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Posts categoriezed as Queens

Condos & Coops Under $200k

Condos & Coops Under $200k published on 2 Comments on Condos & Coops Under $200k

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$ 179k: Crown Heights Studio

So this is what $179k buys you in Brooklyn these days. A 410 foot studio on Utica Avenue. Well, at least it’s renovated. Open house this weekend.

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$ 189k: Kew Gardens 1 BR

Nicely done FSBO site. The descriptions sounds like agent-speak 101 though. Anyway, we’re talking about the apartment, not the site, so….. looks nice. Kew Gardens=not too shabby. This is a coop, not a condo. 100 amp service. Does that mean the whole building has to agree to upgrade? Perhaps a silly question, but I don’t know from coops.

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$189,488: Parkchester 2 BR

Lemme tell you something. You really get your money’s worth in Parkchester. 2BRs right near the subway and all amenities. The buildings seem well cared for. If I was looking to buy my first place and I wasn’t so anti-condo, I’d consider Parkchester. Are those floors polished concrete?

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$199k: Jersey City 1 BR

Hey, look at that! Da kid is getting out of the boros. See? I told you this is a tri-state blog! So, I heard JC is cool. This says it’s near Lincoln Park and the Path train. Looks like a lovely pre-war building that hasn’t been all modernized.

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$139k: 3BR Condo Alternative

This came up under my condo search. Now, who wouldn’t want to live on a house boat? Forget what I said about Parkchester. If I was buying my first place, this would TOTALLY be it! I could’ve sworn I saw this ad awhile ago and the fact that the photos are not current probably means I’m correct. Maybe it never sold. Or it sold and the new owner couldn’t deal with it. Whatev. Who cares? I want it! I’d so be at KPD every night. And morning. Maybe lunchtime too. Not that I’d ever live in Mill Basin if I had to live on land.

5 Boro Rentals: What You Get For $1200

5 Boro Rentals: What You Get For $1200 published on 2 Comments on 5 Boro Rentals: What You Get For $1200

Let’s explore the rental market today, kids! What kind of an apartment can you get with $1200 in each of the boros? Apart from Manhattan… a 2 BR. All of these are no fee listings.

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Manhattan

1BR in Inwood/Washington Heights. The ad states “Pictures are representative of typical renovations.” So does that mean this isn’t the actual apartment? Is there an actual apartment? Anyway, I chose this one because they accept dogs and cats.

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Brooklyn

Midwood 2 BR. Again, maybe just a teaser. “This apartment is a must see, *however* I manage over 800 no fee apartments in Brooklyn.” The ad mentions that Joan Rivers, Chuck Schumer and Woody Allen have called Midwood home. They neglect to mention ME! Also sez Midwood neighbors Park Slope and Coney Island. Ok, I’m not sure “neighbor” is the correct word, agent Jason. It’s true, Midwood is right smack in the center of Brooklyn (Don’t bother looking at a map. In my mind it is, and that’s all that counts.) But no, it doesn’t “neighbor” PS or CI. I thought Midwood sucked when I was growing up. But now that the rest of Brooklyn is filled with the new Bourgeois Elite, Midwood is looking good to me.

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Bronx

2 BR in Little Italy section. Well, it sounds like it’s a 1 BR with “office”. It’s in a private home. I’m not sure if the cleaning products shown in the Craig photos come with the apartment.

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Queens

Ridgewood 2 BR. Railroad apartment near shopping. Heat and hot water included. Carpeting, new stove and cabinets. Probably a schlock renovation (yes, I AM my mother!), but I like Ridgewood. Ad lists: No section 8. No washing machine. No dryer. No pets. Love that negative advertising!

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Staten Island

2 BR in a 4 room apartment. Yeah, I have NO idea where this is. Heartland Village. Sounds like a senior development. “It’s on a quiet dead end street near the golf course.” I would take it for those kitchen cabinets alone. They rock!

5 Boros: Which is the Best Value?

5 Boros: Which is the Best Value? published on 2 Comments on 5 Boros: Which is the Best Value?

How far does $350k go when trying to purchase a home in NYC? Let’s take this boro by boro.

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Manhattan Studio: Sutton

Hey, this is actually cute! Although it’s teeny (looks to be under 300 sq ft judging from the floor plan), it’s not a dump. And the Sutton area address has gotta be worth something.

