I did, when I returned home and posted at 9:30. Sorry if that was not soon enough to prevent others from taking the trip over there for nothing but I did not have access to email until then. Had I gone straight home I would have let B'stoner readers know immediately. If it gives you any solace, I had to run errands with those shades bouncing around in the back of my car which is now filthy. I'm not complaining though but I am jealous that you got new ones :)

Posted by: Just Wondering at May 19, 2009 6:34 PM in response to Wood shutters free for the takin

Yep. I took the "good" ones at about 5:30 immediately after reading this post. They are all in need of refinishing but I can affford to have that done being that I got them free. Thanks so much beatlife.

Posted by: Just Wondering at May 18, 2009 9:24 PM in response to Wood shutters free for the takin

Top salary for CO's is about 95K WITHOUT overtime. They reach it in only five years and most of the CO's working in the Brooklyn House have more than five years on the job. Welcome them back to the hood. They will probably be the only ones left who can afford to buy $600 Mark Jacobs pumps!

Posted by: Just Wondering at March 19, 2009 7:55 PM in response to Split Decision on House of Detention

Now that sounds like a plan Adam. Currently the Streamline program is only offered to people who are currently in FHA mortgages. To expand it would help people who may have previously gotten forebearance or modification agreements that ended with them having even higher payments than the intial payment.

On another note, I remember one of my college professors saying that the FHA was started to fight communism because people who owned homes were less likely to be communist sympathizers since they owned something. I know that I regurgitated this argument on a final exam to pass his class but is there really any truth to it?

Posted by: Just Wondering at February 13, 2009 3:00 PM in response to Housing Rescue Plan: For Some or For All?

"So by that logic, the early 1980's, when unemployment was over 10%, should have been a period of massive foreclosures. In fact, however, there was no foreclosure crisis back then."

There is no logic to it Benson. It is what it is. Once again, the lady that just left my desk can't pay her mortgage because she lost her job. Tell her that the current crisis has nothing to do with unemployment.

"Back then, of course, the national savings rate was much higher. Perhaps back then, folks did save for a rainy day, and lived within their means."

I was in high school in the 1980's so I didn't pay much attention to who was saving what. I know that it was easier to save and families were able to get by on one income. Even further back my grandparents didn't need a mortgage to buy their house in 1940's. They paid cash and they were far from wealthy. It was a different world back then.

Posted by: Just Wondering at February 13, 2009 12:24 PM in response to Housing Rescue Plan: For Some or For All?

Benson tell the people that I see everyday that their impending foreclosures are not related to their unemployment. If they had their jobs, their mortgages would be current.

Posted by: Just Wondering at February 13, 2009 11:31 AM in response to Housing Rescue Plan: For Some or For All?

The person with high credit card debt, leasing a BMW, going to Vegas but not paying his mortgage is easily found out. So are the real estate speculators who purchased four or five homes with no money down by working with shady mortgage brokers who helped them doctor their paper work to qualify for the mortgages. This all shows up on their credit reports and on their bank statements. I can say it's been my experience that the speculators out number the BMW driving, Vegas going, 25K in credit card debt having, non-mortgage paying folks. But the people who lost jobs are the vast majority of the people who are in trouble.

Posted by: Just Wondering at February 13, 2009 10:52 AM in response to Housing Rescue Plan: For Some or For All?

There is a distribution office telephone number on the plastic bag that contains the circulars. Call the number and tell them that you don't want the circulars. I called twice to no avail but I finally got through to some guy who said that he was the Vice-President of the company. He apologized on behalf of his employees said that he would take care of it. He did and followed up with a phone call. I never got another circular again. I would ask for the Manager/Vice-President from the onset and leave a number where he can call you back.

Posted by: Just Wondering at February 13, 2009 10:38 AM in response to Junk menus, ads on the stoop

Ringo that sounds like a plan but it does not include people whose FICO's took a nose dive after a job loss. I would prefer to see a plan where everyones interest rate is lowered to 5% with those who have FICO scores above 700 getting even lower rates. This would help most of my clients who once again were laid-off and have since found employment but aren't making as much as before. Many of them have high interest rate mortgages and an interest rate reduction would make their mortgages affordable. The banks would still make their money on these loans.

