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Posts categoriezed as REAL ESTATE

Technical Preservation Services

Technical Preservation Services published on

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A department of The National Park Service, Technical Preservation Services has been assisting homeowners and industry people for over 30 years. They publish books, pamphlets and videos on preservation and rehabilitation of historic buildings.

And of course, there’s the website. It’s just chock full of information. They have preservation briefs on how to repair historic windows, slate roof tile, maintenance of cast iron, oh, you name it!

The site includes a guide to the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives Program for income producing properties.

There’s also a fun interactive online education program which features a couple of quizzes. I love quizzes.

Affordable NYC: Bushwick

Affordable NYC: Bushwick published on 2 Comments on Affordable NYC: Bushwick

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Bushwick was among the possibilities when we decided to return to Brooklyn. We explored a bit, but realized we’re too old for that hipster meshugas. We wanted the lovely brownstone on a quiet tree lined street (Yes, I know there are brownstones in Bushwick). But being that I was once a hipster myself (albeit over 20 years ago in the East Village), I get it.Continue reading Affordable NYC: Bushwick

Bed Stuy House Tour

Bed Stuy House Tour published on

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The 29th Annual Bed Stuy House Tour is taking place this Saturday, October 20th. Brownstoners of Bedford-Stuyvesant, the group behind the tour, has been doing this since the 70’s, when NYC had “bad neighborhoods” and Bed Stuy was near the top of the list.

29 years ago, the BBS’s goal was to keep folks from leaving by educating them on home ownership and creating a strong community. These days, they want to spread the message that it’s not an impossible dream to own a home in the rediscovered area.

The day kicks off with a 9am home buyers workshop. The tour begins at 11am at 832 Marcy and tickets are $20. Visit website for more info on where to buy advanced tickets.

NY Daily News
Bed Stuy Blog

Brooklyn Blogade

Brooklyn Blogade published on

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This months Brooklyn Blogade is being hosted by The Luna Park Gazette in Bay Ridge (Yeah, Luna Park is Coney Island). If you’re a Brooklyn blogger or even just obsessed with reading blogs, you should come!

From Rob’s site:

The Where: Omonia Cafe, 7612 Third Avenue, Brooklyn, NY. For about 8 bucks you get a delicious pastry and a damn good cup of coffee.

The When: 1 p.m. to about 4 p.m.

The Why: Meet, greet, mingle, schmooze, kibbutz, and sound off about your blog or anything else that might be bugging you.

Buying A Second Home Before Your First

Buying A Second Home Before Your First published on 3 Comments on Buying A Second Home Before Your First

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Since this site is dedicated to “affordable” real estate, you may be wondering “WTF? We can’t afford a first home. Why are they showing this weekend crap?” Well, that’s just it. If you’re stuck renting in the boroughs because the real estate train passed you by, at least you may be able to own something.

This advice is not for those of you paying $5000 for 1 BR apartments. It’s for those of you lucky enough to have a rent stabilized apartment or adventurous enough to be paying low rents in fringe neighborhoods.

Second homes are best for people who don’t get to travel anymore. Having less vacation time, kids and various responsibilities puts a damper on that 3 week trip to India. So, it’s good to have a place to go at the drop of a hat.Continue reading Buying A Second Home Before Your First

Weekender: Ellenville, NY

Weekender: Ellenville, NY published on 2 Comments on Weekender: Ellenville, NY

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We spent weekends near Ellenville when I was young. My childhood memories of the area are pretty crummy. It’s been run down for so many years, it’s depressing. But then again, I kind of like that. Because when you’ve hit rock bottom, there’s no where to go but up. So, I find Ellenville fascinating and inspiring. And it certainly seems as if it’s on the upswing!Continue reading Weekender: Ellenville, NY

20 Tips for Living in Small Spaces

20 Tips for Living in Small Spaces published on 3 Comments on 20 Tips for Living in Small Spaces

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This article was posted on My So-Called Japanese Life back in February, but of course I didn’t find out about it until Treehugger did, via Apartment Therapy, LA.

Shari, a Westerner living in Japan for the last 17 years, writes “When we first arrived, with little furniture and relatively few items, space seemed relatively plentiful. As time went by and our possessions and amount of furniture grew, things grew increasingly cramped and chaotic.”