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Brooklyn: 3BR in Flatbush

I tried to find an actual house for $350k in Brooklyn, but alas, it doesn’t exist. If I had gone up to $400k, I would’ve come up with a few. So I chose to search for a 3BR and here’s what I came up with. A pre-war coop in Flatbush. A small 1 BR in Park Slope South can be had for this price as well.

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Queens: St. Albans Brick

This is the first listing that came up under my search criteria for Queens. It looks too good to be true, but then again, I don’t know a thing about St. Albans. Brick single family with 4 bedrooms. No info. Just says “seller must go”. I’m too scared to call! You do it!

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The Bronx: Baychester Single Family

Ok, not bad. A 2000 square foot, 3 BR home in Baychester. No maintenance fees (apart from all the repairs on the 1931 house), alittle outdoor space and you’re still in the boros.

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Staten Island: Stapleton 3BR

This one is a mere $349,900! I chose this home because Stapleton is the only part of Staten Island I know anything about. It’s close to the ferry and has an urban feel to it rather than a….um….a….Staten Island feel. This 1809 square foot home is looking a bit worn, but the choice is yours…. Would you rather have your own home in Staten Island or a cramped studio in Manhattan?

Affordable NYC: Jackson Heights

Affordable NYC: Jackson Heights published on 7 Comments on Affordable NYC: Jackson Heights

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Photo: JP Chan

I’m a bit disappointed that Jackson Heights isn’t as affordable as I thought (see listings below). Coops and condos can be had for under $300k, but I’m a firm believer in 2-3 family homes where tenants help with the mortgage. I didn’t come across any here for under $800k.

That’s not to say I don’t have a whole lotta love for Jackson Heights! If you have never been, it’s worth the trip for Little India alone. I trek over from Brooklyn occasionally just for the Jackson Diner. If you’re not into Indian food, the neighborhood certainly isn’t lacking on the ethnic restaurant front.

Jackson Heights is one of those remarkably diverse communities where everyone seems pleased as punch to be there (Or is it just me drinking the Kool Aid?). There’s a very large Latin American population and in fact, the neighborhood is the center for gay Latinos in Queens.

The architecture: Jackson Heights is known for it’s urban planning. The neighborhood consists of many pre-war rowhouses and garden apartments built around courtyards. Much of the area is historically landmarked.

Subway service is not a problem. The 7, E, F, G, and R all run through Jackson Heights.

Jackson Heights Beautification Group
Jackson Heights Life Forum
Jackson Heights Blog
Jackson Heights NYC
Jackson Heights NYC Info

Jahn’s: Kickin’ it Old Skool

Jahn’s: Kickin’ it Old Skool published on 5 Comments on Jahn’s: Kickin’ it Old Skool

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This post is for my folks. They don’t read this blog because they have no interest in home renovation or NYC real estate for that matter. But they’ll get a kick out this.

When I was researching Sheepshead Bay, I came across this article on Gerritsen Beach. I haven’t thought about Jahn’s ice cream parlor in about 20 years, but reading it brought back some memories. Actually, it was the mention of the “Kitchen Sink Sundae” that triggered my fondest memories.

At one time, Jahn’s could be found in locations around Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island and New Jersey. The Richmond Hill shop just closed in November, leaving one remaining Jahn’s in Jackson Heights. Worth the trip.

The antique fixtures were purchased by a Mid Westerner looking to restore his/her period ice cream parlor. So, not only is NYC losing it’s history. We’re losing it to the Mid West. Great.

REBNY MLS: It’s here.

REBNY MLS: It’s here. published on

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If NYC isn’t the center of your universe, you may not know this. There’s no MLS in NYC, any of the boroughs. Well, no real MLS, it’s kind of a joke. It makes it crazy difficult for a house buyer, shopping around with various agents, looking at The NY Times and Craigslist. It’s a full time job. And “buyer’s agent”? Ha! And don’t even get me started on how unfair this is for sellers.

Anyway, REBNY, the Real Estate Board of NY, is the the closest thing we have to MLS. Yesterday, they launched a web search portal called Residential NYC. It’s powered by Trulia, making it seems like….Trulia. Two of the largest real estate firms in NYC opted out: Corcoran and Elliman. So basically, MLS in NYC….not.

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