Posted by: Just Wondering at February 13, 2009 10:31 AM in response to Housing Rescue Plan: For Some or For All?

I see people everyday at my job who are seeking help paying rent and help with their mortgages. Right now there isn't much we can do for either. It sounds good to say that these people were irresponsible but the fact of the matter is that this is not the case with most of our clients. These are not people who were living above their means with high credit card debt. They are people who had good credit at one point but lost their jobs due to lay-offs or illness. Many have secured employment elsewhere but not at the same salary level so they are finding it hard to make ends meet. I wouldn't complain if my tax dollars went to helping the "unlucky" as Mr B. called them. It would help all of us in the long run.

Posted by: Just Wondering at February 13, 2009 10:17 AM in response to Housing Rescue Plan: For Some or For All?

Assuming that you are in Brooklyn, you can pull the actual deeds on microfiche as far back as they have them at the City Clerk's office on Joralemon Street. You can also look up the owners on ACRIS but this search doesn't really go back that far. If your house was built in the 1890's you can check the 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930 U.S. Census records for Kings County. This will give you the names of the people who lived in your house their ages, occupations and states/countries of origin. There are a number of free search engines that will allow you to do this. The 1940 census will be released next year.

Posted by: Just Wondering at February 12, 2009 7:13 PM in response to Researching a House's History?

I have only seen one mouse in my house and I have never seen droppings or smelled mouse pee although I am still not sure that I know what mouse pee smells like. I read in a natural remedy book that mice are just as repelled the scent of peppermint as they are cats. The book suggests soaking cotton balls in peppermint oil and placing them strategically around the house. I did this and I now change them out every 6 months or so. I also use peppermint oil soap to clean cabinets, counters, garbage cans, etc... Of course there will be a slight peppermint smell lingering immediately after placing the cotton balls around or cleaning with the soap but the smell goes away and it still works. You can also grow peppermint plants in pots and place them around your yard. Don't put them in the ground though because they grow like weeds.

Posted by: Just Wondering at February 12, 2009 5:14 PM in response to Exterminating Mice?

You got that right northslope and what.

Posted by: Just Wondering at February 5, 2009 2:52 PM in response to Loan Modifications Not Working Out So Well

Again. No one has really gotten bailed-out. Most of my clients are seeking help because one or both people who entered into the morgtgage agreement lost their jobs. Many of them were credit-worthy enough to have gotten decent loans but due to ignorance, language barriers and a myriad of other reasons many were put into subprime loans anyway. Even those who diligently dotted their i's and crossed their t's and found decent loans at decent interest rates can't pay their mortagages without a job. Modifications aren't helping because once again the banks are trying to bilk as much as they can out of the situation instead of offering people loans that can be sustained.

It would serve every bank in the country right if they were to go out of business. Let the bankers lose their homes because of unemployment so that they can see how it feels to face homelessness! Okay maybe not. Just venting.

Posted by: Just Wondering at February 5, 2009 1:04 PM in response to Loan Modifications Not Working Out So Well

Many people who got loan modifications ended up with the same or higher mortgage payments. Government programs like the H4H/HOPE for Homeowners loans, are a bust as well. The program is intended for people who have no previous late payments or otherwise bad credit whose mortgage interest rates have reset or are to reset making payments unaffordable. These homeowners could apply for government backed mortgages at about 5-6% fixed interest for 30-40 years. Needless to say, there aren't too many homeowners looking for help who are creditworthy enough to fit the criteria. The other thing with the H4H loans is that the homeowner would be in an "equity and appreciation sharing" contract with the government.

My job hired an additional housing counselor last month to deal with the influx of people seeking help. Interestingly, enough many of the people seeking help are renters. We refer the renters for one-shot deals and other such programs. Many people coming in - both former homeowners who lost their homes and renters who lost their apartments complain that they can't get another apartment because of their poor credit.

