vinnie_barbarino's Profile
Author's Posts
November 16, 2007
Property Tax Variations?
I've been looking at houses and noticed that property taxes have varied wildly from $3k -$8.5k year for a four floor brick/brownstone. Why? Some of these houses were poorly renovated or not renovated at all yet were assessed very high taxes. What determines the tax rate?
November 7, 2007
Cost for converting a 4 family to 3
We are looking at buying a four family brownstone and converting the garden and parlor to our apartment. In order to do this we will want to add a private staircase to connect the garden to the parlor floors, as well as a new kitchen. Any idea how much this would cost? Not looking for a high end renovation.
Thanks...
Author's Comments
2:01 PM:
Carroll Gardens is south of DeGraw.
Posted by: vinnie_barbarino at September 26, 2007 2:06 PM in response to House of the Day: 273 Baltic Street
The Midwood house is actually quite expensive when you consider that it is nearly $600 a square foot - approaching PS, CG, BH prices. Not a bad place, but it is half a block from Foster Ave (not great) Most other houses that are 1.3-1.5M are between 3-4000 sq feet.
Posted by: vinnie_barbarino at October 12, 2007 2:03 PM in response to Open House Picks
I agree with 1:59. This is a nice house and good renovation. However, the area near Brooklyn College is really a step down in comparison to prime areas in DP.
My question with this area is how it will hold up in comparison to other areas in NYC near a subway like Forest Hills. This house in Forest Hills (not FHG) would be $200k or more. FH has more solid schools though. Wonder what this would be in Bay Ridge by PS 185.
Posted by: vinnie_barbarino at October 16, 2007 3:56 PM in response to House of the Day: 795 East 19th Street
Overpriced. Should be around $650k. I had a friend who just bought a very nice similar house (same size/layout) on the other side of Ocean Parkway for $637k a few months ago. This is still West of Coney Island Ave.
Posted by: vinnie_barbarino at October 17, 2007 2:49 PM in response to House of the Day: 328 East 7th Street
Right now there is a huge shortage of convenient rooms below $200/night near a subway. The Holiday Inn by 4th Aveunue is so overbooked that I last got a quote of $279/night.
Posted by: vinnie_barbarino at October 18, 2007 11:43 AM in response to Hotel Le Jolie Checks Into The Burg
Seems like there is still a very tight market. DeGraw street house is on the the other side of the BQE and the Butler house is near the projects. Yet the discounts are minimal.
Should be interesting what they get for these properties.
Posted by: vinnie_barbarino at October 19, 2007 1:35 PM in response to Open House Picks: Houses
I have exposed beams in the living room in my garden floor in CG.
The last tenant removed the tin ceilings in order to open up the room-- the landlord was not happy! This floor is only 6' 6' high so it was kind of helpful in making the room seem more airy. I do not have any problems with dirt. The only problem is that there is no material that serves as sound insulation to the bedroom above.
Posted by: vinnie_barbarino at October 24, 2007 1:10 PM in response to Video: Exposing the Wood Ceiling Beams
7:39:
Note that Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens are a fraction of the size of Park Slope. PS 29, 58 and 146. BH has 261 too
Posted by: vinnie_barbarino at October 26, 2007 8:13 PM in response to Open House Picks: Houses
I saw that place in CG. It was a decent 4 story 20 x 45 house. The bottom duplex was in good shape.
To be honest, it is not a bad deal. They were asking $1.55M. Most 3 story houses are now asking for $1.3-1.5 - even some on the other side of the BQE!!!!
Posted by: vinnie_barbarino at October 29, 2007 11:05 AM in response to Rent-Regulated Tenants: A Boon for Buyers?
Price is still too high. Should be around $300 a sq/foot = $825-$900k. Nice building but not near any yuppie amenities, schools or parks.
Posted by: vinnie_barbarino at September 20, 2007 2:36 PM in response to House of the Day: 1265 President Street Reduced