Houses of the Day: Head-to-Head in The Slope

I think Lincoln Place is a better location. Close to 2/3/Q trains.

I also really love the outside of the Lincoln Place home.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 1:34 PM

the 2nd street house is narrow and feels like it inside. The front parlor doesn't work at all.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 1:35 PM

these two houses are both PERFECT examples of why that ft. greene house of the day yesterday will never sell at the price they are asking.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 1:38 PM

Lincoln Place has a better location: between 7th and 5th, and closer to trains.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 1:45 PM

The Lincoln place floor plan is awesome. What I think is the perfect configuration and would look for in a Brownstone. If only I had $3 million.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 1:51 PM

2nd street is less than a block from the park... Much better location. But personally I would much rather live in Fort Green or Cobble Hill.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 2:07 PM

Re: 2nd street being "narrow" - it's over 19 feet wide - I don't consider that narrow! Also, it's interesting that folks think Lincoln is better location since the school for 2nd street - 321 - is much better than school for Lincoln (which is not even in District 15). Though I suppose it's the old argument that someone paying 3 mil for a house doesn't care about public school. My problem with 2nd street is (besides price!) taste - I'm not a fan of all that heavy woodwork, seems ponderous to me. But it's a big house in a good location. I guess there's just the question of where is the market going - if it's already received a price cut of 200K within a short time, are there more price cuts to come?

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 2:09 PM

1:51, thanks broker/owner. Can you explain to me how you can call that small garden floor room a bedroom when it's only 6.5 ft wide?

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 2:10 PM

Montly mortgage is about $13,000 for either of these places. If you get $2000/month for the rental, you're still paying over $10,000 a month, plus the cost of upkeep. They're both very nice (especially the 2nd street house) but still way overpriced.

I expect that people looking at these places might not need a mortgage (ie, they're rich) -- but they still understand the opportunity cost of the money used to purchase them, and assuming that they're rich, they could make 5% a year on the $3MM, which is about $12,500 a month. Seems like a lot to me.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 2:11 PM

Monthly mortgage is actually more than $13K, but probably around that after getting a tax write-off.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 2:14 PM

I wonder if this Lincoln Place home will go over ask like the last one did in February.

250K over ask to be exact.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 2:19 PM

I think the days of 3mm+ for the park block buildings are over (unless it's 25 footer or Montgomery). 2.5mm gets the job done in 2008

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 2:20 PM

If that's the case, 2:20, then the days of ANY house in Ft. Greene or Clinton Hill selling for over 2 million are over.

And 750k for Crown Heights and Bed Stuy.

BTW, the Lincoln Place home 2:19 alluded to sold for 3 million. In 2008.

And a home on 3rd Street just sold for 3.6 million.

Also in 2008.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 2:24 PM

"I wonder if this Lincoln Place home will go over ask like the last one did in February."

Depends on how well the fool supply is holding up.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 2:24 PM

Why do people here always think buyers of $3M houses are not getting mortgages or sending their kids to public school? I am looking at houses in this price range and plan to get a mortgage and send kids to public school.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 2:27 PM

2:27 -- I find that really surprising (seriously). Can you post a little more info on your demographics -- expected down payment, amount of savings/investments, income level. I understand that someone might think they can do better with their money in a hedge fund than they pay to have a mortgage, but the public school thing throws me. Without seeming too personal, what are your finances that you would buy a 3MM townhouse, get a mortgage, and send your kids to public school?

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 2:34 PM

We make about 600K combined and think good public schools are better for our kids than private. In the research we've done, a lot of kids end up really not doing well and not enjoying private school.

What's so difficult to believe about that?

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 2:38 PM

We plan on putting about 1 million down from our 2 million dollars savings. We are 34 and 35.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 2:39 PM

2:34 some people send their kids to public school because they believe in the system and do not like the thought of their kids only being exposed to rich kids.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 2:40 PM

"Montly mortgage is about $13,000 for either of these places. If you get $2000/month for the rental, you're still paying over $10,000 a month, plus the cost of upkeep. They're both very nice (especially the 2nd street house) but still way overpriced."

Amen Amen. 10k a month for a duplex in the slope??!! WTF I so fed up. I think people really believe this bullshit. 3 million for a house huh? How much it will be worth next fucking year 4 million 5 million??? Who ever buys this house will be the last bagholder??

Hey Brownie, Keep pumping this bullshit, You cnbs, The New and brownstoner, the proper ass gander machine.

The What ( Come on pump it up fucks )

Someday this war is gonna end..

