Transfer Tax/New Construction?

i stopped by here the other day and had a great coffee with steamed milk and a ceci-cela croissant. i'm more of an early bird than a...late bird, so the hours don't bother me.

Posted by: funkymonkey at November 6, 2009 2:35 PM in response to StreetLevel: Cafe DuCharme Opens on President

as far as best sandwiches go...

RIP the sicilian chickpea panelle from tempo presto. that sandwich alone should have kept that place in business. oh, and the meatloaf. that meatloaf sandwich got me through my pregnancy.

Posted by: funkymonkey at October 14, 2009 11:45 AM in response to Brooklyn Food & Drink Round-Up

we had to sell our place in the spring of 2008 because we found out we were expecting twins and 800 square feet in a walk-up was just going to be too tight. we were very lucky to be able to sell the place for asking and get a much larger (almost twice the size!) rental in an elevator building for a touch more than our mortgage + maintenance.

i love our current apartment. i love the location and the space and the fact that we have a super on call if there's a problem (our old co-op was a tiny building with no super. in fact, i'd never had a super in 18 years of living in nyc! very easy to get used to.) but i just wish that we owned it. unfortunately, we would never be able to afford something this size and in this condition in this neighborhood (park slope/boerum hill border.)

we are looking to buy again within the next few years, but most likely will not be able to afford to do so in brooklyn. as much as i love it here, we just can't afford a house in a good school district with a short enough commute to midtown to make it worthwhile.

but, for now, i am very comfortable renting. it's much easier when all the home related problems are someone else's and just require a phone call, especially when you have two toddlers.

Posted by: funkymonkey at October 13, 2009 11:45 AM in response to To Own or to Rent?

antidope, what's wrong with "i want my house and i want it on my terms"?

seems like MM is acting responsibly and following her gut.

i want my house and i want it on my terms too. and if that means i don't get to stay in brooklyn, its not the end of the world.

that attitude definitely seems smarter than mortgaging yourself up to the hilt just so you can stay in an area that you really can't afford.

Posted by: funkymonkey at July 28, 2009 3:49 PM in response to Last Week's Biggest Sales

a lot of the apartments in this building look right out onto the BQE, which is depressing. they have double glazed windows, so the noise from the highway you hear with the windows shut isn't terrible, but forget about ever having the windows open on a nice day! it's loud and stinky.

Posted by: funkymonkey at July 27, 2009 1:31 PM in response to Condo of the Day: 505 Court Street, #10C

we have the bosch axxis stackable and it's not that great. the washer and dryer are very small and takes ages to dry everyhing. the washer is ok, but i wouldn't recommend this.

previously, we had a GE stackable spacemaker washer/dryer and it was terrific. the only reason we have a different one now is because we moved. i wish we brought the GE!

Posted by: funkymonkey at July 23, 2009 3:24 PM in response to Washer + Dryer Recs?

if the broker from awaye actually could get a buyer willing to pay enough to cover the owner's asking price and the broker's fee, how is this bad? maybe the folks at awaye are having a hard time in this economy (like the rest of us) and just trying to make some money.

obviously, if awaye is using this listing to get people to call and then show other properties, it's pretty unethical. but "ethics" doesn't seem to be a requirement for brokers, especially not in a down market. why is everyone so surprised?

Posted by: funkymonkey at July 10, 2009 1:40 PM in response to Awaye Realty Caught Lifting Listing from Owner

wow. asking $950K for that?! this house makes the suburbs look kind of attractive.

Posted by: funkymonkey at July 1, 2009 1:44 PM in response to House of the Day: 455 Union Street?

how does that foreclosure thing work? does it go to auction? or can you just get it for this asking price? does it have to be all cash?

Posted by: funkymonkey at June 26, 2009 2:08 PM in response to Open House Picks: Six Months Later

that WT house is great, but i can't imagine they'll get anywhere near to that ask.

the kensington house is cute too, but i don't know that area. are there good restaurants or grocery stores nearby?

Posted by: funkymonkey at June 26, 2009 1:59 PM in response to Open House Picks

boy, do i want cake.

Posted by: funkymonkey at June 25, 2009 3:01 PM in response to StreetLevel: Dean Street Can Eat Cake

maybe the people that bought there are planning on a lot of flat tires.

