Open House Wrap-Up: Mob Scene at 152 Dean?
We heard that the open house at 152 Dean (far left) attracted more than 50 people yesterday, certainly a bright spot among reports in recent weeks of lower foot traffic. Or maybe with the official start of Spring, the market is just preparing for its seasonal pick-up. Any other reports from the open house trenches?…
We heard that the open house at 152 Dean (far left) attracted more than 50 people yesterday, certainly a bright spot among reports in recent weeks of lower foot traffic. Or maybe with the official start of Spring, the market is just preparing for its seasonal pick-up. Any other reports from the open house trenches?
Open House Picks [Brownstoner]
Anon 12:27…I’m Anon 11:27. Thanks for your observation on the President St house. I, too, would have thought that the inside was practically a total loss given that the windows fell out ages ago and the interior was exposed to the elements for at least a year before anything was done about it. It had also been inhabited by a squatter/vandal? who was then removed and the property subsequently padlocked. I remember seeing the contents of the house being taken away about a year after the old man died…and the condition of those contents was horrendous. I couldn’t imagine was the house looked like if his belongings were that bad. Anyway, I hope that it will be purchased by someone who will respect the house for what it is and make it a truly lovely family home. I look forward to seeing the photos that B’stoner mentioned at 11:33 am.
Anon at 1:03 – yes, it is old news. However someone asked who the actor was who bought a house in BH.
old news
Heath Ledger and Michelle Williams bought a house in BH. I believe the one previously owned by Nell Campbell for all of you old enough to remember the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
I guess Anonymous at March 20, 2006 12:05 PM doesn’t mind living in a $2.3 million frat house – sure you could live there but for that kind of money most people want quality. This places needs all new bathroom, kitchen, replastered walls etc etc etc
I visited the President Street house out of curiosity and have to say it was not as horrible inside as I imagined.
I bought a brownstone in the neighborhood that was in worse shape, so perhaps my judgment is skewed. Although I thought the 3 family layout was awkward, (I would make a garden rental below triplex rather then two rentals above a duplex…but that’s just me) it had great bones. Yes, it LOOKED pretty awful but I saw no terrible water damage or signs of burst pipes. The floors were solid, not sloped, (much of the parquet could be restored) and the stair was not squeaky or rickety. Despite the terrible peeling paint and plaster, walls seemed solid. The parlor floor still had some beautiful ceiling moldings and the tin ceilings through the rest of the floors looked in good shape. Yes it needs a gut, new electrical and such, but all in all, the inside was not as intimidating as I had imagined (although the outside is a bit scary looking). Then again…I am not an engineer…just comparing to other “needs work†houses I have seen with bulging ceilings and rotted floors. What really bothered me was the garden because it was a bit small, and the end buts up to apartment buildings rather then a neighbors garden. There was no sense of privacy.
I think that despite the work needed to bring the house back, it will go quickly. At the open house I met a woman who lives in Manhattan with 2 kids and a third on the way. She was practically drooling over the sheer space of the house and how lovely and convenient the block was. To her, it seemed like a smart investment and even after all the work needed, cheaper then Brooklyn Heights. I think the location of the house was really a selling point. Still seems like a lot to me…but compared to Manhattan, 1.7 mil for a 4 story house in a nice nabe must seem like a steel.
Thanks for the wrap-up section, Brownstoner! 12:04 post, couldn’t agree with you more. The Rutland road house is fantastic but at 1.6, we just can’t do it. My wife pointed out how hot it would get in the summer with all those windows. Can you imagine all those air-conditioners?! So we thought central-air was the answer…Still, the nicest home we’ve seen yet on our search.
Am I the only one who thought Dean Street sort of sucked especially for the amount asking. You could get loads more detail in Clinton Hill, Prospect Heights, or Fort Greene and for much less.
To anon 10:54: I went to the open house too. I thought it was a great house. Exactly the kind of house I would like. The back yard is not overly landscped, but if you have children it would be perfect to play on that lawn. You say that the house “needs” a ton of work in the tune of 400K. I don’t get it. That ios very subjective. How do you define “need”. The house is in move-in condition if you ask me. Along the way you could improve certain things for sure, but still I don’t understand how you reach 300K to 400K…?