House of the Day: 491 East 17th Street
This 3,500-square-foot one-family house at 491 East 17th is advertised as being on “the best block in Landmark Ditmas Park.” If that’s true, we suspect that this is one of the less good-looking places on the street due, in large part, to the brick addition on the front of the house. The interior, however, is…
This 3,500-square-foot one-family house at 491 East 17th is advertised as being on “the best block in Landmark Ditmas Park.” If that’s true, we suspect that this is one of the less good-looking places on the street due, in large part, to the brick addition on the front of the house. The interior, however, is very charming. And, considering that the house across the street sold for $1,900,000 last year, the asking price of $1,300,000 for this place may look interesting for those with a hankering for the Victorian nabe.
491 East 17th Street [Mary Kay Gallagher] GMAP P*Shark
$950 this year. $750 next year.
I wouldn’t want to live in DP now because I am young with no kids and socially there isn’t much going on out there for me. I grew up in a two bedroom co-op apartment in Park Slope where my brother and I had to share a room even as teens. Although we did have a weekend house with much more room for a girl to spread out, I couldn’t wait to go away to college. My parents sold both their weekend home and their apartment and are giving my brother and I money for our first homes. I am engaged and do plan to have children in about five years and I am thinking that it just might be worth buying in Ditmas now so that when the time comes my kids will have more room. A Fort Greene or Clinton Hill coop would be cool for now but I am looking toward the future and I am starting to think that DP might be the better bargain.
Ditto 7:54. If a house on that block sold for 800K it must have been a complete dump. Even being a little more conservative with the comps and using sales in the last two months this will probably go for about 1,275,000.
7:54. There is nothing in the area for 800k that’s not a comlete dump, tiny, and on the tracks. Look at the comparables on MKG’s site. One across the street in perfect condition and bigger sold for $1.9 1 year ago. One at 500 Marlborough that is similar just sold for $1.325 and another on 18th street that is smaller and needs renovation just went into contract and is listed at $1.19. Maybe you could get this for 1.2 but 800k? Yes nyc is greedy…there are townhouses listed in manhattan for 20-30 million and two bedroom cookie cutters in park slope off 4th ave for $1.3. It’s all relative.
Sorry folks, but I know that one of the owners is a retiring prof from Brooklyn College and is moving her family to another state. The house next to it (or across the street) sold for only $800,000 in the last two years and it was renovated as well, just not as big. I’m not sure, but I think greed has taken over in this case. I’d offer much less than that asking price.
To whom are you refering 7:23,
I wish I had bought at 200K! or 300 or 400 or 500K for that matter. I don’t know too many 5th year Associates looking in Ditmas either but there are enough of whoever looking because on the two reasonably priced, reasonably sized houses that I bid on, I underbid! The huge mansions sit for a while. Those take a special buyer – usually Doctors. I met two while on the house tour. I ‘ve run into college professors, an opera singer, concert pianist, pyschiatrist, etc… in Ditmas, definitely different buyers than some of the other more popular areas. They are usually older with a couple of kids. I would prefer Ft Greene/Clinton Hill but can’t afford it and for that money still too edgy. So like others who came before me, I am willing to sacrifice a longer train ride to just get to own something not too far from my favorite haunts and to stop paying my landlords mortgage for him. I am also considering the Bronx and Queens.
yes, right. i’m affordin’ 1.3mn+, but i’m house poor and can’t send my kids to a decent school. i only have two kids and 3500 lonely square feet and my house costs a small fortune to heat. get in now before it’s too late b/c these things are hittin’ $5mn once all the 5th year associates get wind of the area.
why do people who bought nyc real estate before the recent irrational run-up feel like they have to defend their neighborhoods so fiercely. yes, we get it dude, you paid $200k and you’re a millionaire on paper. good for you. yay you! what do you care if some of those paper profits come back off. it will keep your hood diverse just like you supposedly want it. not just 5th year associates with good running shoes…
6:17,
How do you know that gangbangers get on the train at Beverly or Cortelyou? Because they are young, black and male or young, latino and male? In either case they are more likely to victimize a person of their own ethnic background. NYC is relatively safe but don’t rock yourself into a false sense of security anywhere. Many gentrifying areas are faced with the same problems with schools as Victorian Flatbush. The schools here are no worse. In fact they area improving steadily. As more homeowners who can not afford prep schools – as you so eloquently stated we are very poor out here in 11226- place their children in 217 and 139 whic are actually very good schools and 159 which is improving yearly. My children have friends whose mothers are housekeepers as well friends whose mom’s are judges. Keeps things interesting. By suggesting Bay Ridge as an alternative you are clearly delusional. That area does not have the housing stock or progressive minded people. If you are going to suggest an alternative it would be more like Staten Island’s Georgetown or New Brighton, but you would probably have a problem with those neighborhoods too because people of color live their too.
one big difference you are leaving out on ft. greene vs. ditmas comparison: ft. greene is right next to manhattan, ditmas is deep in landlocked bkln. that will never change. fyi, associates work long hours and often take cabs home. who wants a 40min cab ride after a 15 hour day? and yes, on a price per square foot basis, ditmas wins hands down. but how many people (e.g. 5th year associates) with that green actually need 3,000+ sq. ft? most would gladly trade for half that space in a much better nabe, with better schools and better commutes. btw, many of said associates lost their jobs/had bonuses cut this year. face