Last traded for $250,000 on 6/13/2008.

That price sounds about right for a shell this size.

Posted by: bk14 at December 7, 2009 2:49 PM in response to House of the Day: 371 8th Street

Saw this house when it was first listed. It is massive and will require A TON of money to fix up. The current broker obviously convinced the owner to clean and paint it, because it looked NOTHING like those photos when I saw it. Unless the property underwent a lightning-speed renovation, those pictures are in no way representative of the state of the house as a whole. The place was depressing, dank, and very chopped up. I'd also be surprised if it is indeed being delivered vacant.

Posted by: bk14 at October 13, 2009 1:29 PM in response to House of the Day: 146 6th Avenue Revisited

To correct myself, it's actually been on the market since June and has undergone price chops. Listing history per Streeteasy:

06/14/2009--Listed in StreetEasy by Betancourt & Associates Realty LLC at $3,495,000.

09/09/2009--Price decreased by 14% to $2,995,000.

10/06/2009--Also Listed in StreetEasy by Prudential Elliman at $2,995,000.

Posted by: bk14 at October 7, 2009 1:25 PM in response to House of the Day: 212 8th Avenue

This house has been on the market since August with a different broker (Betancourt). It was already featured on brownstoner.

http://www.brownstoner.com/brownstoner/archives/2009/08/house_of_the_da_750.php

Posted by: bk14 at October 7, 2009 1:21 PM in response to House of the Day: 212 8th Avenue

I should add that my estimate was adjusted upward when the tile person learned I was installing penny tile, and I was told that it required extra labor and skill to install hex and penny. I agreed to the adjustments--no problem, no complaints. But I was expecting a skillful installation in exchange.

Posted by: bk14 at October 4, 2009 12:45 PM in response to Penny Tile Disaster?

Thanks for the replies. It is already grouted--this is the final result. I'm going to push for them to remove it and redo. Is it a difficult process to remove and redo, and should I expect a lot of resistance to this solution?

(crownheights2007: this is an out of state job.)

Posted by: bk14 at October 4, 2009 12:25 PM in response to Penny Tile Disaster?

Listing history for 460 2nd Street:

06/19/2009
Listed at $2,380,000
06/26/2009
Price decreased by 4% to $2,280,000
08/04/2009
Price decreased by 13% to $1,995,000

They are competing with 458 2nd Street, listed at $2,235,000 since April 2009:

http://www.corcoran.com/property/listing.aspx?Region=NYC&listingid=1545546

Posted by: bk14 at August 21, 2009 1:22 PM in response to Open House Picks

It's in an ad, Bond. It's in the Pottery Barn catalog (for a bathroom console). I assumed it was a tile. I have no idea.

Posted by: bk14 at August 19, 2009 8:35 PM in response to What kind of tiles are these?

Here is an apparently active Corcoran rental listing for a unit in this house.

http://www.corcoran.com/property/listing.aspx?Region=NYC&listingid=1852365

Posted by: bk14 at August 3, 2009 1:39 PM in response to House of the Day: 225 Garfield Place

I'll repeat what I posted in the Open House thread:

This house has been on the market since March 2009. It started out asking $2,590,000.

It was also recently advertising 2 units for rent (apts #2 and #3), which according to Streeteasy have been rented out. So, if you're buying, you're getting tenants in place.

http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/building/225-garfield-place-brooklyn

Posted by: bk14 at August 3, 2009 1:17 PM in response to House of the Day: 225 Garfield Place

225 Garfield has been on the market since March 2009. It started at $2,590,000.

It was also recently advertising 2 units for rent (apts #2 and #3), which according to Streeteasy have been rented out. So, if you're buying, you're getting tenants in place.

http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/building/225-garfield-place-brooklyn

Posted by: bk14 at July 31, 2009 3:20 PM in response to Open House Picks

225 Garfield has been on the market since March 2009. It started at $2,590,000.

It was also recently advertising 2 units for rent (apts #2 and #3), which according to Streeteasy have been rented out. So, if you're buying, you're getting tenants in place.

http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/building/225-garfield-place-brooklyn

Posted by: bk14 at July 31, 2009 3:20 PM in response to Open House Picks

Carroll Gardens condo was product of two townhouses put together for maximum width. High-end condo project. See old Corcoran listing and photos:

http://www.corcoran.com/property/listing.aspx?Region=NYC&listingid=1213024

Posted by: bk14 at July 28, 2009 11:55 AM in response to Last Week's Biggest Sales

Here are a couple of more photos for 632 3rd Street in Park Slope (still for sale) from the original listing broker:

http://www.fenwickkeats.com/listing_details.aspx?lid=28390TH

Posted by: bk14 at July 21, 2009 11:17 AM in response to Walkabout with Montrose: Kinko Houses

448 6th Street just reduced from $2,149,000 to $2,099,000 in the last hour.

