Open House Picks Open Thread
It appears that most sellers and brokers are sitting on the sidelines this holiday, so the open house pickings are might slim. We couldn’t find much of interest, but feel free to use this thread to highlight anything you think’s worth a look. Photo by wizardofthefiretopmountain

It appears that most sellers and brokers are sitting on the sidelines this holiday, so the open house pickings are might slim. We couldn’t find much of interest, but feel free to use this thread to highlight anything you think’s worth a look.
Photo by wizardofthefiretopmountain
“I have built my comments and you, setancre, 11233, wasder, bridges, Brooklyn Love, lurker in the mist (shall I go on?) have come.”
Whoa- just saw this and dowhat- not to put too fine a spin on it but we don’t come because you built anything. we come because brownstoner created a blog and we come here to comment and interact with each other. You’re just one of many, no one special.
But everyone brings something to the mix. Like wasder I’m not convinced you’re not the What. and if you are, you’re certainly one malicious human being. If you’re not, we’ll owe you an apology, but in the meantime it was a really interesting conversation to read and we’ll all just keep on keepin’ on.
Easy Papi Yourself. You didn’t need to include the last part of your message because mine was clearly predicated in “I am happy to hear your thoughts on…” and therefore the fuck off is negated by the fact that you responded in a reasonable fashion. I have no interest in making internet enemies but do you understand how you come across on this blog? Like you are the only one who cares about Brooklyn (a comical notion!) which makes you sound like a smug asshole and somebody who is taking pleasure in the tribulations of others. I would certainly fall under the category of “Brooklynites who love the borough through thick and thin” having been born here and spend most of my adult life living here. If you are such a person then we are not enemies. I feel like my participation here is much more in line with that description than yours but that is my opinion solely. If you can continue to discuss things without being such an A-hole we can all get along and have a dialogue.
I know Clinton Hill was fine in 2000, that is why I moved there. But from the perspective of a property owner who is here for the long haul, it is better in 2008. There are far more places to shop and eat, the street life is more vibrant and the streets and sidewalks cleaner and more pleasant. Say what you will but as a resident all this time those are my observations. I don’t pretend to have a solution for the trials of those who are displaced by the gentrification process. It seems to me that given the experiences of other neighborhoods that I am familiar with (Williamsburg especially) Clinton Hill has more successfully incorporated new residents while maintaining a fairly diverse economic mix. I am a good neighbor and concerned citizen. These are the things I can control.
I don’t know what to do with the DOWhat thing. Until I feel comfortable that you are not writing what you write out of malice I choose to believe that you are the same person. Feel free to call me whatever you want, though I am not quite understanding the import of your current moniker for me.
“…I am happy to hear your thoughts on why a severe downturn in prices won’t ruin the neighborhoods I like living in.”
What’s your definition of ruin? In my book, the neighborhoods are already ruined by Disneyfication and tour buses. The nabes were fine in 2000. Crime hasn’t really changed. Still murders in broad daylight and X-Mas Eve (Clifton, Fish n’ Crustacions, Lefferts). Not to mention the muggings and beatings mentioned from time to time on this blog. Brooklyn made it through the depression and the 70’s (for those that stayed). It has an intrinsic cultural value that is resilient and not defined by home prices. True Brooklynites who love the borough through thick and thin will not let it go to ruin.
“If you just want to shit on me for fun, fuck off.”
Easy Papi! You’re not having fun? You go at me, I’m gonna go at you. If you can’t take the feedback, then don’t try me. You call me DOWhat, I’ll call you underwasder.
Oh, another What reference (“in my head”—this is another meglamaniacal trait you “share” with your other self, this feeling of omnipotence that you seem to have ). I was up that late because I have been working on the west coast for the last couple of weeks and my body clock is all screwed up. Look, I am just as sympathetic to displaced citizens as you and I certainly don’t pretend that there wasn’t an unrealistic run up in prices in Brooklyn. That being said, if prices really drop to the levels you are discussing, you don’t think that will have economic ramifications that will make owning these properties less than ideal, no matter what price they were obtained for? I am not an economist, I am a film-maker, so I am not talking out of any other position than my own observations. I have lived in Clinton Hill for 8 years now and that is the only basis of “knowledge” that I have about the real estate market. Clinton Hill, from the perspective of a home owner is substantially nicer now than it was in 2000. It is clearly not nicer from the perspective of a long time renter who has seen their rent go up, but from the perspective of a property owner I think most people would agree that the last 8 years have brought a lot of positive changes. A severe economic downturn such as the one you have a boner for would in my estimation undo a lot of the gains that this neighborhood has made (you should let your other half savage me on this statement). Why do you wish such a thing on the residents of this neighborhood, all of whom will suffer if the crime and neglect return to this neighborhood.
