Just want to add my voice to the growing chorus of the frustrated who want to see house picks under $1M.

Posted by: househunt at October 23, 2009 5:39 PM in response to Open House Picks

What's with the picks this week? All are overpriced, including the one listing you include that isn't multiple millions. The interiors are nice on the SP place, but who wants to pay 750,000 to be that close to the BQE? The weather is humid, but the housing market is DRY.

Posted by: househunt at August 14, 2009 1:40 PM in response to Open House Picks

"i think it is technically illegal for a vehicle to idle longer than 3 minutes." Why is that? I have that problem all the time -- garden apartment and buses hang outside with motor running, especially in the summer.

Posted by: househunt at August 14, 2009 11:10 AM in response to Noxious Neighbor Help

Know that the BB widget has been bearish, but the new price tag still seems far too high. The set up seems nice, but over 1M to be on Pacific around the corner from Flatbush? I think not.

Posted by: househunt at August 4, 2009 12:49 PM in response to Condo of the Day: 584 Pacific Street

Can we talk PLG? The few historic blocks are nice, but there is NO infrastructure to speak of. Seems to me, though I'd be happy to hear otherwise, that if you're going for PLG, you might as well move further out to Ditmas or even Midwood to get a bigger bang for your buck. There's also more by way of urban pleasures in Ditmas. PLG, sandwiched between Flatbush and Rogers, seems like the worst of both worlds.

Posted by: househunt at June 24, 2009 2:43 PM in response to House of the Day: 212 Midwood Street

Streetwise 123, your name suggests you're smart, but so am I. Last comment for prospective buyers of these poorly built units, NOT for the blogging brokers: check out the PUDDLES the basement.

Posted by: househunt at June 23, 2009 11:54 AM in response to Development Watch: 614 7th Avenue

True, Denton, not many 20 ft wide buildings in this part of town, but how many of the current owners paid even 1/2 the price of these Corcoran cardboard boxes? NONE! I bet there are excellent appliances in every unit and beautiful, expensive handles on the doors, but buyer beware -- it's what lies beneath the decorative cover!

Posted by: househunt at June 22, 2009 8:16 PM in response to Development Watch: 614 7th Avenue

I'm with Action Jackson. The workmanship is utter crap, and the model already shows it. The New York Times Real Estate section this week spoke about the deals to be had in this failing market. They warned buyers not to be fooled by price cuts -- like Corcoran cutting from 1.2 to 999. These buildings were not built to last, which is why the cutting will continue until some sucker bites.

Posted by: househunt at June 22, 2009 8:02 PM in response to Development Watch: 614 7th Avenue

Saw the 15th Street house and the layout is unfixable, in my humble opinion. Too small for my needs, but that price is out of sight. Even at the height of the market, not the current lows (with Time magazine predicting another -40%) this wouldn't get more than 850. All overpriced!

So what do folks say, is the inventory going to shrink further as the weather finally warms, or are sellers finally going to need to enter the market, with reasonable prices?

Posted by: househunt at June 19, 2009 2:42 PM in response to Open House Picks

Yes, being on the ground floor is a problem in this location and, let's not forget the almost 1500 monthly, please!

Posted by: househunt at May 26, 2009 12:48 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 101 Lafayette Avenue, #1K Revisited

Hey, Mr. B, When are you going to select houses that are more realistically priced? As one blogger remarked, this is good porn, but I thought that the point of the open house listings on Friday was to suggest places your readers might actually want to see in person. Why is Warren Lewis so clueless? I thought Corcoran was the worst, but WL is coming close.

Posted by: househunt at May 15, 2009 3:29 PM in response to Open House Picks

How do you all think this homey approach (stuffed animals, no floor plans, excessive verbiage) flies in this tough market? Who has patience for it?

Posted by: househunt at May 14, 2009 12:56 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 135 Prospect Park SW

Who sets these prices, the deluded sellers or the insane brokers?!?! I've been looking fairly actively for over a year now and I see the prices are lower across the board, but not low enough to reflect what has happened to the economy. I know the inventory shrunk as well, but I still don't get it. I mean, how much more could this place have sold for (given all the insightful remarks noted by Schultz and LincolnSlope above) at the height of the bubble? Do we assume that it is by definition 15% off ask?

