Are we stuck?

I agree that the kids would be fine sharing a room for a couple more years, and that we could make some changes to our place that would make better use of some storage. There are a few other factors influencing my desire... we live on the 3rd floor, we would like a yard, have a desire to feel "settled" into a long term living situation, but those aren't "mandatory" reasons to sell.

Gemini10: your place sounds interesting, especially with the rental income so high. can you access the yard being in the upper duplex or is it for the tenants? Curious: if you were to sell your place would you be open to a contingency bid (like we have to sell to close)? I assume it would be your last resort? If you want to talk offline, you can reach me at wjshewmaker @ mac.com

Posted by: wishinone at December 26, 2008 8:45 AM in response to Are we stuck?

We redid our bathroom with subway tile and ann sacks penny tiles, and restoration hardware sink, fixtures, etc.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dualpupil/195540864/

(PS, this is a before and after pic following a fire in our apartment a few years ago)

Posted by: wishinone at December 25, 2008 2:14 PM in response to bathroom reno--style advice needed

Interesting idea about putting in contingency bids. We definitely can't get stuck with 2 mortgages. That would be really awful. We want to sell in prime Park Slope and find a house in Windsor Terrace for no more than 1.1-1.2 million. We don't mind doing some work, or living in it while we slowly renovate. We just need something that has good bones, a good layout and a yard, preferably in PS 154. I wonder if Windsor Terrace will soften more than Park Slope and we could get a good deal there? Our co-op rates will be better than what we are looking to buy since we will be in a jumbo category with the house, though it depends on what they do with the FHA loan limits next year in NYC metro area.

Thanks for your perspectives...I don't feel as freaked out now. I think we could go on the market and see what happens. After all, if we get lousy bids we don't have to take them.

Posted by: wishinone at December 23, 2008 10:03 PM in response to Are we stuck?

oh, this is my dream house... it is perfectly sized for a family of four with a home office (which we are and I wah, and need private office space).

if only i were not a1M+ short of the asking price!

Posted by: wishinone at December 15, 2008 1:56 PM in response to House of the Day: 419 Union Street

i can think of at least 2 3 bedroom apartments I've been to in park slope recently (last couple weeks) that are priced at $1 million and they both have one bathroom. I just don't think everyone is that concerned about having one bathroom. Personally, I think it's nice to have 2 bathrooms, but not a necessity. I care more about other things. But hey, to each their own.

Posted by: wishinone at December 9, 2008 7:37 AM in response to Condos of the Day: 502 1st Street

plenty of people. our downstairs neighbor did just a few months ago.

Posted by: wishinone at December 9, 2008 12:20 AM in response to Condos of the Day: 502 1st Street

oops, as i was typing...

Albemarle Terrace looks like a nice place, though I'd have to see the area. But I don't think it matters since we purchased a 2 bedroom coop in Park Slope in 2005 and it's probably not worth what we paid for it and we'd need the money from the sale to put down on the next place. Guess we are going to be hanging out here a while!

Posted by: wishinone at October 10, 2008 3:02 PM in response to Open House Picks: Price Cut Edition

to me, these are very different properties and it is tough to compare them. I'm a big fan of small, brownstone buildings with lots of charm and the President street place really appeals to me in that way. The facade of that building is gorgeous. And the remodeling looks nice. That said, the floor plan is definitely not as appealing as the Lincoln place. Lincoln place looks like a terrific 2 bedroom layout...nice foyer space with closets, spacious bedrooms, nice remodel as well. Plus, Lincoln Place looks larger. But, I tend to shy away from large buildings for some reason. I like the intimacy of a brownstone, I suppose. My guess is that the President street house is priced with 321 in mind, even though a family would quickly outgrow this space, particularly if there is more than one child. As a parent, I would choose neither, simply because I already have two kids (making President too small for us) and Lincoln is not in my preferred school district (which is 107 or 39). All that notwithstanding, I think Lincoln is a better deal - for size, remodel, and for people who like a large building, this one looks well-kept.

