Open House Picks

I kinda agree with Snark. The DeKalb house excites me on a purely academic level: it’s a largely intact, exquisite example of a particular style of high Victoriana. But would I want to live there? Nah. Too OTT for me. Large staircase halls have always struck me as a waste of space and the kitchen is tiny. I also don’t like that the English basement deprives the owner out of a good rental apartment — although I guess you could create a studio in rear. The full-width-of-house upstairs rooms are great ‘though.

WrathofGates…you’re right. I hadn’t considered the pricing but only the aesthetics in my previous comment. The one bedrooms will certainly rent out for $1,200 each and they may be able to get $2,000 or a bit more for the duplex.

I wil gladly live in the DeKalb house. It is stunning in a way that most people have forgotten. We have been bombarded by so much mediocre modernism that it is hard to imagine living with such grace. I am glad that there are still houses like this. Of course it is over the top, but that is what makes it special. Things that are over the top today cannot hold a candle to the craftsmanship and detail of that bygone era. I can only hope whoever does buy it will maintain it for the next generation and not turn it into a stainless steel and glass loft. I’ll also take the Third street house, undreamy kitchen and all.

The Bed-Stuy house might be worth a gamble as an investment property assuming about a 4k monthly rent roll. If the seller takes in the low 6’s with 10% down the monthly payment for the mortgage/taxes/insurance & utilities should come in around $300. Not exactly sure what the current rates are for non-owner occupied properties though.