Corco Sets Up Shop in Williamsburg

will they have a pitched battle with AptsandLofts?

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 10:00 AM

whether the ship is sinking or not, people still need to buy and sell real estate...brokerages make money whether the market is declining, flat or rising...the question is: will there be enough business to feed all the new agent mouths...i think this new market will serve to suss out the men (and women) from the mice...

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 10:08 AM

42 brokers?? Are you kidding?

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 10:49 AM

eric mcfarland is a shady broker.

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 11:01 AM

They are going to need all 42 of those brokers too.

From everything I'm hearing, Williamsburg is racking up quite a glut of unsold inventory with average price cuts of 20% across the board.

Everyone I know living in Williamsburg wants out. The renters to Bushwick and the owners to Cobble Hill, Ft. Greene and Park Slope.

Four people in my circle have made the move so far this year.

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 11:06 AM

I agree. I live in Williamsburg and with the thousands of new condos coming open its becoming so congested that it isn't that fun anymore. Forget parking and driving at all, and the L train is so crowded already - let alone what it will be like in a few more months - that I am really looking to move to Ft. Greene or Cobble Hill. Williamsburg has been great, but its time to give it over to the condo renters, which is all it will have since its so overpriced noone is buying those condos.

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 11:14 AM

bedford avenue is a joke.

the only people who say they LOVE williamsburg at this point are homeowners trying to hold onto their fast-dwindling equity.

everytime i see that row of buildings along mccarren park, i can't help but laugh at all the 30 and 40 something's trying to relive their college years at the university of west virginia.

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 11:25 AM

that's West Virginia University, Hoss.

Go Mountaineers!!!

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 11:27 AM

Willimasburg is overrated.

I have an artist friend who lived there before all the hipsters moved in. (20 years ago). He had a loft that he was in for years with out running water. He bought it cheap. Sure, he got mugged every other week in the neighborhood. (the good old days - when the area was rough).

He sold it a couple of years ago for loads of cash and moved to the South Bronx.

It's over for Williamsburg. Next you'll have Moms pushing Bugaboo's.

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 12:01 PM

"Next you'll have Moms pushing Bugaboo's"

According to Census data, there are more families with children in Williamsburg than there are in Park Slope.

Why would anyone pay so much money to live in such an ugly neighborhood, is what I want to know.

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 12:08 PM

"Next you'll have Moms pushing Bugaboo's."

That's been going on for a while, now. Where have you been?

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 12:09 PM

I heard brokers are HURTING for buyers in Williamburg.

Saw that the neighborhood leads all others in terms of price declines. And the glut of new condos is only getting worse. Next year is going to be a real problem for this area.

So sad to see all the fun stuff...Galapagos, Pies and Thighs, Brooklyn Brewery etc. leaving the neighborhood.

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 12:12 PM

11:06 everyone you know wants "out"? really? they WANT out, or are they forced out... ? hilarious! i know, ready for this, close to 30 people who have bought in the last year, and have another friend buying. one of my relatives just rented a $2900 one bedroom. in my office alone - my co-worker just rented a new 2 bed room, and my other co-worker bought and renovated a coop on Bedford.

also, if you think williamsburg is crowded, which i do not even remotely, try anywhere else! even in brooklyn! had to go over to prospect park last saturday, and the traffic and people congestion is 10x worse, plus, AY is coming there.

manhattan obviously is soo much more crowded unless you are in the nose bleed section.

ALSO pies and thighs is not leaving the neighborhood, and tons of amazing restaurants and music venues have opened. and, they are all filled with people. the neighborhood has a vibrant night life.

last night at "a drinks after work kind of thing" with some other people in my industry, 3 people just randomly there told me they only go out in Williamsburg, and, actually me too. as for the West Virginia, comment? huh?

so... IMO the neighborhood is great. if it's not for you, fine. no need to trash it. doesn't suddenly make you more prosperous.

anyway, whether the next year or two is good or bad is irrelevant, real estate sales and rentals will continue.