Posted by: Just Wondering at February 5, 2009 11:19 AM in response to Loan Modifications Not Working Out So Well

Cops and Firefighters starting out do not make much but once they hit top pay their salary with holiday pay, uniform allowance and longevity pay is 98,000K without overtime. With wach promotion the pay goes up in about $10,000 increments. They also don't pay much for healthcare and get to retire after only 20 years at half of their salary which is why they work so much OT towards the end. I happen to think that they deserve every dollar of it but to say that they can't afford middle class housing is a crock. Most don't want to live in the city and many look down upon those of us who do. BTW, they can live in NYC, Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Putnam and Orange counties. Can't live out-of-state or in Dutchess.

Posted by: Just Wondering at February 4, 2009 8:21 PM in response to Forbes Discovers New York's Middle Class

How much would something like this cost? The other one looked like you would have to give up your first born to pay for it.

Posted by: Just Wondering at January 26, 2009 8:32 PM in response to Hi-efficiency on the cheap(er).

Thank you so much for your responses. This will really help me out.

Posted by: Just Wondering at January 26, 2009 2:08 PM in response to Should you paint radiators?

Rosie Perez, Eddie Murphy, Nasir Jones (Nas.), Noel Pointer, Floyd Patterson, Alyssa Milano etc...

Posted by: Just Wondering at December 4, 2008 7:53 PM in response to Closing Bell: Brooklyn's Hall of Fame

I went to Edward R. Murrow High School with Marisa Tomei,a Brooklyn native. My sister went to John Dewey with Spike Lee - also don't forget about Steve Buscemi.

Posted by: Just Wondering at December 4, 2008 7:39 PM in response to Closing Bell: Brooklyn's Hall of Fame

On my way home from work yesterday I asked a woman if she would mind putting her toddler on her lap to allow an elderly woman to sit in the seat occupied by her child. She rolled her eyes but she did it. I remember one of the first things that I learned to read as a pre-schooler was a sign that was posted in every train car and on every bus that said "Little enough to ride for free, little enough to ride your knee."

Posted by: Just Wondering at December 4, 2008 11:41 AM in response to Adding Tolls to Brooklyn Bridges?

If this is implemented, won't it just lead to more people parking their cars on the Brooklyn and Queens side of these bridges and then taking the train a couple of stops to their final destination? I know people who live in Brooklyn's two-fare zones who do this now.

Posted by: Just Wondering at December 4, 2008 11:30 AM in response to Adding Tolls to Brooklyn Bridges?

Was there an online petition posted for people opposed to the Bedford armory becoming the main intake center for all of NYC's homeless men?

Posted by: Just Wondering at November 19, 2008 8:46 PM in response to Saying No to House of D

Sam and THAL,

What I said in my post oviously made sense and you had no other way to counter than to resort to name calling.

I am far from "Just mean spirited" nor did I express any such sentiments in my post. The jail should now remain closed because the neighborhood has changed? Are You kidding? Why tear down a perfectly good building just to construct a new one elsewhere. Get a grip. Most of the older residents of this area do not mind the jail being here as they know that it didn't really affect them. If you bought property near the jail recently hoping that it would never reopen and you get "screwed," then you gambled wrong. Your getting screwed would have less to do with the jail than with speculating in a turbulent market. The politicians of course will speak out against the jail reopening because they want your vote but sorry to say that they are just paying you lip service.

When you make a logical argument not having to do with property values for this jail not to remain open maybe then someone will listen.

Posted by: Just Wondering at November 18, 2008 10:06 PM in response to HOD Re-Opens for Business

There are approx 10,000 inmates being held by the NYCDOC on any given day on Rikers Island. The jails on Rikers Island are not overcrowded but in need of repair. More than 1500 inmates are transported to and from court everyday because the vast majority are pre-trial detainees. The vast majority of the inmate population comes from Brooklyn since Brooklyn is the most populus borough. It is makes sense that this jail should be reopened. Although many of the inmates housed in the Brookln House will still have to be transported by bus to the new court building on Jay Street it is obviously more cost efficient to get them there from Atlantic Avenue than Rikers Island. Besides many of them still have court appearances in the Criminal Court building where they are walked over there via an underground tunnel to the Criminal Court building. This is better for everyone from the inmate's families, lawyers, judges, etc...
Maybe not for the people who purchased million dollar condo's accross the street from a viable jail though.

