washing machine water shutoff

"So, some sucker paid top dollar. Not surprising... this city if full of folks that have no sense when it comes to money."

Well if it is so full of them then we will never really have to burst this bubble. They can just keep paying these so called ridiculous prices and keep the rest of us afloat!

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at November 2, 2009 12:50 PM in response to Widget Falls Way Short on South Oxford

This is a great example of why not every listing can be used to gauge the market. The price drops here definitely reflect some softening for sure. Even more so though it reflects a terrible idea by someone with too much money or too little knowledge, more than likely a combo of both.

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at October 14, 2009 2:52 PM in response to House of the Day: 58 6th Avenue Revisited

I guess I could see walking from Dumbo over to OBBP if there were decent restaurants, but isn't the real value of this location once the park is complete? I guess it is just a question of how early someone is willing to grab the space and wait it out.

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at October 9, 2009 11:33 AM in response to One Brooklyn Bridge: On the Retail Hunt

Wow, a short sale in 70 Washington? I wonder if this is some kind of marketing ploy to get it bid up.

http://realestate.nytimes.com/sales/detail/4447-298642/dumbo-brooklyn-ny-usa/700000-900000-price/PRICE-HIGH-sort/185-1051463--4447-298642--44-1521378--185-1724716--44-1521168-ls/5-t

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at October 2, 2009 4:12 PM in response to Open House Picks

Almost all streets have some area that is a "No Standing Zone". Those signs should just no standing except for deliveries, and then don't ticket those guys. And someone not getting a package is a far better alternative to a cyclist being hit by a car.

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at September 30, 2009 9:49 AM in response to Updates for Manhattan Bridge Bicyclists

Actually Dave, what is ridiculous are the amount of people who just park in or stop in bike lanes. That is extremely dangerous as it forces cyclists into the street with fast moving traffic. Far too many drivers in this city are completely inconsiderate to cyclists and their bike lanes.

What is asinine is the following: Outside of my office, USPS and Fed Ex truck parked on the street (not double parked, just no standing signs) and traffic cop starts giving Fed Ex guy a ticket. The freaking guy is in the back unloading packages and the cop just slinks up to the front to give the ticket without saying anything to the guy. He is not blocking traffic or hurting anyone, just trying to do his job. I think that should be allowed much more so than we should eliminate bike lanes so delivery vans can double park.

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at September 30, 2009 9:42 AM in response to Updates for Manhattan Bridge Bicyclists

1) that is a Coupe not a sedan
2) Now that I saw this I want to leave work and run home to make sure all my wheels are on my G sedan!
3) is it too much to ask to throw some cinder blocks under there? Criminals these days have no respect

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at September 25, 2009 12:04 PM in response to Look, Ma, No Wheels

Lebronski welcome to the Brooklyn/Moscow Nets where our water bottles are filled with Vodka and the half time snack is black market caviar!

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at September 23, 2009 5:03 PM in response to Nets Will Have New Owner; FCR Will Have New AY Partner

Much like the other COTD in Dumbo the layout is deceiving. The bathroom and closet are huge and make the rest of the space seem small for the total SF. That said it is still hard to imagine this is 1600+ sf. all the other similar units are not that large in Sweeney, the other C line on Streeteasy is a totally different layout with 2.5 baths.

For those who obviously don't know you do not hear the trains on the Manhattan Bridge from this part of Dumbo, even with the windows open. and this building does not even get much BQE noise either.

I say $1.1 ish assuming it is ~1350 sf.

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at September 17, 2009 1:51 PM in response to Condo of the Day: 30 Main Street, #2C

No luck on the floor plan for me either but I live in a similarly sized 2 bedroom in Dumbo (different building) and my unit looks way bigger. Not sure if it is the unnecessarily large bathrooms or the photos but everything looks cramped.

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at September 15, 2009 2:06 PM in response to Condo of the Day: 84 Front Street, #8C

My cousin and sister-in-law just started at Pratt and I can tell you all parents will be happy to hear this. It is something the school had to do. Even if it does not really address a problem since most issues were off-campus they have to do everything they can to provide the peace of mind that the students are safe and secure.