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 12:26 PM

12:26 = eric mcfarland

anyone that defensive has got somethin to prove.

it's ok bud. you are your "30" fratbud friends love it, i'm sure.

keep on keepin on.

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 12:28 PM

4 year Burg resident here. Why so much hate? Parking is SO much easier than Park Slope. The L train sucks 2 hours a day and the train is half empty. I'm on the train at 7:30AM (my wife takes it at 8:30 and yes that sucks). The J train is fine all day long (sucks on the weekends). Plenty of restaurants and you are so close to Manhattan and dont have to deal with the traffic getting out of Park Slope to get to your summer share.

Could use more parks and day care on the southside but its a great URBAN place to live.

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 12:33 PM

12:12,

"Saw that the neighborhood leads all others in terms of price declines."

references please? asking prices obviously will decrease, but why not aim high at first? selling price is what we care about.

"So sad to see all the fun stuff...Galapagos, Pies and Thighs, Brooklyn Brewery etc. leaving the neighborhood."

it appears that people who weren't born and raised in a city don't understand that the city is constantly changing and evolving. sometimes very fast. it's a normal and healthy process. in fact you should be worried if it isn't happening.

ok, so Galapagos leaves ... we get Luna Lounge and Music Hall of Williamsburg (not to mention the outdoor concerts). Pies and Thighs ... they're just moving a few blocks away to South 4th. and the Brooklyn Bewery ... well, the new Redegast Beer Garden is pretty cool.

and should i bother mentioning all the new bars and restaurants, and $50M McCarren Park makeover?

anyway, it seems people who have left (or couldn't afford) Williamsburg are always out justifying their decision and trying to convince themselves they did the right thing. don't worry, you did. just be happy.

Williamsburg will be "over" when the waterfront and proximity to Manhattan goes away.

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 12:46 PM

yo 12:28, i'm a woman in the photo industry. went to a prestigious small liberal arts college that didn't even have frats. great guess though!

have zero to prove, just providing another side of the story.

if you don't like hanging out in williamsburg, so what, then just do not.

however, let's not pretend like the williamsburg doesn't have a fantastic nightlife scene though just because it doesn't appeal to you.

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 12:53 PM

Williamburg is already over.

They've destroyed it.

Imagine how ugly (as if it could get much worse) all those dated condos are going to look in 5-10 years.

I don't envy those homeowners.

I love how someone said the L train only sucks 2 hours a day.

YEAH....the TWO HOURS people actually have to be on it!!!!

It's a nightmare. Not a good way to start the day.

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 12:53 PM

"went to a prestigious small liberal arts college"

Anyone who would say that about themself (excuse me, HERSELF) is a total douchebag.

The nightlife scene is terrific...I'll give you that.

If you're under 25 and look emaciated.

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 12:55 PM

Yeah, if you replace "University of West Virginia" with "Vassar," "Bard," or "Sarah Lawrence," the description really does become quite accurate.

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 1:07 PM

williamsburg = shitshow

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 1:21 PM

just relax people

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 1:31 PM

Where are the prices declining? I wish someone could give me a specific example...maybe a 1 bedroom with storage. Yeah, we can all finally afford to buy because the prices have dropped so much...that's why we're headed to Bushwick, huh? Ah, Flushing Avenue at last.

The L train is a nightmare...at 10:30 when I've finally dragged my PBR hungover self out of bed so I can head over to Whole Foods on Union Square and pretend I can still afford Manhattan while I have my latte before my shift starts at TeaNY. Don't dare think I wait tables for a living...I'm an Artist. I haven't sold any of my art, because that would be selling out and, besides, that extra cash would only give me money to be able to afford to buy in Williamsburg.

Funny, I haven't seen this many beards since I stopped for gas on a road trip through West Virginia...

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 1:41 PM

Wait, Brooklyn Brewery is leaving?

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 2:11 PM

Brooklyn Brewery already left.

Opening up in Gowanus/Park Slope.

