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February 13, 2009

Open House Picks

house Park Slope
617 8th Avenue
Corcoran
Sunday 2:30-4
$2,195,000 was $2,595,000
GMAP P*Shark

house
543A 6th Avenue
Townsley & Gay
Sunday 1-3
$1,475,000
GMAP P*Shark

house Lefferts Manor
128 Rutland Road
Brown Harris Stevens
Sat 2:30-4:30, Sun 2:30-4:30
$1,150,000
GMAP P*Shark

house Gowanus
203 8th Street
Urban Living
Sunday 12-2
$975,000
GMAP P*Shark

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Comments

Wrong address on first Park Slope entry.

Posted by: bk14 at February 13, 2009 1:22 PM

almost everything about the gowanus house, from location to pictures, makes me queazy.

Posted by: goldie at February 13, 2009 1:25 PM

yes, the entry should be 617 8th avenue. The link is correct.
The limestone in Lefferts Manor looks really pretty, love the floors and the beamed ceiling.

Posted by: Maly at February 13, 2009 1:26 PM

First house is gorgeous...I don't know what they're smoking over on 6th ave though.

Posted by: boofer at February 13, 2009 1:27 PM

I love what they've done with the 6th Avenue house. Especially the kitchen is totally my taste.

You need a heading above the address on that one though...there is no neighborhood listed...

Posted by: 11217 at February 13, 2009 1:29 PM

The 6th Ave House is nice - but realllly narrow, right?
also overpriced - I'd say come down about 200K and you got something there

Posted by: gemini10 at February 13, 2009 1:31 PM

6th avenue between 14th and 15th street would be South Slope, all the way down. It looks very charming, but also very narrow and claustrophobic.

Posted by: Maly at February 13, 2009 1:36 PM

I'm rather amazed the Lefferts Manor house combines Arts & Crafts, Tudor, Victorian, and Neo-Classical in one house, but it looks good.

Posted by: mopar at February 13, 2009 1:36 PM

It's also interesting to see some of the sales on the Townsley and Gay website. Some of those don't look familiar and who knows when they were listed/sold, but there are some interesting sales in there, I thought.

I never knew that super skinny pinkish colored Berkeley Place house was for sale, and sold for 1.7 million. It's right next to this castle looking house with a garage that I always admire, right off 7th Avenue next to Zuzu's Petals.

Posted by: 11217 at February 13, 2009 1:37 PM

The 6th ave house is only 14 ft wide...it's 1596 sq ft.

Posted by: boofer at February 13, 2009 1:38 PM

Where are you getting that info boofer? There is nothing listed on the website with regard to floorplan or width of the house from what I see.

It's a 3 story/1 family and only 1500 square feet?

Posted by: 11217 at February 13, 2009 1:43 PM

The Gowanus house is in a bad location, but at least it's close to the subway. Nearly on top of it. With such fine finishes throughout, surely they could get at least $600,000?

Posted by: mopar at February 13, 2009 1:44 PM

I think when the next "up" cycle begins (whenever that is), Gowanus is going to be a really "hot" area. I can see it.

Posted by: 11217 at February 13, 2009 1:46 PM

WOW, Rutland house has some great details.

Posted by: bayridgegirl at February 13, 2009 1:50 PM

property shark

Posted by: boofer at February 13, 2009 1:55 PM

Ah cool. Thanks.

I guess it is small then by some people's standards.

I think it looks great.

Posted by: 11217 at February 13, 2009 1:58 PM

11217 - T&G does have some nice stuff - you are right!

I thought spring/summer was the season for Gowanus to be up and coming - I just don't think it ever took off

Posted by: gemini10 at February 13, 2009 1:58 PM

Well I don't think it will be Williamsburg, hot. I think it will stay rather gritty, with some great music venues, more galleries and hopefully a little more residential.

Hopefully it will develop more slowly and more organically than a place like Williamsburg, which now looks to be in a bit of trouble with so many condos which will undoubtedly sit empty for quite a while.

Posted by: 11217 at February 13, 2009 2:03 PM

You know, there are all kinds of open houses every weekend in the $400k-$600k range that never get featured. Couldn't we have at least one a week for us poor folks who can't drop a million dollars on their home? :)

Posted by: cwbuecheler at February 13, 2009 2:07 PM

I'm sure someone elese commented on this I just missed it (by not reading anyone's comments) but did everyone hear baout the city council's plan to make all of the empty luxury condo's into affordable housing units? love it.

Posted by: shillstoner at February 13, 2009 2:15 PM

"but did everyone hear baout the city council's plan to make all of the empty luxury condo's into affordable housing units?"

I did read about it. And no where was it mentioned that "ALL" empty condos would be converted to affordable housing. I'd be quite surprised if this idea ever came to fruition on any large scale.

Posted by: 11217 at February 13, 2009 2:19 PM

shillstoner - NOOOO - where is that article?
CWB - agreed! - however you could offer $600K for that 8th street house?!?!?!