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at September 11, 2009 11:15 AM in response to Pratt: Not In Our Front Yard

Kens: Mental note, be sure to refresh immediately before posting comment!

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at August 14, 2009 10:14 AM in response to Clarett, Goldman Lose Control of Forté

Kens: While I am no defender of GS, that story is a complete joke. I am sure DIBS would back me up on this, but anyone with knowledge of financial markets and structured finance could point out that Taibbi gets a ton of things wrong in that article. I find it very amusing that he just says everything is hard to understand, even he does not get it, and he has no money to invest anyway. As if that caveat allows him to then say whatever he wants regardless of accuracy or truth.

He has been attacked by numerous members of the financial press/media and is even supposedly going to debate Charlie Gasparino on CNBC. For a preview picture Cramer vs. Stewart with Taibbi as Cramer and Gasparino in the Stewart role.

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at August 14, 2009 9:56 AM in response to Clarett, Goldman Lose Control of Forté

I don't think it can be Morrissey based on the awards criteria, though that would be awesome if it was him. Irish blood, English heart, BH penthouse??

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at August 12, 2009 5:07 PM in response to House of the Day: 20 Grace Court Alley

This is really testing my google skills. What kinds of music does 11217 like?

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at August 12, 2009 4:00 PM in response to House of the Day: 20 Grace Court Alley

Bryan Adams?? He's Canadian, 13 nominations, 1 Oscar and 1 Golden Globe

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at August 12, 2009 3:25 PM in response to House of the Day: 20 Grace Court Alley

In regards to the market not falling as much as expected because sellers are too stubborn....

That could reflect the fact that while prices rose dramatically in this area we still did not see a huge rash of people buying homes they had absolutely no chance of affording, no huge communities going up on the outskirts of the outskirts, etc. Perhaps these "stubborn" sellers don't need to sell as badly as a person who is about to be foreclosed on in AZ, FL, or SoCal.

The logic there is backed up by the fact that foreclosure rates in NYC have been much lower than the rest of the country and lower still in "prime areas".

Also, no one here (or probably anywhere) can know the true value of a house unless they are the one to purchase it (or at least make an offer). There is somewhat of a market value but these are not uniform goods and there is a specific value to each person. Unless you have comps of similar units in co-ops or condos it is very hard to determine an exact value. Perhaps this is why most people think appraisals are total BS.

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at July 28, 2009 2:05 PM in response to Last Week's Biggest Sales

As many others have said, the effects will be visible. I am in Dumbo and we have a layer of black dust on all the windows, screens, etc. I don't notice it in my health but I believe it must have some sort of negative impact. Getting an air purifier and changing filters regularly is really all you can do.

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at July 17, 2009 2:46 PM in response to Enviromental Impact of BQE?

@brownstoner: That P&P dude takes a car service!?? The panhandlers in DUMBO frustrate me. Don't they realize they are limiting themselves to a small pool of people? If you live/work in the area, the guy in front of P&P might ask you for change 2 or 3 times per day. Go downtown or take the subway to Manhattan where 10x as many people will walk buy you!

I feel bad not being able to give something to everyone asking. I am very fortunate and I am thankful for that. However, when its the same guy over and over every day I might as well hire him to just do work for me rather than giving a couple of bucks every time.

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at July 15, 2009 12:31 PM in response to Williamsburg: Squatters' Paradise

Anyone got a dead horse??

If the value of my unit fell 40% from my purchase price it would be well below the price when it was purchased as new construction in 2003. Not to mention I am pretty sure it would be below construction costs if it were to be built today.

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at June 19, 2009 9:34 AM in response to Open Thread

BO, you have horrible grammar, you attempt to appear knowledgeable with little to back it up, you accuse DIBS and 11217 of having liar loans when everything they present about themselves speaks to the contrary. You do realize that not everyone who owns a home purchased in the last 5 years, over leveraged themselves, or took a fraudulent or risky loan, right??

