No, I work for myself.

Posted by: broker at November 12, 2009 4:46 PM in response to House of the Day: 540 4th Street

No, I am not from Awaye.

Posted by: broker at November 12, 2009 4:33 PM in response to House of the Day: 540 4th Street

Who is Amanda or Angela?

Posted by: broker at November 12, 2009 4:23 PM in response to House of the Day: 540 4th Street

No I am not Libby Ryan, she was the selling broker.

Posted by: broker at November 12, 2009 3:54 PM in response to House of the Day: 540 4th Street

Miss Muffit, in my experience, if a buyer has the money and time, especially at this level, they would prefer to do their own renovation to their taste. Many buyers at this level, do not like the seller's own renovation choices, so for some buyers a house like this is the best ideal. They get the location, the original details and the discounted price to account for renovation costs (300K-450K). By saying that this is a good price for this house in its condition, I am taking into account the market changes. Specifically, a similar house on the same block, in the same condition (meaning required 300-450K renovation) sold for $2.599M on August 2008 (587 4th St.). In that case, the buyer at the end of the day is into that house for approximately 2.9-3M. So in today's market I think asking 2M for basically the same thing means it is priced to sell.

Posted by: broker at November 12, 2009 3:44 PM in response to House of the Day: 540 4th Street

I would not close until you are able to move in and therefore, I would assume you need the punch list addressed prior to closing. Unless, did you agree to purchase the new contruction unit prior to its completion?

Posted by: broker at November 12, 2009 2:14 PM in response to Punch List Questions

This will go close to ask, it is priced to sell. It is center slope (321) and a park block with original details.

Posted by: broker at November 12, 2009 2:06 PM in response to House of the Day: 540 4th Street

This will go close to ask, it is priced to sell. It is center slope (321) and a park block with original details. 5

Posted by: broker at November 12, 2009 2:06 PM in response to House of the Day: 540 4th Street

I am a lawyer as well, you have to be a licensed broker in order to get paid a commission in a real estate transaction in a cobroke.

Posted by: broker at November 4, 2009 10:07 AM in response to Fee for Lawyer Acting as Broker

You need to have your Broker's license. As an attorney, you are entitled to a broker's license by virtue of your degree and admission to the bar, but you still have to appy to the state department for your broker's license and pay the fee. Agreed with above, you need to disclose it to the selling broker your idea. It may not sit well. Many times, the selling broker deals directly with the buyers (no buyers broker) and the seller in broking the deal. The selling broker in this situation will still be doing all the work. A buyers broker shares the load with the selling broker and you will not be doing that work since you are the actual buyers.

Posted by: broker at November 3, 2009 1:41 PM in response to Fee for Lawyer Acting as Broker

If it is located in PS 321 zone, I would do the 2 BR first because people move into the zone Jan, Feb, Mar to establish residency so they can enroll their kids.

Posted by: broker at November 3, 2009 1:31 PM in response to Rental Renovations

I do not charge the owner. Tenant pays. Some owners will pay because it will attact more interested prospective tenant because they won't have to pay a fee. Regardless of who pays, the broker is almost always working for the owner. Sometimes, a broker will use a dual disclosure.

Posted by: broker at November 3, 2009 1:27 PM in response to Landlord Paying Broker?

I was in the 6th Avenue house. It is a lower duplex and two rentals. The top floor was renovated and had a tenant whose lease was up in December. No privacy wall between the lower duplex and the entraceway to upstairs. The lower duplex and the apartment above, need complete renovation (new kitchens, baths, layout, etc.). Nice size building and great location (Center Slope, not North), I think it was a great price considering you could easily put 200K-400K into it, price obviously depending on your taste.

Posted by: broker at November 3, 2009 1:21 PM in response to Last Week's Biggest Sales

I am sorry Calender, the attorney I used no longer works in Brooklyn. He is strictly in Manhattan now. I would still send a certified letter now, detailing the entire history to them of your complaints, how many times you complained in person or by email. Write it up like a list of what you have in past tried to do to get them to stop these tenants. I would end with saying that they have breached "warrantly of habitability" and that you are going to act accordingly since they have been incapable of rectifying the situation. That way, should this end up in court (i.e. you move before the lease is up and then they find where you moved and sue you for the remainder), you will have conclusive documentation showing at least that they were on notice of the problem. Good luck!

