Top 5 Stories on Brownstoner This Week: Mansion Sells in Two Hours, Guide to Buying in Brooklyn

Prospect Park South Mansion Asking $2.988 Million Speeds to Contract
One of Brooklyn’s most distinguished mansions — the landmarked 10-bedroom Colonial Revival at 1305 Albemarle Road in Prospect Park South — entered contract Friday, eight days after the listing went up on the 21st of July. The property’s agent, Million Dollar Listing star Ryan Serhant, triumphantly declared on Instagram, “we sold it in about two hours after listing,” even though the sale does not appear to have closed yet.

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The Insider: Bright Modern Touches Unite With Tradition in Gut Reno of East ‘Burg Rowhouse
The new owners of a potentially sweet wood-frame rowhouse, swathed in vinyl siding, came to architect Alexandra Barker with a circa-1940 New York City tax photo in hand. They wanted to use it as a guide for recreating the look of the house in that era, but were afraid their love of modern design, light-filled spaces and bright color would conflict.

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Landmarked Prospect Heights Brownstone With Details Galore Asks $3.695 Million
This landmarked four-story Renaissance/Romanesque Revival brownstone on Sterling Place in Prospect Heights needs a bit of tending, but it’s a serious looker, loaded with original woodwork and other detail. Built circa 1897, it was designed by William H. Reynolds, whose Prospect Heights brownstones are “among the most beautiful and desirable homes in Brooklyn,” as Suzanne Spellen noted in this writeup.

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5 Family-Sized Jackson Heights Prewars (Some With Fireplaces, Gardens) Starting at $499K
Known for its diversity, Gay Pride parade, food from around the world, and glorious prewar apartments, Jackson Heights, in Queens, looks very different from Brooklyn. Instead of 19th-century brownstones and bow-front rowhouses, its streets are dominated by behemoth early 20th century brick apartment buildings, many built around private shared gardens. Prices run around $400 to $600 a square foot for a prewar apartment, considerably less than a comparable unit in a prime Brooklyn neighborhood, and generally less expensive than more far-flung Brooklyn neighborhoods.

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A Guide to Buying a Home in Brooklyn and Beyond: What to Expect
You’re sick of renting and you’re ready to buy. But where to begin? Here’s an overview of the process and what to expect, from preapproval to closing.

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