Posted by: gemini10 at February 13, 2009 2:20 PM

Mopar- the 8th street house is between 3rd and 4th which is not a bad location, its actually on the tree lined side of the block.

Posted by: Gowanus_Bklyn at February 13, 2009 2:22 PM

Totally agree with goldie on the 8th Street queasiness factor. It should come with a John Waters' Odorama scratch and sniff card, perhaps smelling of stinky pets.

Posted by: tinarina at February 13, 2009 2:23 PM

OMG, 11217, I did not mean "all" as in every last one!

I did not see an article. I heard it on NPR. The City Council proposed--and Bloomberg endorsed--a plan to make many/most/some of the vacant luxury condos into affordable housing.

Posted by: shillstoner at February 13, 2009 2:24 PM

8th avenue: nice house, nice price chop. Probably still needs to go a little lower.

6th avenue: looks like someone bought it for over 1 million around the market peak and fixed it up nicely. Will be tough sell it for any profit now, though.

Lefferts Manor: People in PLG probably need to start getting used to their homes being worth less than a million dollars.

Gowanus: Location is actually pretty convenient (much more remote areas have been called Park Slope in the past). Its just that the house itself is a dump. Knock off a few hundred thousand dollars and it might be worth fixing up.

Posted by: sub letter at February 13, 2009 2:26 PM

re 6th ave. based on acris, looks like the mortgage came from mom, so probably don't need to worry about the profit. in any event, its too small to hit close to asking in this market. the dining room w/ two chairs and a flat screen tv gives me the creeps.

Posted by: aishling at February 13, 2009 2:33 PM

gemini10 - I could offer 600k, yeh ... but I don't think it's actually worth 600k. Commute's decent, but I've little interest in living in a fixer-upper on the Gowanus side of 4th ave.

There are nice 2BR condos in Prospect Heights, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, and even in Park Slope that have open houses that are cheaper than $600k, but they rarely get featured. That was my point.

Posted by: cwbuecheler at February 13, 2009 2:59 PM

CwB - ok gotcha, - I think that street is actually not soo bad and that 1 block commute to 4th avenue stop is sweet
but again - yes 4th ave isn't ideal to wanna plant roots in - I get...

Posted by: gemini10 at February 13, 2009 3:04 PM

If I had more confidence that Gowanus was going to get cleaned up, I'd be very interested in 4th and 8th. But I think it's going to be a bunch of warehouses and a smelly canal for another 15 years ... which is likely longer than I'd end up living in the house.

If 5th avenue is losing businesses, there's no way 4th avenue is going to undergo a resurgence, you know? :)

That said, it'd be fun to be within walking distance of the Bell House.

Posted by: cwbuecheler at February 13, 2009 3:10 PM

compared to the HOTD - 107 Rutland. This Rutland is a deal. That house was much smaller (16ft) and didn't have as many details - nicely renovated nonetheless.

Posted by: bkny at February 13, 2009 3:18 PM

maybe its just me but I would rather live in the gowanus house than the PLG house.

Posted by: Santa at February 13, 2009 3:20 PM

"If 5th avenue is losing businesses, there's no way 4th avenue is going to undergo a resurgence, you know? :)"

CWB, Don't let a crappy store called Love ? make you think 5th Avenue is losing businesses overall. Compared to what it was like 8 years ago, 5th is literally night and day. If you didn't live here then, you can't even imagine.

I can think of at least 20 stores/restaurants which have opened in the last 12 months on 5th Avenue, it's just that sometimes we seem to focus on the ones that close here more often.

If anything, I think this recession will weed out some of the crap on 5th and bring in even better businesses. Even walking down 7th the other day, I noticed at least 2 or 3 new things opening soon.

Posted by: 11217 at February 13, 2009 3:24 PM

Santa,

I'd MUCH rather live in Gowanus as well.

Posted by: 11217 at February 13, 2009 3:25 PM

11217 - Yeh, I'm not entirely disagreeing with you. That said, I still feel like 4th avenue has a lot further to go before I'm going to want to buy stuff to the west side of it. Until they come up with some kind of sane plan for the canal, Gowanus is going to stagnate ... pun fully intended.

At $600k, the house is probably a good deal. At $975? Maybe not. It's close to 5th ave, close to the subway, and even close to the 7th and third stop of the bus which runs between park slope and smith street.

In all honesty, I'm just nitpicking because I don't really want ANY of these houses, for the price they're listed at. I know where I want to be and what I want to pay. Sadly, those two things do not in any way coincide. :)

Posted by: cwbuecheler at February 13, 2009 3:29 PM

Just by listening to you on this blog, I can't imagine you'd be happy with that house down in the Gowanus, CW. I wasn't trying to imply that. To go from the absolutely gorgeous block you live on now to down there would be quite a shock, to say the least.