Posted by: funkymonkey at June 25, 2009 2:13 PM in response to 500 Fourth Avenue 20% Sold; Opening in Fall?

does anyone have any idea as to what kind of condition that windsor terrace house is in? not a bad price at all.

Posted by: funkymonkey at June 25, 2009 11:47 AM in response to Brooklyn Sales: Under a Million

oh, i wish this building had an elevator and this apt had a 2nd bath! then again, they'd probably be asking $1.2 million if that were the case.

Posted by: funkymonkey at June 22, 2009 12:56 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 170 Prospect Park West, #4L

i am deeply diggin' the haikus.

Posted by: funkymonkey at June 19, 2009 8:01 PM in response to Open House Picks

i think warren lewis prices are as ridiculous as corcorans. i understand that it's ultimately the homeowner's call as to what the asking price should be, but just about everything on their website is ridiculously overpriced.

Posted by: funkymonkey at June 19, 2009 3:40 PM in response to Open House Picks

i've been keeping an eye on that 15th street house for a while as well, trying to figure out if there's a realistic way to move the bathroom and reconfigure the bedroom situation to make it work. doesn't seem like there is without spending an awful lot of dough.

i can't imagine having kids in this house. either they get the bedroom with the bathroom or they're trooping through your room to pee in the middle of the night. moving to the 'burbs makes more sense than this.

Posted by: funkymonkey at June 19, 2009 2:24 PM in response to Open House Picks

northsloperenter, i couldn't disagree with you more. sure, you can replace the word "children" with a "[racial and/or religious group that you don't think people should hate here]" and turn it into a hate crime. but we can also take the "i heart NY" logo and replace the NY with the words nazis or racists or the KKK or some other offensive group and turn that a hate crime too. or you could take this graffitti and replace the word "children" with "rutabagas" and watch the pro-rutabaga lobby go cuckoo. the point is not about replacing the word and what it COULD mean. it's about what it says and what it does mean. and the person who painted it obviously does not like children. there is no evidence here that this person is a pedophile or a murderer. just a general nutcase. and this is not a hate crime.

it's just stupid graffitti.

funkymonkey

Posted by: funkymonkey at June 16, 2009 6:05 PM in response to Burg Condo Unwelcoming to Children

come on, you can't call this a hate crime. lets not be all melodramatic (this ain't the park slope parents message board, after all.) this graffitti is just plain stupid. and you can tell your 8-year old that there are some stupid people in the world.

Posted by: funkymonkey at June 16, 2009 1:35 PM in response to Burg Condo Unwelcoming to Children

"It also involves a lot of meetings."
that sounds like a nightmare.

i can't imagine why anyone without kids would want to be a part of something like this.

Posted by: funkymonkey at June 16, 2009 12:08 PM in response to Banks Throw Co-Housing Project a Curveball

that 3-bedroom on 3rd street is pretty nice, but i think the 1 bathroom thing is a dealbreaker.

Posted by: funkymonkey at June 9, 2009 11:17 AM in response to Open House Post Mortem

how are the middle schools in bay ridge?

Posted by: funkymonkey at June 4, 2009 9:59 AM in response to Best Public Grade Schools in BK?

"Realtors have Park Slope slowly annexing Gowanus and parts of Sunset Park and Windsor Terrace. Prospect Heights is taking over Crown Heights. Fort Greene and Clinton Hill are spreading into Bed Stuy."

it's only a matter of time before they start calling ditmas park tribeca.

Posted by: funkymonkey at May 29, 2009 1:29 PM in response to Open House Picks

he was our co-op's lawyer when we moved in. very sleazy. never returned phone calls and had a whole slimy, used-car-salesman thing going on. we quickly ditched him for more reliable counsel. would definitely not recommend him.

Posted by: funkymonkey at May 29, 2009 12:10 PM in response to Gruber for No Action Letter?

i like bernice.

Posted by: funkymonkey at May 11, 2009 5:25 PM in response to Name this Flower

anyone have a studio or 1 bedroom in the $1100-$1400 range? am posting for my best friend - she's incredibly reliable, has a great job and great credit. she's quiet, she's a nonsmoker and she has a cat. she was my roommate for 8 years and she's never paid anything late in her life. she's definitely a dream tennant.

i feel like this is almost a match.com for apartments.

