home search: realistic expectations?
Getting ready to start an out-of-state (mostly) search to find a new home in Brooklyn (my former home, so I’m very familiar with it). I’d love some advice about whether I have realistic expectations for what I’m looking for, lest I waste too much time holding out for that “just right” place that takes years…
Getting ready to start an out-of-state (mostly) search to find a new home in Brooklyn (my former home, so I’m very familiar with it). I’d love some advice about whether I have realistic expectations for what I’m looking for, lest I waste too much time holding out for that “just right” place that takes years to come along.
Budget: around a million (but thrilled to pay far less!), less if it needs work, more if there’s rental income. Prefer something renovated or new, but if all else is perfect, we would consider doing reno ourselves.
Nabes: Prospect Heights, Park Slope, Ft. Greene,m Clinton Hill, Boerum Hill, etc. Walking distance to “good stuff.” Would LOVE walking distance to Prospect Park and Grand Army Farmers Market. Not Lefferts Garden or Kensington (too far out, and not enough walkable stuff).
Size: 1500+ sq. ft. At least 1.5 bathrooms. Pref. 3 bedrooms (or two bedrooms plus office area), pref. formal dining room or ample dining space.
Must have: dedicated parking on-site or super nearby.
My (no doubt unrealistic) dream home: a townhouse with parking and a yard, sizable owner’s duplex, plus in-law unit or studio and a one bedroom rental. I see one like this listed in Lefferts Garden, a limestone beauty, listed for under a mil. But it’s too far! If it were this, I could probably swing $1.3 mil…
OR, a large condo for a lower price, with reasonable maintenance. Parking for sure. A patio or yard would be great. Actually, the Vermiel listings for the largest units seem perfect, except that they front 7th Ave and Sterling (with the windows RIGHT, right, right on the street) and the asking prices are high!
Am I crazy, or is this doable?
The other dream (im)possibility, a well-priced empty lot that meets the above requirements and is buildable… for a super-dope prefab…
Tanner,
If you are still reading this post. I live in So. Slope with a 2 family brick (duplex with garden & 1 br rental), 3 blocks from Prospect Park.Home is 17 1/2 wide by 100 and will be going on the market within the next 3 weeks at 975K. This area has a lot better option for mass transportation (4 different subway lines, 3 major bus routes that go to downtown Brooklyn)
The So Slope is a great area and well established as long as you stay east of 5th Avenue. MAny terrific restaurants and shops opening all the time. We have 2 great public elementary schools that are not crowded unlike PS 321. Not sure if there is a way to privately contact you but I would be more than happy to tell you who my house will be listing with.
Good luck on your search
Don’t know what you are complaining about.
You listed what you wanted and your budget and specifically asked “am I crazy?”
Some told you yes, you were crazy, as you couldn’t get that for the money. Others told you you’d have to compromise on many of your musts, including parking, and mainly going to different neighborhoods.
You got a lot of opinions and advice. Sounds like Brownstoner worked for you. What are you bitchin’ about?
And, btw, given that my post was quite specifically (and sincerely) asking for advice on whether what I’m hoping to find is realistic or not (and, in fact, that I was clear in my OP that I was describing a “dream” from which I was working to define my actual expectations), I wasn’t really expecting so many smart-ass “this lady needs a reality check” and “you are crazy, don’t waste our time” comments. Interesting the cowardice that comes along with that — always the unregistered, anonymous “guest.” Hope that feels empowering.
Brownstoner, if you’re reading this, I’d like to suggest requiring folks to register with a username before posting comments. It would go a long way toward more respectful dialogue and the building of an actual community–something I always think of Brooklyn as being rooted in.
Actually I said I’d *prefer* 3 bedrooms and that I’d *prefer* a dining room or ample (which means big enough for a table) dining *space*.
Anyway, thanks, folks.
Reality check is right. There’s not even such thing as a 3BR plus separate dining room in condos or coops in Brooklyn. They ALL have combo LR/DR rooms that aren’t all that big. That’s what you’ll find in any neighborhood. There are a few huge units with separate formal dining rooms in the prewar coop buildings on Prospect Park West in Park Slope but OP, you’d be spending at least $3 million for one of those and they’re never for sale anyway.
12:12, who’s sleeping in the great room? This woman said she needs a 3 bedroom. Of course, she also needs a separate dining room/area…
and a reality check.
Wow 12:12 poster! I can’t beleive what is passing today for new construction in Park Slope. That apartment looks so cheaply built. Be very careful when and if your search turns to new construction. Almost every part of Brooklyn and Queens has awfull new condos for sale, many about to turn into rentals as they are unsellable. BEWARE the south slope/ greenwood heights area when looking for condos. Rent while you search seems less stressful.
It’s definitely a possibility, regardless of what the cynics here say. Just check this out: http://realestate.nytimes.com/sales/detail/56-763682
Prime Park Slope, over 1700 sf, decent monthly, parking, etc., etc. Too bad it’s in contract!
Don’t give up. But it might be hard to find from afar. I agree you might need to rent here for a year if you’re going to find what you want. The only problem is, you might not be able to afford it a year from now!!
BED- STUY you can get a house with great detail and parking is no problem most of the time, but other things are lacking but you cant have it all.