Posted by: Just Wondering at November 17, 2008 2:30 PM in response to HOD Re-Opens for Business

So if this was Clinton's fault, why didn't Bush do something to fix it? He had eight years to come up with a plan.

Posted by: Just Wondering at November 17, 2008 1:10 AM in response to Obama's First Interview: Oh my God!

It is quite simple vanburenproud. When you are standing on a corner or working a spot you need to protect yourself, your money and your product from those who might try to rob you so you get a gun. When you deliver your wares door to door, no one but your clients will know what you have on you and you don't have to deal in cash. No need for a firearm. You'd never be able to make these types of dealers because they don't wear gold fronts or pants hanging off of their behinds. Don't sleep though, there are hipsters in skinny jeans and PS Stroller moms slinging dope and smoking it too! There is also someone on your block, someone in your co-op building, a co-worker in your law firm and someone reading this who uses illegal drugs. You may not catch them with a crack pipe or see tracks on their arms because they are more than likely on prescription drugs and you'd never find them in the trap. These upper crust addicts do not have to rob or steal or go on the stroll turning tricks to support their habit because they have a little disposal income but they do live in every single Brownstone neighborhood. They do not end up in the criminal justice system. When they've had enough, they go to rehab either self-paid or using their health insurance and get clean.

Posted by: Just Wondering at November 16, 2008 5:52 PM in response to Notorious Crackhouse at 474 Greene Avenue Up In Flames

The cops will not arrest anyone for trespassing in a private building without the permission of the landlord or their representative, even if a sign is posted. The gate may keep them out though. If you don't want to wait for the next Council meeting just make an appointment to go over and speak to the Inspector.

Posted by: Just Wondering at November 13, 2008 3:51 PM in response to How do I get rid of Crachheads in front of my apartment

Go to your precinct's next community council meeting en masse. You do not have to speak publicly. You can speak to the precinct Inspector directly. There are a number of things that can then be done but do not lie and say that they are dealing drugs in front of the building if you do not think this is the case. Make sure that you let your landlord know and get them onboard. Take the landlord's contact information and if possible a letter from them giving the police permission to place the building under their program that allows them to make sweeps of the public spaces in the private building and charge anyone on the premises without permission with trespass. Of course if they have drugs on them they will be charged accordingly. In addition you can press your landlord to install surveillance cameras.

If there is drug dealing instead of crackheads hanging out, it will take longer to remedy but the process is pretty much the same except that the police will refer it to narcotics who will send in undercover cops.

Posted by: Just Wondering at November 13, 2008 2:39 PM in response to How do I get rid of Crachheads in front of my apartment

It may not be worth it for just one or two months rent but anything over that is probably worth pursuing. Despite hearing horror stories, I have only had one deadbeat tenant. After all was said and done I was able to get a judgement against the tenant for a substantial amount. The tenant didn't pay it until about four years later when he was trying to obtain a mortgage to buy a house and it appeared on his credit in the civil record.

Credit worthiness will be even more important now.

Posted by: Just Wondering at October 8, 2008 11:42 AM in response to You Break, You Pay (the Lease, the Rent)

Can I be on both teams bayridgegirl? BTW, how did the Bay Ridge greenmarket go?

Posted by: Just Wondering at October 6, 2008 1:17 PM in response to War of the Roses, Borough Park Style

I am glad to hear that this is working out for you. Although I did not buy at the top of the market, having rental income has been a good thing. I only had one tenant that wasn't so nice so overall its been a good experience for me especially now that I no longer have a mortgage.

Definitely go slow on the renovations. I had to redo both kitchens when I first bought my house and I went right to the Home Depot to the horror of my neighbors. That was 12 years ago. I am now taking bids for an upscale kitchen reno and the cash prices are great for this right now. I am giving my old Home Depot cabinets, which are still in great condition, to friend. Enjoy.

Posted by: Just Wondering at October 6, 2008 12:34 PM in response to The great experiment 2008

I do not disagree with you 7andfive but I was responding to 11217's first post about a hypothetical sale in Manhattan for 10-20 million and a subsequent purchase for 1-2 million.

