Open House Picks: Townhouses

I went to the 1092 Carroll open house today. If it taught me anything it’s that pictures are a very unreliable way of gauging even the cosmetic condition of a house. They are incapable of showing such things as plaster walls that are patchwork of, well, patches; a distinct sagging of one of the (admittetly decorative) beams in the beamed ceiling; the side window in the dining room that overlooks the 4′ 0″ wide alley and stares directly into an equivalent window in the adjacent house, etc., etc..

For the agent to suggest that the “English” basement could be transformed into viable living space is bordering on misreprentation. If it could be done at all (windows at one end five foot above the floor that are probably less that three feet high) the expense of reconfiguring the mechanical gear to achieve it would be prohibitive, especially after spending a couple of hundred thousand just to get the top floor into acceptable shape. Don’t even ask about the kitchen and bathroom!

That said, there were people there at the same time as me who were very gung-ho about the place, with one couple so anxious to put in an offer that they were reluctant to wait until Monday to do so. The agent said that there were three offers in already and that the highest received by Monday aternoon would secure the place (and, in my opinion, a very time consuming, daunting, and expensive restoration). Nice floors though!

John Ife

1211 Ditmas Avenue was chocked full of swoon worthy dark wood details. There was a wacky charm to the peeling wildly colored pseudo arts and crafts wall paper and bright walls. And the artist garret on the 3 floor could have been used for some indie film set.

I’m sure most of the masses of people that were trooping in and out of the house were not digging the vibe of the place. I over heard one guy yapping about tearing out all the walls from the small kitchen all the way to the front room. Yes the kitchen was small and needed a major reno, but I was cringing at the thought of what wood details would be trashed in the process of “opening up the space”

Why do people that want open and airy even consider dark cozy Victorian houses with small room. Just get a loft and leave the house to someone that will cherish the floor plan and the details.

Even tho that post is a fraud i guarantee that house will most definitely go for something near or below $650k. If a home will get an asking price like that, spring will be in the air. Not in Winter, Mid School Year, in a declining market.

“I am the owner of 1092 Carroll Street Home. This will be the first and final open house. Any bids recieved will be towards an “As Is” sale. $650,000 takes it if all cash. I look foward to a fast closing and seeing my fellow brownstoners this weekend.”

According to the agent, Eve, who asked the owner when I pointed it out to her, this comment was not posted by the owner at all.

it did seem a little rich, $75k discount for an all-cash offer.

Don’t believe everything you read here even the stuff that looks realistic.