Posted by: bk14 at July 17, 2009 4:47 PM in response to Open House Picks: Six Months Later

9th street house price is major wishful-thinking. Short lot at 20 ft x 72.5, on busy 9th street, and a very ugly and cheap-looking rooftop addition.

Posted by: bk14 at July 17, 2009 1:19 PM in response to Open House Picks

And 448 6th is actually a really beautiful house. I'm sure that in the bubble in would have sold in the mid-$2 million range. It's very unique. The only real negative I can think of is the living room wall that was removed to make it more open and spacious (since it's a 17-footer). It just doesn't really look right (although it's a common modification in many narrow brownstones). The rest of the house is gorgeous. It needs some updating, of course, but nothing major.

Posted by: bk14 at July 17, 2009 12:57 PM in response to Open House Picks: Six Months Later

448 6th is actually listed at $2.149 million now. The price was reduced last week.

Don't understand why they bothered switching from BHS to Corcoran. Switching agencies doesn't sell the house--reducing the price sells a house.

Posted by: bk14 at July 17, 2009 12:43 PM in response to Open House Picks: Six Months Later

Great looking house. Love the light and the feel. 20x90 lot. It would appear from the first parlor photo that the main set of pocket doors is gone, unfortunately.

The price must be adjusted downward to reflect that very noisy, dirty, and well-traveled block of 7th Avenue.

It's also available for rent at $7500:
http://www.brooklynbridgerealty.com/display.cgi?mode=display_property&id=7080

Posted by: bk14 at July 14, 2009 5:25 PM in response to House of the Day: 14 Seventh Avenue

567 1st has been on the market since June 2008. It was originally listed at $3,489,000 with Prudential Elliman:

http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/sale/289044-anyhouse-567-1st-st-park-slope-brooklyn

Subsequently reduced to $2,989,000 when it was a HOTD:

http://www.brownstoner.com/brownstoner/archives/2008/10/house_of_the_da_586.php

Corcoran has had it since February at current price of $2,595,000.

Posted by: bk14 at July 10, 2009 2:07 PM in response to Open House Picks

"One major question we have is that if we find a broker, will that person be able to show us any and all properties for sale? Or will they only be able to show us listings that their agency has?"

No, they will not show you any and all properties for sale. A broker will only show you properties for which they receive a percentage of the commission should you buy. They will only show you properties that allow co-brokes (seller broker shares commission with any buyer broker that brings them a sale.) Not all agencies co-broke.

Are you comfortable searching the listings yourself? If so, just contact the seller broker for each property you want to see. If you do that yourself, and don't involve a buyer's broker, you also have a better chance at obtaining your desired property since the broker will not have to share the commission with your buyer broker.

Posted by: bk14 at June 30, 2009 12:02 AM in response to How to Buy?

FYI: yesterday's House of the Day in Park Slope (460 2nd Street) has already cut its price by $100K. Now asking $2,280,000.

Posted by: bk14 at June 26, 2009 3:23 PM in response to Open House Picks

Price already reduced by $100K today--now asking $2,280,000.

Posted by: bk14 at June 26, 2009 2:29 PM in response to House of the Day: 460 2nd Street

Don't know Miss Muffett. But you're right that 458 2nd Street traded for $1,065,000 in 2003. Apparently, the owners added a new kitchen and painted the woodwork white (!) I doubt much more was done to it. They didn't even bother to add a bathroom on the second floor--it's an empty room with an old sink. When I visited the house, there was a handmade sign that read "Design your perfect bathroom." The garden apartment has not been touched in many, many years. Definitely a perfect example of bubble mentality. Now it's going to be hard for sellers, and even buyers, to readjust. People need to accept that $2 million is a shitload of money. Pardon my French. So long as comps keep supporting these prices, there's nothing you can do... except save and wait.

