Oh the sky is falling. Please! There are people waiting on the sidelines with cash in hand. There may be a bloodletting, so keep your eyes closed if you're a little squeamish. It won't be pretty, but it will be quicker than you think. This ain't the 1930s.

Posted by: bilk at November 22, 2008 9:52 AM in response to Looking for financing for....anything!

Call Roger at Bluewater Plumbing. He did an entire 4 family of plumbing for me, in Prospect Heights, including radiant floor heating, new water service and 9 bathrooms. Very prompt, professional and honest. Tell him Bill said to call.

Roger Macaluso
http://www.plumbing4nyc.com
(866) 763-5302

Posted by: bilk at November 8, 2008 8:42 PM in response to Plumber Recommendations

Well they are not chrome. They are stainless steel. In certain instances they have some aesthetic appeal - generally in commercial applications, but they really don't belong on a residential brownstone streetscape. I guess people don't want the maintenance of having to keep painting them. Now they can, with proper treatment, be painted to look like steel or wrought iron railings.

Posted by: bilk at October 18, 2008 10:18 AM in response to Chromed Out Houses?

It's a wonder you have the money to lose with the thought process behind your post. I haven't read all the replies, so I don't know if you stated the other units in the building are selling for well below what you are paying. However, it's probably safe to bet that the 10% down payment plus your legal fees and other expenses to date, is far more of a hit than you would take in terms of lost value in further market downturn. Additionally, your mortgage payment is deductible and your rent is not. Walking away, when you can afford not to, would be an egregious financial error.

Posted by: bilk at October 8, 2008 9:08 AM in response to Break contract or not?

John Buscarello has done a lot of work for me. (I'm a small developer) He does good work but, like most contractors, may not show up when he says. He does leave nothing to question regarding the scope of work and the price, which is a good thing. His guys also clean up the work site, which is another thing I appreciate about him besides the quality of is work.
JMO

Posted by: bilk at August 13, 2008 9:20 AM in response to need exterior mason recs

What is illegal, immoral or lame about trying to get the most for one's property? In this market, pricing a property is difficult. Starting with a low asking and trying to work the price is no different than starting with a high price and buyers bidding it down. Look in the mirror and say to yourself, I'll take what they offer when I'm ready to sell my biggest asset. Yeah right!

Posted by: bilk at August 13, 2008 9:11 AM in response to Shenanigans at 279 Clermont Avenue?

At Ann Sacks you will pay about 4 times more for the same tile purchased at a small retailer. Never understood the Ann Sacks craze. Maybe people like telling their friends they bought it from Ann Sacks and the money isn't an issue.

Posted by: bilk at August 9, 2008 12:17 AM in response to Ann Sacks Tile

Unless I'm mistaken, your post seems to imply you should be able to purchase something for what you feel it is worth not what the seller is asking. The number of sales in Brooklyn may be down a bit but the average price has increased by 6% or so this year.

There is no "timing" the market. Like most people, you must have a budget. If your budget or pocketbook match the market, well you will certainly get frustrated. There are no deals in Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights or any of the other "prime neighborhoods" such as Prospect Heights or Carroll Gardens, which you listed. These are very desirable neighborhoods. You are not the only person who wishes to live there.

There's plenty of product out there, but it seems you feel you will get a bargain especially made for you. Good luck with that.

Posted by: bilk at July 24, 2008 9:50 PM in response to Why such low inventory?

Bilk, actually you're wrong - my question was really about why inventory is low. Our budget is perfectly generous given our wish list, and we've certainly seen listings or friends of ours have found properties in the range of 1.3-1.5 in these neighborhoods (we are willing to go higher, by the way, but this is just to say that we know these listings have been out there very recently). We didn't buy before for various reasons though we came close, and now we're ready but there's just less on market. Anyway, I do suspect a lot of it is simply summertime, but I simply wondered if others could offer other tips (like brooklyny).

Posted by: Miss Muffett at July 24, 2008 11:17 PM in response to Why such low inventory?

Thanks all for the input. We bought from Nemo Tile and are going to pickup in Jamaica.

It was a bit of a random tile situation, where I needed small quanity but, by Monday morning.

Thanks again.

Posted by: Brooklyn11218 at August 9, 2008 11:32 AM in response to Ann Sacks Tile

They have been around for a few years. Can't stand them. The gauge seems to be very thin and not very structurally sound. The tin sound you mention. The SS doors are just awful. Ornamentation up the wazzoo without any restraint. Some even etch the surface of the panels with pictorial reliefs!!!!

Posted by: IMBY at October 18, 2008 10:31 AM in response to Chromed Out Houses?

great plumber, very reliable: Donato on 3rd Ave.
for sewers and water mains: All-Boro Subsurface. replaced my lead water main at better rate than other quotes and did good professional work.

Posted by: wolfie at November 9, 2008 12:08 PM in response to Plumber Recommendations

Call Mr. Innocent from Ino & Sons. They are redoing all the plumbing for my renovation. I found him after three referrals from threee different friends. I have been very pleased with the work. Reasonable, thorough, and on time!
Tell him Chris from Decatur referred you.

Posted by: cmontgom at November 10, 2008 9:53 AM in response to Plumber Recommendations