If you're looking for an accountant familiar with these situations, we use Minyard & Co (www.minyardcpa.com). They're based in Phoenix but have some clients in NYC and are up here several times a year.

Posted by: gila at August 13, 2009 3:35 PM in response to Taxes and Rental Expenses

Craigslist:

http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/hsh/1196897001.html

Posted by: gila at June 5, 2009 12:10 PM in response to Inexpensive rugs?

We were fortunate to encounter Gigi Zimmerman as the selling agent when we bought in Carroll Gardens.

She lives in the area and has for a number of years. She has restored brownstones herself and is a wealth of knowledge, and has also been in real estate long enough to understand the cycles. Highly recommended. Contact info:

Gigi Zimmerman
Brownstone Real Estate
718 499 1410
gigi@brownstonelistings.com

www.brownstonelistings.com

Posted by: gila at May 15, 2009 2:24 PM in response to Help Finding a Good Bklyn Broker

We've been really impressed by Anthony and Hilary at pH Design. Website is here: www.phdesign.us and you can reach them at phdesign.brooklyn@gmail.com.

Posted by: gila at May 6, 2009 10:59 AM in response to Architect recommendations??/

If anyone needs an accountant familiar with LLC's I'd recommend:

http://www.minyardcpa.com

They are very familiar with LLC's including using them for residential and rental property.

Although based primarily in Phoenix, they visit NYC several times a year.

Posted by: gila at March 11, 2009 1:00 PM in response to Creating an LLC for investment?

You should try http://www.phdesign.us/Site/pHdesign.html. They're great!

Posted by: gila at January 28, 2009 3:14 PM in response to Architects

I used Carlos to redo the floors in a rental unit and unfortunately I cannot recommend him. His prices were reasonable and he did an acceptable job on the floors. However, he didn't finish the job. He had to remove a radiator to do the floors and said he would replace it on the last day of work. So (foolishly) we left him a check on the last day. Needless to say, the check went but the radiator was not reinstalled nor was all of the trash removed. Then Carlos turned into the typical poor contractor - not answering calls from our numbers, not returning messages, pretending not to know who we were. Not recommended.

Posted by: gila at November 20, 2008 3:15 PM in response to wood floor refinishing, recommendations

Nice! Where did you get the acrylic bathroom doors and what made you choose them?

Posted by: gila at September 30, 2008 12:08 PM in response to Interiors: Sleek and Minimal on Sterling

so this only affects the streets between smith and hoyt? are these even place streets?

Posted by: gila at July 24, 2008 10:14 AM in response to CG Zoning Tweak Passes; Oliver House Height Doomed?

I used Pablo Cuevas & Marissa Scali @ Douglas Elliman in Brooklyn Heights. They know Brooklyn well, I had a great experience with them.
Pablo 718-780-8178
Marissa 917-686-8129

Posted by: Pluto at May 15, 2009 2:33 PM in response to Help Finding a Good Bklyn Broker

Thanks for the recommendations, this is really helpful.

11216, what corcoran office did Nick work out of?

Posted by: MoneyForNothing at May 15, 2009 2:34 PM in response to Help Finding a Good Bklyn Broker

MFN: I'm in a very similar situation to you, financially and in terms of what I'm looking for (although focusing on a slightly different set of 'hoods). I'm finding my broker to be absolutely useless in terms of convincing me of why a certain property is worth a particular price. It's as if this person thinks the job is just to ferry us around to different appointments and make comments about how big the closets are or whatever. We went to make an offer recently and the broker scoffed (too low!) but then had no justification for why the place is worth more. I'm tempted to just go at it completely on my own, since I can find all the listings I need on the Internet. At the same time, someone who would work to dig up inside info on particular neighborhoods, put together comps and give us some historical perspective would be very valuable. Please let us know if you find such a broker in Brooklyn.

Posted by: chebubble at May 15, 2009 2:35 PM in response to Help Finding a Good Bklyn Broker

Angela Ferrante
Brown Harris Stevens

Posted by: superstooper at May 15, 2009 2:46 PM in response to Help Finding a Good Bklyn Broker

chebubble,

I'll let you know. I'm not going to go it alone b/c I have a FT company to run and a daughter, so way too much to do. I also hate spreadsheets ;) So I expect to find someone.

I found a guy in Hoboken who was outrageously good...so they have to exist. And his insight and willingness to pull data for us made it really easy to determine relative and even intrinsic value on the home we bid on.

My experience has been jsut like yours. A friggen chaperon who comments on their opinion of a home, but knows nothing about mechanicals, or historical prices, or even comps.

As someone who takes pride in bringing an informed mind to my clients work, it's kind of annoying.

Posted by: MoneyForNothing at May 15, 2009 2:52 PM in response to Help Finding a Good Bklyn Broker

MoneyForNothing, the brokers work for the seller. You should do your own comp analysis (very easy). Anything they show you will support the seller's price.

Of course, this could be useful if you and the seller agree but the bank's appraiser does not. Brokers can also be useful to talk some sense into either buyer or seller if one is highly unrealistic. Ultimately, it's in their interest to get the deal done.

Just go on PropertyShark or StreetEasy or whatever to do comp analysis. Stick to comparable properties: Square feet, stories, building type, rental units, immediate neighborhood, etc. (You won't know about condition.) Brick and stone are worth more than wood. Once you've seen a number of properties in an area, you'll recognize them when they close, and this is very helpful to gauge what's going on, since you will remember the asking price.

It's pretty easy.

Posted by: mopar at May 15, 2009 2:52 PM in response to Help Finding a Good Bklyn Broker

Mopar,

So long as my broker isn;t w/ the listing company, they don;t work for them. Dual-representation is an issue though.

I jsut don;t have time to do comps...that's the issue. I run a design firm and what little time I have after my family I just do not want to do digging up data.

I have seen a lot of places (and we know they're all overpriced), but seeing what comps for properties were 5-6-7 years ago, which I had done for me when I was looking in Hoboken is REALLY helpful.

I'm hoping for that sort of support. Maybe I'm high thinking someone will do it.

So if not, I'll take "knows a ton about brownstones in brooklyn and has sold them for 10 years or more" anecdotal insight ;)

Posted by: MoneyForNothing at May 15, 2009 4:00 PM in response to Help Finding a Good Bklyn Broker

Oh, and is aggressively trying to find me the right house instead of sending me links to the NYT real estate page and driving me around town... ;)

Posted by: MoneyForNothing at May 15, 2009 4:15 PM in response to Help Finding a Good Bklyn Broker

"So long as my broker isn;t w/ the listing company, they don;t work for them."

But the seller pays them.

Posted by: mopar at May 15, 2009 4:48 PM in response to Help Finding a Good Bklyn Broker

repeating an earlier comment, in New York State
ALL brokers are Sellers brokers. There really is no such thing as a buyers broker in our state. There are brokers who will help you to find a property - and they will either sell you a property which they have the listing for - or co-broke it with another broker who has the listing. In either case they are paid by the seller and are therefore SELLERS brokers. This is not to say that they can't be helpful and knowledgeable but if you are the buyer they are not working for you. Let the buyer beware.

The other headache is that most brokers think only location. When we were looking for a house - we were looking for a specific type of house - not a specific neighborhood and it got the brokers kind of nuts.

We lucked out when an inexperienced broker gave us 3 addresses to look at. The broker had no idea of the difference between a brownstone, a limestone or any other type of attached or semi-detached house. We drove by the three - asked to see only one - and that's the house we
bought (and we're very glad we did!)

Posted by: rickintheridge at May 15, 2009 5:43 PM in response to Help Finding a Good Bklyn Broker