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at June 18, 2009 1:53 PM in response to Bank Predicts NYC Market to Fall Another 40 Percent

You people really are not very educated. In order for him to be a speculator he would have to had purchased them with the expectation that they would greatly appreciate in value and or lever them up big time. He just stated that he only has 2 mortgages and both are less than 50% LTV. My grandparents happen to own three homes and they are by no means speculators. They are just people who bought a house in Long Island 60 years ago for $20k and bought a small house in the Hamptons 20 years ago (they inherited the other one).

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at June 18, 2009 1:48 PM in response to Bank Predicts NYC Market to Fall Another 40 Percent

At least he can spell mogul....

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at June 18, 2009 1:26 PM in response to Bank Predicts NYC Market to Fall Another 40 Percent

Prices were highest in Tokyo's Ginza district in 1989, with choice properties fetching over 100 million yen (approximately $1 million US dollars) per square meter ($93,000 per square foot). Prices were only marginally less in other large business districts of Tokyo. By 2004, prime "A" property in Tokyo's financial districts had slumped to less than 1 percent of its peak, and Tokyo's residential homes were less than a tenth of their peak, but still managed to be listed as the most expensive in the world until being surpassed in the late 2000s by Moscow and other upstarts.

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at June 18, 2009 1:14 PM in response to Bank Predicts NYC Market to Fall Another 40 Percent

Phoenix leads the US in home price declines down about 50% from the peak. These forecasts for the NY MSA are down 40% from 1Q2009. Am I wrong to be assuming that the peak was not 1Q2009 but more like 2Q2008 (ir earlier?). If that is is the case then we would also be looking at 50%+ declines in value from the peak.

There are many fundamental reasons why prime neighborhoods of Manhattan and Brooklyn would not decline by as much as boom areas like Phoenix.

Also who actually knows a renter who has moved to a comparable space in a comparable neighborhood for 20-30% less rent?? Don't give me some bs like that NYT article about some guy moving from a 1 bedroom in Park Slope to a shoebox in the East village for $150 less per month.

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at June 18, 2009 1:05 PM in response to Bank Predicts NYC Market to Fall Another 40 Percent

@ the chicken

With prices at those levels you are also talking about much less of a down payment, possibly a smaller loan amount, and less exposure for the bank.

As someone else mentioned unless rents also tank why would prices go down that much?

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at June 18, 2009 9:59 AM in response to Bank Predicts NYC Market to Fall Another 40 Percent

This is such a joke. People need to use common sense. Home prices in Vegas and Phoenix can fall 50%+ because there is an ungodly amount of undeveloped land and no constrain on supply. Prices can fall to ridiculous levels in Detroit because no matter how cheap housing is people will not be running to move or invest there. Unless the 40% decline is from 20% inflated asking prices values will not fall that much here. This is one of the 5 best, brightest and most in demand cities in the world people! There are 8 million people here and even in this economic climate more people are arriving everyday. Not to mention people who would want to invest in NYC property. So if prices dropped 40% and a condo that went for $1m in '07 in was now $600k I am pretty sure there would be more than a few people who might be interested in that.

Can values fall that much in places like LIC, Harlem, Crown Heights or other "fringe areas" that were not traditionally strong but really ramped up in the last 5 years? Of course they can. But to have headlines predicting 40% declines in overall NYC housing is just foolish. If prices do fall that much I am becoming a real estate agent. Sure the checks will be smaller but I am sure volume will make up for it. Maybe I just believe in this great city a little too much, but you are not going to convince me otherwise.

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at June 18, 2009 9:51 AM in response to Bank Predicts NYC Market to Fall Another 40 Percent

Is it just me or is that a tight looking 832sf?

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at June 17, 2009 1:26 PM in response to Condo of the Day: 44 Cheever Place

DOW8000, are you there? Any chance we will be seeing you this week?

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at March 25, 2009 10:30 AM in response to Open Thread

Excellent. My wife and I have been discussing and hoping that you guys would stay in Dumbo once the outdoor one came back. There will be a ton of people down there during the summer and I am sure the vendors will be happy to be there. Congrats on expanding and thanks!

