Tuesday, September 30, 2014

In Contract in Clinton Hill: 368 Grand Avenue




On Platinum Member radar a few months before it came out, the owners of 368 Grand Avenue asked us if the place was worth more or less than $2M before they put it on the market.  We said more, and had a few concrete on and off-market examples of why.  Sure, if you hated on this narrow not-even-a-full-15'-wide house back in 2012 for well under $1.5M, then there's no way you're hip to what's happening in Clinton Hill now.  But with all kinds of $3M product on these blocks, this narrow renovated 4-story was a nice alternative.  No wonder it's in contract already, over $2M, after barely a month on the market...






Heck, if 22 Arlington Place could go for over $2M in Bed-Stuy as a narrow 4-story, why can't this?  And don't forget the narrow pieces on Classon (a much busier, less desirable block) that fetched $2M and more.  Owner's triplex over garden rental.  Garden conveniently split up for both units to use their own share of it...






The renovation is very tasteful and the bathrooms look so good, we're wondering why they didn't even snap a pic!  But, in this market, you don't have to.  Qualified retail brokers can do these deals in their sleep.

Gripe about the width if you wanna.  One man's "that's too narrow for me" is another man's "most affordable renovated historic home in all of Clinton Hill".  Which man are you?  No, this isn't a quick and dirty flip, and no this "doesn't pencil" for an investor, but it was a great deal for the buyers coming and going.  Half you jokers don't know what you got 'til it's gone.


Pro's:  curb appeal, totally sweet renovation, makes the most of what it is, quintessential 2-Family, $2M pricepoint in the land of the $3M's, beats Arlington and Classon for most people

Con's:  super narrow, gone already, not everyone's taste inside or out, not the most requested block on Grand Avenue (but who can pick blocks in this market?), $2M is still a ton of money

Ideally:  Clinton Hill's most affordable look, and it's looking good


Thursday, September 25, 2014

Williamsburg Condo with 2 Outdoor Spaces: 174 Jackson Street, #2B





New to HomeCanvasr.com, it's a 1BR condo in Williamsburg with huge windows, exposed brick, exposed beam, all modern fixings, and 2 private outdoor spaces.  This new construction 8-unit condo, built in 2012, has central AC, washer/dryer in the units, and quality fixtures.  174 Jackson Street, #2B is asking between $750K-$850K and currently can't be found anywhere else besides HomeCanvasr.com










The bedroom and living room have sliding doors out to the private balcony, for that afternoon coffee...




And if that isn't enough, there's the private backyard downstairs with blue stone flooring installed, for all your barbecue and sun bathing needs...






With no elevator in the building, this unit on the 2nd floor is perfect.  It's nice to be in the rear of the building too, away from street noise.




Just 3 short blocks from the Graham stop on the L train, this is what the Billyburg condo buyers have been waiting for.  We haven't seen new construction this juicy since 37 Orient Avenue.  Jackson Street has an even more tasteful nod to the style of original details too.  Curbed covered these bad-boys when they went over ask at first sell-out.  Asking just over $1,000/sqft on this resale, it makes the $1,200/sqft condos over here look frothy.  With 732 square feet of interior space, some 600 square feet of outdoor space, tax abatement for years to come, and common charges under $350/month - this is worth a look for dozens of buyers.  Showing by appointment only next Saturday, October 4th from 1:00pm - 3:00pm.  E-mail Steven at steven@homecanvasr.com for more info.



Pro's:  location, 2 private outdoor spaces, 25' wide building, low taxes & common charges, new construction with tasteful style, 2nd floor rear unit, central AC, large windows, competitive price per square foot

Con's:  not a 2BR, no elevator, doorman, gym, parking or other frills of large condo projects

Ideally:  looks like a great a starter condo for lots of buyers who want to be just off the beaten path of one of Brooklyn's most hip neighborhoods

Monday, September 22, 2014

Closings of Note: What $2M Gets in Brooklyn These Days






When we heard about this narrow little Carroll Gardens piece at 453 Henry Street barely on market for ~$2M, it wasn't like anyone was chomping at the bit for it.  15' wide, it closed for $2.1M in mid-July.  When they rolled it out two weeks later for $2.95M, it got even less interesting.  But that's the arbitrage Brooklyn heads can shoot for when they buy in the dark and in sell in the light.  Why do they think they'll get $3M for this tiny little house?  Well, BoCoCa has become the baby West Village these days, and condos go for over $2M, if you haven't been paying attention...




"Peer through your oversized windows onto an alluring treelined Brooklyn Street," as you take in the fact that you just spent $2.2M on a new-construction duplex condo.  307 Warren Street, #1 sold to buyers from Manhattan this summer.  $1,100/sqft might sound high, until you realize that generic condos in Williamsburg start at $1,200/sqft.





