File this under that old “Affordable Neighborhood” series I used to do, but I liked this title better. If you take the A train allll the way out to the end of the line, you’re in Far Rockaway. A few stops closer to the city, well that’s just Rockaway. Get it?

I explored near and far yesterday. The nicer areas of Neponsit, Belle Harbor, etc feel pretty suburban. The main shopping strip is around 116th Street and the summer hipster surf dude neighborhood is somewhere in the Beach 90’s. I looked at a house on the fringe of that area, in the mid 80’s. The asking price is $168k and the house is in really good condition.

As an immediate flip property, it’s probably not the best solution. The neighborhood still has a few years to go and I’m too impatient to hang on that long. As somewhere to live? Not too shabby. The house is within walking distance to the train, shopping and the beach. Much of the original detail remains. Rip up some carpet to reveal wood floors and strip all the molding and doors. Fix some plaster. Done. FYI, the home is semi attached and the area still does have some grit.

I was looking for signs of people restoring homes, but there isn’t too much of that going on. It’s mostly either properties that have seen better days or brand new developments. One place that I did fall in love with was this cute bungalow around the corner from the house I looked at. Someone did an amazing job here.

If you’re checking out the Rockaways to live, you’ll notice some extremely affordable areas from the 40’s to the 60’s. Yeah, there’s a reason. It’s pretty depressing around there. Once you go farther out, somewhere past the 20’s, it looks like any other part of Queens with some nice homes and pre-war apartment buildings.

Thinking of living there? Do check it out on a cold and rainy winter weekday. Everything is hopping in the middle of the summer, but what happens when the hipster doofuses run back to Williamsburg?

See photos below of the $168k house and the cute bungalow not for sale.

The original woodwork is throughout the entire house. Looks 1920’s Craftsman style to me. Like I sez, picture all of the wood stripped and wood floors. The doors and light fixtures are original.

How cute are these kitchen cabinets? Some schmuck will probably come in here and throw these in the dumpster while updating the kitchen.

Yes, there is a bar in the basement! And yes, it’s made out of a recycled door.

Behind the bar. I assume these come with the house.

The upstairs bathrooms are original and in good shape, but this unused one in the basement is da bomb! I’m tellin ya, I could’ve lived in that basement.

The adorable bungalow around the corner. Looks like they used lots of reclaimed material and that siding is corrugated steel. Watch for me to steal that idea if I have to re-side a frame house in the future.