Posted by: househunt at May 6, 2009 1:30 PM in response to House of the Day: 433 Pacific Street

"Feels like a house," she writes, but it ain't which is why you pay monthly what a townhouse in many parts of Brooklyn pay annually. INSANE! True, it is huge and beautiful, but you're still paying two arms and two legs to sleep on the ground floor. I say chop off 1,000,000 and then just maybe you'll have some action.

Posted by: househunt at May 6, 2009 12:54 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 11 Garden Place

Location, location, location. This is a ground floor, CH apartment. I can do the math, but why does the seller fail to list the total square footage and, more importantly, the monthly charge?! $457, 000, in these dark times.

Posted by: househunt at April 28, 2009 12:48 PM in response to Condo of the Day: 320 Washington Avenue, #1B

Agree that the pricing is a joke, but who is it on? It's Easter weekend, so these should be desperate, determined sellers and brokers, and the prices remains fanciful. What gives?

Posted by: househunt at April 10, 2009 1:27 PM in response to Open House Picks

Both of today's COD and HOD are slick, turn key digs, but way overpriced. This is 2009 folks, the market is still faltering, economists are saying the BEGINNING of a recovery won't happen until 2010, and Corcoran, BH, Warren Lewis and the rest of the PS broker mafia act like these are prices we cannot refuse. I'm sounding like the What, so I'll stop...

Posted by: househunt at April 8, 2009 1:41 PM in response to House of the Day: 489 16th Street

Ridiculous, yes, but surprising, no. If they're asking 1M+ for a modest house in LFG (cf. last week's HOD) then these with supposed rental income (a 3 car garage, oh my!) are priced to sell. Who is buy, who is pricing, is what I want to know.

Posted by: househunt at April 6, 2009 12:12 PM in response to A Couple of Houses Reduced on Dean Street

LOVE IT! Please do keep listing properties below 1M.

Posted by: househunt at April 2, 2009 12:41 PM in response to Brooklyn Sales: Under a Million

HA! This broker ALWAYS uses this gimmick and the same plush cat. What's the deal with that? Is the idea that the studio is family friendly?

Posted by: househunt at March 31, 2009 12:49 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 60 Plaza Street East

It does look nice, but 1 million+ for LFG in 2009? I think not.

Posted by: househunt at March 26, 2009 1:41 PM in response to House of the Day: 182 Rutland Road

I thought if there weren't any windows you could not legally call it a bedroom, perhaps a study. As for the WT location, it's too close to the expressway and that leg of the F is a huge hassle.

Posted by: househunt at March 20, 2009 2:08 PM in response to Open House Picks

Price on the WT house is so 2006. Yes, it is a two family, but who wants to pay over 1 million to have a tiny second bedroom and renters above? Besides, not really prime WT location.

Posted by: househunt at March 20, 2009 1:35 PM in response to Open House Picks

Completely with you this time Mr. Brownstoner! Probably comes in closer to 1000 sq ft and that 1200+ maintenance is not going any where but up. But why claim it is a bargainer's paradise, when it isn't? Guess there isn't much more to say in it's favor. The bookcases, btw, look really cheap.

Posted by: househunt at March 16, 2009 12:49 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 315 Saint Johns Place

I've heard from many brokers that they read this blog, but I begin to suspect some of them are participating in the conversation. The thread on the PLG house here and the one mkop posted from when the place was listed as HOD suggest there's something fishy. The house is fine, but not great and the price is far too high. This seller should expect to recoup her reno investment and another 100,000 seems fair, giving the state of the economy. That would mean pricing the house around 950,000 max.

Posted by: househunt at March 13, 2009 6:43 PM in response to Open House Picks

So how are we determining worth, Townhouselady? There was an interesting post yesterday by a person with $121 in the bank, a secure job and s/he asked it the time was finally ripe to buy. There were a slew of responses but still no one knows when we're at bottom. The listings I've seen still are asking prime prices and the brokers seem to think that if they dropped their price from 999 to 899 for a walk up in need of serious work, they've accounted for the "softening" of the market. It seems we're all -- buyers, seller and brokers alike -- still using 2007 as a marker, but if this recession is as bad as it looks, we've got quite a way to go.