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at February 24, 2009 4:37 PM in response to Brooklyn Flea Re-Opens in Fort Greene on April 18

DIBS, in your opinion/experience are those very effective? That is what I was considering but there is just something more satisfying and reassuring about simply turning the valve and cutting the water.

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at February 18, 2009 11:28 AM in response to washing machine water shutoff

I am 99% sure this was on the market sometime last summer. My wife and I took a look and you guys are right, it is pretty small. The kitchen is really tiny and everything else is tight. If I remember correctly the floors are also really slanted.

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at February 17, 2009 3:11 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 125 Eastern Parkway, #6F

The only way this would be fair is to do it for people who either purchased a home they could actually afford with a reasonable loan and are now in trouble because of unemployment and the economic situation, or people who were victims of predatory lending. Since there is no way to really figure that out I don't think they can do it. As suburbandude pointed out, it is not justifiable to subsidize someone who was reckless with their money.

Also, if they actually introduce that new home buyer credit I am going to be pissed. What about someone like me who already took a chance and purchased a place just a few months ago???

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at February 13, 2009 10:35 AM in response to Housing Rescue Plan: For Some or For All?

SouthParker, I agree with you there.

I was walking through the park the other day looking at the stores and wondering if they could somehow do a school there and still keep within the landmark status. I am sure there are a million issues with that, but imagine how awesome it would be to go to school there. That would be great for the kids and the neighborhood.

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at January 14, 2009 10:14 AM in response to CB2 To Vote Tonight on Dock Street

SouthParker, judging by your name you do not live there so I don't know if you are the best person to say what is good for the neighborhood. A huge building which includes 465 space parking garage in an area of narrow, cobblestone streets that have same direction one way streets would not be good for the neighborhood. It would cast a shadow on the empire stores and shops on water st. it would have tons of cars going down water st. to get back to old fulton and it would look like it was on top of and towering over the bridge.

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at January 14, 2009 10:03 AM in response to CB2 To Vote Tonight on Dock Street

The proposed Dock St. project will be much closer to the bridge. Also it will be placed on some of the tightest, narrow streets in Brooklyn, creating massive shadows and nightmare traffic among other things.

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at January 14, 2009 9:52 AM in response to CB2 To Vote Tonight on Dock Street

I really think the school needs to be in a location where it can expand if necessary. It was stated by Jed Walentas at the CB meeting that there would be no room to grow the school at that site.

Also, I don't know that density is necessary when it is also a tourist attraction. Restaurants and bars are always crowded in the area.

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at December 22, 2008 10:20 AM in response to CB2 Says Dock Street Design is "Too Tall"

The Walentas' profit in the project is directly related to their cost basis in the land. They have an extremely low basis on the vast majority and the part purchased more recently was acquired from another developer via disputes associated with another project.

The appreciation in the land value alone, not to mention a 150 story luxury rental building earning average rents of $3500 to $4000 per month, plus parking and commercial revenues would generate a tidy profit.

I have not crunched the numbers yet, (and yes I do know how) but even reselling the parcel of land would create a hefty return.

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at December 18, 2008 11:43 PM in response to Full House, No Vote at Dock Street Hearing

Can someone also explain to me about the "jobs" this will bring to Brooklyn? as someone mentioned last night 10-15 jobs is not worth sacrificing the neighborhood and the bridge.

Also, to reiterate: if the building was smaller wouldn't we just have 8-12 jobs instead. That seems acceptable to me.

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at December 18, 2008 12:39 PM in response to Full House, No Vote at Dock Street Hearing

I was there for all 4 hours and I also spoke (in opposition). My issue is that most supporters are in favor because of the school. My question to them is why do we need 18 stories of above the school. I am confident Two Trees could still earn a nice return on a 9 or 10 story project, and everyone would be happy.

Yassky makes the most appropriate point very well, you have to consider the project seperate from the school. Otherwise it is jsut a non-monteary bribe used to futher a project that would otherwise be shot down.

