Is It a Buyer's or Seller's Market in Townhouses?
Here’s an email we received from a reader this week: I was hoping you could foment some sort of discussion on the summer brooklyn townhouse market. I can’t really figure out what’s going on. It seems like a lot of stuff is left over from the spring, but then some great stuff just flies off…
Here’s an email we received from a reader this week:
I was hoping you could foment some sort of discussion on the summer brooklyn townhouse market. I can’t really figure out what’s going on. It seems like a lot of stuff is left over from the spring, but then some great stuff just flies off the shelf. I’ve been to dozens of open houses the past few weeks, some are empty, some are thronged. I can’t tell if it’s a buyer’s market or a seller’s market. It seems like a lot of people are waiting for the fall to see what comes on the market. What’s your sense?
Seems to us like there’s not a lot of good inventory and that buyers aren’t desperate enough to go for the crap. Your thoughts?
Photo by Da Nator
the world is a changin, 5:54. get with the program. hate to break it to you, but the whole u.s. used to be a different place back “in the day”
it’s not just brooklyn.
i’m fine with remembering the good ole days, but to play devil’s advocate, brooklyn is, in a lot of ways much better today than it was 30 years ago.
for one, i can walk down my street without getting hit with a stray bullet.
Just to clarify, my statement earlier was just to point out that Brooklyn is no longer and clear choice over moving out of the City.
As for Brooklyn changing, when was the last time, you saw children playing with little to no supervision, because the people in the neighborhood had lived there for many years knew the surrounding families and knew someone would look out for the children. That was Brooklyn at its greatest. To me the word “play-date” is like giving the middle finger to Brooklyn. And to those who are taken back by allowing children to play in the street with little to no supervision, you never knew how great Brooklyn was and you never will. Twenty years ago, Brooklyn did not have an chain stores, most were local mom and pop shops. If you wanted the brand name, you went to Macy’s or the City. Each neighborhood had its own identity (whether it was ethnic, racial, working class, established immigrants, new immigrants, etc…) and each, neighborhood respected the other neighborhoods, of course, they all thought their neighbohood was better, but no one tried to change the other neighborhoods to better suit themselves. To grow up in Brooklyn used to me something, it ment you were tough and smart, regardless of your educational background. The resturants in Brooklyn were always much better than Manhattan, because they were authentic, and nobody, besides those who lived in the neighborhood, or really loved Brooklyn knew about them.
Sorry, I didn’t break this post up, but I really don’t see the point to cater to a Yuppy with a blackberry.
Oh, and finally, as to those arguments that I am knocking Brooklyn, because I can’t afford it, hold your classist opinions. Amazing as it may be, my wife and I can afford a brownstone, but have chosen not to buy, because we both feel the brownstones are not worth the asking price. Just because you can afford something shouldn’t be the basis for buying something.
most kids in the burbs get to experience a lot.
it’s called playstation 3.
Anyone who wants a burb that is “a lot like new york” should stay. I’m leaving because I want my kids to experience somehing different. And I’m picking an area that is distinctly different from the city, not a pale replica.
I can’t find the Westcher RE site mentioned above. Anuone know the name?
You’ve got me there, 5:27. The pedestrian / cab lifestyle is one of my favorite aspects of city life. Cars in the ‘burbs can be really scary and they are usually HUGE.
I doubt we’ll leave the city. It’s just something I think about when my F station especially reeks of pee or when the summer garbage makes even grown men start gagging, or when I contemplate retirement vs. tuition…
why would anyone want to live on the upper east side?
😉
Anon 5:30, why do you care if you ever read that here?
I wanted to live in duplex coop at corner of Park and 73rd. But I couldn’t afford it so I moved to 1 bedroom coop at Madison and 75th. I don’t like it as well. It’s not as good. I wish I could afford to live in duplex coop at corner of Park and 73rd.
But I can’t, so I’m making the best of it. All of you live on Park, I’m happy for you.
A post I would someday love to read on Brownstoner:
“I wanted to live in [placename A]. But I couldn’t afford it, so I moved to [placename B]. I don’t like it as well. It’s not as good. I wish I could afford to live in [placename A]. But I can’t, so I’m making the best of it. All of you who live in [placename A], I’m happy for you.”