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June 2, 2009

House of the Day: 177 MacDonough Street

177-MacDonough-Street-0609.jpg
The ubiquity of the word "luxury" in recent years is probably responsible for a great many renovation mistakes. Instead of doing tasteful, understated renovations of kitchens and bathrooms, many homeowners felt that they needed to go all glossy, which, unless you really spend a lot of money and nail it, tends to backfire in our opinion. Such is the case with this house at 177 MacDonough Street in Bed Stuy. The 18-foot-wide brownstone's got nice bones and architectural details, for sure, but the kitchen and bathroom shown in the listing photos just don't work (for us, at least). We could be mistaken, but we suspect that most potential buyers of a house like this would much rather pay $100,000 less and skip things like the "2 ultra luxury Master baths, one with a custom double shower and one with imported porcelain tile and built-in Jacuzzi." Are we wrong? Regardless of our master thesis, we don't think this place has a chance of fetching (or appraising at) its asking price of $899,000; after all, it sold for $680,000 in 2005.
177 MacDonough Street [Century 21] GMAP P*Shark





Posted by Brownstoner at 1:16 PM | Comments (45)
Categories: Bedford Stuyvesant, HOTD

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Comments

I've certainly seen worse (triangular shaped corner soaking tubs with gold fixtures on the outside edge flush against a gold framed "luxury" shower) but I am with you. The kitchen is a touch too Housewives of NJ. I would MUCH rather spend less and put in my own.

That said, I think this is a lovely house and I hope it gets close to ask.

Posted by: Nokilissa at June 2, 2009 1:21 PM

How can you tell anything with these photos -- dark and cropped.... bath certainly doesn't look more than standard to me.

Posted by: BH76 at June 2, 2009 1:24 PM

Ugh I hate nothing more than a listing that has multiple grammatical errors. PROOFREAD you lazy brokers! - PROOFREAD!

The house is ok. What's up with leaving the bad artwork/frames of nonsense up on the walls though?
The kitchen might be the nicest part of the house, but one can't really tell if it is due to the lackluster job Century 21 did with their pictures!
Agreed the price is too high

Posted by: gemini10 at June 2, 2009 1:26 PM

We've seen this listing on Brownstoner before. The house is fine, many people like original details with updated baths and kitchens. It's a little expensive.

Posted by: mopar at June 2, 2009 1:28 PM

The house is currently two apartments, with a potential rent roll of $5100. I am guessing that they put in two luxury master baths to maximize the appeal (and rent) of the individual apartments.

Posted by: bohuma at June 2, 2009 1:33 PM

That price? Certainly not! Especially with all those black people in that neighborhood... am I right, Mr. B? Huh? Wink wink? Right?

(Sorry, I couldn't resist)

Posted by: tybur6 at June 2, 2009 1:34 PM

'MacDonough MacDonough MacDonough...They don't knoooowwwww...who you beeeeeeee...' Remember that DMX track? Can't get that song out my head every time I drive down this street.

Look, the comps for this are going to $500K or less. It's not even on the appraisal scale. This crash will end very badly. Nice block though.

***Bid half off peak comps***

Posted by: Brownstones Half Off at June 2, 2009 1:37 PM

"Look, the comps for this are going to $500K or less. It's not even on the appraisal scale."

Eh BHO 400....?

"This crash will end very badly."

Worse than that!

Has any one seen Adam Dahill????? I keep paging him but no answer. I hope he's alright with the rescinding Refi rate locks! Sad you have to tell the retards to bend over a little more. Go long KY!

BTW Call your Mortgage Broker or Bank and ask them for this week's rate sheet then, wipe you ass with it! Say Buh Bye..

The What (Adam!!!! Where are you!)

Someday this war is gonna end...

Posted by: Return of The What at June 2, 2009 1:50 PM

"The house is currently two apartments, with a potential rent roll of $5100."

ROTFLMMFAO!!!! What the fuck?????!!!!!! Put down the crack pipe!

Why live there when you could be in Manhattan!!!! Oh that's funny!

The What (Delusional Assheads)

Someday this war is gonna end...

Posted by: Return of The What at June 2, 2009 1:52 PM

Ok. we've got our new code folks:

RHW of NJ = low-class, but moneyed folks. They waste their money on things like gold-framed luxury showers.

We are clearly superior to these folks.

By the way, in today's events, please note the poetry session at Ozzie's devoted to diversity and multi-culturalism.

Posted by: benson at June 2, 2009 2:01 PM

Why won't anyone anser me when I page them?

I have multiple log in names and I post to myself repeatedly during the day when I feel no one is paying any attention to me. I believe I can move markets.

Posted by: ghettoazzpnkbtch at June 2, 2009 2:06 PM

Hey, give me gold-rimmed bathroom fixtures, lots of wallpaper and honed granite tile with cherry-wood cabinetry any day. The only thing I draw the line at is acrylic tubs -- those are gross. They make me scheeve.

I feel bad for this flipper.