Posted by: funkymonkey at May 11, 2009 3:19 PM in response to How did you find your Apt?

so true, snarkslope.

i prefer to call it gowanus. i'd rather pay less for an apartment and have to cross 4th avenue to buy my artisanal cheeses.

and, frankly, when the prices come down, which they eventually will, i could see us living here for at least 10 or 15 years. i'm not a big DIY-er and they have some family sized apartments (3-beds) in a good school district. i haven't seen the model, so i can't speak to the quality of the finishes, but it all looks pretty nice if you like the modern thing, which i do.

for now, i'm content to sit and wait, though.

Posted by: funkymonkey at May 6, 2009 5:08 PM in response to StreetLevel: The Argyle Closes Up Shop on 5th Avenue

how close is this building to getting its C of O? does anyone know if there will be closings in the near future?

Posted by: funkymonkey at May 6, 2009 4:01 PM in response to StreetLevel: The Argyle Closes Up Shop on 5th Avenue

what on earth is that crazy maintenance going towards?! your upstairs neighbor's mortgage?

Posted by: funkymonkey at May 6, 2009 12:59 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 11 Garden Place

yeah, $4100 for a 2 bedroom sounds pretty extreme. and it's a 6th floor 2-bed, so it's not even the penthouse with a great terrace and views. i think $4100 would even be pushing it for a top floor 3-bedroom with a terrace.

Posted by: funkymonkey at April 15, 2009 11:11 AM in response to Checking In On 110 4th Avenue

my sole experience was in a very small co-op (5 units) and it was very difficult to get anything done. a few people simply would not take responsibility or follow through on projects they said they would and the lion's share of work fell to a few of us. since it was such a small co-op, we didn't have a managing agent and it was quite the thankless task. it's very disconcerting to think that the largest investment you're making is in the hands of a bunch of unreliable numskulls and there's nobody else there to vote in if you don't feel comfortable with the board.

i wouldn't buy in a small one again, but i would consider a much larger one.

my only suggestion would be to buy in a well established co-op with good financials and clear minutes.

Posted by: funkymonkey at March 18, 2009 5:18 PM in response to Co-op living experiences

maybe priced a little high, but i'm sure they don't expect to sell for asking anyone. no one does now, right?

it seems like a good family sized apartment. how are they schools near here?

Posted by: funkymonkey at March 16, 2009 1:45 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 315 Saint Johns Place

i saw this place shortly after they opened and just LOVE their stuff. funky and feminine and unique. it was a wee bit out of my old navy budget, but i bought a pair of silver earrings that i get compliments on whenever i wear them. very cool jewelry.

Posted by: funkymonkey at March 3, 2009 4:53 PM in response to Streetlevel: New Jewelry Store Opens on Fifth Avenue

three living rooms? jees. even with two kids and a packrat husband, i wouldn't know what to do with all that space!

Posted by: funkymonkey at February 19, 2009 2:41 PM in response to House of the Day: 897 Union Street

"54 units will be offered for sale and 94 for rent"

why would someone want to buy in a place where most of the people there are renting? how would someone get financing to buy there anyway, with that many rentals? what am i missing?

Posted by: funkymonkey at February 11, 2009 2:57 PM in response to Development Watch: 414 Hicks Street

have you found any dharma initiative logos?

Posted by: funkymonkey at January 30, 2009 3:38 PM in response to Mysterious tunnel

this is ridiculous. did you people not realize you were buying property or opening businesses in a neighborhood with a jail? it may have been closed for a while, but we always knew it had the potential to reopen. talking about tearing the building down, relocating it, and refurbishing this building as a school would cost a ridiculous amount of money that the city has better things to spend on.

it would be a different story if they were talking about opening a new jail here, but it's a little absurd to be bitching about something you bought into.

Posted by: funkymonkey at November 19, 2008 5:31 PM in response to Saying No to House of D

can we please please please revisit these in 6 months to see if anyone actually bought them? pretty please with sugar on top?

Posted by: funkymonkey at November 14, 2008 1:08 PM in response to Horror Show Friday

maybe they're lining up to vote.

Posted by: funkymonkey at November 13, 2008 3:21 PM in response to Long Line Around BAM?