Open House Picks: Townhouses

Crown Heights Carroll Street: I saw this house at last weekends open house. According to the broker the owner lives on the top floor, has bought a house outside of NY (I think she said in Ohio) and is looking to sell asap. Apparently the bottom floor is rented out – to the same tenant for the last few years. Broker could not say if house was to be delivered vacant or not, but by now she may have more info. Basement is used as storage. There is a small paved over garden/non-garden between the house and the garage.

Could not get in to see the garage. There is a small crumbling deck off the back of the bottom floor unit. Rooms look much bigger and brighter in the pictures than they are in real life, granted I was there on a cloudy day sometime between around 12.30 and 1.00pm, but I found that the house felt darkish and small which was not what I expected given the dimensions, the floor plan and the pictures. To be fair, I did overhear other people talking about how great it would be to have so much space but that’s what makes the market. Ceilings height is very ordinary so that didn’t help it for me.

In general the place seemed to be quite solid and in reasonably good condition, completely livable, but I wouldn’t call it gorgeous. Floors and woodwork looked like they had undergone a bit of a cheap poly job. On the top floor is a rudimentary bachelors kitchen, bathroom is old, quaint, working, a bit decrepit looking, had some character. Ceilings could use some refinishing to smooth them out. Could not get onto the roof. Could not get into tenants apartment. Was told by Broker that the owner told her that the electrics were upgraded to 220 some 6-8 yrs ago or so if I remember right.

Quite a big turnout I thought – I saw maybe 20-30 people passing through – I was there for maybe 25-30 minutes. Couple of couples having earnest looking conversations with the broker so I thought there would be a good chance that someone would make an offer, maybe someone did who knows!

So besides my opinion of the house my impression is that at this price level there was some evidence of pent up demand but at the same time folks seem hesitant in this market. Broker did emphasize that the seller is motivated.

My apologies to Medgar Evers.

I also love the Ditmas Park house. Great pictures, and a wonderful ambiance. You would never guess this is in a city, let alone New York City. Oh, if I only was rich, and could collect houses!

Nice two story – with 2 car parking, near the EXPRESS transit hub for both the Lex and 7TH ave, as well as truly “walking distance” to the jewels of Bklyn on the other side of Flatbush – the BMA, Botanic Gardens and the newly rejuvenated Medgar Evers College. Wish I could preemptively buy this before the open house. And no, I’m not the seller! Actually own in Slope but wish I could move fast enough to purchase this one!

The CH house is basically a nice TWO story house with a semi-finished basement. I’m not bashing the place but part of the charm of CH is the big homes. This is not one of them.