Posted by: wishinone at October 7, 2008 1:46 PM in response to Co-ops of the Day: Head-to-Head In The Slope

Rookie, is this the 8th Street place?

http://www.twotreesre.com/search/qsearch/?id=153&form_display=30

Looks like it was listed at 3.1. Looks amazing.

Posted by: wishinone at September 30, 2008 1:20 PM in response to Last Week's Biggest Sales

stopped in here yesterday, and had a pleasant experience. They recommended a terrific bottle of Cabernet and were very friendly and open to suggestions. Not a ton of selection, but seemed highly curated for various price points. I usually go to the Prospect Wine Shop, but I'd be happy to shop here, too.

Posted by: wishinone at August 28, 2008 1:01 PM in response to Streetlevel: A New Wine Shop on 5th

My husband and I make 300K a year and would love to be able to afford a house in Windsor Terrace. I don't think we'll make enough from the sale of our coop to get a big down payment, though.

Posted by: wishinone at August 21, 2008 3:12 PM in response to House of the Day: 540 16th Street

Wishinone:
it's scary to put your place on the market b/c you really don't want to lose out. I get it b/c we are in a similar predicament. As you said, you could always test the waters, put it on the market and end up getting a good bid for it.

we are looking to put our 4 story house on the market very soon and live btween 6th & 7th avenue on 14th. the house was renovated a few years ago when we moved in so it doesn't really need work unless you want to make cosmetic changes and add some fixtures etc. we are getting $2800 for the first two floors and our apt(top 2 floors) has 3 bedrooms with a finished backyard and deck.... - we would ask 1.3-1.325

Posted by: gemini10 at December 24, 2008 11:04 AM in response to Are we stuck?

Since you are selling and buying in the same market, it doesn't really matter when you sell. You may be selling at a low point, but you're also buying at a low point and getting great mortgage rates.

Only downside may be limited inventory as others who don't need to sell may try to wait out the recession.

I think you might be in a very strong position going from PS to WT, in that WT prices may have fallen farther than PS ones. Also, PS 154 is pretty good (we have friends with a daughter there) but the middle schools are not good, our friends say.

Posted by: Bolder at December 24, 2008 11:50 AM in response to Are we stuck?

I think that two children under five can share a bedroom (even a tiny one) even if they're boy and girl. My older brother and I shared a bedroom into our teens, as did my two younger brothers. It wasn't always pleasant but we've all survived reasonably well into our forties. If you are keen on selling, but in no particular hurry to move, put your place on the market and dig in for a long wait. The real downside of this option is having to keep the co-op staged at all times, which can be stressful with two little kids. After you have all your ducks in a row for a sale you can buy, there will still be plenty to choose from and you will be in a better position to push for a quick closing.

Posted by: bohuma at December 25, 2008 12:25 PM in response to Are we stuck?

I agree that the kids would be fine sharing a room for a couple more years, and that we could make some changes to our place that would make better use of some storage. There are a few other factors influencing my desire... we live on the 3rd floor, we would like a yard, have a desire to feel "settled" into a long term living situation, but those aren't "mandatory" reasons to sell.

Gemini10: your place sounds interesting, especially with the rental income so high. can you access the yard being in the upper duplex or is it for the tenants? Curious: if you were to sell your place would you be open to a contingency bid (like we have to sell to close)? I assume it would be your last resort? If you want to talk offline, you can reach me at wjshewmaker @ mac.com

Posted by: wishinone at December 26, 2008 8:45 AM in response to Are we stuck?

well technically you want to sell one place and buy another. So if prices are down - they should be down in both the old and the new place.

Posted by: bobjohn at December 29, 2008 2:10 PM in response to Are we stuck?

Hi,

In an effort to be up front, I am an artist who specializes in historic tile. I agree with 11:28.

You may consider the satin matte glaze colors as an appropriate alternative tile to white. These glazes were translucent (colors pooled), applied to a flat bisque and installed around colored accessories which then became accents. They became available in the 1910's. It was a great tile and would blend well with your house.

There are some companies that can blend glazes to suit the use of pre-existing colored fixtures. Look for "nys historic tile".

Posted by: Oldtiles at January 1, 2009 5:14 PM in response to bathroom reno--style advice needed