A few new big clubs opening up in Gowanus on 4th and 3rd Avenues as well. Also this really cool new outdoor BBQ joint.

It's becoming what Willliamsburg was 15 years ago.

If you want to actually make money on real estate, take a look around. It's a really nice industrial/artsy vibe without all the million dollar dorm rooms and trust fund yalies.

Hurry before it gets trashed like everywhere else.

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 2:28 PM

I left Williamsburg 5 years ago. It was overated even then.

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 2:48 PM

All the "cool" people left Williamsburg 5 years ago.

Now all that's left are the new arrivals at 3 to a room and the leftover moms who couldn't cut it in Park Slope.

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 2:50 PM

BFD on corcorn going to williamsburg..they suck.. but eric is actually a good guy!

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 3:26 PM

2:50pm you sound like a child and probably a renter. how old are you? this is a blog to discuss real estate investments. grow up already. would love to hear your 25 year old definition of cool. snore. don't know if you didn't get the memo, but EVERYONE gets older. today's cool kids will all be 40 too one day unless they die of an overdose or get knifed in bushwick. where will the previously cool kids go when they grow up? hmmmm maybe, hold on, they'll buy a condo a williamsburg - hello! just because you age doesn't mean you suddenly become an ex-frat boy investment banker.

what are you hoping for for yourself - a life with no children, no family? several williamsburg condo buyers have lived in the neighborhood for years - should they move? why can't they stay and invest in a neighborhood that they love?

an entire neighborhood, williamsburg, is being transformed. and, yes it will have a significant amount of home owners concentrated one stop from 2 different trains to manhattan, so it is very important to discuss this on a brooklyn real estate blog.

anyone who isn't interested in this from a real estate investment scenario, or is at least curious, isn't serious about Brooklyn's changing landscape. that's fine, but do not bother to post about williamsburg.

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 3:30 PM

Do people really move to neighborhoods based solely on relative coolness or edginess (for those who want to get mugged once a week)? You have to live somewhere, right? and maybe you found a convenient place with an apartment you like at a good price and you didn't really mean it as a political or personal or artistic statement. What do you do, just pick up and move every time the neighborhood is "over"? That sounds kind of pathetic. This should not be the defining issue of your life or your lifestyle. Whether or not something is a good investment for that much money is a different story...

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 3:39 PM

3:30...if someone wants to talk about real estate INVESTMENT, they would NOT be talking about Williamsburg.

There is little room to make money in Williamsburg anymore.

It's all overpriced and most of it is crap.

This is actually a blog about Brownstone Brooklyn and those that love it more than it is about Brooklyn Real Estate, so just wondering why you've felt the need to comment so thoroughly on something you seem to know so little about??

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 3:55 PM

First time I saw W.burg was about 8 years ago--long before I even lived in NY. At the time I remember thinking two things 1)What's up with all the pretentious hipsters? 2)I don't like the way this place looks.

But hey, every neighborhood needs its boosters. I'm glad that Williamsburg has its own. If you love living there, then it's apparently about to get much easier for you to do so. Enjoy!

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 4:21 PM

From the photo above, what an ugly looking street.

Just like most of Williamsburg.
Ugly and Overpriced...perfect for Corcoran.

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 4:23 PM

williamsburg sucks. enjoy your $2900 one bedrooms and 750k condo apartments.

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 5:14 PM

Williamsburg is just like the east village. Completely gentrified and filled with obnoxious people. Those ugly luxury condos completely destroy the character of the neighborhood as well.

I used to visit my friend who lived in williamsburg in 95-96 and it was great. Back then their was a nice domincan and puetro rican community on the south side. Now thieir are only a couple of blocks left of them. Really sad. The north side was cool too with the L cafe and a tiny and better planet thailand.

I don't understand how anyone would want to live in an all white neighborhood in NYC the most diverse city in the world.

