cjs- please post the details. My husband and I have been looking for a similar situation in that very area.

Posted by: sharpg at January 20, 2010 9:40 PM in response to Condo Conversion Mess!

Why not post here and other neighborhood blogs first? I would bet that there are people looking for creative means of home-ownership. And, you can hopefully avoid paying a broker. Good luck!

Posted by: sharpg at January 19, 2010 7:06 PM in response to Condo Conversion Mess!

I live near the back of the former Cattyshack bar, which had a backyard with noisy patrons and loud music coming from the wall of french doors (not very soundsproof choice, no?). I called 311 dozens of times, called the 78th precinct directly many times, went and talked to the managers a few times. I even had the people out the check the decibel levels (what's their name again?) and nothing. Thank goodness, Cattyshack and its reincarnation closed for good about a year ago, so I've had no problems since. All that to say, the laws in NYC strictly support the businesses, not the residents. And, unfortunately, the Bar Great Harry people are supposed to be opening next to the former Cattyshack bar, so here we go again. If you have any success, please post it here, so the rest of us can know what to do. Best of luck!

Posted by: sharpg at January 13, 2010 5:58 PM in response to Noise from Bar/Restaurant

That's an awesome idea. If only we could afford half a brownstone, we'd take it! We've been looking into tenancy-in-common as a way of buying a place. Is that what you're going to do? Or, have you already converted to condo? Just wondering.

Posted by: sharpg at January 2, 2010 4:37 PM in response to Valuing Outdoor Space?

Cendrillon was delicious, the atmosphere cozy, and the owners so friendly. Can't wait to trek over to Ditmas Park for hopefully more of the same.

Posted by: sharpg at November 10, 2009 3:58 PM in response to Purple Yam Opens Today

blilly3- Have been looking at the possibility of a TIC myself, so my most pertinent advice to you is this: at $1mil price, you're looking at minimum 25% downpayment as well as the 1% mansion tax added to your closing. Liquidity is everything in NY, unfortunately. (at least unfortunately for me)

Posted by: sharpg at October 6, 2009 3:36 PM in response to Buying 3-Family w/ 2 Others

wine lover- We would only want a yard, but have found that the interior space is usually too small for 4 people. It's been struggle... we've been looking since February.

Posted by: sharpg at September 29, 2009 5:55 PM in response to Tenancy in Common

h t- Email me at sharpg@live.com so we can discuss. Thanks.

Posted by: sharpg at September 29, 2009 2:28 PM in response to Tenancy in Common

Interesting ideas, thanks all!

Posted by: sharpg at September 29, 2009 1:59 PM in response to Tenancy in Common

*rob*- Yes, it's really difficult for us to imagine leaving Park Slope... we've made many connections here, esp. since our family lives elsewhere. It's just frustrating to see the prices soar out of our reach, and think about the ridiculous amount of money we've spent on rent and made someone else rich. We're doing what we can.
Deda- Thanks for the insight on the financing. I'm thinking being an LLC and therefore pooling our resources will hopefully help us get through it.

Posted by: sharpg at September 29, 2009 1:18 PM in response to Tenancy in Common

cmu- my email is sharpg@live.com. Would love the lawyer rec and any other advice you have. Thanks!

Posted by: sharpg at September 28, 2009 5:13 PM in response to Tenancy in Common

We looked at this place as well and found the work a bit shoddy. We could look past it if it was all cosmetic, but make sure you look at the roof deck with the standing water beneath it, and the basement with the water damage in places and the make-shift "insulation" on the pipes. According to one of the agents, the developer usually works in lesser-income neighborhoods, which would explain the cutting corners. However, with all that said, I would assume that a good inspector would find any real problems, so good luck with it all if you choose to go forward.

Posted by: sharpg at September 1, 2009 4:35 PM in response to Park Slope - 353 6th Street

iwannabrownstone, just an idea, but do you think the RE agents are using a strategy of list at the low and then when they get a bite, re-list at the high?

Posted by: sharpg at August 28, 2009 9:35 PM in response to How to buy a house?

My slightly educated opinion-- I agree with StuyMom-- check out Windsor Terrace. The prices are coming down on the houses much faster than Park Slope (will PS ever really come down??), and it's on the F line. Good luck!