Posted by: Heather at June 2, 2009 2:08 PM

Those pix remind me of Scarlett Johannsen's "crystal chandelieyahs" sketch on SNL. "You're gonna lose your mind!"

Posted by: Brenda from Flatbush at June 2, 2009 2:09 PM

"Those pix remind me of Scarlett Johannsen's "crystal chandelieyahs" sketch on SNL. "You're gonna lose your mind!"

Brenda;

Which do you enjoy more: laughing at this sketch, or sneering at RHWoNJ?

Posted by: benson at June 2, 2009 2:13 PM

I actually think it looks pretty good, and I don't think you can really 100% judge based on the mediocre photos in the ad.

I mean, what do you people's bathrooms look like, anyway?
You prefer home depot special?

Looks like someone bought a brownstone, and renovated it nicely- improved the housing stock, improves the neighborhood, helps the economy, everyone wins.

But what is going on here ?
**Speculation Below** (no libel suits, please)
"Current owner willing to stay on and rent the duplex for $2000 per month."
I don't think this person is a "flipper"

You can't help but think this owner is a victim of housing bubble thinking (up up up) and is now over their heads. It's priced at the amount they need it to sell for to get out of debt, not what its really worth.

This isn't a good situation for them or us.

Posted by: WillBklyn at June 2, 2009 2:14 PM

I also, seriously, think this renovation job is fine. Not every house has to be renovated to suit the tung oil DWR crowd and their dreary neutrals.

Posted by: Heather at June 2, 2009 2:14 PM

"tung oil DWR crowd and their dreary neutrals"

Heather;

LOL!!!

Posted by: benson at June 2, 2009 2:15 PM

Dibs, great investment isn't it? LOL

Posted by: cornerbodega at June 2, 2009 2:18 PM

I think the renovations on this place are fine. Everyone doesn't have the same taste--if you don't like the tub or the sink-rip them out. What's the big deal?

Brownstoner--why does it seem like you're trying to f*ck with someone else's paper?

Posted by: hustlewoman at June 2, 2009 2:23 PM

This is a beautiful house in the nicest part of Bed-Stuy
they will get their money trust!

Posted by: mysideofstuy at June 2, 2009 2:28 PM

cornerbodega, you wouldn't know a great investment if it landed in your lap and called you papa.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at June 2, 2009 2:32 PM

Hee hee tung oil and dreary neutrals!

Posted by: mopar at June 2, 2009 2:45 PM

Am I missing the floorplan or is this just Century 21's usual shitty marketing???

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at June 2, 2009 2:46 PM

I don't think this looks bad. Seems like a nice, clean reno. The kitchen isn't my taste but it's nowhere near as bad as some of the stuff I see advertised out there for way more $$$. This is also a really nice, quiet residential section of Bed-Stuy that rivals the *better nabes* for its architecture and beauty. People pay not that much less for a 3BR condo, for example, in areas not even considered that prime. Here you get a whole house plus a rental. I think it looks like it's priced decently for what it is. Whether the market's good or bad people are generally going to ask higher than what they hope to receive anyway. If it ends up sitting on the market for a long time they can blame the Realtor for not posting better pics or even, as far as I can see, a floorplan.

Posted by: herkimermaid at June 2, 2009 2:58 PM

What your house needs are mahbble columns....
we have all kinds of Mahbble columns
look at this one, and that one, and that one.

Nuthin' sez class like mahbble columns.

Posted by: sam at June 2, 2009 3:11 PM

Oh Brownstoner. how you dissapoint. I was SOOOOO looking forward to a moment of condescension, sneering down at the lowly tasteless masses with their fugly remodeling jobs. And you point me to THIS? There's literally NOTHING wrong with this renovation except that brokerage firm.

Posted by: iz at June 2, 2009 3:16 PM

dissapoint = disappoint. I'm so disappointed in myself now.

Posted by: iz at June 2, 2009 3:22 PM

Benson,

I'm missing your "new code" reference. And I have seen no "sneering" going on. I simply referenced them as an example of a particular shiny, nouveau-luxury style to which Mr. B may have been referring, and which I happen to dislike.

Posted by: Nokilissa at June 2, 2009 3:24 PM

Just for the record, I have to agree that I see nothing whatever wrong with the interior remodeling of this house. It is perfectly nice although the pictures may be dark for a reason.

Posted by: sam at June 2, 2009 3:46 PM

I don't associate "luxury" with this renovation. It doesn't knock my socks off, but its not bad. The bathroom is pretty sterile, actually, but you can't underestimate the concept of CLEAN in a bathroom. And a kitchen. This is fine. Not exactly my taste and expensive for this environment but I would put the fault with the tacky marketing language more than anything.

Posted by: donatella at June 2, 2009 3:48 PM

Wish there were pics of the 2nd bath and the bedrooms. What's that picture of the kitchen supposed to show us, that there's no counter space for almost $900K?