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 5:19 PM

3:55 - there is no room to make money in williamsburg - are you joking??? wait until the current psf prices surpass those now found in Dumbo, which has some the highest psf prices in Brooklyn. You are simply flat out wrong, and i would be surprised to find out that you yourself are an investor.

Also, brownstoner put out this post, not me - he clearly wants to discuss condos and development, as he does every day. he was just looking for a williamsburg reporter/blogger, right?? you sound kind of dumb. in fact, if you don't care about condos, then why are you reading this thread and posting?

4:21 and 4:23 - who cares what you think? for god sake, why are you posting? what are you trying to achieve? you probably know nothing about the neighborhood. also, the insides and outsides of most places in brooklyn are ugly. i would argue that the insides of apartments, shops and restaurants in williamsburg are on the whole way better than most other areas because of all the creative people who are here.

seen a lot and i mean a lot of UGLY, hideous pre-war interiors....have a feeling that probably includes yours or you wouldn't be so defensive.

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 5:21 PM

Brooklyn Brewery is still there, at least according to my eyes, and their website. What gives?

5:19 pm, your post is hilarious. That "nice community" on the southside? Back then, I could walk to the corner of my street, get some drugs, haggle a junkie whore for a $10 hummer, all basically right in front of my house. I guess that was kind of nice.
Oh, and besides the L Cafe and PlanEAT Thailand, what other places did you like?

Exactly.

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 5:32 PM

99% of the thread hates Williamsburg.

One lone guy trying to defend it.

That about sums it up, folks.

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 5:35 PM

"99% of the thread hates Williamsburg."

That about sums what up? That you're all a bunch of sheep?

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 5:51 PM

I used to go to Willimasburg in it's hipper days.

Do you remember the Planet Thai storefront, that was the best. I went to the new one when they opened and haven't been back since.
Williamsburg is now full of posers.

No thank you.

I hate the East Village too

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 5:58 PM

"I used to go to Willimasburg in it's hipper days."

I used to rob and kill people like you in Williamsburg during its hipper days, moron. Who's a poser?

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 6:12 PM

You should move to Bushwick or Bed-Stuy.

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 6:23 PM

I would KILL for a CUPCAKE right about now.

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 6:37 PM

5:32, 5:19 here. Well I didn't live there just visited my friend like i said so my two stops were the L cafe and planet thai. There was a good mexican joint on corner of grand (i think) that was really good.

I am glad you found my post hilarious.

Yes, the good ole days where you could get some drugs and a hooker on the corner of metrpolitan and driggs where my buddy lived. I used to go into the abandoned warehouses and find matresses and needles and spoons. ha!

Where else did you like 5:32?

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 6:39 PM

5:32 here. In the mid-90s there wasn't really anything else, even on northside. Some plexiglass Chinese joints, a couple of which somehow persist.

By the late 90s, there was briefly a Mexican joint that had good tacos in the building you're talking about (now home to a Korean grocer). There were a handful of comidas criollas and Dominican joints that had good roast pork and rice and beans, one that started with an A where Khao Sarn now is.
But mostly, you had to get by on junkie whores and heroin or crack. My "cleaning lady" was my "super's" girlfriend, and she once offered to clean my pipes after she'd finished cleaning the apt. Ahh, memories.

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 6:48 PM

Almirante! That's what it was called, and that was about the only place I ate at on the southside in the early/mid 90s.

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 6:52 PM

"99% of the thread hates Williamsburg."

"That about sums what up? That you're all a bunch of sheep?"

Haven't you heard NYC is full of whining c*nts.

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 6:59 PM

So you don't live in NYC, 6:59?

Yea, didn't think so.

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 7:19 PM

Hasids rule!

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 7:58 PM

Hasids with cupcakes?

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 8:03 PM

Kosher cupcakes only. Let's go to Lee Avenue and get some.

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 8:07 PM

It never ceases to amaze me how butt ugly Williamsburg is. Why would you live there if you don't have to?

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 8:22 PM

Is Williamsburg close to Park Slope??

If so, then I like it more than I thought I did.

