Kids pick up on that stuff too.

Secondly, people don't need as much space as they think they do. No one NEEDS 3000 sf unless they have 4 or 5 kids. It's wasteful and overindulgent. If you really want to give your kids a good life, get a smaller place in a neighborhood like Park Slope, where they can play in the streets, walk to the park with friends and walk around as they get older hanging out with others their age in the neighborhood. You know...LIVE.

That's the only thing that's good about the suburbs if you ask me...the relative safety factor so that people can raise their families in relative bliss (oftentimes too much so in my opinion, but that's another story). In your quest for, in many cases money (let's face it...most of you are only in Crown Heights with the thought in mind that someday you might have a payday on that brownstones) you are depriving your kids of a childhood where safety is no concern.

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 9:19 PM

I know this block well. I don't live in the area, but I visit friends there regularly. I agree that the block is pretty quiet once you get away from Flatbush, but I have definitely seen large groups hanging out on that corner, playing loud music from parked cars and apartments in the building. It seems to be a summer/spring thing--people stay inside in the cold. I wouldn't want to live too close to the corner. As for walking by it, the groups have made me uptight, and I admit that I find it unpleasant, but I've never felt threatened or in any danger.

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 9:29 PM

I post for a reason. I have witness some of the most stupid shit in my lifetime. The greed, stupid and the ignorance of others have fucked up our financial system for years to come. Our children will look back on this era and say " What the fuck they where thinking??!!!" America is toast assholes. And you can't see the raging inflation in energy, living expenses and goods, you are a brainwashed fuck.

You will know my posts. You will know 'The What'. I don't need to troll because, I print the truth. Open you fucking eyes assholes, 4.00 gas is coming your way.

RIP Mutant Real State Bubble

The What

Someday this war is gonna end.......

Posted by: guest at November 8, 2007 9:45 PM

A friend moved there from PS - bought a big house after selling her coop which was feeling small for her growing family. While she likes her house a lot, she is bummed about being so far from the amenities of PS and feeling like she has to drive everywhere. We have a nice PS apt and are house-hunting and wonder about moving there, but I do worry that we'll feel isolated with our kids, and even if does eventually change and become more populated with restaurants, shops, cafes, decent schools, etc. it might take a long time and do I really want to subject my young kids to that time when I'll probably be unhappy? I think I'd rather to move to other "fringe" areas i.e. Gowanus, edges of Boerum Hill (wycoff area), Windsor Terrace, etc. But maybe I'm wrong? We did recently look at a house in PLG just to see, and the house was indeed beautiful but I found the block totally depressing, as was the surrounding area (Flatbush around there is not so great).

Posted by: guest at November 9, 2007 12:09 AM

"I shop at Fairway, as does everybody I know in Park Slope."

I don't know a soul in Park Slope that shop at Fairway.

First of all, 18,000 people in Park Slope belong to the Food Co-op, so clearly not everyone shops at Fairway.

Posted by: guest at November 9, 2007 10:53 AM

The lack of amenities in PLG really is unfortunate.

However we felt way more isolated in Park Slope, socially. Our neighbors in our building were very nice people but we never ever ever did things like go out to dinner or hang out. It was weird. Our block in Lefferts Manor PLG is incredibly social, we know nearly everyone on the block within a couple months of moving here and we love that about it.

It was weird not having as much amenities nearby, but we're used to it now, and it so not the torture some make it out to be. The pure enjoyment of a whole house and having a yard, has more than made up for it. I love my garden! Digging in the dirt is the best. But it's all about your individual needs. For many people with busy schedules, it's more important to have good amenities right outside their door, than it is to have lots of space. Which of course explains all the people living in Manhattan.

Lastly, two words: Fresh Direct.

Posted by: guest at November 9, 2007 11:45 AM

Hopefully when the new condo building is completed on Lincoln next to the Q entrance, the storefronts on Lincoln and on Flatbush near Lincoln will fill up with more cool restaurants and bars. There's already K-Dog and Enduro right there. Workers were doing something this week finally after a lull; they had a jackhammer going and the doors were open to the old building that will perhaps be the base for the condominium.

Posted by: guest at November 9, 2007 12:06 PM

How is the food at K-dog and Enduro?

Posted by: guest at November 9, 2007 12:25 PM

K-Dog has great food. But it's not a dinner place, just lunch. The soup, sandwiches and quiche are excellent. It's a popular place for local moms and kids because it's set up for kids with places to play. Yet a section up front people with laptops can hang, too.