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 2:40 PM

Why is it any more surprising that someone buying a $3M house would have a mortgage and want public school than someone buying a $1.5M house?

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 2:42 PM

"We plan on putting about 1 million down from our 2 million dollars savings. We are 34 and 35."

I hope you get wiped out, for your stupidly and fucking greed.

The What ( Come on say I'm jealous )

Someday this war is gonna end...

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 2:42 PM

"We plan on putting about 1 million down from our 2 million dollars savings. We are 34 and 35. "

I am going to the store today to buy some milk.

Noboday cares about that either.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 2:43 PM

A lot of people are happy to send their kids to public elementary school but what happens in middle school when there are 500 applicants for every one spot in the private schools. Then, even if you can afford private school, you can't get your kid in.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 2:44 PM

321 has been a disappointment to me. BUT I know many people happy at area public schools.

Also agree that these top 3mm prices are nearing the end. Yes, we know they've sold at this level, but going forward I see fewer and fewer

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 2:48 PM

2:27 -- When you say you plan on sending your kids to public school, do you mean to either PS 321 or PS 29? Or would you consider PS 282, which is the district that the Lincoln street house is in? Or PS 39? Have you gone to the schools, looked around, checked the numbers? Or is it more a general ethical belief that in a perfect world you would rather send your kid to public school?

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 2:51 PM

We have heard good things about PS. 29 and PS. 282.

I have indeed been to both and we will absolutely send our children to either, should we end up in those districts.

PS. 321 is clearly good, although most homes we are looking at are in the North Slope, thus Ps. 282.

As someone who has worked in higher education for many years, I do believe in the public school system for my kids.

Many studies have been done to show that kids assimilated into the public school system show much better results in university and then post college career development.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 2:57 PM

I finally understand who is buying these places at these prices, and why there has been such a run-up. $600K in combined annual income, while a fortune by any rational standard, is far less than I would expect to support a $2mm mortgage (taking into account the hefty down payment), taxes, etc. I think you would need to send your children to public school with that financial mix (and not have the expense of a full time nanny). Or else I am way more fiscally conservative than most people buying homes in the area.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 3:01 PM

I know a lot of people who moved into 282 district, and then couldn't pull the trigger on sending their kids there. Most people figure out a way to get their kids into 321, or send them to Packer. Everyone moves there optimistic about 282, though.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 3:05 PM

"As someone who has worked in higher education for many years, I do believe in the public school system for my kids. " -- are you the same person with the combined income of $600K? Where do you work in higher education and make that kind of money? Or, is it really not an even split between you and your spouse?

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 3:09 PM

"the proper ass gander machine" is my new favorite What-ism.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 3:10 PM

the fact of the matter is if i cant afford no one can.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 3:18 PM

Both of these houses come with tenants. The tenant in 2nd Street house is in place until at least May or Aug 2008 (I can't remember what the broker told me).

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 3:26 PM

re: 3:01 - Seriously - good point. Seems a little ridiculous. There are plenty of brownstones available in the ~$2M range in fine neighborhoods around here, I can't really see why someone would rather stretch their finances so much, and send their kids to public school, to get one of these top-of-the-line super houses. If you're Jonathan Sfran Foer, fine, plunk down cash for one of these places and have a good life - more power to you. But a young(ish?) professional with as yet no kids, or very young kids, doesn't need to live in a museum. I would more likely expect a buyer in that demographic to buy a more modest house and get on with their lives, while slowly, over 10 or 20 or even 30 years, upgrading it to become your perfect home. I've known a number of people who did this.

Which is to say (aimed at 2:57 now) certainly we can understand your motives when you explain them. But you have to admit that you're probably in the minority in the way you've made this decision.

Especially about the public school thing. Public schools NYC, and especially Brooklyn neighborhoods near the park, have been getting better and better. But that mostly applies to primary schools. Once you get to 7th grade and above, the situation gets dramatically worse. I know plenty of people who went to Stuy and Bronx Science and Hunter etc, and most have done very well in life... but they rarely have anything nicve to say about their high school experiences. And unfortunately, private schools have been going through their own bubble in the last ten years. It's now near-impossible to move your kids into private school at 7th or 9th grade, as you could in the 80s.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 3:26 PM

No, the split is about 400K/200K, 3:09.

I am a University Dean and my husband manages a very successful artist management company representing musicians.

We are both pretty fiscally conservative and have saved quite a lot.

