Goal: A Family-Sized House for $600K or Under
This week’s “The Hunt” column in The Times is about a couple that was looking to buy a place because, with baby and law textbooks in tow, a $2,600-a-month, two-bedroom rental in Windsor Terrace was no longer big enough. After checking some website called Brownstoner.com daily, the determination was made that the pair’s max budget—in…
This week’s “The Hunt” column in The Times is about a couple that was looking to buy a place because, with baby and law textbooks in tow, a $2,600-a-month, two-bedroom rental in Windsor Terrace was no longer big enough. After checking some website called Brownstoner.com daily, the determination was made that the pair’s max budget—in the low $600,000s—meant Windsor Terrace was too pricey. What followed: A visit to a five-bedroom in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens that, at $849,000, was too expensive and also unsatisfactory because it didn’t have a bathtub; consideration of two Bed-Stuy houses that were nixed because one didn’t pass muster at inspection time and the other was a two-family; and looking at a bunch of condos that weren’t big enough. They finally found a 2,000-square-foot house in South Midwood with appealing period detail that they bought for $540,000 in December. And now? “It’s appalling,” says the couple’s fairer half. We moved from an apartment to a house, and we filled the house.”
A Move Dictated by Miscellany [NY Times]
Photo via Property Shark.
Seriously, If you work in Manhattan, Jersey City MUST be a better option than most of the “cheaper” neighborhoods.
That’s the rub. The MTA’s own schdule shows that it is 51 minutes from the end of the R to Times Square (plus more if you are then going across town to the east side), and even at rush hour the trains do not come more than every 6 to 8 minutes. You really have to want to live in Brooklyn to prefer that commute to a town in Westchester.
I only mentioned Park Slope because most people on this blog have only vaguely heard of Bay Ridge, never mind been there.
I’ve *always* been able to find a parking spot in Park Slope when I drive there. It’s not always perfect, but it’s reasonably close to my destination (i.e., 3 blocks). Bay Ridge is BRUTAL. And crossing a lane of traffic to get the spot you found is akin to the old PPW… but on ALL of the wider roads down there.
I have to agree with others, while Bayridge has some things going for it (safety/schools/”cheaper” housing stock) it’s that DAMN commute – ugh an hour and half?? I might as well live on LI, or buy a brownstone for the same amount in downtown Jersey City and be in the city in less than 10 mins via Path
Bay Ridge is nice in many ways but Oy, that commute! I had a friend who lived smack in the middle of Bay Ridge for whom I used to pinch babysit on occasion. Such a pain in the ass to get there — It always felt like I’d JUST missed an R train at Union Square, had to wait for another, then the commute once on the R took at least 40 minutes to 86th Street. Nice otherwise. But yes, might as well live in Montclaire NJ.
Tybur6, how did park slope get into this convo of houses under or around 600k? you mean 600k for jr 4 aptmt in park slope?
tybur6, lots of houses in bay ridge have garages. plus I seriously doubt that parking in park slope is easier than bay ridge. The driving part I can believe.
BKhab, I work deep in central NJ. so my drive is already over an hr each way. if I worked in Manhattan, have a modest budget, and want to own a house where it’s safe, good schools, good retail density, I would have bay ridge on the radar. I know not everyone prioritizes those things over a shorter subway ride but just very surprised by the implied ratio of posters here – ie huge majority would sacrifice all that for a shorter ride.
And specifically… Parking and driving around Park Slope is a dream compared to Bay Ridge.