No one has a crystal ball, but you won't recover your purchasing costs in two years in this market. You are better off renting if you plan on moving in two years.

Posted by: nosleeptil at January 26, 2009 5:02 PM in response to First-Timer Questions

This pariahs regularly show up in my building claiming to be from ConEd and demanding to see my ConEd bills to save me money and are nasty when I refuse to open the door.

It never occurred to me to report them, but I will next time. I'm sure a lot of the elderly fall for their BS.

Posted by: nosleeptil at October 17, 2008 10:57 AM in response to Energy Scammers Plaguing Brooklyn?

Perhaps Boar's Head is going upscale with a new brand?

Posted by: nosleeptil at August 19, 2008 2:52 PM in response to Streetlevel: No Boar's Head for 117 Court Street After All

Actually, coop sale are now public records and are listed in ACRIS at least from 2006.

Posted by: nosleeptil at August 15, 2008 2:14 PM in response to Finding previous purchase price

Well, I was smacked for this yesterday, but the City agrees that Macon house is in Bed Stuy. Ocean Hill starts at Saratoga:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/lucds/bk16profile.pdf

Posted by: nosleeptil at July 29, 2008 2:10 PM in response to Foreclosures of the Week: Townhouse Doubleshot

After reading this months ago, I finally understood all the folks who against arugula.

Posted by: nosleeptil at July 29, 2008 10:30 AM in response to Onion: Gentrification Being Trumped by Artistocratization

daveinbedstuy, I'm not anti-BedStuy - in fact I'm looking to buy, but if you think houses are going to hold value because they are brownstones, you are sorely mistaken.

Prices rose because people jumped on a bandwagon, not because any sudden new high-speed train access to Manhattan. Nothing intrinsically changed the value of these homes except for the IDEA that values would rise.

People now realize that housing values need to rise for a reason - higher wages, improved schools, etc. As someone else posted above, prices need to come down to what Bed Stuy is TODAY, not what people HOPE it will be. When that happens, I will happily purchase a home there for my family and settle in for the long-run.

Posted by: nosleeptil at July 28, 2008 4:28 PM in response to Bed-Stuy, Do or...?

"Do you really think a $700,000 house is going to be selling for $420,000 and a $800,000 house is going to be selling for $520,000!!!!"

Yes:

House of the Day Nov 2007 - $630,000
http://www.brownstoner.com/brownstoner/archives/2007/12/house_of_the_da_417.php

Today, $489,000 and dropping...
http://www.corleyre.com/address.php?property_ID=102

Posted by: nosleeptil at July 28, 2008 3:26 PM in response to Bed-Stuy, Do or...?

I hope some of the new Bed Stuy posters throw some love over to the bedstuyblog. It's a great site run by women who live in the community. (I'm not affiliated.)

Posted by: nosleeptil at July 26, 2008 5:35 PM in response to Open House Picks: Bed Stuy Edition

oops - that is she may not get help in time from NACA

Posted by: nosleeptil at July 24, 2008 1:29 PM in response to Legitimate Foreclosure Counseling

She can also try NACA's HomeSave Program. But they are so overwhelmed, that if she is terribly far behind she may get help in time.
https://www.naca.com/program/homesaveProgram.jsp

Posted by: nosleeptil at July 24, 2008 1:28 PM in response to Legitimate Foreclosure Counseling

My husband and I are just thinking about being prepared in case we stumble across a bargain. I called a bank just to see if my numbers matched theirs and I was told "with your scores, as of today you can put 10% down. However, because NYC is a declining market we will soon only do mortgages with at least 15% down."

Posted by: nosleeptil at July 17, 2008 2:25 PM in response to Who is trying to get a Mortgage and what problems you are facing?

We definitely aren't saving money today with our CSA membership, but we are eating more vegetables of greater variety. I think that we are investing in ourselves and in our community. We are by no means low-income by community standards, but make far less than most on Brownstoner. We've given up some things that we consider luxuries to support our CSA.