Posted by: sharpg at August 25, 2009 7:51 PM in response to what to do with all this equity?

Brownstoner-- The New York Transit Museum Day is actually on Saturday, SEPTEMBER 26.

Posted by: sharpg at August 24, 2009 4:27 PM in response to Weekday Events

It's stories like that that make me love NY... thanks John.

Posted by: sharpg at July 23, 2009 2:49 PM in response to The Whistler of First Street

Saw these a few months ago and agree with previous posters: completely useless layout for anyone with children or wanting privacy at any time. Hubby saw the basement, which was a completely raw space. It did have a window at the back, which could be changed for a door to the back yard, so the deck off the kitchen could be removed to preserve the backyard space.(big run-on) But, seriously, for the price, it's insane how much work would be needed to make it livable, so you're not tripping over your children. Looked it up on property shark, and the owner paid way too much for it to be able to do any real renovating, like $2.5m, I think.

Posted by: sharpg at June 10, 2009 4:24 PM in response to Condos of the Day: 707 Carroll Street

I agree with all other posts... modern would be a great mix to the traditional. Drive the point home with a deep modern color on the walls to contrast with the beautiful moldings and maybe large, yet traditional chandelier/ lighting for even more contrast. Good luck!

Posted by: sharpg at April 11, 2009 12:28 PM in response to decor advice needed-dining rm

Thanks for the recommendations, everybody!!

Posted by: sharpg at March 31, 2009 9:18 PM in response to good mortgage broker?

DO NOT DO THIS
YOU WILL GET SCREWED!!!

Posted by: Ben Gazi at September 30, 2009 11:14 AM in response to Tenancy in Common

I'm interested in Selling my TIC ownership in a 4 story Brownstone in Stuyvesant Heights, Bed Stuy. It is located on Decatur Street between Lewis and Stuyvesant Ave (One of Best Most Sought After Blocks). You can own Upper Duplex with complete Roof Rights. Convert to Duplex for one family or rent out one floor and live on the other floor. Currently the top two floors are set up as separate apartments. Close to Utica Ave A. Around the corner from Peaches Restaurant and Breadsty Coffee Shop. Cash Deals only. Looking to get $450K.Your share of Current carrying charges for building is about $1200 per month (includes heat, small mortgage, taxes).. Houses on this block sell for $950K and up...

Any interest???

Posted by: Oldlady at October 1, 2009 7:40 PM in response to Tenancy in Common

I am so grateful for all of the comments. This is immensely helpful.

For expediency sake it looks like TIC makes most sense for us at this time. Condos would ultimately be ideal, but I hear that this takes a lot of time and is expensive...maybe down the line. From what I understand about the financing, all 3 parties will be responsible for the mortgage. Each will have their separate contractual share(based on %ownership), but if one persons share does not get paid it adversely affects each owner. Is that correct?

The question of how to divide the property: Noted that this is agreed upon between the individuals. Any input as to what is fair? The garden apartment as it stands is the only unit that provides access to the backyard. However, it could be used by the others...
Was thinking something along the lines of 50/25/25 or 54/23/23. The garden apartment owners will be contributing to the greater share of the down payment(80%)

Posted by: blilly3 at October 6, 2009 4:37 PM in response to Buying 3-Family w/ 2 Others

I'm going into this with the expectation of condo-izing say within 5 years, as we will be living in the space and time is of less concern.

All parties may be on the mortgage, and will be on the deed. Total trust is necessary. If one person defaults, the others can sue him, but from a practical viewpoint, have to shoulder the burden. Make sure you have a contractual agreement not to "burden" the property (ie take out a II w/o telling others!)

Everything else like % division, who gets the garden, is trivial...or personal, which may not be the same thing.

Good luck.

Posted by: cmu at October 6, 2009 9:38 PM in response to Buying 3-Family w/ 2 Others

I'm a licensed home inspector and have recently inspected a unit on this property. If you are still looking for information about this property, feel free to contact me by visiting my website: www.inspectwithhorizon.com

Posted by: joeflood at October 12, 2009 9:10 AM in response to Park Slope - 353 6th Street

I'm a licensed home inspector and have recently inspected a unit on this property. If you are still looking for information about this property, feel free to contact me by visiting my website: www.inspectwithhorizon.com

Posted by: joeflood at October 12, 2009 9:10 AM in response to Park Slope - 353 6th Street

I used to live next door to Angry Wade's (and down the street from Real House Wife Harpy couple Alex and Simon... what a winning combination!).