One of the last great townhouse buys in Fort Greene under $2M, Platinum Members closed on 291 Adelphi Street for $1.875M in June.  Don't blame us when the next time you see this house available, it's got a 3 in front of it.





Back to BoCoCa, where a condo can sell for even more than an estate sale 4-story townhouse in Fort Greene.  25 Bergen Street, #1C fetches $1.885M.





Still in BoCoCa, 233 Pacific Street #5B closes in June for $1.8M.  Remember when this was only $1.15M two years ago?  We sure do!  Even at this price, it still looks like a steal to buyers from the West Village who bought it.  What was that about BoCoCa becoming the baby West Village...?





Or for a townhouse at this price, you've gotta slide over to the edge of Clinton Hill ("but dangerously close to Bed-Stuy!" - they told us) for 389 Classon Avenue which closed for $1.825M in June.






"Closer to Gowanus than Park Slope," by some accounts still didn't stop the tiny 3-story at 297 6th Street from fetching $2.35M in July.






For a steal in prime Park Slope under $2M, look no further than 740 Union Street, which Platinum Members balked on the first time around, and just barely missed the 2nd time around when the estate decided to be "loyal" to the buyers who were messing around on their deal.  The house closed in May for $1.9M to buyers from mid-town Manhattan.  It joins 105 St. Johns Place as barely-marketed deals that went down in prime slope for $1.9M that season.





Speaking of barely marketed in Park Slope, 115 Lincoln Place flipped for $2.137M a few months ago.  When buyers were bidding $1.85M cash and we were telling them there were already offers higher, we weren't kidding.






Prospect Heights condos are pushing (and exceeding!) $2M now too?  225 Eastern Parkway, #2C fetches $1.795M, y'all.  Buyers from Hanson Place made it happen.




When condos off of Classon are going for almost $2M (and sometimes more), you know that's a deal for a brownstone on a better block in the same neighb!  Asking $2.5M, Platinum Members scooped up this 4-story 2-Family gem in prime Prospect Heights for $2M last month.  130 Underhill Avenue should have duplex rentals coming soon, but don't try finding a sale like this on your StreetEasy or NYTimes.  Not only is this a deal as far as Brooklyn goes, but it's a steal when you're a buyer coming from Manhattan.





Platinum Members picked up an even nicer off-market deal at 287 Park Place, but it ostensibly took even more money to do it.  Buyers from the West Village made it happen for $2.96M at the end of July.  The garden rental upcoming is set to be a stunner.  Compares nicely to our other deal at 101 Park Place on the Slope side.





For an even better bargain, slide over to Crown Heights (after all, it's only a few avenues away) where Platinum Members had an accepted offer on this limestone gem at 255 New York Avenue and passed on it.  The house closed for $1.5M in July.  So much for $1M homes on Franklin Avenue when the best houses (and even bombed-out fixer uppers) 3-5 avenues east can fetch $1.5M and higher.





On Platinum Member radar a few weeks before it was re-released, 160 Prospect Park West is a huge barrel-front gem with great original details that sold in July for $3.85M to buyers from Manhattan.  Extra-deep building right on Prospect Park?  No wonder it sold for almost twice $2M.





Before they closed on it, they tried to flip the contract to us on this narrow Clinton Hill piece at 331 Washington Avenue.  But it's hard to sell something that only a handful of people know about, you can barely get access to, you insist on all-cash, and you give buyers only a week or two to decide.  Heck, doesn't look like this thing is flying off the shelves either even with the Corcoran treatment.  It closed back in June for $1.9M and is asking $2.65M on the flip.  Buying in the dark and selling in the light is a good strategy, but nothing is guaranteed.



Saturday, September 20, 2014

Closings of Note: Franklin For a Million





The same week that multiple people ask us for a million dollar house near Franklin Avenue, a condo sells for a million on Franklin Avenue.  Prospective buyers keep asking for houses in a two-avenue radius at prices that were tricky to pull-off even 2 years ago - let alone in this market.  It's hard to count the ways that their search is a daunting (if not impossible) task.  Now that Starbucks has made its way to Franklin Avenue and Eastern Parkway, (a Crown Heights rise in gun violence notwithstanding) isn't it a little too late to call your shot on precisely which block you want to land?  Yes, solo espresso shots and gun shots can co-exist within blocks of each other in this town we call Brooklyn.  If condos are going for a million on Franklin, then homeowners ostensibly want more and they will get it.  Just wait until this owner lets us show you what's trading for not $2M, but $3M off of Franklin this month.  For million dollar condos near Franklin, peep game at 475 Sterling Place, #3I which just closed for $985K.  Guess where the buyers are from?  The previous neighborhood you thought was the only one worth living in Brooklyn: Park Slope.  But the numbers don't stop there.  Larger units in this same building have come within $10K of $1.3M this year too.  Speaking of $1.3M....