Posted by: nosleeptil at July 15, 2008 10:49 AM in response to CSAs, Food Co-ops Take Root All Over Brooklyn

Only .50 on the dollar after 100k? Duh. Doesn't anyone read those FDIC insurance stickers all over banks?

Posted by: nosleeptil at July 15, 2008 10:45 AM in response to IndyMac Fallout in Brooklyn?

3:36 With the new higher FHA limits, I think a buyer could get a mortgage and a rehab loan.

Posted by: nosleeptil at July 8, 2008 4:06 PM in response to House of the Day: 1171 Dean Street

I like your approach; be upfront and you'll get quality over quantity. TLC, Bring Your Architect, etc. are fantastic key words for well-priced properties.

Posted by: nosleeptil at July 8, 2008 3:11 PM in response to "What a wreck!" vs "Awaits your vision"

I can't hate on that travesty of a second bedroom - I'd move there in a second.

Just waiting for the "BH is so boring" posts...

Posted by: nosleeptil at July 8, 2008 2:11 PM in response to Co-op of the Day: 164 Columbia Heights

Gorgeous. I'm adding it to my list of dream gardens.

Posted by: nosleeptil at June 26, 2008 12:48 PM in response to Garden of the Day: Center Slope Evolution

I've had better luck getting rid of stuff on Freecycle than on Craig's. Fewer no shows.

Posted by: nosleeptil at June 25, 2008 5:57 PM in response to Tenant's Furniture

The writer couldn't even bother to find out that the Bed-Stuy blogger is a woman. Typical.

Posted by: nosleeptil at June 24, 2008 12:42 PM in response to How Bed-Stuy Looks From L.A.

1:58 The DA's office attended the meeting. They know the cops didn't show.

Posted by: nosleeptil at May 15, 2008 3:13 PM in response to Another Shooting on Grand and Putnam

I have tried to be a community activist. I attended a meeting organized by the DA's office where members of the community could inform on criminal activities. We had spreadsheets tracking the various dealers, where they did business, what they looked like. Did the officers from our precinct show up?

No.

We are trapped between the drug dealers and the cops who can't be bothered to help us. And then people who have more money, blame us for for being so stupid as to not make enough money to live in Park Slope.

We work hard. We don't need boutiques and sushi bars. We just need someone to show up when we try to hold up our end of the social contract.

Posted by: nosleeptil at May 15, 2008 1:54 PM in response to Another Shooting on Grand and Putnam

I'm a sympathetic renter, but you should move to evict. She is being completely unreasonable and will probably only get worse.

Posted by: nosleeptil at May 8, 2008 1:34 PM in response to Illegal Washer Dryer

2:56, lotteries that receive city funding are posted at nyc.gov in the HPD section of the site.

You can even subscribe to an email, but it's spotty and better to check for lotteries weekly.

Posted by: nosleeptil at May 6, 2008 4:05 PM in response to 420 Classon Avenue: Waiting for the Lottery Results

1:35 Spanish people? Like Antonio Banderas and Penelope Cruz? If you are going to be reductive, at least get your labels correct.

Posted by: nosleeptil at May 6, 2008 2:58 PM in response to Foreclosure of the Week: 136 Underhill Avenue

kdabrowski, that's my point.

Mr. B posted that lucky envelopes would be in the mail soon and I posted that the lucky people must already know because they have to provide documentation for the verification.

Posted by: nosleeptil at May 6, 2008 12:27 PM in response to 420 Classon Avenue: Waiting for the Lottery Results

11:14 How am I mistaken? How would PACC verify income without tax forms which were not required with the application?

Posted by: nosleeptil at May 6, 2008 11:52 AM in response to 420 Classon Avenue: Waiting for the Lottery Results

If they are checking credit reports and other criteria, applicants would have to provide additional info. Therefore some lucky people out there already know if they won the first step in the lottery.

Posted by: nosleeptil at May 6, 2008 11:02 AM in response to 420 Classon Avenue: Waiting for the Lottery Results

I'm incredibly envious of the tilework and how the house is coming together as a whole.

Posted by: nosleeptil at April 15, 2008 3:13 PM in response to 200th Posting Spectacular: Lower Level Half Bath!