Posted by: Just Wondering at October 6, 2008 12:13 PM in response to Sales: Turner Towers Spread Gets Full Asking Price

This has been going on for years. It started before the actual filing for the divorce. This fight has split the community into Team Chana and Team Simon. What's worse is that it has also divided their children into two factions.

Posted by: Just Wondering at October 6, 2008 12:09 PM in response to War of the Roses, Borough Park Style

If they are fortunate enough to sell a place in the city for 10 to 20 million and they get a place in Brooklyn for 1 to 2 million, I wouldn't think that it would be much of a problem if they decided to leave within 5 years. Even if they couldn't sell the Brooklyn place, they would probably be able to just move anyway and still maintain their unsold apartment.

Posted by: Just Wondering at October 6, 2008 12:02 PM in response to Sales: Turner Towers Spread Gets Full Asking Price

Mary Kay seems to still be moving these houses. Maybe not as fast as she used to but they are selling. The house on Rugby must have just gone into contract last week. If this one is in contract good for both the seller and the buyer.

Posted by: Just Wondering at October 1, 2008 7:06 PM in response to House of the Day: 352 Argyle Road

On MKG's website there is a house with a similar set-up available for rent for 3750 monthly. Might be this same house.

Posted by: Just Wondering at October 1, 2008 4:17 PM in response to House of the Day: 352 Argyle Road

Two story porches remind me of the grand homes in Charleston and Savannah. PWT would have never been able to afford them. Their digs would be more reminiscent of the Beverly Hillbillies before they loaded up the truck.

Posted by: Just Wondering at October 1, 2008 3:00 PM in response to House of the Day: 352 Argyle Road

The Manhattan House of Detention on Centre Street has retail stores on the street level of that building and works well. Most people walking by don't realize that it is a jail. It makes sense to reopen the Brooklyn House in this location. What didn't make sense was spending millions of dollars to renovate it and now it will have to be totally redesigned. Of course they could always use this location as the city homeless intake center and remake the Bedford armory a jail.

Posted by: Just Wondering at October 1, 2008 2:53 PM in response to Plans for HOD Go Forward

Vinca is right. We often bash Home Depot and Lowes but I have purchased annuals, perennials and two trees from them. I have had overall success with the plants and when one tree died, I took it back almost a year later and got a store credit. I must admit that I didn't water it as often as I should have though.

Posted by: Just Wondering at September 30, 2008 4:19 PM in response to Buying Outdoor Plants Online

Somebody on a thread yesterday said the same thing that was said in today's quote of the day. Anyway, rich Wall Street types purchased goods and services from people who work in many other industries like the arts, high end home goods, etc... If they can no longer do so, it will affect the artists in Fort Greene, caterers in Williamburgh and everyone else.

Posted by: Just Wondering at September 30, 2008 4:08 PM in response to Quote of the Day

This is a really nice house on a really nice block. If today were 6 months ago I'd definitely have purchased this house.

Posted by: Just Wondering at September 30, 2008 2:45 PM in response to House of the Day: 208 Midwood Street

My first baby photos were taken in Bed-Stuy at Pope Studios and I took a high school graduation photo at Franklin Studios although my high school used another photographer. Are either of these places still around?

Posted by: Just Wondering at September 24, 2008 8:43 PM in response to Streetlevel: Clinton Hill Bed Stuy Gets Photo Studio

The Weeksville community was much larger than the current boudaries of Crown Heights. It extended well into Bed-Stuy and of course pre-dates the Brownstones. Farmhouses were probably torn down and the residents displaced so that Brownstones could be built.

I met a Black family whose home was on the house tour a couple of years ago who traced their ancestry in Bed-Stuy back to the 1800's. No where in Brooklyn was 100% white until the 1920's or 30's.

Posted by: Just Wondering at September 24, 2008 8:38 PM in response to Quote of the Day

Those areas may soon be the only areas in Brooklyn where houses sell for over 2 million.

Posted by: Just Wondering at September 24, 2008 1:47 PM in response to Last Week's Biggest Sales

I saw the house on Hawthorne. 30K-50K would renovate it but not with upscale finishes. If the bank takes a little less than 460K, this would be doable for a middle income family.