Enduro is fine. It's not going to win awards, but I really like their fish tacos and chicken tacos and their Nachos Enduro. The cocktails are good, and it's a place where people hang at the bar, not just eat at tables so it's always bustling and you notice some people who go in to get a drink by themselves always manage to find someone to talk to. Which is nice. It reminds of cool bar/restaurants in the college town I used to live in. Just hip and funky enough in the decor, without feeling like they tried too hard. Makes the vibe more relaxed. Anybody know what I mean? Some places in NYC get too self-conscious "conceptual" with the decor. Everyone needs to stand out somehow, I guess.

Posted by: guest at November 9, 2007 12:48 PM

Great Cuban artist, but his name slips me, can anyone help me out with the name?

Posted by: guest at November 9, 2007 2:50 PM

What...precisely...is the problem with keeping a modicum of civility to one's online discourse? I am as snarky as the next guy (or gal) (but usually guy, it seems), but I don't get the need for all this rancor and stupidity. It's like road rage, I guess--you're "safe" behind a screen venting your sophomoric bile. Why a discussion about a cute if overpriced house in a lovely if imperfect neighborhood should deteriorate into "Peewee's Playhouse" as written by David Mamet is utterly beyond me.

Posted by: Brenda from Flatbush at November 8, 2007 3:05 PM

Well said!

Posted by: guest at November 9, 2007 2:53 PM

"I shop at Fairway, as does everybody I know in Park Slope."

I don't know a soul in Park Slope that shop at Fairway.

First of all, 18,000 people in Park Slope belong to the Food Co-op, so clearly not everyone shops at Fairway.

I have a four digit # from the PSFC, if you get my drift newcomer, and I have never lived in PS like many others including the person who introduced me to the FC.

Posted by: guest at November 9, 2007 3:10 PM

12:09, I lived in Lefferts Manor for 2 years and moved out about a year ago. Lefferts Manor is a very friendly community. It is basically an isolated enclave, which makes people feel more connected and more likely to reach-out to neighbors. It is very much like a small town (minus the stores!), and so you get some of that small-town neighborliness. (Although I will say that there was definitely a social segregation between those who lived in the Manor and those who lived in greater PLG. Perhaps that has changed?) On the con side, I did feel very isolated. Other than the one coffee house and the park there is nowhere to go, and I personally wasn’t that comfortable walking in the surrounding areas. So I had to drag the kids into the subway or bus all the time. We bought a car and I ended up driving to the Slope constantly to hang out. The lack of good stores was an issue too, but the main reason we left was our sense of isolation and our discomfort with Flatbush Avenue and the people hanging out on some of the street corners at night (and definite drug activity in many of the apartment buildings on Flatbush). Again, this was a year ago, so take that into account. And it is of course totally personal--we are in touch with old neighbors, many of whom are very happy there. It is just a question of what you personally are comfortable with.

Posted by: guest at November 9, 2007 7:09 PM

7:09 presents a pretty accurate picture. But different people do react entirely differently to the same situation. Also, this really illustrates the dilemma everyone faces if they want to stay inside NYC. If you need the space a house provides, and you buy a house in a neighborhood that already has all the awesome amenities you are certainly going to be paying for it. Big bucks. So everyone has to base the decision on short-term vs. long-term goals and needs.

Like when the kids are pre-teens and teenagers and want space to have their friends over. It's not impossible, lots of families do it, but let's face it, it's really tough on teens to live in a little coop or condo where they can't escape their parents. And then who wants to try and buy a house in any historic neighborhood 12-14 years from now when your children are starting high school and nearly all of Brooklyn will have a Starbucks and better amenities thus higher house prices. To each his own, but we decided to go for an affordable house now and we're happy with the choice. Regarding schools, we both hated our public schools as kids (they were good ones too) and much preferred our private schools, so we were always going to go all-private anyway. So schools weren't a factor for us.

