Follow-up on Community Board 2 Meeting RE Parking Regs

BofA took so long (5 months) that my credit report expired. When I told them they couldn't run my credit again (I had already closed with HSBC at a better rate) they offered to waive the fee on the point and to give me 1000$ towards closing. Don't sweat it. I was calling HSBC every day since they seemed to be dragging their feet as well (4 months).

Posted by: e10b at September 1, 2009 12:59 PM in response to How Long to Refinance?

The common charges posted reflect an assessment put on all the apartments. The true charges are closer to 550. Also, the building has a J51 abatement for another 12 years or so. My taxes are $1 a year currently.

Posted by: e10b at June 18, 2009 3:34 PM in response to Condo of the Day: 970 Kent Avenue, #107

When you say estate sale does that mean the contents will be sold too?

Posted by: e10b at January 28, 2009 1:40 PM in response to House of the Day: 13 South Elliott Place

I'm amazed how many still look the same now as they did in '94. But Mr. B, not all the delis are in Brooklyn- Millie's is on the corner of Jackson and 47th rd.

Posted by: e10b at December 23, 2008 8:24 PM in response to Closing Bell: Deli Fever

Yeah, it looks bad, but this is an investment property- 4 one-bedrooms and a store. Whats a 1-bed go for in this part of Clinton Hill? $1500. And a store? $2000?. Thats $8000 a month. Not bad.

Posted by: e10b at July 23, 2008 12:05 PM in response to 109 Gates Avenue Revealed: Man, That's Ugly

How high are the ceilings at Washington st?

Posted by: e10b at July 14, 2008 2:27 PM in response to Condos of the Day: Head-to-Head in Dumbo

2.01- Typically during recessions and depression [hopefully not] the entertainment industry fairs well as people need a distraction from the hardship. Granted, a movie doesn't cost a dime anymore.

Posted by: e10b at June 18, 2008 2:19 PM in response to House of the Day: 179 Adelphi Street

The atlantic center is right there 1:47, it runs close to every subway line in the city and the fulton G is close by as well.

Posted by: e10b at June 17, 2008 2:47 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 101 Lafayette Avenue

Any news on the alt. side parking changes in Fort Greene and Clinton Hill? Isn't the announcement supposed to be made today?

Posted by: e10b at June 11, 2008 2:04 PM in response to Wednesday Links

Friends of mine lived on this block for 6 months before learning that their basement apt. floods during rain and that many other buildings on this block suffer from the same problem. The plumbing in these buildings from the houses to the city system is old and problematic.

Posted by: e10b at May 7, 2008 7:56 PM in response to House of the Day: 95 Devoe Street FSBO

2:33- Agreed.

Posted by: e10b at April 30, 2008 2:46 PM in response to Wednesday Food & Drink Round-Up

1.25- that is part of the central air ducting.

Posted by: e10b at April 21, 2008 5:38 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 9 Pierrepont Street Amended

Most of the news on this site you can get anywhere- comps, sales, weekend listings, etc. All these things and the articles are pulled from other websites. Brownstoner has collected them for you so you don't have to check 20 different publications/sites.

Posted by: e10b at April 4, 2008 11:52 AM in response to Rentals of the Week: North Slope

11:19 & 11:32: Comparisons? Some people want to see what others are renting their units for, just like you may be checking here to see the comps on brownstones in your neighborhood, to see if you are up or down. This site is not only for owners; potential buyers need to see what they will be able to get once they spend a mint on a brownstone and are trying to offset their mortgage. Others might want to know what they can get for their garden rental since their tenant of the last 4 years just left. Who knows exactly why people are looking, but I will say, this is an interesting post to me because someday I may want to rent my condo and will hopefully see comps here.

Posted by: e10b at April 4, 2008 11:43 AM in response to Rentals of the Week: North Slope

Ha Ha. -In a stunning turn of events, property becomes more valuable as a parking lot than as an apartment- If this is true, too bad for downtown Brooklyn who just spent the last 5 years getting rid of all the parking lots in trade for Condos and Townhouses. And to 9:39 and his No Truck Until Policy, sucks if you need to have furniture delivered (or are moving) to your apt. and they have a no delivery between 5pm and 9am policy. Or run a business that is typically closed after 7pm and now have to hire a 3rd shift to take in deliveries.

Posted by: e10b at April 1, 2008 10:25 AM in response to Nine Bklyn Councilmembers Vote Against Congest Fee

Hey Brownstonerlogin -- we are refinancing our apt in a small (4 unit) coop, also with Wells Fargo. Do you also have an issue with the audited financial statement requirement? They are asking for it, but our building has always done unaudited. Even our coop accountant is suprised about the requirement.