We love this area and have many friends in Park Slope. We'll be moving from the East Village sometime this year, we hope.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 3:27 PM

(following up)

"Many studies have been done to show that kids assimilated into the public school system show much better results in university and then post college career development."

What studies are these? Which schools are they comparing? I'd honestly love to know whether they looked at NYC public schools specifically, and NYC public high schools specifically, or just public schools in general.

The educational environment in NYC is just as anomolous as the real estate market, relative to the rest of the country.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 3:31 PM

The Lincoln Place listing was posted yesterday morning by the agent. It's been over a day and a half and still no pictures. I've never understood this...

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 3:35 PM

What's the architectural term for the facade of the Lincoln Place house?

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 3:37 PM

I'm not trying to convince anyone to send their kids to public school. It is a personal decision. Someone asked, and I responded with my beliefs.

That's the great thing about America...we can all have different ideas and do what we choose with our lives and the lives of our kids.

If you feel the NYC schools are inadequate for your children, do not send them there.

I will be sending mine to public school. That's all.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 3:37 PM

Dude, don't get defensive. This is a place to share opinions and information, notwithstanding the trolls. Ever think that when the commenter above asked "what studies are these" they might actually have been curious to know which studies? Ever think there might be other people in similar situations who want to make decisions with as much info as possible? Buck up - it's actually possible that your input might be valued around here, rather than derided.

Jeez...

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 3:51 PM

Hey Libby Ryan--how about some pictures? Many people don't attend open houses until they see some shots of the interior (I am one of them).

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 3:56 PM

all so personal - but hard to pre determine if your children are not school age - so many factors to consider - my child happened to have learning disabilities and public school was not for her - so don't make decisions - about buying a brownstone - based on public school.
if it happens and works for you then you save 30,000+ grand a year
and its an added bonus.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 3:58 PM

These sorts of studies are typically done on the University level within their education and child development departments. I don't find it necessary to post anything to this mostly anonymous website. I've read things here before, and no matter what is said, it is picked apart to death. It's so unhealthy.

Picking a school for your child is a personal experience. The key is to do your research, go visit the school and see what you think.

It's similar to when you went to select a college...you know when you get there if it "feels" right.

While it is mostly primary schools in NYC and Brooklyn that are on the up and up these days, I plan to get involved when moving to improve the middle and high school in Park Slope.

That is how the primary schools have developed there...parent/teacher/administration involvement and committment.

Who knows...maybe in 10 years when my kids are about to enter high school, John Jay will be on a whole new level.

Anything is possible if you work at it. Saying it's horrible on an anonymous blog about real estate certainly doesn't solve the issue.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 3:59 PM

there are no such studies.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 4:10 PM

"Who knows...maybe in 10 years when my kids are about to enter high school, John Jay will be on a whole new level."

That is the most optimistic thing I have ever heard in this board.

I will welcome you with open arms when you move here.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 4:12 PM

"Public schools NYC, and especially Brooklyn neighborhoods near the park, have been getting better and better. But that mostly applies to primary schools. Once you get to 7th grade and above, the situation gets dramatically worse...."

In five to ten years, many of the same kids whose parents have been helping to make elementary schools "better and better" will be going to middle and high schools and in turn working to make them better and better.

With fewer Brooklyn families moving to the suburbs and more of them utilizing public schools--in part because, as you say, privates have fewer spaces for them--you've had more parents become involved in public schools that need parent involvement, and that involvement is already working up into the system.

(I know somebody is going to say that I'm claiming well-off yuppie parents are "better" than the parents whose kids were in public school before, and poor people care about their kids too, etc.--all true, but the fact is that people with more means and options tend to have more time to volunteer at schools, more oppoortunity to be directly involved in their kids' education, more contacts for fundraising, etc. -- it may not be fair, but it's fact.)

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 4:12 PM

Thank you 4:12. We are really excited to find a house and get out there as soon as we can. We've found the community spirit there to be unmatched from all the places we have either visited or lived.

All our friends say that they'd never dream of living anywhere else. That is how we want to feel about where we live as well. Manhattan was fun while it lasted, and we adore it...always will...but we both feel Brooklyn has become what Manhattan was 15-20 years ago...a place where culture, the arts, diversity and community involvement take precedence.

Thanks for the welcome.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 4:20 PM

This is just too funny. I can't believe you people make up fake buyers who are in love with the Slope.