Posted by: broker at October 28, 2009 12:57 PM in response to Tenant Rights: Band as Neighbors

If you are not up for the huge scene at 200 Fifth. Johnny Macks on 8th Ave & 12th is a pretty good nieghborhood bar.

Posted by: broker at October 28, 2009 12:02 PM in response to Best sports bar in Brooklyn?

It sounds like the exact thing that happen to me. We had tenants below us that were also using the apartment as a recording studio. It was unbearable. We sent letters (certified), made complaints, tenants were abusive, etc. It also disturbed the tenants above us and they complained. The owner kept saying he was trying but nothing happened. It literally went on for many months. We decided to withhold our rent, the landlord sued us and we countersued for damages for breach of the "warranty of habitability" and for attorneys' fees. It went to trial, our neighbors graciously testified on our behalf, we testified, the super was cross examined by our attorney about our complaints. We won and our attorney was even awarded attorneys fees. Perhaps we got lucky. But I just wanted to let you know it can be done. Make sure your lease allows you to sue your landlord or countersue, sometimes they expressly take the right away from you.

Posted by: broker at October 28, 2009 9:26 AM in response to Tenant Rights: Band as Neighbors

This has been on the market for at least a year and started at 2.8M

Posted by: broker at October 26, 2009 1:35 PM in response to House of the Day: 291 8th Street

St. Marks is a very busy traffic street especially at the traffic light where this house is located. It is always backed up, horns honking, etc.

Posted by: broker at October 16, 2009 2:45 PM in response to Open House Picks

Prospect Place is one of my favorite blocks.

Posted by: broker at October 16, 2009 1:26 PM in response to Open House Picks

The one on Monroe is the Appellate Division for the second department.

Posted by: broker at October 15, 2009 1:18 PM in response to Oral Arguments over Eminent Domain at Atlantic Yards

I am pretty show it is the Appeals court building on Monroe in Brooklyn Height right off of Pierpont. It is beautiful, I had my swearing in there.

Posted by: broker at October 15, 2009 10:28 AM in response to Oral Arguments over Eminent Domain at Atlantic Yards

Bob Marvin.

I am sure I was your busperson or waitress at some point as I was one of the "circle girls" which is what we were called back then. Small world...

Posted by: broker at October 1, 2009 1:13 PM in response to Longtime Thai Restaurant in the Slope Shutters

Blue Ribbon
Blue Ribbon Sushi
Stone Park
'sNICE
La Bogota
Nana
Alchemy
Osteria
Bonnie's Grill
Al Di La
Brooklyn Fish Camp
Press
Los Pollitos
Pizzatown
Miriam
Chocolate Room

5th Ave...

Posted by: broker at October 1, 2009 11:12 AM in response to Longtime Thai Restaurant in the Slope Shutters

Do you remember Circles where Two Boots is now?

Posted by: broker at October 1, 2009 11:02 AM in response to Longtime Thai Restaurant in the Slope Shutters

I remember Le Parc Gourmet. Long time ago...

Posted by: broker at October 1, 2009 11:01 AM in response to Longtime Thai Restaurant in the Slope Shutters

Agree with Santa, 5th Avenue is the place for a good restuarant in Park Slope last couple of years.

Posted by: broker at October 1, 2009 10:58 AM in response to Longtime Thai Restaurant in the Slope Shutters

I completely agree with both foulplay and Crownlfc. Of course there are very reputable, professional non-REBNY brokers that provide terrific service, get great prices for their clients and cobroke all day long. There has always been this tug back and forth between REBNY and non-REBNY offices, but to not even acknowledge that there is value in a non-REBNY broker, shows an inability to be objective and therefore, is not very credible advice.