I didn’t lie on my loan application or drink any cool-aid. I negotiated the sale price on my new house down substantially. But in the end, it was time for me to buy a house or move out of the city (which is not a feasible concept for me). In your mind I am supposed to rent something and squeeze myself into an apartment while waiting for the calamity that you predict to render prices more affordable. Well that might or might not happen and my life is happening now so I made a decision. I don’t appreciate getting shat on by you and your other half for a thoughtful decision (even if I turn out to have made a bad one, I did what I thought I needed to do now). So if you want dialogue I am happy to hear your thoughts on why a severe downturn in prices won’t ruin the neighborhoods I like living in. If you just want to shit on me for fun, fuck off.
Let’s talk about the effects of the run-up and gentrification it brought. Many long time folk were displaced and their lives disrupted. That was a lovely “means to an end” too, right? I have no more sympathy for someone who lied on their loan application, drank the koolaid, bought in over their head and bought the line, “RE only goes up”, than I do for a long time resident who could have bought but didn’t. The writing has been on the wall for some time that this was an unsustainable bubble. You’re responding to me @ 2:26 AM, underwasder!!! Let me out of your head!!!
Underwasder – I don’t wish that on citizens, I wish it on prices. If it’s home prices that define you, you’ve got much more serious problems than a down market. Before brownstones increased 200% in “value”, everything was fine. If we go back there (inflation adjusted terms), why would it be much worse?
Say what you will DOWhat, its a vendetta and you are a shitty person for reveling in it. Your predictions coming true would cause an economic crisis that would certainly have a very negative effect on the neighborhoods we are constantly analyzing and discussing. So as I asked before you would inherit what? Houses worth 50% less in neighborhoods coming apart at the seams due to the economic downturn. What a lovely “means to an end.” It makes you such a charming person to wish that on your fellow citizens.
“Actually, it does matter.”
DIDN’T matter for that particular case. Sure it matters in general.
“…you are really full of yourself.”
Why? Are/Were you not a part of a mass (albeit dwindling) of Brooklyn home price bulls? Bull vs Bears. When it comes to market debate, it simplifies to just that.
“…your log-in should tell everyone how wrong you are and how wrong you will be.”
Only time will tell.
“…but I don’t consider myself ‘recruited’ by you.”
You don’t have to. You were probably already a bear before my comments got a hold of you. I said I am a constituent AND a ‘recruiter’. It doesn’t matter that we’re not formally organized. I became a bear because of what other bears wrote (i.e. ‘recruited’). Before that, I used to say that you cannot lose in RE.
“You’re trolling someone else’s blog.”
So.
“Did it ever occur to you to instead create your own place for expression?”
Yeah, but I’m a full time professional and parent. Brownstoner quit his job. I too do not have the time to do both. I prefer efficiency. Remember what I said about leveraging power?
“Isn’t that kind of the lesson of the last ten years – ‘if you build it (and you have good content) they will come?'”
I have built my comments and you, setancre, 11233, wasder, bridges, Brooklyn Love, lurker in the mist (shall I go on?) have come.
“If your message resonates, it would likely be much more effective than trolling the Bstoner comments.”
Sure it would. I simply do not have the time. I’d rather be a contributer/troller (like we’re all not trolls – this thread is 5 days old, seriously) and put the rest of my time to family, career and other miscellaneous activities.
“…he’s a doomsayer economist whom everyone thought was crazy five years ago, but whom everyone wants to consult now.”
Gotta be Noriel Roubini. Brownstoner did a thread about him a few years back. Haven’t seen anything here since.
“…your insights are diminished by all the invective around here.”
I see it differently. There is an underlying reason for the invective. Truth is first violently opposed (Ouch! That hurt!) before it becomes self-evident.
“You have a highly overdeveloped sense of your own importance and advocate an unfortunate vendetta against your fellow citizens.”
It’s not a vendetta. It’s reality. If you OD’d on the koolaid, you are the blame.
“What will inherit if the economy does what you want it to?”
Fundamental brownstone prices (-25 to -50 percent less). We made it through recessions/depressions before. It’s a means to an end.
should say “What will you inherit if the economy does what you want it to?”