Posted by: bridges at June 2, 2009 4:00 PM

I love how Brownstoner who renovated his kitchen with Ikea cabinets has become the self-appointed judge of good renovation taste in brooklyn. This renovation looks just fine to me and if I were looking I would definitely pay more for this than for an unrenovated property. This blog is starting to be ridiculous with its critique of renovation tastes. Have you nothing better to do than dig this deeply into other people's business? If I remember correctly, Mr. and Mrs. Brownstoner stopped blogging about their interior decorating when people started to criticize their choices. Somehow, it's ok to criticize others choices....

It's one thing to criticize a developer for ruining the esthetics of a neighborhood with Fedders buildings, but it's entirely different when you are criticizing the renovation of a private person (who is likely in some financial distress) trying to sell his/her house.

Posted by: CuriousGeorge at June 2, 2009 4:03 PM

Noki;

I wasn't referring to your post, though I can see how you would think so. I'm just talking about the situation in Brownstoner country in general, and I DO see some sneering going on (see Brenda's post, for example).

Posted by: benson at June 2, 2009 4:05 PM

Hi all. I inspected this place a few weeks ago when it first came on the market. At no offense to the owner, but I was a bit underwhelmed by what had been done to it. The reno, aside from not being my personal taste (which I appreciate is very subjective thing) was more relevantly, I thought, much poorer quality than the photos suggest. They have used reasonably OK quality materials, if you favor a contemporary type style, but I found the workmanship was rather lacking and it was not finished well. It is only my personal view, but if you are aiming for a higher end luxury type style, it has to be very well constructed else falls flat and feels slightly aspirational. Even though I'm more a subway tile and vintage fixtures kinda guy myself, the issue about its fair value is to me less about the style but the execution quality. To be balanced, while for me the house was also bit small for the money, I must say the location is really great...I totally love that block and would love to find something around there, and there are some nice features left in some rooms. Overall, from my perspective it was not a renovation I would want to pay for. I do wish the young owner very well though. He seemed a very nice guy indeed and has obviously put a lot of personal effort into the house and he deserves some reward. I hope someone falls in love with it, although I suspect there may not be sufficent lust to achieve the current asking.

Posted by: lookingforabrownstone at June 2, 2009 4:20 PM

Is this really a 4 storey????? brownstoner's property shark photo looks like a 3 storey and the broker is talking 4 floors.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at June 2, 2009 4:22 PM

"It's one thing to criticize a developer for ruining the esthetics of a neighborhood with Fedders buildings, but it's entirely different when you are criticizing the renovation of a private person (who is likely in some financial distress) trying to sell his/her house."

Curious, I disagree with you a bit here. Homes for sale are fair game for evaluating whether or not they are actually worth their asking price. I think posting and then bitching about neighbors' taste in exteriors is itself pretty tacky...Publicly ridiculing a private person, and for what? Not conforming to current middle class taste.

Posted by: bridges at June 2, 2009 4:23 PM

if you do the street view - you can see the 4th floor built above the cornice. Probably is not very high ceiling up there tho.

Posted by: Petebklyn at June 2, 2009 4:32 PM

Bridges;

Excellent distinction. Spot on.

Posted by: benson at June 2, 2009 4:40 PM

"We are clearly superior to these folks"

Benson, get a grip. Just because you like tacky stuff doesn't mean we're being superior. We just have different taste levels.

Posted by: TownhouseLady at June 2, 2009 4:45 PM

I should have prefaced that by saying that I don't think this was a bad reno. It may not be exactly what I'd have done but I could certainly live with this.

Posted by: TownhouseLady at June 2, 2009 4:49 PM

I say $785,000 or more and I think the buyer is getting an excellent deal.

Posted by: daveinbedstuy at June 2, 2009 4:56 PM

Regardless of whether it is exactly to one's taste, it's not gaudy or dated, and what people don't like can probably be changed easily. The kitchen is nice in a very straightforward 2005 sort of way (if not best in show that year), and the one bathroom photo actually looks fine IMO. The living spaces pictured look tastefully done (although there's a big caveat after reading the report from lookingforabrownstone above with whom I agree on the aspirational issue), and new chandeliers are not that much if it's really offending you.

The real hindrance to this listing is that it is simply "fine" but also not a grand house, and it's really hard to make a ho hum 18 foot wide (on an otherwise excellent block) into a stellar property worth almost $900K in this economy.

Posted by: Boerumresident at June 2, 2009 5:49 PM

"Benson, get a grip. Just because you like tacky stuff doesn't mean we're being superior. We just have different taste levels."

I've never used this expression before but I'm ROTFLMFAO.

Posted by: mopar at June 2, 2009 5:59 PM

I'd say those could very well be Home Depot specials. Not that there's anything wrong with that. The Po does sell some higher quality stuff.

I didn't see this house, but judging from the photos I was kind of thinking what Looking for a Brownstone validated. The green room bothers me. It looks unfinished. No radiator covers and the stripped molding doesn't match the surrounding painted stuff.

I'm usually the first one to defend sellers, but this looks too flippy to me.

Posted by: rh at June 2, 2009 6:49 PM

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