Open House Picks

I think that contractors are hungry now and for 350K (including architect and fixtures) you could fix up the Cobble Hill house pretty nicely – new pipes, electric, paint, appliances…etc. The 350 is approx what my renovation of a similar property is going to cost, all in. So I am not making this number up from thin air. My property cost less to start with and I couldn’t have bought this one…but even with the Lehman news, there are plenty in NYC who can. So I think it’ll be a nice move for whoever does and is ultimately sitting on a full brownstone in a great CH block for uder 2MM.

Montrose, thanks for the follow-up and detailed thoughts on the home. It’s one thing to see it here and discuss it without first-hand viewing, but your insight makes it much more interesting. I guess you won’t be relocating to it after all!

I saw the Crown Heights house. I was somewhat disappointed, but it still has great potential. With the exception of the entry hallway, and scattered detail, mostly on the parlor floor, there is not much detail left in what was a finely appointed house. For a 30′ house, it felt very enclosed, and that is because each floor has been cut up into a warren of rooms, with bathrooms and closets in places that would have originally been opened up. There are two bathrooms on each floor. Some of the ceilings have been dropped, and/or are covered with acoustic tiles.

The house has not been upgraded since Ike was president. It needs a complete electrical and plumbing overhaul. It is a legal 4 family, but the 4th apt is in the English basement. We could not get in there, because of the tenant. There is a fire escape on the unattached side of the building.

Positively, it is a lot of house, and with some good planning, and a big pile o money, it could be a showplace. The rooms are large and airy, even on the top floor. All of the floors have an outdoor space in the form of either a side porch,which look original, or a roof deck. They are all a decent size, and could be quite nice. I would tear down some walls and open the place up, even in a rental unit. As it is now, you don’t get the use of the width of the building, which is one of the best things about it.
The exterior is is excellent shape. The backyard is quite large, even with the garage, which is a keeper, with room for one car and a side door which I presume leads to a small storage area. The brick garage has decorative carved keystones. It doesn’t look as if anyone’s been in there in years.

The house next door is a huge, freestanding brick Arts and Crafts chalet, and the houses behind it on St. Marks are also free standing with large backyards, so the sense of space and roominess is really nice.

Long story long, if I could, I’d pay under a million, would sink another $700K into it, and be happy for the long haul. Because this is one of the gems of a really beautiful block that will certainly appreciate in time. I can see this place again being a beauty, both inside and out.

I think that Cobble Hill house could be a nice buy. It may not need a gut reno, just a lot of paint stripping. Can’t tell from the photos what the walls are like.

Obviously new kitchen and baths, but it’s possible that 200k could go a really long way. And that location is about as good as it gets IMO. I’d be shocked if it didn’t go for close to ask. You just don’t see a lot of unrenovated single family homes around there.

put $500 into the cobble hill home and it’ll worth double in no time. that is a great great location.