It was always loud on weekends, but we knew when we signed the lease that we were committing to living next door to a bar. We asked one of the bartenders to close the door of Wade's after midnight (I thought that was reasonably late) to keep some of the noise in. She ignored us. The next day, we talked to Wade directly, and we never had a problem again. We dealt with the noise until midnight, and then they would make sure the door wasn't propped open after that, making it much more quiet. We could still hear music and some noise coming from the bar, but come on, we expected that and dealt with it.

There were always drunks and smokers hanging out right outside our window, and they were always talking and laughing (and sometimes fighting) but I thought it was funnier than anything else. I got a guy's phone number once who kept drunkenly kept trying to hit on some girl who clearly wasn't interested, and kept repeating his phone number over and over. I crank called him for weeks afterwards -- since he thought it was appropriate to publicly scream his number for an hour between 3 and 4am right outside my window, I figured it was fair game to call him at all hours of the night to wake him up as well.

Seriously... people need to get over themselves with the noise complaints. We sacrificed some privacy and quiet to live in close proximity to tons of shops, restaurants, and bars on Smith St, so we knew we'd have to deal with some noise. Now that I'm an old fart who doesn't go out anymore, I moved to a quieter, more residential area. You can't demand great location and proximity to bars, restaurants and services, and then complain about the noise as well.

Posted by: brooklynstyle at January 13, 2010 6:07 PM in response to Noise from Bar/Restaurant

That's hilarious about crank calling that guy, Brooklynstyle. I agree people who choose to buy homes in busy successful commercial areas can't expect silent nights. But there is a difference between general noise of people on the streets and a situation where a restaurant is below or adjoining a residence and didn't bother to install any sound barrier on the ceiling whatsoever. Businesses in all other U.S. cities do it so NYC businesses really need to get with the program. There are laws about the level of noise from bars and restaurants on the books and if anybody has a problem with the laws take it up with the Mayor; meanwhile residents totally have the right to pursue it if an adjoining bar is too noisy.

I know one person who won her fight against a restaurant beneath her in her coop apt. After she was done with them the restaurant had to install soundproofing on their ceiling. The way she did it and it's the only way to get anything done is to spend a couple thousand hiring somebody to measure the noise so you can prove the offending place or person's noise is above what the code allows. The restaurant owners know most people won't spend the money for it so if anybody complains about noise they just shrug it off.

Posted by: traditionalmod at January 14, 2010 8:01 AM in response to Noise from Bar/Restaurant

traditionalmod,
Would you be kind and ask your friend to submit more detailed info regarding how she did it?
I think a lot of us that bought apartments near a bar (we bought our place before the bar was there and it is totally a residential street) would spend the money if we knew that it can solve the problem or at least reduce the noise dramatically.
Thanks!

Posted by: emanuelle at January 14, 2010 9:21 AM in response to Noise from Bar/Restaurant

If that can help, here is my experience with a ventilation used by a restaurant: it was equivalent to a truck engine on for over15 hours a day: I called 311 explaining the situation, then was directed to the DEP. Made an appointment with them, they measured the noise level, and sure enough,it was way above the accepted noise level set by city rules.
The restaurant was notified,and didn't do anything, although it was fined several thousands bucks. After the legal 3 months period, I called again,( same process,same noise level measured) and a court order was issued to the restaurant. They finally fixed the noise, few days before the date of appearance.
So, sadly a business is quite reluctant to act on a problem it is causing, but there are solutions.
The DEP coming to the location and evaluating the noise level is free of charge.And they are pretty efficient in taking care of this matter.
More problematic is if the noise is generated by people (using an outdoor space for exemple), not a device. I'm dealing with this now,and it is way less simple to have the DEP act on it, since they consider such a nuisance being of a different category. But they will come inspect the place anyway, if you bring the matter to their agency through 311. I find people helpful at 311, and sometimes very helpful: since I had to call several times, I got some agents quite experienced with such a problem and able to direct me to the appropriate service.

Good luck.

Posted by: milou at January 14, 2010 10:10 AM in response to Noise from Bar/Restaurant