I do, however think that with the addition of all those new units on 4th (even if they become rentals) 4th Avenue will continue to gentrify at a relatively rapid pace. I don't really think that the stuff opening up will be of high quality (see papa Johns', etc) but this is the first stage in the process.

Either way, 4th is ugly. No two ways around that.

I think you can find something in a much more beautiful area for your price range.

Posted by: 11217 at February 13, 2009 3:35 PM

that house on 8th st - whoever took those pictures really knows how to influence the prospective buyer, not.

the 8th avenue house is a very nice house. who knows what it's worth today, or even next week, but it's a nice house.

the sixth ave house looks very nice actually. probably is narrow, but when the price gets cut it will look wider.

Posted by: raphael9 at February 13, 2009 4:12 PM

11217 - Amusingly, MrsCWB is more open to living in Gowanus than I am. She may yet convince me. :)

Posted by: cwbuecheler at February 13, 2009 4:17 PM

But wait... the realtor says the Gowanus house is a "Perfect investment that can be rented for high rent."

I'm sure that means you can rent it for $6000 or even $8000 to cover the mortgage payment and basic maintenance.

Friggin' ridiculous!

Posted by: tybur6 at February 13, 2009 5:06 PM

Love the Rutland Road house. That's such a great block! All the little kids play together in front of the houses while their parents chat during the warm months. I've noticed a thaw in the market in recent weeks in Lefferts Manor. Houses have been to go into contract during the past couple of weeks. Don't know if this is also happening in other neighborhoods.

Posted by: dt at February 13, 2009 5:09 PM

cw, maybe I'm mistaken but aren't all the open houses actual houses and not apts? Anyway, would love to see more open houses (actual houses) in the $400,000 to $600,000 price range.

Re Gowanus, I'm just saying that area is unpleasant aesthetically, which I'm sure will surprise no one. It's an industrial area and 4th Ave. is a very big street with a lot of traffic. That's all.

Posted by: mopar at February 13, 2009 5:13 PM

Also… Gowanus House is $975,000 with $1,244 taxes…. 0.1% property tax?! Are you kidding?!?!

If you’re gonna pay a MILLION dollars for a home – Pony up the cash!! Why is my sales tax being raised? Why can’t the city afford to fill potholes? Or improve public transport??!?!?!

Posted by: tybur6 at February 13, 2009 5:37 PM

I have friends on this block of Rutland and it is very nice. That house is certainly sweet. Last week's Rutland Road house seemed incredibly overpriced, but this one seems like the asking price is on par with another LM house that recently went to contract. My friends said that the two houses that have just gone to contract sold for about 20% under asking. I'd say this one should go for about the same as the 2 story on Midwood.

Gowanus seems too high.

Posted by: shillstoner at February 13, 2009 5:52 PM

Shillstoner, Why would a three story go for the same amount as a two story? This three story on Rutland has a full garden level with a full basement under it. This means they may have a 20 foot wide kitchen that walks out to the garden plus a full dining room. The two story houses have much smaller kitchens unless they have an extension. If they have an extension they lose garden space.

I doubt the two story on Midwood went into contract for 20% less than the ask. They never even dropped their original asking price. We'll see when it closes.

Posted by: dt at February 14, 2009 11:35 AM

PS and SS houses are great. Still, in this market, 8th Ave. could be the first prime PS brownstone for under 2 million...that to me is a pretty big milestone.

The SS home is perfect for a couple or family of 3. I think $1.2 is a more realistic price, and maybe even less. It's not any larger than some of those big co-ops on Eastern Parkway, and the location isn't arguably better, either.

Rutland Road is for someone who really, really likes Mission/Arts and Crafts, I think. Not sure how I'd furnish it unless I staged a midnight raid on Stickley and Audi, or whatever they're called...

Posted by: Bolder at February 14, 2009 1:28 PM

dt, this Rutland house is a two story, not a three story. The kitchen is in the parlor floor extension. Take a look at the floorplan. It is the same layout as the Midwood house except that that one did not have a kitchen extension. I think that is the perfect comp--it was slightly smaller (no kitchen extension) but the kitchen had a high-end renovation. As for its going for 20% below asking, that's what the friends said. Lots of people never drop the asking price but simply take low offers. We'll see.

Posted by: shillstoner at February 14, 2009 3:10 PM

Shillstoner, Right you are! It's a two story. In that case, I agree with you.

Posted by: dt at February 14, 2009 3:35 PM

I was out of town, so I missed the open house at 8th Avenue, but it must have gone well. The listing has been expunged, Soviet-style. Only the Google cache and StreetEasy listings survive. Usually, even when a listing goes to contract, it lingers for a while. Anyone have any insight as to why the listing has vanished?

http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/sale/358633-house-617-eighth-avenue-park-slope-brooklyn

Posted by: infirm at February 16, 2009 4:22 PM

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February 13, 2009

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