Open House Picks

Ringo, that’s the ultra tony part of Bed Stuy. But I don’t know that particular block, and the houses on it do not look good. These do not appear to be the classic big brownstones with al the accoutrements you find in this area.

This particular house has zero details left. That’s great if you have visions of making it into a modern show place. This would be perfect for that. But I sure would not pay $600,000 for the privilege. It seems very overpriced to me.

I wonder if you could get it for $430,000 or so. I’ve seen nicer, bigger, places with more details in move-in condition — and also narrow but not this narrow — in this area going for $470,000 to $540,000 even though the list was higher.

In L.A. you’ll find original kitchens and bathrooms. When I bought my house there in the early 90’s it was still common. My 1928 house had huge, solid wood kitchen cabinets that went to the ceiling, the original, built-in 1920’s refridgerator, and an amazing bathroom with original deco purple and black tiles, built in vanity with two full sets of drawers and cast iron pedestal sink. Tragically during the bubble there were clueless flippers who put in cherry cabinets and dark granite countertops and all that cliche stuff (barf) in many old houses. But generally the truly hip, fashionable people of Los Angeles when they are house shopping want vintage kitchens with vintage stoves & original bathroom tiles even if fixtures have been updated.

Yeah. Those seem to be the two options: Hideous and altered or untouched and decrepit.

It’s curious. Where I’m from there are tons of houses with original kitchens and baths in perfect condition. (Not as old though — 1880s on up.)

Yup, mopar. I know that sounds strange, especially since people tend to update their mechanicals because they are doing other renovations that would make doing so necessary. I just can’t get with the mark-ups on houses with “crappy” new kitchens and bathrooms.