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at December 18, 2008 12:33 PM in response to Full House, No Vote at Dock Street Hearing

That picture would look a hell of a lot different if the Dock St. development goes through

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at December 12, 2008 12:17 PM in response to Winter Wonderland Coming to Brooklyn Bridge Park?

My wife and I looked at these when they first went on the market. Probably would have bought one of the spaces with the ground floor rec room but the one we wanted was the first to go to contract. Excellent location, tons of character and a cool vibe are all positives. Wacky layouts in some units are a major negative.

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at December 4, 2008 1:24 PM in response to Condo of the Day: 264 Cumberland Street

As a Dumbo resident I am happy to see retail spaces being filled. However, what the hell....? A flower school? A ten year lease? Something right there is not adding up to me. Although I should keep my mouth shut, I can see my wife wanting to take a class there.

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at December 3, 2008 2:43 PM in response to Streetlevel: Flower Schooling in Dumbo

Having just moved to Main St. DUMBO and working in the financial district, I found it very ironic when people lambasted the saving of Wall St. while Main St. suffers.

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at October 27, 2008 10:45 AM in response to New York's Own Main Streets

How the hell much farther do we have to go before the market has priced in all of the negative outlooks and expectations? I don't pretend to be any expert on the equity market but to see these devaluations across the board regardless of industry, balance sheet, p/e ratios, etc. is unbelievable.

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at October 9, 2008 4:59 PM in response to Quote of the Day

I cannot believe that DOW8000 is about to become more than a commenter name on Brownstoner. I want to cry.

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at October 9, 2008 3:50 PM in response to Quote of the Day

As a totally biased person who is moving to DUMBO in a week.....
I respectfully disagree. I think it is a great area with a really unique vibe. In my opinion what is there (restaurants, shops, etc.) is great and unlike some of the more established areas in BK, DUMBO is impacted more by a new store opening which allows for growth in the area. The views of Manhattan are great, the Subway access is reasonable (F,A&C and not too bad of a walk to get to Court Sq.)

Everything is in the eye of the beholder. I think brownstone Brooklyn is beautiful as well, but there are many people who think that the SOHO like aesthetic/vibe of DUMBO is very desirable.

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at October 7, 2008 12:17 PM in response to Last Week's Biggest Sales: Dominant Dumbo

Also, to all of those who think we are headed to a depression, I suggest you really read up on what that means.
The Great Depression saw GDP declines of 20%, unemployment of 25%, wage decreases of 40% and millions of people homeless. I am 100% confident in saying that is not what will happen now.

Even if you temper that we would still need to see a double digit decline in GDP, unemployment levels in the low teens and a general crisis of people unable to stay in homes, feed their families, etc. As bad as things are, we are so far from that right now I do not believe we could get there without a major catastrophe or exogenous shock to the market.

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at October 7, 2008 11:33 AM in response to Front Page Forum: Walk Away from Downpayment?

I am also in the same situation. Signed the contract at a price we were comfortable with, got the appraisal for $20k more than we paid and 6 weeks later banks are gone, the dow is down 14% since that time and everything looks a hell of a lot worse. We considered walking away but would lose the money because we only had a financing contingent and were able to secure financing. We are looking at a 5-7 year holding period and are not that concerned with price depreciation. Our main concern is losing one of our jobs and struggling to make the mortgage payment. There is no way I would be willing to walk away from my down payment (which is substantially higher then yours). Bottom-line is that we love the unit and the area and really want to be there. We have no idea what the future will hold financially but we know that whatever time we are able to spend there will be enjoyed.

Posted by: AndYouWillKnowUsbyTheTrailofRenters at October 7, 2008 11:24 AM in response to Front Page Forum: Walk Away from Downpayment?

An amendment to my post from July: although I didn't like living near the BQE personally, I know plenty of people who have absolutely no problem with it. So go for it! There are lots of folks happily and healthfully living on the many blocks near the BQE.

Posted by: rabbit at November 17, 2009 2:25 PM in response to Enviromental Impact of BQE?