i like the house on Crown Street - very cute. don't know about that side of the hood but looks to be close to prospect park & the library, which is cool.

Posted by: bkny at November 13, 2009 1:39 PM in response to Open House Picks

Really? didn't hear about that but i can't wait. sounds yummy.

Posted by: bkny at November 13, 2009 1:28 PM in response to Brooklyn Sales: Under a Million

DIBS - that house is owned by Crystal of Brownstone Books. As far as I know they have been living/working through the construction. the house needed alot of work, no plumbing or electrical system to speak of. There family was featured in a NYT sunday real estate write up a few years back. You can probably find the article in the archives. The house is actually kind of small on the inside.

Posted by: bkny at November 13, 2009 1:03 PM in response to Brooklyn Sales: Under a Million

DIBS - what brown pods? i'm not on stuyvesant. i'm between lewis & stuyvesant. do i get my $150k back now - LOL

Posted by: bkny at November 13, 2009 12:48 PM in response to Brooklyn Sales: Under a Million

Dave if yours is $200,000 + more, than i guess mine would be $400,000 + more from the Hancock House, considering my location is more prime than yours (closer to the subway & in landmarked stuyvesant heights). LOL

i like how your math works for me!

Posted by: bkny at November 13, 2009 12:40 PM in response to Brooklyn Sales: Under a Million

I don't give a rats ass what's on your garden level. All I know is that all of them are too dark for formal entertaining. Get it?????
-dibs

Dibs, my garden level is about 5ft above ground. you walk up steps to get to the garden floor and top floor window views tree tops. all i'm saying is not all gardens are dark. we entertain on the garden all of the time and always get comments on how bright it is. our parlor is the formal living and dining but nothing wrong with entertaining on the garden. it all depends on your space.

that said - don't know this area, not sure how much it's worth.

Posted by: bkny at November 4, 2009 3:32 PM in response to House of the Day: 238 Windsor Place

the bedford house is in south midwood - not ditmas park, which is quite a different 'hood. someone could not have possibly thought those white appliances blended well - it must have been a close out sale.

Posted by: bkny at October 23, 2009 1:40 PM in response to Open House Picks

remember that house about half this size that sold for 1.2M, to that couple with the chinese daughter - its was a NYT & brownstoner write up. this house is way bigger & in that same hood. granted prices have dropped but i still think this will go for at least 1.5. Ebinger bakery house is "in contract" with an ask of 1.599M.

Posted by: bkny at October 22, 2009 3:06 PM in response to House of the Day: 177 Rugby Road

i have been on many tours and i think this was definetly one of the best. some really great homes. looking forward to next year's tour!

Posted by: bkny at October 19, 2009 9:58 AM in response to House Tour Double-Shot This Weekend

weird layout, narrow house. pass.

Posted by: bkny at September 22, 2009 1:44 PM in response to House of the Day: 297 Vanderbilt Avenue

Broke - if that's true, how would the seller make a profit? they paid 950k in 2007. which would mean that they would need to sell at least at original ask of 3.2M in order to break even.

the place is absolutely beautiful.

Posted by: bkny at September 22, 2009 12:48 PM in response to Last Week's Biggest Sales

Kate - isn't Shakoor's closed? I went there & saw Shakoor & he told me he was moving that was at least 6 months ago. Did he not move or return?

Posted by: bkny at September 18, 2009 12:55 PM in response to Bed Stuy Restaurant Suggestions

sorry brownstoner - correction, decatur & malcolm x

Posted by: bkny at September 18, 2009 11:51 AM in response to Bed Stuy Restaurant Suggestions

snappy - you need to go to Ruthies for your soul food. Dekalb & Ashland or Myrtle (don't remember cross street) but way better than Amy Ruth's.

brownstoner - a new soul food resturant opened on Dekalb & Malcolm X, right at the corner. I don't remember it's name but it is a sit down resturant and I did sit & eat there once. the food was good. i would go back.

Posted by: bkny at September 18, 2009 11:47 AM in response to Bed Stuy Restaurant Suggestions

BHO - you finally said something i totally agree with:

"It's bad enough to live with a tenant in the first place."

definetly tenant on the garden if at all!

Posted by: bkny at August 28, 2009 4:19 PM in response to Open House Picks

great job DIBS! looks beautiful.

Posted by: bkny at August 14, 2009 3:01 PM in response to DIBS Refinishes His Facade

what are they smoking in Cobble Hill? Are you freaking kiddin me with that price tag!

Posted by: bkny at August 14, 2009 2:18 PM in response to Open House Picks

i really didn't think it was that great. went twice with 2 different sets of friends and we all left with it's an ok vibe. i wasn't thrilled.

happy to have options in 'hood but can't say i will be frequenting the place.

sorry - to go against the grain.

