OP here. Thanks so much for your posts.

Posted by: fawn at February 29, 2008 2:06 PM in response to Looking for our first home: Questions to ask

How does it change things if the brownstone is a condo vs a co-op? There are a handful of condos on the market.

I know there is not the same board approval process in a co-op, but imagine most of building maintenance questions should be the same.

Posted by: fawn at February 29, 2008 2:12 PM in response to Looking for our first home: Questions to ask

Sorry, last line should re 'as in a co-op'-- no board approval in a condo.

Posted by: fawn at February 29, 2008 2:14 PM in response to Looking for our first home: Questions to ask

There's a floorthrough on 3rd St. in PS on sale now with a european shower. We went to the open house a few weeks back and judging from my husband's reaction, as well as those I overheard, it's not going to be a great selling point. That said, it's you're home so make it work for you! Just prepared for the perplexed looks when you do decide to sell.

Posted by: fawn at March 13, 2008 10:45 AM in response to european shower...

I'll add that I was not perplexed because when I studied abroad in college, my dorm room had one. I second the earlier poster who said they have to be built just right-- mine wasn't and I spent a lot of the year sopping up water from my dorm room floor. I'm not a huge fan.

Posted by: fawn at March 13, 2008 12:16 PM in response to european shower...

The rent vs. buy debate is old-- very old-- and most repetitive elements of the argument, mainly the money part (forced savings, tax breaks, equity building, market growth, etc) ignore some of the most central reasons why a person decides to do either.

Renting allows for great flexibility and little responsibility-- when life changes (your job moves across the country or the city, you get married, have a kid, whatever) you don't have to worry about selling a home to change with it. And when something breaks, you call the super. And if the super stinks, you move.

On the other hand, buying comes with security, control, and stability. The landlord is not going to surprise you, sell the building or jack up your rent. Your mortgage payments are listed on paper for the next 30 years.

Both choices come with real benefits and sacrifices-- it's not all about the money.

And to say that "Most renters save NOTHING. If they did, they would have used it for a down payment when houses were cheap 8 years ago," completely oversimplifies the issue. It implise that everyone should or wants to be a buyer, but is to scared or stupid to do so. Clearly, that is just not the case. And since most buyers started out as renters, clearly renters ARE saving.

Posted by: fawn at March 19, 2008 3:18 PM in response to Condo of the Day: 535 Dean Street Penthouse Price Cut

I've really enjoyed the posts and pictures. Congratulations on completing your BEAUTIFUL home and thanks.

Posted by: fawn at March 19, 2008 3:36 PM in response to On the Backpages: Farewell, Windsor Terrace Reno

Agreed, Biff & Sam. I've looking for a decent size 2 bedroom in BH since New Year and it's been frusterating. Things are coming on in such slow drips.

Posted by: fawn at April 2, 2008 2:42 PM in response to Brooklyn Prices Drop It Like It's Not Hot

Did see an apartment at 105 Montague this weekend, though, that was beautiful. A little rich for my blood by gave me hope of good things to come.

Posted by: fawn at April 2, 2008 2:45 PM in response to Brooklyn Prices Drop It Like It's Not Hot

BH and Cobble Hill. (I've read the great neighborhood debates, so don't want to stir the pot and list reasons!) My husband and I have been hitting up open houses for a few months now but anything that has really peaked our interest has gone in a flash. Funny enough, I was reading the NY Mag website this week and decided to see how their RE listings are. Searching under BH and CH, all the Corcoran listings are from April 2007. Clearly not useful in practical terms, but it was interesting to see how many more options there were one year back!

Posted by: fawn at April 2, 2008 2:57 PM in response to Brooklyn Prices Drop It Like It's Not Hot

Separate components are more expensive.
If you want economic and decent look try a drop in range where you can get the built in look.

As for perfomance 10:39 is right

Posted by: guest at May 28, 2008 11:25 AM in response to Ikea Ovens

confirm with ikea but I think they are made by whirlpool so should be able to get service rather easily.

Posted by: guest at May 28, 2008 4:51 PM in response to Ikea Ovens

Two questions: Are they gas or electric? Are they self-cleaning?

Posted by: guest at May 30, 2008 11:55 AM in response to Ikea Ovens

You can pretty much count on everything from Ikea being crap. You can also count on good service from Ikea until the Brooklyn store has been open a few months. Then they will go back to their usual horrible customer service.

Posted by: guest at May 31, 2008 11:23 PM in response to Ikea Ovens

What about a hairless cat?

Sick 'em, Mr. Bigglesworth!

Posted by: slick at June 9, 2008 5:18 PM in response to Good exterminator for mice problem

I highly recommend getting a Rat-Zapper. I know it sounds gruesome, but after they go in and are, um, taken care of, you simply dump it out. No touching, looking, prodding necessary. And I baited mine with peanut butter, too. Worked great.

Posted by: guest at June 9, 2008 6:47 PM in response to Good exterminator for mice problem

We moved into our rowhouse in January and several of the neighbors had mentioned (after we closed) that there is a mouse problem within the "row" that we are smack in the middle of. Well...we own 2 cats and we've not seen a single mouse or even evidence of there being mice in the vicinity.

Get some good allergy meds, go to the local shelter and get yourself one very grateful little kitty (the girls are better mousers than the boys, FYI). Mice are very good at detecting their predators and will stay clear.

Posted by: guest at June 9, 2008 7:10 PM in response to Good exterminator for mice problem

i've found luck with traps (peanut butter or cheese, depending), AND poison. the mice eat the poison and then end up in the traps. you have to have baited traps out though or the mice will end up dying in yr walls.

Posted by: guest at June 9, 2008 7:20 PM in response to Good exterminator for mice problem

Good allergy meds don't work for everybody allergic to cats - it is amazing how many cat owners insist that they MUST work, when they don't.

I'm allergic too, and from what I have read about the rat-zappers, I'm going to get some of them if I ever live in a place with a mouse infestation again.

Posted by: guest at June 10, 2008 10:14 AM in response to Good exterminator for mice problem

Who would want to live with something they are allergic to? Be medicated all the time?

Posted by: vanburenproud at June 10, 2008 10:45 AM in response to Good exterminator for mice problem