Posted by: Just Wondering at September 24, 2008 1:41 PM in response to Foreclosures of the Week

We have a double parlor with a center staircase, kitchen, bathroom, butlers pantry and dining room on the first floor of my home. Both parlors are equal in size. I had shelves installed along the walls and use one as a library and music room. There is a baby grand piano and seating in the library so that when we entertain which is quite often, there are two seating areas opposite eachother. I have a neighbor who converted one of her parlors into the kitchen which now opens onto the main parlor. The space that was the kitchen in her home is now an office and mudroom.

Posted by: Just Wondering at September 24, 2008 1:35 PM in response to double parlors

Fringe area? The fringe areas of Midwood, Sheepshead Bay, etc... appear to be doing okay. Please correct me if I am wrong, but if most of the people who were buying in the Blue Chip areas worked in the finance industry, there won't be too many of them left to purchase homes after they get laid-off. Neighborhoods that attract immigrant families, many of whom put down huge down payments, if they don't just buy the house outright should fare better.

Posted by: Just Wondering at September 22, 2008 11:51 AM in response to What Lies Beneath?

kvishnu, you are not even in that neighborhood yet and you are already showing signs of disdain for the people who already live there. It is clear that you obviously can't afford to live where you really want to live, so you have to consider living on blocks that were "historically rented to section 8 tenants."

Posted by: Just Wondering at September 9, 2008 9:37 AM in response to East 9th b/w Ave C and Cortelyou Rd?

Your welcome, Just Wondering. Glad they found a good home. I admit they were a bit beat up after a winter of being tossed around in a construction site.

Posted by: beatlife at May 18, 2009 9:47 PM in response to Wood shutters free for the takin

I am so jealous. I just ordered new shutters and they are quite expensive.

BTW, can we agree in the future if you pickup something, let rest of us to know, that the goodee is gone. I promise to do it as well. :)

Posted by: bobjohn at May 19, 2009 10:24 AM in response to Wood shutters free for the takin

I did, when I returned home and posted at 9:30. Sorry if that was not soon enough to prevent others from taking the trip over there for nothing but I did not have access to email until then. Had I gone straight home I would have let B'stoner readers know immediately. If it gives you any solace, I had to run errands with those shades bouncing around in the back of my car which is now filthy. I'm not complaining though but I am jealous that you got new ones :)

Posted by: Just Wondering at May 19, 2009 6:34 PM in response to Wood shutters free for the takin

I searched for the 1846 Old Brooklyn Farm Lands map and think my house on 17th St between 5th and 6th Ave could be part of one of 3 farm strips, which all start at the Gowanus and reach up to 10th Ave. Peter Wyckoff, The Heirs of Rachel Berry or John Dimon are all candidates. My house was created sometime between 1873 (patent date on a unique door knob used throughout the house) and 1888, when the entire block appears filled in with houses on the 1888 Sanford Fire Insurance Maps (located in the map room at Brooklyn Borough Hall 3rd floor). Prior to 1895, records of deeds are by block only. I can follow the deed trail from 1694 to 1841, when the trail begins to split. With about 80 lots in the block, reading individual handwritten deeds at the Brooklyn Municipal Building microfilm collection is tedious and nearly impossible, since locations refer to maps not available and directional measurements in feet from 5th or 6th Ave. OY, my aching head! So I have to ask, has anyone been able to find their house details on the remnant of my street left by the curve in the Prospect Expressway across from Prospect Hall?
slopefarm...you look like your house is within the Richard Berry farm, that ran from the Gowanus Canal all the way up and over the slope to the border of Flatbush at Parkside Ave. It is next to and north of the much narrower John Dimon property, followed by the Heirs of Rachel Berry, Peter Wyckoff, John Wyckoff, Henry Story properties which end at the 20th Street edge of Greenwood Cemetery. If your farm was between 12th and 15th streets, then the rest of these parallel properties cover 16th, Prospect Ave.(formerly Middle St.), 17th, 18th and 19th Streets. Hope this helps others place their properties.
Fun, isn't it?

Posted by: 17th Street at September 19, 2009 12:05 AM in response to Researching a House's History?