Posted by: bk14 at June 25, 2009 7:18 PM in response to House of the Day: 460 2nd Street

I would never pay over $2 million to live across the street from a school playground. No matter how "awesome" the famous school might be. The constant buzz of the kids would drive me crazy. I work from home.

More important, the house right NEXT DOOR, 458 2nd Street, is also on the market. It would have been nice to do a post about both houses.

http://corcoran.com/property/listing.aspx?Region=NYC&ListingID=1545546&ohDat=6/28/2009%2012:00:00%20AM;

Posted by: bk14 at June 25, 2009 1:29 PM in response to House of the Day: 460 2nd Street

Is it a walk-up??

Posted by: bk14 at June 23, 2009 1:02 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 30 Willow Place, #4

The information you received is completely wrong.

The SELLER will pay THEIR broker the full commission they arranged, which is usually 5-6%. And then the SELLER's BROKER will split this commission (in whatever co-broke percentage was arranged) with YOUR BROKER. The buyer does not pay anything at all. Brokers split the commission (paid by the seller) amongst themselves.

Posted by: bk14 at June 9, 2009 11:58 AM in response to buyers broker fee? who pays?

DREAM ON... not even in PEAK BUBBLE would this house have fetched $3.9 million.

Posted by: bk14 at June 4, 2009 1:18 PM in response to House of the Day: 143 Amity Street

You're right brownie--good point.

Posted by: bk14 at June 3, 2009 1:42 PM in response to House of the Day: 240 Dean Street

"After all, it's our job to keep an eye out for listings like this and it us over a month to come across this one."

Well, then you guys aren't really paying attention. I noticed this listing the day it came out--a few months ago. It was in the NYTIMES, and you click the option for NEW LISTINGS (less than 7 days)!

Posted by: bk14 at June 3, 2009 1:28 PM in response to House of the Day: 240 Dean Street

Is this for real? $1.55 million? The reno style is nice, but totally homemade. Nothing to suggest it was a professional, high-quality job. Which even if it was, would not in any way merit its asking price. Do you realize that right now for that money you can get a 20x100 4-story house in Park Slope? Even if you hate Park Slope, it's the comps that matter. Crazy.

Posted by: bk14 at June 1, 2009 1:23 PM in response to House of the Day: 130 South Oxford Street

448 6th was last listed with Brown Harris Stevens for $2.199 million. So yeah, I guess it makes total sense for Corcoran to now raise the price by $100K. This house has been on the market for over 8 months.

Posted by: bk14 at May 29, 2009 2:09 PM in response to Open House Picks

Do any of you even look at the dimensions for this house before declaring it a "good deal"? The lot is 16.67x45!! NO YARD, narrow house. This house is so overpriced.

The 11th Street Warren Lewis listing puts this "deal" to shame.

Posted by: bk14 at May 7, 2009 1:47 PM in response to House of the Day: 100 St. Mark's Avenue

This house does NOT have an "envy-inducing parlor floor," in my opinion. The middle wall with pocket doors that would have separated the double parlor is gone. Too bad. Merits a large discount for that alone.

Posted by: bk14 at May 6, 2009 1:27 PM in response to House of the Day: 433 Pacific Street

"You become a personality on this thread"

EXACTLY. And that's what I (and many other people) don't like about this site. I don't care about all these different personalities. Commenters' "personalities" overwhelm almost every single thread. The site has become tedious to read--no matter what the topic.

I agree 100% with those who feel that discussions in general were more interesting and substantive in the pre-registration days. And so much more enjoyable. I say bring back anonymous/guest commenting for those who want to use it. This site never was and never will be like Curbed, so there's no need to worry about that. Just my .02.

Posted by: bk14 at March 28, 2009 11:18 PM in response to Let's Talk About Commenting

lechacal, that powder room was described to us (by a broker's assistant) as an "efficient use of space that solves the parlor floor bathroom problem"! That house was too chopped up for my taste, and was a real mishmash. It also needed quite a bit of work. In my opinion, an almost $1 million difference between 108 and 150 Berkeley, even with the difference in size, is pretty shocking.

Posted by: bk14 at March 13, 2009 2:24 PM in response to Open House Picks: Six Months Later

I know what your point was, 11217. (I still think, however, after having seen both houses, that 108 Berkeley buyer overpaid. That is just my opinion, on a website where everyone has an opinion on real estate.) However, I'm stating that Property Shark does not count garden level in their square foot calculation, hence your final figures of price psf are inaccurate.