I bet we can all learn a little something from this article, such as:

#3: Toss out anything you haven’t used in over a year.
#10: Buy tall furniture rather than long or wide.
#20: Get rid of your bed and buy that Karl Farbman chest of drawers. Nah, that me, not Shari.

Affordable NYC: Bay Ridge

Affordable NYC: Bay Ridge published on

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STAYIN’ ALIVE

I like Bay Ridge. I really do. But growing up in Brooklyn in the disco 70’s, I don’t think I’ll ever get over the Tony Manero image. That’s my own little issue though. Bay Ridge is great. It’s kind of a schlepp to Manhattan, but you know what? Bay Ridge offers everything you need….shopping, restaurants, lovely parks, water and bridge views. In fact, when I lived in Park Slope, I went to the gym in Bay Ridge.

The neighborhood is less trendy than other up and coming Brooklyn nabes. That’s because it’s not up and coming at all….it’s already an established neighborhood. Just less expensive. It’s a family oriented middle class neighborhood, with a strong, you guessed it, Italian community. In recent years, many Arab families have been discovering Bay Ridge, giving it a bit of a Middle Eastern flair.

Drawbacks: That R train is crazy slow. I can’t stand it.

+/-:

I don’t want to say this is a plus or minus, but the neighborhood is still fairly Conservative/Republican. I didn’t say that’s bad! I’m just putting it out there.

Lots of 2nd and 3rd generation Brooklynites still reside there. Personally, it’s a plus for me, because I miss my old Brooklyn (even though I thought it sucked at the time). But it may be neither here nor there for others.

Bay Ridge Rover
Bay Ridge Forum
Right In Bay Ridge
Brooklyn Row House

DIY: Photo Collage Wall Covering

DIY: Photo Collage Wall Covering published on 1 Comment on DIY: Photo Collage Wall Covering

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Our buddy Emilia sent us these photo of a project she’s working on in the East Village. It’s a restaurant that will open up shortly called “Smiths” on 3rd Ave between 10th and 11th.

They are working with old Life magazine photos and found that the only glue that didn’t destroy the pictures was spray adhesive. Wallpaper glue works for resin or fiber based images though. Just glue them up, wait for it to dry, than coat them with oil based poly for an older, yellowing look or water based for clear. If you’re doing lower surfaces such as counter tops or coffee tables, you should coat with resin.

Emilia is one of the “artists for sale” on our forum. You can contact her directly if you have a fun project which you’d rather not do yourself.

Weekender: Woodstock, NY

Weekender: Woodstock, NY published on 5 Comments on Weekender: Woodstock, NY

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Woodstock is a pretty happening place. There are many restaurants, galleries and shops to choose from along the main drag. When you tire of that, there’s hiking, mountain climbing, kayaking, tubing, hang gliding or skydiving nearby.

Although Woodstock didn’t really happen in Woodstock, the hippies planted themselves there long ago and they’re not going anywhere. Jerry Garcia is alive and well and living in Woodstock. Hippies are a wonderful thing if you’re a tree hugging, left leaning, vegetarian like myself. I just want to shave my armpits. And not have to listen to folk music. That’s all I ask.

But I digress. Woodstock doesn’t really have too many negatives. Housing prices are a bit steep if it’s a second home. And perhaps the area may be too trendy and overrated compared to neighboring towns such as Saugerties.

If it’s legendary Woodstock you’re looking for, Yasgur’s Farm in Bethel is up for sale for a cool $ 8 mil.

Check out the Woodstock Film Festival this weekend! Get up there soon…leaf peeping season is almost over.

Chamber of Commerce
Town of Woodstock
Byrdcliffe Guild
Woodstock Times

Before You Put In An Offer……

Before You Put In An Offer…… published on

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THINGS TO GET NERVOUS ABOUT

Yesterday we touched upon finding a home. If you haven’t run out and bought one yet, here are some items to further consider before putting in an offer. Now, if you’re willing to do the sweat equity thing or have the bucks to pay someone else to do it for you, you can restore just about anything.

If not, here’s a list of things to look at before you blow the $ on an inspection. Most of them are not the end of the world, they are just costly repairs:Continue reading Before You Put In An Offer……

Buying Your First Home

Buying Your First Home published on 5 Comments on Buying Your First Home

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We’re not going to get into whether or not this is a good time to buy. It’s obvious which side of the fence we’re on. We can never go back to renting again (mostly because of our pets). As long as you don’t have plans to flip the home within the next few years, why put it off?Continue reading Buying Your First Home

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