Posted by: broker at September 22, 2009 4:13 PM in response to Worst Broker Experience Ever

Your right, there is one circumstance when they can match the 4% and that is when the specific agent you signed with personally sells the property but not if another agent from the office sells it or if it is cobroked as most properties are, then is goes right back to 5%. So basically, only 4% commission if one person can get it all done, which seems to defeat the purpose of using Corcoran, which most people say is for the exposure to all the agents and cobrokes.

I am not against using Corcoran and Brown Harris Stevens, it is just that a lot of people on this blog seem to automatically say to use them instead of local brokers and I do not think the reasons are necessarily valid.

Posted by: broker at September 16, 2009 10:40 AM in response to Sunset Park Brownstone Broker?

You should not get a pre-approval for all different amounts. A pre-approval letter indicates to a seller that you are more than financially able to purchase the property. The amount approved does not mean you are willing to spend that amount, it is only to reassure the seller that you are a good buyer. The market value of the property may be $500K for example and you may be pre-approved for a mortgage based on your finances at $600K, that does not make the property worth more. A pre-approval letter is based on your personal finances and not based upon the appraisel of a specific property. One has nothing to do with the other. However, it will hurt you if indeed there is a higher offer and now you want to offer more than your original pre-approval letter said you can afford. That is why you should just have a legitimate pre-approval letter. You want to put your best foot forward when making an offer and you do not want to look like the purchase would be a stretch for you financially.

Posted by: broker at September 16, 2009 10:25 AM in response to Pre-Approval Amount?

Definately not North Slope. North Slope is Union to Flatbush.

Posted by: broker at September 16, 2009 9:23 AM in response to House of the Day: 434 4th Street

Brown Harris Stevens and Corcorcan agents are not allowed to accept less than 5%, it just a rumor if you hear otherwise. They are not allowed to negotiate even in this market. That is how they do business. Smaller offices can negotiate the commission and will accept 4%. If it is a reputable smaller office with you recieve the same bells and wistles (nytimes ads, website presence, professional floor plans/photos, open houses, etc) as a larger corporate office. You will also recieve a more personalized service.

Posted by: broker at September 16, 2009 9:18 AM in response to Sunset Park Brownstone Broker?

Curbed seems to be getting the scoop on Brooklyn before Brownstoner a lot lately.

Posted by: broker at September 15, 2009 11:14 AM in response to The Novo Sells Out

You do not have the right to sublet and landlords are no longer required to mitigate damages. I would let the landlord know what is happening and offer to work with him in finding a new tenant, either yourself, or with brokers and maybe negotiate a monetary amount. I had this situation with a tenant in one of my buildings that just signed a lease in February for one year and than in June, her job said she had to relocate to California immediately. We negotiated 3 months rent and I let her out of the rest of the lease. I find that most landlords are willing to work with tenants in this situation. It gets sticky if it is an apartment that is difficult to rent or if the market rent has gone down, a negotiated monetary amount usually finalizes a deal. It is a real hassle to take the tenant to court, it is time consuming and costly, so you should be able to work something out.

Posted by: broker at July 31, 2009 3:03 PM in response to Breaking Lease to Buy?

I completely understand there are terrible agents/brokers and I do not have a problem with people expressing their opinions about it, but I don't think that we should all be lumped together. If you've had a bad experience with a particular agent or office than say it, don't just blame all real estate agents.

Again, like I said, I do not hate brownstoner, I just dont' like how negative it can be about properties, prices and agents. I think there are a lot of positive things to be said about all those things and I wish that came through more on this blog. It wasn't always this negative and when it wasn't so negative Brownstoner used to carry a little more weight with agents/brokers and actually took in the constructive criticism.

Posted by: broker at July 28, 2009 2:28 PM in response to RE Agents Hate Brownstoner

I do not hate this site but I do find that the majority of the comments about properties are negative. I also think it is not fair to the owners of properties to have their homes picked apart by commentators who have only viewed photos or floorplans and have not actually seen the property. Also, the majority of the comments almost automatically always claim that a property is overpriced, which is not the case. Another thing I do not particular like is that if a person posts a request about whether or not to use an agent, again, almost automatically, the comments say do not use an agent and then rant about how terrible agents are in real estate. In this regard, it bothers me that although most commentors apparantly hate real estate agents, they say if you must use an agent go to the big companies, Corcoran or BHS and I find this a disservice because I think a lot of the negative connotations about real estate agents comes from dealing with these huge, inflexible corporations.