Posted by: bk14 at March 13, 2009 1:51 PM in response to Open House Picks: Six Months Later

11217, if you're getting your square footage numbers from Property Shark, they're wrong. Property Shark does not count the garden level in townhouses. So both houses are larger than the stated square feet, and hence, cheaper than the psf prices you quoted.

Posted by: bk14 at March 13, 2009 1:39 PM in response to Open House Picks: Six Months Later

I agree, lechacal. The funny thing is that 108 Berkeley, in my opinion, needed more work and had less charm and character than 150 Berkeley. All it had going for it, compared to 108 Berkeley, was 3 feet more in width.

Posted by: bk14 at March 13, 2009 1:21 PM in response to Open House Picks: Six Months Later

"To be fair though, the Berkeley Place house is REALLY narrow and needed quite a bit of work (from what I heard)."

Berkeley Place house is 16'7 wide. Same width as many of the houses currently on the market in Park Slope (including 599 5th, 448 6th, 557 7th), asking between $2.2-$2.4 million.

I saw this house and it needed some cosmetic work, but it was in no way a gut reno. It had beautiful detail throughout and was solid.

Posted by: bk14 at March 13, 2009 1:17 PM in response to Open House Picks: Six Months Later

"A few houses of similar size sold in the fruit streets over the summmer in the range of $2.7 million."

They were 20' footers. No renovation, but larger and wider.

Posted by: bk14 at March 9, 2009 11:18 PM in response to House of the Day: 18 Willow Place

Awesome! That strip of Bergen is looking better and better. I guess the Pintchiks don't rent-gouge, otherwise, these types of businesses wouldn't be able to set up shop.

Has anyone else noticed that Organic Heights (on the same strip) is for sale? Guess the vegan thing didn't catch on.

BTW, the sandwiches at City Subs are the best...

Posted by: bk14 at March 9, 2009 2:27 PM in response to StreetLevel: Comic Book Shop Opens on Bergen

Nice place. I like the brightness and the feel of the rooms. I think the price is high for a smallish house in a bad market, though. Even if it is Brooklyn Heights.

Regarding facade, why are the windows and doors misaligned on this house and the one next to it? Did the house settle in this crooked manner? I've noticed the same thing with a similar row of houses on Joralemon.

Posted by: bk14 at March 9, 2009 1:53 PM in response to House of the Day: 18 Willow Place

"After the highway, it was Sunset Park, just before Bay Ridge."

Yep, that's the way I remember it. What's interesting is that in their NYTimes listing, the brokers classify this house as being in Sunset Park. Slip?

Posted by: bk14 at March 4, 2009 2:35 PM in response to House of the Day: 216 17th Street

"The median sales price of brownstones in Northwest Brooklyn rose 12 percent"

No doubt skewed by the handful of high-end brownstone sales, no?

Also, didn't we recently learn that the peak was AS RECENT as 1Q 08?

Posted by: bk14 at March 3, 2009 10:38 AM in response to Brownstones, Co-ops Outperformed Condos in Q4

10th Street house has been on the market forever at the same price.

Posted by: bk14 at February 27, 2009 1:24 PM in response to Open House Picks

NYT article--Apartment Buyers Abandoning 6-Figure Deposits

"The real estate market in Manhattan has become so unnerving to buyers that some are forfeiting six-figure deposits rather than close on deals they have made. "

And no, it's NOT only in new condos, but in pre-war UES co-ops too.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/01/realestate/01walk.html?emc=eta1

Posted by: bk14 at February 26, 2009 4:39 PM in response to Home Sales Falling, Condo & Foreclosure Auctions Rising

I think Corcoran server is down. Most links to any of their properties aren't working.

Posted by: bk14 at February 26, 2009 1:26 PM in response to House of the Day: 190 Dean Street

"How could two floors of a brownstone possibly be 3000 sq feet?"

ditto.

Posted by: bk14 at February 26, 2009 12:51 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 22 8th Avenue Duplex

Well, the whole living above a bar/club really put this listing into perspective. Good to know.

Posted by: bk14 at February 25, 2009 11:42 PM in response to Condo of the Day: Montauk Club Mega-Spread

I don't know what any of you guys are talking about. Obviously none of you have anywhere near the money involved to buy a house like this and I don't even know why there is a discussion about this property.

Posted by: robbo986 at February 19, 2010 10:45 PM in response to 62 Jane Street