I take back the "too funny." It is actually kind of sickening.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 4:27 PM

Park Slope is about as fake as these house searchers are.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 4:28 PM

You make $200k a year as a university dean and have time to post comments on brownstoner. I guess I went into the wrong field.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 4:29 PM

there are also studies that say that people who degrade other people only do so because they hate themselves.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 4:34 PM

When I think about Park Slope I just cream! All of my friends live there and soon I will live there too. And when I go to Park Slope I may send my kid to private school or maybe public school, but either choice is ok because Park Slope is all about supporting their neighbors. I make a ton of money and I'm glad that people is the Slope like people with money. I am just so happy I found the Slope. Now I belong.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 4:34 PM

"Ever think that when the commenter above asked "what studies are these" they might actually have been curious to know which studies?"

Unlikely given the confrontational tone applied of the original question and yours. I've complained about racism on this board before but there also seems to be a resentment of people with money. Strange given who must be buying these places. Guess it all makes things interesting.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 4:36 PM

Wait, I can't talk now... I'm calling all my friends and telling them to call the movers and high tail it over Park Slope.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 4:37 PM

It is not a resentment of people with money, it is resentment of people who are all about themselves.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 4:39 PM

i think if you really looked closely, 4:39, you'd probably find that park slopers are more generous with their time and money than quite a few other folks.

there is a reason the neighborhood is highly praised and there is a reason why ps. 321 became one of the first schools in the city to become excellent.

there is also a reason why people who spend their lives resenting other people will never really go very far in life.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 4:45 PM

And what is the reason for creating fake posts of people looking to buy in the Slope?

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 4:48 PM

"there are also studies that say that people who degrade other people only do so because they hate themselves."

I think , what you mean, is that people most fervently dislike traits in others that they dislike about themselves. I think much of this neighborhood hating reflects that.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 4:51 PM

"But you have to admit that you're probably in the minority in the way you've made this decision."

No, they don't have to admit to being in the minority. I'm the one who started the comment that I plan to buy a house in this price range (with a mortgage) and send my kids to public school. Obviously several others who feel the same way posted after me.

As for the worth of public schools. I went to public school and now make enough to buy a $3M house. I've done far better than many of those I met in my fancy college/graduate school because I understand more than just high society. The fact is I'll send my kid to public school to socialize them into the real world with all the kinds of people that exist there. As for educating them, I wouldn't depend on any school, public or private, to make sure they learned what I believe they need to learn. I'll give them the books myself if the school doesn't.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 4:51 PM

Yes we know, we know.....Park Slope is fabulous and everyone is just jealous because we all want to live there... University Deans, Artist Management Execs, Brad Pitt, and everyone everywhere who might help market Park Slope as the place to be.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 4:53 PM

I bet there are far more people buying brownstones at this price who do not make as much as $600K a year but did own a property in Manhattan for 5-10 years and now they're trading up. It's hard to see any business advisor telling someone it's a good idea to take out a $2 million mortgage on a $3 million house, as the person above was suggesting he'd do.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 4:56 PM

enough about private and public schools now, lets get back to the houses. how much do you think they will have to cut the prices to get them moving?

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 4:56 PM

Oh jeeze, this just keeps getting better. You're about shin deep.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 4:57 PM

I think if they move the houses out of Park Slope they would sell in a Brooklyn minute.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 4:59 PM

So don't send your kids to private school, 4:51. Totally your decision and it's okay.

Why do all you insecure competitive yuppie parents need everyone to do the exact same thing you do in order to feel good about it?

No seriously, why?

It's your child and you get to make these decisions and it's nobody's place to judge you. The more I see these nasty competitive catfights over which public school is better, the more I do want to send my child to private school, frankly. I worry what kind of parents are at PS 321 and I know I'd be utterly annoyed with them! And avoiding the PTA meetings.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 5:01 PM

anyone who sends their kids to private school does so out of selfishness.

it's the PARENTS who don't want to deal with public school. has nothing to do with the kids.

they think that way little timmy will be more likely to go to harvard.

when actually it means little timmy will probably end up coked up at the age of 16.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 5:04 PM

I know little timmy. Cool dood. Rolls a great spliff.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 5:07 PM

I went to a top public school in a very wealthy community, 5:04, and ALL the kids were on drugs.

It's the parents who keep kids off drugs not the schools.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 5:09 PM

5:01...trust me...the parents at ps. 321 would be much more annoyed by you and your underachieving crotchfruit.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 5:10 PM

Thank you for finally convincing us to choose private school, 5:10. Your crude post was actually very helpful as it's been a dilemma.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 5:12 PM

good. there's no room at ps. 321 anyway.

haven't you heard...it's overcrowded?

i'm not even a parent, 5:12. so basing your child's educational future on an anonymous poster on a blog leads me to believe you have at least one chromosome missing.

have a nice life!

