Rob, one can safely assume that over 80% of NYC HS students on welfare are not white. If someone had made a comment such as the one below about HS's in Salt Lake City with an 80+% Mormon population, who the f*** do you think they are talking about.

"and i dont blame the kids really. it's just that too many stupid people breed. it's disgusting. it's absolutely disgusting that people in nyc get benefits out the a$$ and paid to breed even more stupid people who breed. barf."

Maybe you should take a batter look at yourself Rob...

Posted by: fobsdelhi at August 27, 2009 1:58 PM in response to Sunset Park Finally Getting Its Own High School

Please excuse Rob, he had some bad HS experiences, colored folks (including folks on welfare) were always ahead of him in all aspects and he even got beat down by some boys due to uncontrollable winking aimed at girls...
If only segregation was still alive and kicking, Rob would have ended up both wealthy and happy...

Posted by: fobsdelhi at August 27, 2009 12:59 PM in response to Sunset Park Finally Getting Its Own High School

This post is very close to being a sales pitch, is that something to be concerned about?

Posted by: fobsdelhi at August 26, 2009 1:21 PM in response to House of the Day: 552 47th Street

These guys are both stupid and shady at the same time, which is quite an achievment.
A few years ao, they showed us an partment we liked, kept our documents, checks etc as an application, called us to say the apartment was not available but they had other apartments, we were not interested and they refused to give our stuff back till we threatened to call a lawyer or the cops.
STAY AWAY FROM THEM.

Posted by: fobsdelhi at August 25, 2009 12:55 PM in response to Reporting a Realty Company

Rob, you are right, immigrants should not complain about such issues. After all they are lucky just to be in this country. They should clean up after Park Slopers and quietly go back to their Sunset Park like neighborhoods.

Posted by: fobsdelhi at August 21, 2009 12:10 PM in response to Immigrant Groups Fight Sunset Park Rezoning

We recently moved into a 120 year old frame house (a brownstoner open house pick, no less) with a similar problem.
The inspector showed us structural pillars in the basement that were installed to stop the sagging decades ago, and in his opinion the house has settled.
At the same time, he told us to avoid placing heavy stuff like a piano in the middle of the house.
Best of luck.

Posted by: fobsdelhi at August 11, 2009 2:39 PM in response to Settling and Sagging House

Hi Slick,

Are you saying that it should be a 'red light district' because...

a) It has people with lower income

b) Mostly immigrant neighborhood (Chinese and Hispanics)

c) Your idea of fun

d) All the above

Enlighten us.

Posted by: fobsdelhi at July 22, 2009 4:45 PM in response to Sunset Park Waterfront Vision Plan

If they can get rid of the Gowanus Expressway, the whole neighborhood will change. This might not be all good as wannabe Park Slopers and Williamsburg hipsters will start moving in...

Posted by: fobsdelhi at July 22, 2009 12:23 PM in response to Sunset Park Waterfront Vision Plan

Mopar, one possible way to negotiate with these guys is to get the FHA loan where you get an upfront loan to buy the house and some money for development. They said they could redo the architectural plans for loan purposes.
Another way to do it is to pay them extra for finishings etc and tell them not to split each room into two (they cannot understand how preserving stuff can be more important then two bland rentals). At the same time get a contract where they pay you closing costs, so you can redo the kitchen etc. Best of luck.

Posted by: fobsdelhi at July 8, 2009 1:03 PM in response to Wednesday Links

We were looking for a place and we saw several flipped brownstones in Crown Heights and Bed Stuy, which were being offered by the same development group (Eastern European immigrants who advertize on craigslist). They have the right to make a quick profit but it was really tragic to see the insides of such beautiful buildings, it’s almost a crime.
We tried to negotiate a deal so as to preserve some basic structure but to no avail, they did not get the point of it.

Posted by: fobsdelhi at July 8, 2009 12:48 PM in response to Wednesday Links

WOW!!!
Thank you for all the comments, I will go with instinct and add layers of information to feel better.
This is our first house and the first tenant, so we feel guilty asking for money, but hopefully will not let that effect our judgment.

Posted by: fobsdelhi at July 1, 2009 12:53 PM in response to How to Assess Potential Tenants?

Imposter!!! I hope they build a monstrosity right next to your house (and accross) so you could "cry yourself a river"...

Posted by: fobsdelhi at June 22, 2009 2:52 PM in response to Neighbor Building a Monstrosity

This is an immigrant thing...and we have seen several nice houses transformed into multi-family hotel like buildings in Sunset Park. I have relatives in Jersey City who speak about such developments with delight and amazement, to them such riches and opportunities more or less represents America.
Hopefully thing’s might change in Sunset Park with the zoning, after all protected brownstones should not be restricted for just the richer folks in Park Slope.

Posted by: fobsdelhi at June 22, 2009 12:20 PM in response to Neighbor Building a Monstrosity

Two things to take into consideration...
Drug deals go bad every once in while...especially if the dealer is a little stupid. So if nothing bad has happened till now, chances of something happening in the near future are high.
If you don't sleep next to your door (in case somebody uses their gun) and don't walk into a bed deal, you should be fine but move in August anyways.
Don't go to the cops and more importantly don't do something stupid like installing a camera. Remember that these informal economic activities were here long before you arrived. Don't give the dealer a choice of scaring you or stopping the activity.
Best

Posted by: fobsdelhi at May 13, 2009 11:18 AM in response to What To Do About That Pesky Drug Dealer?

We saw the Sterling Place house, the layout is complicated as the parlor floor is used as a daycare right now. The top floor needs a decent amount of work and it is hard to configure it as anything other then a single family house.
We loved the details but unfortunately don't have the time or the monies for this house.

Posted by: fobsdelhi at May 8, 2009 3:07 PM in response to Open House Picks

If it does not make sense, let me add another argument...
Historically, in the last 60 years, the US has been unique in the developed world, in terms of the great white flight to the suburbs.
Today, even after market corrections, the average price of a house in Paris/London/Tokyo is nearly three time that of major cities in the US.
In the future, as the white flight reverses itself (which is unfortunately linked to gentrification) due to cultural, logistical etc changes, prices will only go up.
All the talk about the great depression, it is not here and will not be here. We have a smart guy running this country for a change.

Posted by: fobsdelhi at May 6, 2009 1:40 PM in response to Corcoran Serving Value Meals in Brooklyn in May

I think this whole story about a shadow inventory of houses bringing the market down in the near future has too many holes. Allow me...
The proportion of houses sold by folks who are actually moving/owner died/financial problems during peak times was low. The crazy demand for housing in Brooklyn and consequently increasing prices was the only reason for a majority of the sellers to enter the market.
I lived on a nice block in Prospect Place during the boom time and many owners who lived in their Brownstones for decades decided to sell and move to more affrodable places (nice incentive to retire). The same owners today will just rent their houses or stay in it.
Hope that makes sense.

Posted by: fobsdelhi at May 6, 2009 1:24 PM in response to Corcoran Serving Value Meals in Brooklyn in May