Posted by: apartmenter1 at September 1, 2009 2:17 PM in response to How Long to Refinance?

Splenda,

i'm up to about 8 months now with Wells...they don't respond to e mails, leave dozens of messages with this numb nuts in minneapolis....what's amazing is that when u move on to another broker u have to formally withdraw application from another bank...it's really not hard to see how these pricks lost so much $....no due diligence when mkt is screaming...now they're all being hard as$es when mkt's on way down....Collateral? Credit ? the only thing these mothers understand r FEES

Posted by: bklyn14 at September 1, 2009 2:36 PM in response to How Long to Refinance?

OP here. The crazy thing is this is a free standing house; we have 50% equity; we have received approval; and still it has been over over 4 months since we began....

I am not going to give up as we will save $500/month once we actually do the refinance. But, they are making it so painful.

Posted by: Splenda at September 1, 2009 2:38 PM in response to How Long to Refinance?

real happy to see WFC down a $1 today.....buy FAZ with 2 hands !!!!!!!

Posted by: bklyn14 at September 1, 2009 2:39 PM in response to How Long to Refinance?

we are on month 9! of our re-finance at what was countrywide (now BofA), but looks like it's almost done. it sat for months until a senior manager worked out what the issue was and got it taken care of.
i called or wrote to people almost every day - they were responsive, but they have little control and most can't directly call people in other departments.
it's a sucky process, but damn, cannot wait for a 30 yr fixed at this lower rate. it's really historically low, and our monthly is way below what we could rent for for a similar place as it is, so when this comes thru, think we're in great shape.

Posted by: wine lover at September 1, 2009 3:11 PM in response to How Long to Refinance?

this is why it's sometimes best to deal with a broker.
brokers have a relationship with the bank reps, underwriters and the dummies on the inside.

Posted by: big swinging nick at September 1, 2009 3:25 PM in response to How Long to Refinance?

Hi apartmenter1. We're also a 4-unit co-op, and only do unaudited financials. So far Wells Fargo hasn't required audited ones of us. It's a long time since I submitted the paperwork to them...but I vaguely remember that they may have asked for EITHER audited financials OR unaudited ones + tax returns. But not sure. Sounds like their process is not very consistent... But you might want to ask them about that.

The latest hold-up was getting the info they needed on our building insurance policy from the insurance company. It finally came through and looked like we might have progress, then they red-flagged that the policy didn't separately spell out coverage for the building's common boiler. So they had to go back to ask about that again. Oy. (That reminds me, I should follow up w/ them on that...)

Posted by: Brownstonerlogin at September 1, 2009 4:11 PM in response to How Long to Refinance?

i hesitated before posting, because i don't want to rub this in the faces of everyone mired in a neverending refi directly with their banks, but i decided to add my 2 cents because this info may benefit those who want to refi but have not yet started the process.

big swinging nick is right: bite the bullet and use a mortgage broker. i started my refi in March and closed in May. not even 3 months from start to finish, and i got a very competitive 4.875 for a 30-year fixed. oh, and get this: both my original mortgage and the refi were with Wells Fargo. it's absurd but true that a refi closes more efficiently when you add another layer of service professional to the transaction.

mortgage brokers get paid when the transaction closes, so their interests are aligned with yours on that front. and they are professional paper pushers -- their job is to deal with most (if not all) of the forms, certificates, closing conditions, etc. and they are more responsive and seem more intelligent than the folks you'll encounter at the bank. when you've finished all the paperwork (with their help) and the transaction is languishing, you call them up and apply friendly pressure. they pass that on to their contacts in the bank (aka dummies on the inside).

Posted by: panamac at September 1, 2009 4:17 PM in response to How Long to Refinance?

mine expired, chase was at fault so they extended it and we closed at the deadline of the extension, four months total

Posted by: funstraw at September 1, 2009 4:32 PM in response to How Long to Refinance?

Maybe scheduling is worse now, but like Panamac, I started the process in March (same rate/term, but with my original lender, Chase) and closed in May before the 90-day rate lock expired. Didn't use a mortgage broker, but called Chase directly. (Actually, a mortgage broker I did call said I wouldn't get a much better rate than what Chase was offering and advised going with my bank.) Maybe I lucked out with my mortgage counselor, but the process went relatively smoothly.

Posted by: TPX at September 1, 2009 4:32 PM in response to How Long to Refinance?