Posted by: househunt at March 12, 2009 1:38 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 26 South Oxford Street

All true, but PShark leads me to believe that the current owner paid about 659,000, so are you all suggesting she should be taking a loss here?

Posted by: househunt at March 12, 2009 1:25 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 26 South Oxford Street

Just adding my shock at the cc. The place is nice and you can figure price it per sq.ft., but it still is a lot added to a 3/4 of a million loan.

Posted by: househunt at March 10, 2009 1:03 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 39 Plaza Street West

Saw the "Kensington" house last week. Needs a bundle of TLC and a major price cut. The PS house looks like a flip job and likewise needs a MAJOR cut. It doesn't matter what you call it, that industrial zone, outside the PS321 area, and stuck among vacant lots and two highways, ain't gonna grab 1.2.

Posted by: househunt at March 6, 2009 2:19 PM in response to Open House Picks

I've been stifling myself, since I feel like a broken record, but when are the brokers coming down to earth? The piece in the NYT real estate section this weekend suggested reality was beginning to seep in -- that brokers realized folks care more about square footage and location than the type of refrigerator, but the BS pervades all of these descriptions. "Real" bedrooms? Free heat? Come on! I think Corcoran and Warren Lewis are probably the biggest offenders, but that may be because the former is still the dominant firm in our market.

Posted by: househunt at March 3, 2009 1:22 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 344 6th Avenue, #2

If you look at the comparable sales listed when you follow the link, you'll see our gal Madeline is still 200+ off the mark. The What always proclaims the war will end, I just want to know when the insanity will cease.

Posted by: househunt at February 12, 2009 1:45 PM in response to House of the Day: 316 Maple Street Revisited

Unfair to brokers? Give me a break! Those greedy bastards deserve all the flack they get on this blog and then some. I feel sorry for those who lost money during this downturn, but the brokers deserve no sympathy. 21,000 price cut when a 50,000+ is needed? Location is fine, but that cc is obscene and 800+ is a puny space for 2/2. When will brokers stop claiming old listings are new, stop calling closets bedrooms, stop hiding shafts and worse with closed curtains, stop overcharging, and just adhere to due diligence?

Posted by: househunt at February 2, 2009 1:17 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 135 Prospect Park West, #44B

Saw this one when Corcoran was listing it this summer. The puny single bathroom is one problem but that fact that two of the bedrooms can barely hold a double is worse.

Posted by: househunt at January 21, 2009 4:00 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 310 Windsor Place

Gemini10, 2 blocks up makes a world of difference. In fact, I think they're asking too much.

Posted by: househunt at January 9, 2009 1:25 PM in response to Open House Picks

$210,000 drop since July? What's that about $40,000 per month? Guess this will be within the range of reality in another 6 months. As for the 19th Street place 11217 likes, saw it and passed. Wouldn't even be tempted at $875,000.

Posted by: househunt at January 7, 2009 2:08 PM in response to House of the Day: 404 Hancock Street

Agree with all of you so far. This is NOT a 2-bedroom, but a 1-bedroom with dinning room. Ah well, seems these brokers have a last year perspective on the new year's market. 925 per month is high.

Posted by: househunt at January 6, 2009 1:17 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 40 Prospect Park West, #6C

Got to agree with parkedslope, this is NOT a two bedroom. PLEASE Mr. B can you give us some real real estate to blog about? The cc is likely to skyrocket way before the market recovers and the Dumbo fashion is unlikely to sustain itself in the long run. Those yupsters will begin reproducing and look for more infrastructure and being nestled bwtn the two bridges won't seem so hip after all.

