Townhouse for $600k?
My husband and I are looking to buy a 3+ BR place so we can start a family (we currently live in a little 700 sq ft Boerum Hill condo). We’re open minded about neighborhoods in Brooklyn (preferred) or Queens but want a commute to mid-town that will be less than an hour. We could…
My husband and I are looking to buy a 3+ BR place so we can start a family (we currently live in a little 700 sq ft Boerum Hill condo). We’re open minded about neighborhoods in Brooklyn (preferred) or Queens but want a commute to mid-town that will be less than an hour. We could swing $600k and it would be a dream to have a townhouse but from what we’ve seen that puts us in Bed Stuy or Bay Ridge. Would anyone have advice on what it’s like to live in either community today? Safety is a question, and value for the money. We’d also love recommendations for other neighborhoods we haven’t discovered.
I would just second antigone’s point about schools. I have friends who bought a beautiful house in PLG but are now hugely stressed by the school situation, since their zoned school is not an option they are comfortable with at all, but getting into a non-zoned school has become increasingly difficult. I’ve heard great things about Bay Ridge schools too and have friends who’ve moved out there. It’s a very nice neighborhood, albeit a bit far out.
Sunset Park has great elementary schools. Rated A’s. My girlfriend is in the DOE system and raves about the one across the street from McDonalds on 36th st and 4th ave. For 600k you can find a decent place in Sunset Park or Greenwood Heights. They are pretty safe neighborhoods. Theres a couple of bad blocks but generally speaking theyre safe. I am also looking for a place and I always refer to the NYPD Crime Stats website.
http://www.nyc.gov/html/nypd/html/crime_prevention/crime_statistics.shtml
If you take a look at Sunset Park (72nd precinct) its not bad at all, compared to the “best” neighborhoods, the Slopes, Ridge etc.
As far as High School we have that new charter school / Sunset High School opening up this fall.
You can find a little woodframe in Greenwood for around that price these days it will need some work, but you’ll be closer to the city and the other brownstone brooklyn neighborhoods than if you move out to the ridge. Bay Ridge is indeed a lovely neighborhood.
Jersey City is nothing like real housewives- it’s got great architecture and what seems like a pretty diverse community, and it’s very close to anywhere you’d need to get in Manhattan.
The Brownstone School is Coed…pretty interesting schoool started by the parents of the Bed Stuy Parents Association…kind of like a coop school in a way with public funding and an application process.
Did someone just say Jersey?!?! My wife forced me to watch “The Real House Wives of New Jersey” reunion show last night. I could not believe what I was watching. BK vs Jersey? BK wins hands down
As for neighborhoods and homes >$600K, I agree with DIBS. Look around the Utica stop on the A (Stuyvesant Heights section of Bedford-Stuyvesant). Amazing homes, great community and increasingly better amenities. With regards to schools, if you have a boy, Excellence Charter School (http://www.uncommonschools.org/ecs/home/) has garnered much praise. As well as The Brooklyn Brownstone School (http://www.brooklynbrownstoneschool.org/)
I think you should listen to italiana71 and pay attention to the schools if you’re planning to start a family. We moved to Park Slope years ago with no regard to school districts, and ended up zoned for PS 107. Back then, 107 wasn’t a great school – our kids ended up going to 261 but it was stressful, being wait-listed, etc. I don’t regret anything, we had a great time in our old building (we’ve since moved to Boerum Hill) but negotiating New York public schools is a PITA. Bay Ridge is a lovely neighborhood and you have to weigh short term vs. long term goals (the inconvenience of the commute vs. the public school situation). And don’t forget middle schools and high schools – the situation only gets worse as the kids get older! There’s a lot to be said for being zoned for a decent school.
To me a 600K townhouse in a good neighborhood in BK means it’s either a Bay Ridge brick /limestone fixer-upper or Marine Park brick Tudor-style townhouse (the slate roof and fireplace are great features.)
To me a 600K townhouse in a good neighborhood in BK means it’s either a Bay Ridge brick /limestone fixer-upper or Marine Park brick Tudor-style townhouse (the slate roof and fireplace are great features.)
Sunnyside is great. If you can get a place in the gardens you are set. Much Much quicker to midtown than anywhere in Brooklyn. I am also fond of Jersey City but I live here (disclaimer)