Posted by: broker at July 28, 2009 1:25 PM in response to RE Agents Hate Brownstoner

BHS and Corcoran agents/brokers are not allowed to negotiate their commissions since they are owned by corporations and the standards are set from the top. Some of the very experienced brokers with those firms are allowed to accept 5% for an exclusive but never less. Also, serious buyers in brooklyn find out rather quickly that Corcoran and BHS are not the only game in town. All reputable brokers use the same exact marketing techniques, advertising with the NY Times, web ads, open houses, etc. You should use someone with a good track record of success, good reputation, knowledgeable about the neighborhood, and in my opinion, negotiable. Good luck!

Posted by: broker at July 22, 2009 12:53 PM in response to 6% Broker Fees Still Happening?

Are you looking for a commercial space for yourself or do you own commercial real estate looking to sell or buy?

Posted by: broker at June 29, 2009 4:00 PM in response to Commercial RE broker

Yes, this closed months ago and was fully cleaned out and emptied at that time. The good news is that the activity you saw last weeks seems to indicate a new tenant getting ready.

Posted by: broker at June 29, 2009 3:54 PM in response to Slope Century 21 Franchise Calls it Quits

WT house no parking, brownstoner has wrong picture.

Posted by: broker at June 25, 2009 12:35 PM in response to Brooklyn Sales: Under a Million

The picture of the windsor terrace house is incorrect. It it the brownish one next door behind the trees. Also, it went into contract in February, not April after one open house. Origingal ask was 759K. Pretty house, big lot, but needed updating.

Posted by: broker at June 25, 2009 12:00 PM in response to Brooklyn Sales: Under a Million

I have a house on the North Fork about a block from the beach, my insurance company is Amica.

Posted by: broker at May 12, 2009 2:07 PM in response to Can't Get Insured Near Water

I see this over and over again on this thread about getting a lawyer. A lawyer does not advise regarding the value of a property. They protect your interests in the purchase or sale of the property contractually.

Posted by: broker at May 6, 2009 11:36 AM in response to buyers broker for...?

sorry for spelling error, i meant "wood" interior.

Posted by: broker at April 28, 2009 3:36 PM in response to Trimline window experiences?

Mine did not have chunky frames. I went with the trimline double hung replacment windows with the would interior window frame trim. Not chunky at all.

Posted by: broker at April 28, 2009 3:35 PM in response to Trimline window experiences?

If it is FSBO, the owner does not want to pay a broker fee at all. Some owners are open to a broker fee if approached by a broker with an interested client (it would usually be 2.5% if seller agrees, like a cobroke). A broker would call an owner first and make sure they are willing to pay the fee. As to everyone's advice about getting a lawyer, a lawyer does not negotiate for you. A lawyer usually comes in after you have an accepted offer. However, you could hire a lawyer to negotiate for you by paying an hourly rate rather than the usual flat fee for a real estate closing. You could always try it on your own and then you will definately find out if you need assistance with the process. Good luck!

Posted by: broker at April 28, 2009 3:32 PM in response to FSBO / buyer's broker

I had all my windows replaced with Trimline (23) 4.5 years ago and I am very satified. FYI, trimline is also accepted by Landmarks now as well. I had a project on a landmark block in the last year and got approval from the board to use all trimline windows.

Posted by: broker at April 28, 2009 1:29 PM in response to Trimline window experiences?

I say 2.2

Posted by: broker at April 1, 2009 2:47 PM in response to House of the Day: 213 Berkeley Place

If seller must sell than maybe 1.050 but that will will barely leave seller anything after transfer taxes and capital gains taxes since seller paid 975K. I say they will take it off the market or it will just sit.

Posted by: broker at March 31, 2009 2:07 PM in response to House of the Day: 93 2nd Street

I also thought the Prospect Heights house was originally priced way too high. I also think 2M for Prospect Heights is a great price.

Posted by: broker at March 24, 2009 12:51 PM in response to Last Week's Biggest Sales