Posted by: guest at November 10, 2007 12:21 PM

52 midwood sold for 1,665,000.
49 rutland is a great house in move-in condition and well worth the price. it probably will sell above asking.
strange this sometimes vicious bickering about this or that neighborhood. why the competition?
not many people were seeking out to live in park slope 25 years ago - it was crime ridden and did not have all the amenities it has today. house were affordable and park slope was discovered. it took a while before park slope became one of the “in” places to live (too much “in” for my taste now). buying a house - or anything for that matter - in the end is all a question of affordability. if you like a townhouse and have 3.5 million go and buy it in park slope if you like. if you have 1.5 million only and like a great townhouse the options are limited. landmarked lefferts manor then becomes very attractive since it has a great housing stock, is close to the park, has the fast q-train into manhattan and for sure will be as desirable as any place around prospect park in time.
for some people it might be a problem not to have starbucks, the gap or the fancy cheese shop around the corner ... for some it might be a problem that starbucks etc will be coming ...

Posted by: guest at November 11, 2007 3:16 AM

I bid on this house in 2001. It needed massive amounts of work--electrical, plumbing, new heating system, new roof, major plaster repair, new kitchen, new bathrooms. It looks like the owners did the kitchen and plaster repair, but I'd check to be sure that they replaced the roof and all of electrical and heating, since it doesn't say so in the description. The owners did do some "extra" things, like create doors to the garden, a door from the rear parlor to a deck and stairs to the garden. But they didn't put in in an upstairs bathroom, which we felt was needed.

As I remember, the house was asking 550K and we bid 575K. I think it sold for close to 600K. Then the owners must have spent at least 100K--more if they did all that was needed.

It is strange to me that someone bought the house in 2001 and then sold it in 2005. And the people who bought it in 2005 are selling it in 2007. What is that about?

It was a lovely house.

Posted by: guest at November 11, 2007 11:25 AM

It's a divorce this time, 11:25. We heard from neighbors.

I really liked it. Great vibe or feel to the place. Richly historically detailed, everything is still there, nothing altered or removed. But still very appropriate for modern furniture. The parlor floor has the feel and look of a loft with its open layout from front to back. Basement didn't smell, always a good sign. It's move-in condition certainly, even if there's still work to be done. I saw new plumbing in the basement, but didn't notice anything else but I wasn't looking at mechanicals.

Posted by: guest at November 11, 2007 1:14 PM

This was a case where the really insanely wide angle lens on the camera did not do the interiors justice. It's distorting the scale, and distorting the details. In reality the house is much more grand and elegant than the pictures show. With wide angle, you get more detail on the sides, but it squishes the image down. Also the strobe flash makes a really flat image. Real estate photographers should try a few different lenses, not just super-wide. And use either natural light or studio lights but not a strobe attached to the camera.

Posted by: guest at November 11, 2007 1:40 PM

Just got back from the open house. Very nice! I agree with 1:40 about the photos. But definitely still needs work. Only the kitchen is renovated and the rest of the house has old electrical. Needs new boiler too. And definitely needs a bathroom upstairs.

I also saw 52 Midwood and that house was in a completely different league. It was renovated from top to bottom and with really high-end finishes. That was a stunner! Also, that block of Midwood is gorgeous and much, much nicer than this block of Rutland. I've heard about the loitering problem at the Rutland/Flatbush corner from lots of people, and while this house is far down enough to not hear the noise, that certainly detracts from the appeal of the street. So, if 52 Midwood sold for 1.6M, I'd say this really shouldn't go for more than 1.3M, 1.4M at the most. What do others who saw it think?

Posted by: guest at November 11, 2007 4:23 PM

I went to the open house as well, just out of curiosity as I recently bought a few blocks away. It was a very homey looking place, the center stair made the front rooms really grand in scale, and the second-floor library room was fantastic. A ton of details were still there (I especially liked the pass-throughs with sinks and the butler pantry with a copper sink off the kitchen. The floors looked the worse for wear, definitely would need to be refinished. THe front door was really messed up. But they had made the basement a pretty usable rec room by putting a transparent bulkhead on the front hatch. ANd the block is gorgeous, great trees and plantings. You can't hear Flatbush from there at all. I'd say it's worth it, as a comporable house in PS or even Prospect Heights would be well over 2M.

Posted by: guest at November 11, 2007 4:49 PM

I saw this house, 52 Midwood (1.6M), and the completely renovated 3 story on the next block of Rutland, which sold for aprox 1.3M. This one is indeed beautiful. It needs new mechanicals, new bathroom, floors redone, and some other stuff. I'd agree that the block is the least appealing of the three. Comparing the three houses, I'd say this one should sell for 1.35M. It'll be interesting to see what it goes for. 72 Rutland is a true wreck, and I can't see it's selling for more 1.1M.

Posted by: guest at November 11, 2007 7:48 PM