Posted by: bkny at August 13, 2009 3:26 PM in response to Streetlevel: Saraghina on Halsey

lechacal - loved that story. thanks for the memories...

Posted by: bkny at August 11, 2009 1:34 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 214 Carlton Avenue, #5

Nomi - the owner will clear 200k if this sells for ask, after the broker fee. she did not do the reno. the house was purchased renovated in 2006 - is anyone listening to me! ugh...

Posted by: bkny at August 11, 2009 11:54 AM in response to House of the Day: 66 Clifton Place

"they" always say 20 feet is standard but the majority posted here as well as where most folks i know live is between 17-20ft. most averaging 18.5 feet.

i used to live in a 20x100 and there is really not much difference in a 18x100. depending on the layout - it can pretty much feel the same.

Posted by: bkny at August 10, 2009 4:22 PM in response to House of the Day: 66 Clifton Place

18 feet is narrow? where do you live in a 25 footer?

Posted by: bkny at August 10, 2009 3:49 PM in response to House of the Day: 66 Clifton Place

the house was purchased renovated in 2006. this owner didn't do the reno. the house is beautiful but the block is shady. she needs to stay & wait it out.

Posted by: bkny at August 10, 2009 3:03 PM in response to House of the Day: 66 Clifton Place

thank you doug & arch! i have alot of thinking to do. it will all depend on whether my oldest gets into a really good public school or we get financial aide for private school. that will really set the tone for the younger ones. school is big for me & making sure my kids are happy and that they have a great upbringing. so if moving to the burbs is it, then i will have to bite it!

Posted by: bkny at August 7, 2009 3:40 PM in response to House of the Day: 439 East 19th Street

this looks amazing. i look forward to reading more and bringing by kids by the finished product.

Posted by: bkny at August 7, 2009 2:07 PM in response to Greenlight Bookstore Renovation Blog: Week 2

good point Fred - didn't think to include the broker's fee. then this was still a lose...

Posted by: bkny at August 7, 2009 1:56 PM in response to Open House Picks: Six Months Later

correction - it's 17.75 wide. property shark says - deed transferred 2006 for 940k, plus the cost of reno, they probably barely broke even.

Posted by: bkny at August 7, 2009 1:43 PM in response to Open House Picks: Six Months Later

rutland had an amazing renovation and it sold for a great price! the former owners should be over joyed! that house is barely 16ft wide!

Posted by: bkny at August 7, 2009 1:32 PM in response to Open House Picks: Six Months Later

i pass this strip everyday and any new stores would be a great improvement. i hope they don't sit on it and do plan to bring in some quality retailors.

Posted by: bkny at August 7, 2009 9:40 AM in response to Goldman Sachs Buying Up Fulton Street

ditto - your right. silly me. what type of logic and common sense was i thinking about!

Posted by: bkny at August 6, 2009 3:45 PM in response to House of the Day: 329 President Street

ditto - your right. silly me. what type of logic and common sense was i thinking about!

Posted by: bkny at August 6, 2009 3:45 PM in response to House of the Day: 329 President Street

i know someone who lived there. i visited in the evenings - never had a problem leaving late night. great prices - considering what new buildings are going for.

Posted by: bkny at August 6, 2009 2:59 PM in response to Kingsview Coop + Ashland Place

what school is this zoned for?

Posted by: bkny at August 6, 2009 2:56 PM in response to House of the Day: 329 President Street

i don't think the interior is that bad. it's set up perfectly for you to decorate to your taste - but i'm also a RhoNJ fan.

i think the house should be set up as a one family with a great storage/usable cellar. they cannot expect to pull off a windowless cellar as a duplex! or if they need rental income. just rent the ground floor as a one bedroom and live in the upper duplex.

Posted by: bkny at August 6, 2009 2:51 PM in response to House of the Day: 329 President Street

Archi - question (you may have answered this already, sorry I'm late). but if it weren't for the job situation and knowing what you know now about the schools - which would you choose ditmas park or westchester?

my husband and i debate this all of the time. we have more than one child and schools are an issue. he wants to move and i want to stay. my main reason is that i have close family here that helps us with the kids. he is like - they will come out on weekends. i just get so confused with staying and 'figuring out' the whole school issue or going and focusing on a 'burb with great public schools.

Posted by: bkny at August 6, 2009 11:19 AM in response to House of the Day: 439 East 19th Street

MM - I guess it seems around the corner to me - since I live in bed-stuy and walk to the museum quite often. so 3 and a half long blocks makes that close for me. ;)

Posted by: bkny at August 4, 2009 3:25 PM in response to House of the Day: 638 Saint Marks Avenue

agree with Pete. 11217 - this is around the corner from the Brooklyn Children's Museum. The area is quite and has some very nice large homes. This is considered Crown Heights North. I'm sure MM can give further details.

my appraisal - 750k

Posted by: bkny at August 4, 2009 2:10 PM in response to House of the Day: 638 Saint Marks Avenue

i found this article extremely interesting. frankly i'm amazed that these type of apartments still exist with tubs or showers in the kitchen.