Posted by: househunt at December 29, 2008 7:46 PM in response to Condo of the Day: 30 Main Street

This is yet another example of a delusional broker/owner. You'd think since they needn't pay the broker's fee they'd be more reasonable about pricing, to say nothing of being more informed about the harsh realities of the market than most owners/sellers. The only difference between this broker and the guy with the place on Albermare (which he paid half of asking for merely 4 years ago) is that she did some work here. Still, the price is crazy.

Posted by: househunt at December 29, 2008 7:41 PM in response to House of the Day: 433 Waverly Avenue

What you write makes a great deal of sense, wasder, and congrats on selling your property. For prospective buyers, however, they're looking for the real metric here. As others have written on this blog before, if the stock market has fallen to 1995 rates (just for the sake of argument) then shouldn't the housing market be measured not by the height of the bubble but by some standard of what things were going for before the insanity settled in? Remember the stock market is forward looking for it should recover first and the commercial real estate meltdown has only begun.

Posted by: househunt at December 15, 2008 1:09 PM in response to Condo of the Day: 403 Pacific Street

Wow, that was fast! And here I was ready to rag on the price tag. Good luck to the buyer, tho it still seems mighty steep for 700 sq ft, when forecasters claim the bottom of the housing market may not be reached until 2010.

Posted by: househunt at December 15, 2008 12:50 PM in response to Condo of the Day: 403 Pacific Street

What other site, dittoburg?

Posted by: househunt at December 12, 2008 2:39 PM in response to Open House Picks

I'm with Brenda, the price cuts need to continue. Brownstoner, you already listed this house a couple of months ago. Did anyone visit? Why didn't it sell? Looking for worthy OHs in the NYT is like looking for a needle in the haystack. Seems sellers are hoping to sit this recession out, if they can. Inventory is thinning out even further. Brokers better get their act together and stop pretending that (as I read one some Corcoran listing)selling a property in 2008 for 2005 prices is a bargain.

Posted by: househunt at December 12, 2008 1:31 PM in response to Open House Picks

The lips balloon as the brain shrinks and the asking price inflates, it's chain reaction. Absurd. Living on Atlantic and paying 1.3 and the 1,300 monthly?! Got to go pump something.

Posted by: househunt at December 11, 2008 9:19 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 423 Atlantic Avenue, #2M

Totally ridiculous. I think the folks at Corcoran have really lost a screw. I've seen similar pricing on other of their properties -- home purchased in 2005-6 at top dollar and now seller looking to make money on it. Here there was work, but as many have said, pretty poor work, above home depot quality.

As for PS29, it is no longer considered the best PS in Brooklyn, in part because it is horribly overcrowded, much like the prized 321 in the Slope. Bloomberg warns a 5-7% cut, how do you think 29 will be looking then?

Posted by: househunt at December 11, 2008 9:14 PM in response to House of the Day: 167 Baltic Street

MM you really know your stuff! I'm impressed. I'm also continually floored by how these brokers/seller can ask these prices. WL is as bad as Corcoran, without the inventory. So, what is going on on First Street?

Posted by: househunt at December 8, 2008 8:21 PM in response to Condos of the Day: 502 1st Street

I don't understand the floorplan. How many families were in this "multifamily" dwelling? What is the story with the 3 kitchens and 2 bathrooms? Was this a SRO? Anybody have a clue?

Posted by: househunt at December 8, 2008 2:57 PM in response to House of the Day: 1232 Dean Street

Home Depot, indeed. I wonder how much love went into what the listing describes as "loving repair"?!?!

Posted by: househunt at December 4, 2008 1:58 PM in response to House of the Day: 177 Maple Street

Furnishings can be an indication of more than taste or cattiness -- the owner's age/upkeep of the house, for instance. It looks like this one has been "updated to sell" -- never a good sign, since those renos are usually cheap but then the seller looks to make back what they spent and then some, which makes them unreasonable about price. Given the time it has been on the market, and current climate, I'd say it should drop another 100,000.

Posted by: househunt at December 4, 2008 1:46 PM in response to House of the Day: 177 Maple Street

Yes, Dave, of course. But what are either worth in this market?