Park Slope is puuuurty....

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 8:28 PM

"So you don't live in NYC, 6:59?

Yea, didn't think so. "

I have lived here for 15 years. How about you b*tch?

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 9:16 PM

i'm from here you little shit.

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 10:13 PM

6:48. 5:19 here. Yea I remember some of the chinese joints anf other things but not too much else. Yes, the memories of williamsburg in the 90's.

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 10:28 PM

i hadn't realized chinese food was so memorable.

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 10:31 PM

In defense of hipsters. My ex and I had our first resolved and calm and peacefully divorced laugh about web sites that bash “hipsters”. Maybe you guys could come to your own peaceful place too if I could capture the humor somehow. But to be honest I am like totally drunk and tired right now (hey… does that raise or lower my hip status?)

Thing is … my ex and I are both 30-somethings… vaguely professional (ahhumm… I am so endlessly more professional… but anyway I did decide to let that go)… And we like anyone … and as is so fashionable… well… we make lots of sarcastic hipster jokes… little digs at “those” hipsters… but of course… and the irony… the funny part is that of course he and I qualify as hipsters at least probably according to maybe 70% of the viewer ship here I would approximate…. And of course this is the funny thing.

X and I were on some totally obnoxiously obscure and self important indie music web site and there they were… the predictably… franticly hatful posts about the contemptible “hipster”.

And as we read through the various hateful posts about how “their” skinny jeans are destroying music….well we laughed… because after all… who the fuck is on this web site other then “those” people that we would probably qualify as raging hipsters.

All these blogs… I mean I would bet my left pinky that most of “you” people… well your probably sort of hip and according to at least a lot of people… you are the hippsters causing such grief for others…with whatever hip things you do... your funny hair… your wrinkles t shirts… just ruining the neighborhood!

I love how illogical it is… First the “hipsters” are responsible for INCREASING the property values… Now… they are also responsible for DECREASING property value and forcing people to move to increasingly more authentically hip neighborhoods elsewhere in Brooklyn.

Does anyone else find this … I don’t know… funny?

It’s really some high school-ish type competition for authenticity. Hipsters are involved in some kind of online- self love- self hate battle… where we all compete to be more hip (OK- to be more hip … you must do the hip thing first and be sooo over it by the time someone else like it). While simultaneously bashing hipsters… essentially ‘graduating” from hipness into oober ‘hipness’. The next level of hipness if you will… so fucking hip that you transcend hip… you did hip… you done it too and now you are soo above being hip.

Anyway- I have been trying to perfect an actual hipster character… a cyber character that could go on all the blogs and defend the hipster. So… it’s really long winded but… maybe you have some idea… what would his name be? Would he be an artist or a musician? Would he be trust fund or just unemployed? Should I go with a renter character or a owner character? I was thinking 26… I wanted to go a little older because I think that’s more grating. Any ideas? Suggestions? Come on… I totally know your all really hipsters of some sort anyway….

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 11:40 PM

Suggestion: fewer words. You could go with Nick, 27, with a mini trust fund. Was a thuggy acting/looking manhattan boy growing up, but discovered his softer side and is now a tight jeans pansy ass Williamsburg dweller who posts on local message boards.

Posted by: guest at February 20, 2008 11:55 PM

Yeah, late to the party, but I agree with a lot of the above posters--I lived in Williamsburg for a while, but got the hell out of there 2 months ago.

It looked exactly like Hoboken as far as the people there were concerned, but it was more expensive, uglier, and transportation even worse. So what was the point? So, I moved. God knows why anyone would want to live there - there are better, cheaper places more convenient to Manhattan.

Posted by: guest at February 21, 2008 12:14 PM

why the comment about aptsandlofts.com? do u see what they are doing out there? give them props. thats a serious bubsiness that has been running circles around elliman for 2 years and u think they are worried about corcoran? maundrell is a going to be huge in this business.

Posted by: guest at June 9, 2008 9:09 PM