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 5:15 PM

This Lincoln Place house is exactly the same as 128 Lincoln Place, which recently sold. I saw 128 Lincoln and even though it was 20" wide, the parlor room felt extremely narrow. I attribute it to the style of the facade, that the windows are peaked outward as opposed to being flat. Hope the picture are up soon.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 5:21 PM

I have no cash, but approximately 44 metric tonnes of gold bricks. I plan to buy a 3 million dollar brownstone, tear that motherfucker down and erect a gold monument to me, my wife (who's hot) and my two kids who are pretty fucking smart if I do say so myself.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 5:28 PM

Jackie O. sent her kids to public school.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 5:33 PM

jackie o was classier than every person on this blog combined.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 5:34 PM

How the hell do you become the dean of a university by age 34?

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 5:38 PM

To the couple with 600K income committed to public schools:

I admire your ability to put up with the abusive comments from other posters, and I agree that public schools like 321,107, 39 and 282 are valid choices. I only wish all the public schools in New York were as good. Maybe if we hadn't spent 3 trillion dollars on a useless war we'd have money for education.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 5:39 PM

here's to that, 5:39!!!

read an interesting article today with a quote from hillary that said they have talked about an obama/hillary ticket and that they are just trying to find who'd on top now.

interesting...

let's hope things change for the better soon.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 5:41 PM

I have a great life thanks, 5:15.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 5:42 PM

Jackie O. did not send her kids to public school. I know because Caroline was a classmate of mine at Brearley. In case anyone cares. (Let the nastiness continue....)

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 6:05 PM

umm.... helloo! fart...

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 6:16 PM

I'm fighting my addiction to brownstoner and tried so hard today not to visit. But now that I have, I discover one of the nastiest, silliest threads in recent months. What a relief, in a way, since it's the confirmation I need to stop wasting time here. I'll continue to visit the Forum when I need references/information on repair and renovation projects. The rest of this site is worthless.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 6:21 PM

I was just thinking that myself, 5:18. She said "a dean" though. So could be dean of students, dean of x, y, z, not "the dean". And it could be at any of the lower-level colleges throughout the city. Otherwise, it makes no sense and is bullshit.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 6:22 PM

John Kennedy Jr., attended public school at some point in his life. I remember reading a quote by Jackie O saying she wanted her kids to be part of the real world.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 6:25 PM

hey, doesn't Caroline Kennedy live in Park Slope?

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 6:25 PM

park slope needs a Kennedy fried chicken spot on union st!

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 6:34 PM

If you're looking for a good public elementary school your only good choices are PS 321 and 29.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 6:57 PM

6:22, you're right. At Yale we had residential college deans (who were also Professors). They just advised students on what they should be taking, etc... It was entirely possible to hold this position in your mid-30's and these types of positions (along with the professor duties) probably pay between 150-250. I'm sure they have similar things at Columbia and NYU.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 7:03 PM

6:57, please don't speak if all you can muster is that threadbare dung.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 7:39 PM

JFK Jr was ostensibly attending NYU Law at the same time I was. Never saw him there once, in three years of law school. Maybe that's why he flunked the bar exam the first couple times he took it, and took it in a private room (not the public hall at the Javits Center) when he finally passed. You can send your kids to private school, but it doesn't guarantee a decent product.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 8:05 PM

House'S' of the day. A testament to mounting inventories.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 8:40 PM

Overpriced and will have to be reduced to sell.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 8:48 PM

Still no pictures for 130 Lincoln Place--the broker should be embarrassed. And this is what she'll get $180K for?

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 9:12 PM

Denton, I never would have imagined you had a 24-yr old daughter. I thought you were in your early 30s. Interesting...

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 9:13 PM

No pictures yet for Lincoln Place house. Way to work for your $180K, BHS broker.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 9:30 PM

PS 329 and 29 are good schools... here's the qualifier... for overcrowded, inner-city schools. Flame away, but the point is, if you ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO send your kids to a public school in Brooklyn, these are a couple of your best options. Everything's relative. The honest parents I know with kids in 321 say that, with the overcrowding, the school is just okay - they have their grievances and they send them there because they can't afford private school and they don't want to live in the suburbs.

Bottom line, if you send your kids to 321 it's not because you care so much about your kids, it's because you want to live so badly in Park Slope. It's not about your kids, it's about you. Sending them to 321 is the price they pay. If you really prioritized your kids' education, you'd live somewhere where the schools are strong. Pretty simple stuff, really.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 9:31 PM

9:31--Sanctimonious nonsense. (Not to mention, plenty of people avoid moving to the burbs because they want badly for THEIR KIDS to live in the city, not themselves.)