Posted by: househunt at December 2, 2008 1:49 PM in response to House of the Day: 277 Stratford Road

Comparing 271 and 277 is besides the point, the real question is whether either of these ditmas park homes are worth the price. Put it another way, how much more could they fetch in 2006? What about 2007? I think these are both WAY overpriced.

Posted by: househunt at December 2, 2008 1:41 PM in response to House of the Day: 277 Stratford Road

Your right vanburenproud, the neighbor won't care how much club soda you put in your spritzer. That's a personal choice and frankly none of his business!

Posted by: modsquad at August 14, 2009 4:44 PM in response to Noxious Neighbor Help

also in most areas a car repair business violates the zoning law....check with you community planning board. They should be able to help you. This problem pops up every once in a while in almost every neighborhood. Our block had one until the community affairs officer from the local PD precinct stopped by and told them to stop.... and they did.
The fine for over 3 minute idling is up to $250 or more and is a high priority for NYC(the money and stopping it). Again call 311.

Posted by: smeyer418 at August 14, 2009 5:31 PM in response to Noxious Neighbor Help

Hilarious pickup on my error, modsquad. Apologies... I meant CO meter.

Posted by: vanburenproud at August 14, 2009 5:37 PM in response to Noxious Neighbor Help

And to clarify further, my point is a rhetorical one. It's not persuasive to talk to someone who's fixing cars in their driveway for money about your comfort. It creates a very stupid conflict in his mind: you're threatening his *livelihood* because you are *uncomfortable*?

He's not uncomfortable, and he's closer to the fumes than you are. Who wouldn't respond to that with some version of "f*** you?"

In order to be persuasive, you have to figure out how to align your approach with his interests. This is about money for him. The fines are money. Getting shut down means no more money. The fact that what he's doing is illegal threatens him. You shouldn't be threatening him because he's already got troubles! You should be figuring out how to help him in a way that also gets him to stop idling cars in your driveway. You can fake help him (ie, help him "avoid a fine" by telling him that you saw the cops when you didn't) or help him for real (ie, help his wife make her business legal and/or profitable)...

...but the bottom line is that people hear you better if you are helping them.

Posted by: vanburenproud at August 14, 2009 5:59 PM in response to Noxious Neighbor Help

What are you smoking vanburenproud?

Posted by: modsquad at August 14, 2009 9:59 PM in response to Noxious Neighbor Help

Cars are the worst part of living in Brooklyn. The borough seems to be filled with rude, dangerous, menacing obnoxious drivers who idle their cars (mostly SUV's) and consider it their right to be jerks. If the person who is complaining has a car, they should first get rid of theirs to collectively help the air I'M breathing (I don't care what you say, you don't need a car in Brooklyn, it's just a 2000 lb piece of fiberglass luxury), then call 311 and have the inconsiderate polluter shut down. If they don't own a car, good thing.

Posted by: Epiphany at August 15, 2009 9:46 AM in response to Noxious Neighbor Help

Modsquad, perhaps I'm being unclear, but I think I'm making a straightforward point about how to get what you want without creating a conflict.

Haven't you ever found an employee that's not working out a job that's better fit instead of firing them? Or offered someone a plastic bag so that they could pick up their dog shit?

There are a million ways to help people do what you want them to do instead of engage in a conflict. In this scenario, it's a good idea to try this strategy because it sucks to fight with neighbors, and because it will work better. It's easy to dislike someone who's being sensitive about your livelihood. But it's hard to dislike someone who's helping you.

Posted by: vanburenproud at August 15, 2009 3:54 PM in response to Noxious Neighbor Help

OP is asking for concrete advice not philosophical platitudes. To see moral equivalency in every conflict is intellectually lazy and cowardly.

Posted by: modsquad at August 15, 2009 4:33 PM in response to Noxious Neighbor Help

Um... what are you smoking?

Posted by: vanburenproud at August 15, 2009 6:12 PM in response to Noxious Neighbor Help

If the co detector was tied to Op's home security system, someone in Arkansas will call the fire dept every hour or so until the air is clear.
The Op can then breath fresh air and blame the insurance company if asked. Done deal.

Posted by: jack slade at August 16, 2009 11:53 PM in response to Noxious Neighbor Help