I just wanted to thank the people who gave honest answers in this thread without much vitriol. It answered a lot of questions that I've had about who is moving in and out of certain nabes.

Posted by: nosleeptil at March 13, 2008 10:20 AM in response to GENTRIFICATION

Biff, last time I visited, Woody was in a big co-op on the Upper East but that was before the whole Soon-Yi thing. Mia might have gotten it in the break-up. Pity, he had a nice screening room and editing room on the first floor.

Posted by: nosleeptil at March 6, 2008 1:51 PM in response to Spike Pulls Plug on Dekalb HQ

3:17, you just took me back to elementary school. I think I'm going to go re-read A Wrinkle in Time right now.

Tesseracts rule!

Posted by: nosleeptil at February 28, 2008 3:32 PM in response to House of the Day: 317 Degraw Street

It will be difficult to find an exact match, so why not try something in a similar style but not matchy matchy?

Posted by: nosleeptil at February 26, 2008 1:57 PM in response to Vintage Bathroom Reno - Where to find deco tile

Thank you! I've been wondering what the heck a summer kitchen is.

Posted by: nosleeptil at February 25, 2008 10:02 PM in response to Kitchen in the Basement?

As another renter, I have to agree that I couldn't care less what the appliances look like as long as the are clean and work well.

Posted by: nosleeptil at February 22, 2008 12:03 AM in response to Stainless vs New Appliances

So the city has $80 million to give to McGrawHill to make-up tests, but not enough money for the schools themselves? I guess Klein missed "priorities" on vocab day.

Posted by: nosleeptil at February 13, 2008 12:06 PM in response to Budget Cuts Threatening To Cramp P.S. 321's Style

As much as I adore the look of silk, I have learned the hard way that it is a horrible fabric for curtains. I hung a few gorgeous saris in a southern window and they not only faded, but as 12:47 mentioned, the curtains actually fell apart.

But I didn't pay much for them and enjoyed them and the gorgeous tone of the light filtering through the silk. I'll probably do the same thing again.

Posted by: nosleeptil at February 7, 2008 2:28 PM in response to Parlour floor curtins - what is the best fabric to use ?

Quite a few upstanding mortgage brokers hang out in the mortgage forum at creditboards.com. You might get some helpful advice over there.

Posted by: nosleeptil at January 31, 2008 11:02 PM in response to Is 3% down on a 3-family, 700k possible?

I wish we could all be so smart. Studies have shown that this pricing works on everyone. I recall reading a report when the same method was used when pricing clothing.

Posted by: nosleeptil at January 31, 2008 10:05 PM in response to Closing Bell: The Psychology of Pricing a House

I've applied for every lottery I've qualified for in multiple boroughs over the last seven years - at least eight lotteries - and I've never even received as much as a postcard letting me know that my application was thrown in the hopper.

I can't believe that the odds are that good. My husband is a teacher so we qualify for one of the special 5% and still nada.

Putnamdenizen, the link to the app is on the bottom of the PACC home page.

Posted by: nosleeptil at January 3, 2008 7:30 PM in response to Lottery for 420 Classon Avenue Kicks Off

Lots of folks try to "save" money by having a friend or relative who is a lawyer, but not specialized in real estate law, do their closings. It is a huge mistake.

Posted by: nosleeptil at December 19, 2007 5:04 PM in response to RE Laywer & Building Financials

1:41 PM I only played outside at recess. Nothing at home could compete with what I found in books. Besides, grass makes me sneeze.

Posted by: nosleeptil at December 13, 2007 10:31 PM in response to Inside Third & Bond: Week 17

It is so awful that I adore it.

Posted by: nosleeptil at December 13, 2007 4:08 PM in response to Art appraiser?

As a first-timer who is looking, I find these posts helpful. Even if they are psuedo-ads, it's informative to hear what folks think about various properties.

Posted by: nosleeptil at December 13, 2007 4:03 PM in response to Any thoughts on 158 and half Nevins?

I don't think 1:04 is really The What. He's too smart to drag our mother's into this.