Posted by: bkny at August 4, 2009 1:08 PM in response to Walkabout with Montrose: Tenement Living

ditto - DIBS

Posted by: bkny at July 31, 2009 3:53 PM in response to Open House Picks

i seen much worse. this building isn't bad at all. hardly a 'monstrosity' by any standard.

Posted by: bkny at July 31, 2009 3:08 PM in response to Development Watch: 51 Woodhull Street

Miss Muffett - i have never heard of that theory but based on comments on this board I would have to agree. like ban, we have a high end reno, with granite, marble, ammana, viking, sub zero, tin ceiling, island etc...high grade wood floors. we stripped and restained all of our wood, including the stairs and we did not exceed 150k. our contractor, electrian, plummer were all licensed. we also gutted and finished the cellar (below ground floor), which included digging down a few feet, so a total of 4 floors.

we live in bed stuy and so so does the friend that i was referring to.

Posted by: bkny at July 31, 2009 1:20 PM in response to Gut Reno Estimate?

ps - i know i'm not alone b/c my friend did her 4 story, 2 years ago for 150k. eletrical, pluming, 2 tenant apts, owner duplex, with custom cabinets & high end finishes also. hers was more of a gut than mine.

Posted by: bkny at July 31, 2009 11:38 AM in response to Gut Reno Estimate?

these renovation posts always surprise me. my house was a semi-gut. one floor all new floors, walls, ceiling. all new electrial & plumbing through out. parlor, new floors, walls, bath & kitchen. top floor new floors, bath, walk in closet. total of 3 new baths (one all marble) & 2 kitchens. this was a good amount of work and we did not live there while it was being done. no central heat or ac installed. i want to say we paid $100k-$125k maybe? it's been awhile so don't remember exactly how much everything cost. and no we do not have ikea anything! we have custom cabinets & high grade floor, commercial grade appliances (viking, sub zero). i really wonder who these contractors are charging these outrageous prices are. i have a quality home and no regrets. this was 4 years ago.

Posted by: bkny at July 31, 2009 11:33 AM in response to Gut Reno Estimate?

MM - I heard Soloman's Porch was closed by the heatlth department. They had a steady amount of business. I don't know this to be fact - but when I first inquired that was the response I received.

Posted by: bkny at July 30, 2009 12:37 PM in response to What Does Bed Stuy Need?

copied from my last post:

i think food options is key. we need basics,like a mike's diner. some place that is not specific or fancy. where you can go for breakfast, lunch, dinner or take out. i think Peaches is great but it is a soul/bbq joint. which is a specific taste.

also, grdnbklyn - there is a wine shop, olivino on marcus garvey and macdonough.

Posted by: bkny at July 30, 2009 12:03 PM in response to What Does Bed Stuy Need?

the down side to me is the width & not the details. details can be added but width can't. it's just too narrow but it's definetly priced to sell.

Posted by: bkny at July 28, 2009 1:48 PM in response to House of the Day: 226 Cumberland Street

why not dig down to acheive the higher ceiling height? instead of raising your floor?

we have a usable cellar and it is not counted as sellable square footage. sorry.

Posted by: bkny at July 27, 2009 1:55 PM in response to Creating Habitable Cellar?

heather - that fee is to get you to open an account so that you don't have to pay it. other banks actually charge more.

Posted by: bkny at July 24, 2009 11:45 AM in response to Closing Bell: Capital One on Fulton Celebrates Opening

this house is tiny and it's outrageous that brownstoner would make this out to be such a great deal. i have to agree with what here...

Posted by: bkny at July 23, 2009 2:45 PM in response to House of the Day: 186 Washington Avenue Revisited

It really is a good advantage if you have money invested in a 401k account, enough to buy you a house for preferably cash. For instance, assume you have $150k cash in your 401k, experts suggest rolling it over to a Self directed IRA from which you can use the funds (100% of the funds) to buy a house. However, the percentage of money you should take out from your self directed IRA depends on the amount of savings you have.

Once you have a self-directed IRA set up, consider purchasing actual physical real estate by withdrawing funds from your IRA to make a down payment on the home, and get a mortgage, or if you have enough funds, purchase the entire home by paying 100% cash.
Source: http://www.research401krollover.com/
You are not allowed to take a mortgage from your IRA, like how you would take out a loan from your 401(k) and pay it back in a certain period of time. When purchasing property from your IRA, remember this key point that all gains you make from this property such as rental income, capital gains, etc must be contributed back in to your IRA.

Posted by: cocojambo at November 14, 2009 12:07 PM in response to Tapping 401(k) for Purchase?