Not-So-Bitter Renters Embrace Brooklyn
Brownstone living is no great shakes, say people profiled in this week’s Times’ real estate section cover story. The premise of the article is that there’s a new crop of Brooklynites who go ga-ga over our borough’s condos-turned-rentals because they’re much cheaper than similar full-service buildings in Manhattan. These renters say they’re not interested in…
Brownstone living is no great shakes, say people profiled in this week’s Times’ real estate section cover story. The premise of the article is that there’s a new crop of Brooklynites who go ga-ga over our borough’s condos-turned-rentals because they’re much cheaper than similar full-service buildings in Manhattan. These renters say they’re not interested in trad brownstone living because it lacks newfangled amenities, and they don’t want to buy a condo in today’s market. My peers who have their M.B.A.’s and their new master’s degrees and new jobs, they’re looking for new condos; they’re not into the traditional houses or brownstones, says a guy who rents a $2,550-a-month pad at Bed-Stuy’s The Mynt, above. This is the lifestyle we like. You cannot put a fitness center in a brownstone. You don’t have a doorman in a brownstone. Rentals are increasingly in demand, according to stats from StreetEasy that show Brooklyn rents rising 6 percent over the past year and sales prices falling 4 percent. If this is indeed a trend, one wonders how long-lived it’ll be. If more new buildings are planned as rentals rather than condos, how many developers are going to outfit their buildings with pricey condo-style trappings?
They Love (the New) Brooklyn [NY Times]
glad to see this thread has taken a turn for the worse!!
“you never contribute to charities because they might help people who have the stupidity to live in New Orleans- a city with a levee, for g-d’s sake!”,
Seriously Bxgrl, calm the f*^@ down. You’re babbling and throwing around false accusations. I think you owe 12:21 an apology.
10:59/12:21-
I find it hard to believe you are the same person, or that you are a social worker based on your assessment of people who rent, instead of buy.
Your post made it a choice of being responsible/own and being irresponsible/rent: “Meanwhile, those who elect to spend their money on cars, dinners out, getting drunk, and taking vacations they can’t afford will ensure landlords a permanent class of renters.” Comprende?
So if you don’t like people making assumptions about your lifestyle and choices, you shouldn’t be making them first.
11:35- huh, what? NYC is, has, and will be mostly filled with apartments. This article is about providing high quality apartments – nice, new, clean, AC, washer/dryer, etc… to this particular class of people who prefer it to brownstone/prewar not renovated places.
they probably work a lot and are not interested in living in a crappy old building (which is typical in a pre-war in their price range in manhattan). and, actually in Brooklyn too. i can’t even believe the walk up in williamsburg my friend lives in – crappy crappy top floor of a run down brick townhouse – $2300!! yikes. yucky.
anyway, these new apartments are just a blank slate. anyone who is interested in decorating can really make them special no matter what.
aren’t brownstones cookie cutter too? yes, of course they are. boring brown stone on the outside. oppressive old fashioned moldings on the inside. small windows in small rooms. no central air. damp basements that flood. they are depressing and make you feel like you are in a victorian novel and not living in a fabulous life 2008 in the best city on the planet living.
it’s all a person’s point of view darling. the young gorgeous successful things in this town are not necessarily yearning to be betty crocker. they want to live the good life, not the “I gave up” the NYC dream life.
hey, before anyone says, what you don’t like brownstones, whhhaat? why are you on this blog? etc, etc…. remember, brownstoner posted this article about new rentals, not me, and you’re reading it too.
bxgrl: Go back to selling kitty litter and living in your friend’s basement, where you belong. Did you contact Hostos CC yet? If you get your tuition money back, you could move to Brooklyn.
You want to grow up and move out of your friend’s house and live on your own?
She doesn’t get it, 11:48. All bxgrl does is try to insult people all day with these crazy assumptions about the posters. Then, when you call her on it, she calls you stupid. Then she will say “it’s like shooting fish in a barrel” and how much fun she is having – until she gets bored.
She has some serious issues which will never get resolved on this site.
– Bizarro What
“10:59- typical judgemental answer well- grounded in ignorance. Assuming you know the lifestyles of people who rent is about as correct as your assumption you have the intelligence to assess it.”
What Did I say that that was “grounded in ignorance”? It’s very true that there are a wide range of ownership options in Brooklyn, from brownstones to more affordable co-ops in East Flatbush, Mill Basin, or Midwood. It’s also very true that giving up creature comforts like eating out, taking vacations, and owning a car can translate into huge savings for a down payment.
Your next paragraph was so inaccurate that I’m tempted to think it was intended as a joke:
“Owning is only one of the many choices you make in life.Since you look at everything through the lens of ownership of real estate I can pretty much guess what your life is like- you do no volunteer work because time is money…”
Very wrong. As a licensed social worker, I not only dedicate my career to helping the less fortunate, but also volunteer as a companion to an elderly man. In the past, I have done volunteer work with the mentally ill, children and teens, and immigrants.
“…you never contribute to charities because they might help people who have the stupidity to live in New Orleans- a city with a levee, for g-d’s sake!…”
Wrong again. I donate to prospect park and to an organization that works will individuals who have been sexually assaulted in prisons.
“…you refuse to help a relative or a friend because if they had bought like you did all their life problems would be non-existent…”
Wrong again. I’ve had friends and relatives sleep on my couch during times of need. As mentioned above, I have dedicated my career – and at quite a low salary – to helping others.
“…you have no curiosity so you don’t travel…”
Wrong yet again. I just returned from a vacation in Puerto Rico. Over the past few years, I’ve also visited Montreal, New Orleans, Chicago, and San Francisco.
“…you like McDonalds and never go to a good restaurant…”
I haven’t been to McDonald’s in a good 15 years. While I don’t often go to expensive restaurants, I love good food, like roti, thai, mexican, etc.
“…you own a 12 inch black and white tv so you don’t go to the movies, you illegally download music and movies because the money goes into your mortgage, and you pirated your copy of Windows Vista for the same reason.”
None of the above.
“Oh – and you rented the apartment on your top floor to your sister because you can’t afford to pay your mortgage without a tenant.”
Nope. My partner and I own an apartment, not a building, so we pay the mortgage from our salaries.
So, there you have it. My partner and I don’t earn all that much money, but we’ve become home owners through hard work and sacrifice. And I’m proud of this and make no apologies to you or anyone else for “tooting my own horn”. That’s what you’re supposed to do when you’ve accomplished a major goal.
Many others could do the same, especially if they don’t listen to those who imply that it can’t be done without a trust fund or a job on Wall Street.
10:59 – you are nuts. buying in this market IS throwing your money away – renting is the best option now (wasn’t when I bought in Brooklyn in 1998, but it is now.)
and 11:39, who I think is 10:59 again, did you make some deal with the devil? because, barring that, you don’t know you have 45 more years here, none of us do…and as much as you may want to be smug about owning, your supposed life expectancy is one thing one is never advised to be smug about…but then, you are young, as you say, and therefore still clueless about life in general.
Its funny that only a few weeks ago on this blog renterts were referred to as bitter, senseless and irresponsible and told they don’t belong on this blog. How quickly things can change
11:56–I am a born and bred Brooklynite, thanks. Lived here since 1969.
“Suburbanite” is a mind-set. It is the mind set of people who want granite counters and his and her sinks in the master bath. They can live in Brooklyn, but they’re still suburbanites.