The advantages of private school are material equipment and resources that make parents feel good, but that don't make a difference to the quality of a kids' education long-term. For that, only good teaching and good support at home matter. Parents, however, tend to evaluate schools in terms of stuff--the physical buildings and materials--because those are objective, concrete and thus easier to compare than intangibles like teaching.

Your kid is as well off in a good public as a private, educationally. The privates just provide nice extras.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 11:21 PM

Any body else get the idea that these "kids" are still at this point theoretical?

And lots of people who DO have kids actually change their minds about where to send them (sometimes many times) in their pre-school years.

She's idealistic now. Maybe it will work out for her (and her kids); maybe she'll change her mind. Big deal, either way.

Posted by: guest at March 5, 2008 11:30 PM

i would also like to point out another inconsistency in the 600k couple. you have $2mn in savings, lived in the east village and NOW make $600K. that is about $400k take-home, so you would have had to be making that income for the past 10 years and saving around half of it to have $2mn. seems unlikely unless you bought in the east village a while back... also, my wife and i make about $200k combined, rent in 321 and won`t even consider public school. i would rather be forced to rent indefinitely if it meant i could afford private school. i also went to public school and it was terrible. to each his own... also, just wanted to point out that you will need that $600k for a very long time. if your husband suddenly becomes unsuccessful at managing artists or whatever (herding cats?), you better hope houses are still moving at $3mn. doesn`t sound very fiscally responsible to me, unless you ask people with clearly no experience in the matter. you should seriously look into a qualified financial advisor.

Posted by: guest at March 6, 2008 8:23 AM

$2mn saved making $600K AFTER grad school, student debt, etc. either parents or savvy real estate investing, but not this time if you do what you say you want to do. i guess you didn`t really have to be savvy the past 10 years, just in the right place at the right time.

Posted by: guest at March 6, 2008 9:09 AM

I think there should be a daily Park Slope school post.. you people never talk about the houses on HOTD

Posted by: guest at March 6, 2008 10:41 AM

What houses?

Posted by: guest at March 6, 2008 10:47 AM

600K couple here....we bought a 2 bedroom in the East Village in 1997 for 170K.

We expect it will sell for about 1.6 million. We are not far from Union Square so yes...we lucked out bigtime.

Posted by: guest at March 6, 2008 11:14 AM

holy moly a 2 bedroom went for 170K in 1997? you did luck out! congrats

Posted by: guest at March 6, 2008 11:28 AM

Yes, although we had to put maybe 50K into it to update the bathroom and kitchen.

I'd say the going rate then was about 250K for a 2 bedroom in that area, but we got a deal on a place that needed some fixing up.

Some people forget that anyone who owned property in New York prior to 2001 and held onto it have made hundreds of thousands of dollars (on paper). When you realize that, it makes it easier to see why homes sell for 3 million.

We never would have guessed that 11 years later, our place would be worth this much.

Posted by: guest at March 6, 2008 11:40 AM

No pics yet for Lincoln Place. Disgraceful.

Posted by: guest at March 6, 2008 11:58 AM

good luck in your search and PS brooklyn is a great choice dont listen to the haters! I went to a private school in the area. PS 321 was not in my zone and the school had issues.

-Guy from PH

Posted by: guest at March 6, 2008 12:18 PM

How does Libby Ryan get all these listings? I've looked at a number of her listings over the last few years and she is sooo nasty to people. She all but sneers at you. Why do sellers like her so much? If I had a house to sell, I would want to give the listing to someone who was pleasant, easy to deal with, and didn't turn off totally qualified buyers with her snobby attitude.

Posted by: guest at March 6, 2008 1:27 PM

wow 11:28. shows how insane NY RE has gotten in a very short time. you only needed 34k for 20% down on that place and got over 900% appreciation in 10 years. also helps you see why that isn`t going to happen in the next 10.

Posted by: guest at March 6, 2008 11:45 PM

Amazing. 2 full days since this house was featured on Brownstoner, and 4 full days since house was listed and still not one photograph. If I were the owners, I'd immediately slash her commission by 80%. I'm a prospective buyer, and I don't waste time going to open houses if there aren't any photos up before that day. Many people use the listing photos to screen out their options. This is really pathetic.

Posted by: guest at March 7, 2008 11:00 AM