Posted by: nosleeptil at December 13, 2007 1:37 PM in response to Six Months Later: Open House Picks 6/15/07

As someone who was constantly told to "put down that book and go outside and play," I think lawns are highly overrated.

How many millions of kids grow up in apts without yards in NYC? Even my brother the athlete avoided the copious amounts of boring lawn in our suburban backyard.

Posted by: nosleeptil at December 13, 2007 1:29 PM in response to Inside Third & Bond: Week 17

Maybe Housing Works?

Posted by: nosleeptil at December 12, 2007 3:30 PM in response to Donate a dryer

What's the cost of an inspection vs the hundreds of thousands that you are paying for the co-op or condo?

Posted by: nosleeptil at December 12, 2007 12:04 AM in response to Inspection for Co-ops & Condos?

Is he jumping on that Ugly House listing bandwagon I read about in the NYT?

Posted by: nosleeptil at December 11, 2007 11:08 AM in response to Worst Listing Ever?

Isn't the answer to this question from Malibu to Bed-Stuy always the same? The price is too high. If buyers think there is value, they will buy. If they don't, they won't.

It's basic econ.

Posted by: nosleeptil at December 5, 2007 1:43 PM in response to Four Stuyvesant Avenue Mansions

Hi ya kitten
that'd hipster for hello

Posted by: Ysabelle at January 27, 2009 12:32 AM in response to First-Timer Questions

if youre only thinking 2 years in the future, you should be renting.

Longer term, I'd vote for one of the landmarked buildings in Jackson Heights.

Posted by: slick at January 27, 2009 5:36 AM in response to First-Timer Questions

Yes, take that class! Or go to neighbors helping neighbors and find out how you can get a grant to cover closing cost, and all kinds of info.
http://www.nhnhome.org/
Great info, and no hipster complaints!

Posted by: zapzap at January 27, 2009 11:25 AM in response to First-Timer Questions

before buying my first house I created a excel sheet with rows representing monthly cash flow for next 50 years. I factored numbers by inflation of 4%. I included my projected tax brackets :) to account tax deductions. Then I calculated NPV. And applied the same model for renting apartment, getting multifamily or getting single family. And then came November 2008 and all my calculations went hiwire. In other words you cannot much predict future prices.

good luck.

Posted by: bobjohn at January 27, 2009 11:37 AM in response to First-Timer Questions

bushwick can be researched by checking out: http://bushwickbk.com

there's so much to do in bushwick vs. jackson heights. a quick hop on the L to east williamsburg too.

Posted by: wine lover at January 27, 2009 12:05 PM in response to First-Timer Questions

i think you should definitely go to the meeting btw. you'll hear things that you haven't thought of yet too.

Posted by: wine lover at January 27, 2009 12:09 PM in response to First-Timer Questions

I second all of slick's comments...

Posted by: wasder at January 27, 2009 12:09 PM in response to First-Timer Questions

Thanks everyone. You're right, we probably should go to the meeting, and to one of the Neighbors Helping Neighbors workshops, too. Thanks for the suggestion! Still would appreciate to hear any more words of wisdom you have, though...

Posted by: alsawo at January 27, 2009 12:18 PM in response to First-Timer Questions

You should take a look at the coops in Prospect Lefferts. 125 Ocean and 50 Lefferts usually have places in your price range. Like this prewar one bedroom for $255k: http://www.bhsbrooklyn.com/detail.asp?id=988239

that's a block from the park and a block from the express train, 20 minutes to union square and a ten minute walk from Grand Army Plaza. PLG has--for various reasons--been a decade or so behind the price curve for neighborhoods surrounding the park. Properties go for 1/2 to 1/3 of comparably sized places across the park in Park Slope.

Posted by: Frederick Law Homestead at January 27, 2009 12:21 PM in response to First-Timer Questions

You should go to Barnes & Noble and check out Home Buying for Dummies to get general information. It will explain the different mortgages, what you are actually paying for in closing costs, etc.

In addition to the other neighborhoods mentioned, you may want to look into Ditmas Park.

Posted by: SIB at January 27, 2009 12:40 PM in response to First-Timer Questions