Even when you get the early lead on a meh-renovation in Bed-Stuy that's only 17' wide, that doesn't mean the sellers will be undersold.  315 Jefferson Avenue listed for $1.3M and closed for $1.35M last month to buyers from Fort Greene.  Yes, far from Franklin, narrow, underwhelming interior & exterior, and 35% over $1M.  That's one of the lowest going rates for turnkey, marketed 2-3 Family houses even well into Bed-Stuy.  You want a 20' wide house whose fourth story isn't an after-thought, with nicer details?  Look no further than across the street, and expect to pay more...





Brownstoner asked if $1.5M would fly for the gem across the street at 314 Jefferson Avenue.  Well, it closed last month for $1.675M.





And here's the million dollar condo ON Franklin.  No, it's not near Franklin Park, Chavela's, Mayflower, or Berg'n -  it's on the not-quite-as-coveted Bed-Stuy side.  396 Franklin Avenue, #1 lists for $900K and closes for $1.01M last month.  At least this bad-boy is a duplex with a garden.  Take a close look, because this is what a million dollars ACTUALLY looks like on Franklin these days.  It's not a full townhouse, it's not on the Crown Heights side, it asked less than a millie and sold for more.  And it still makes us scratch our heads why so-called "investors" are trying to fade a 20' 4-story on this same block for only a million, when 2 floors in B+ condition a few doors down easily sells for over a million.  Just because an opportunity "doesn't pencil" for an investor, doesn't mean that it isn't the best buy within 10-20 blocks.  The market is the market, for better or worse.  Brooklyn doesn't owe anybody anything.  These houses are and will continue to be worth what buyers who hear about them are willing to and capable of paying for them.





In another "emerging neighborhood" where condos in the building have touched $1.3M, another unit closes for $990K in the Shoe Factory lofts.  242 Greene Avenue, #3A closed last month





Deep in Bed-Stuy, a buyer from downtown Brooklyn pays $1.525M last month for 461 Willoughby Avenue.  Far from Franklin and well over $1.3M once again.





Just off of Franklin, south of Eastern Parkway, and over $1.3M, it's a Massada Homes special that most buyers would probably turn their nose up at for half this price and expect to find only in Queens.  But that's 1027 President Street for ya, closing for $1.375M last month.  It's looking real good for Platinum Members in contract pre-market for 10% less than this on a nice limestone in even better condition.





Speaking of limestones in great condition... far, far away from Franklin Avenue, at the end of Lefferts, sits 7 Parkside Court, which just closed for full asking price of $1.4M to buyers from Sackett Street.  There's been lots of activity recently on this interest little cul-de-sac of limestones, and there's still one available for less than this, last time we checked.





Just west of Franklin Avenue, this little castle at 490 Classon Avenue had a serviceable renovation inside and unique facade on the outside.  The house closed for $1.3M last month to a buyer from the East Village.





For a great pick-up on the edge of Park Slope, check out this little guy at 358 Douglass Street asking $1.6M+ and closing for $1.413M last month.  Probably needs a gut for most people's taste, but that is about the lowest price point you'll find on those blocks.  Buyers from the West Village made it happen.





For the lowest apartment price point in Park Slope, check out 190 Garfield Place, #1B.  Generic, but renovated.  Lofty, but part underground.  As nifty 600-700 sqft 1BR's go, this is nice.  No wonder it closes for full asking price of $600K last month.  No wonder the most affordable apartment in Prospect Heights is a no-brainer at this price or higher.





But when you really want a nice pricepoint on a small 2BR apartment about this size, come past Franklin in Crown Heights and bring all cash.  We told you last year that this was Crown Heights' most affordable condo!  1062 Bergen Street, #2A closed for $250K last month.


And tomorrow we'll take a look at what's happening in the $2M's and up around town...


Sunday, September 14, 2014

Topics: Diary of a Platinum Member





For a few months now we've been trying to redact the illuminating, harrowing (sometimes sordid) account of what it took one Platinum Member to eventually land the gem at 123 Gates Avenue.  We had titled it "Diary of a Platinum Member" and couldn't quite get a version that was juicy enough to pack a punch without offending some of the lesser-behaved parties involved.  Luckily, one of the buyers is a writer herself and put together a much more diplomatic account of the process into something digestible for a wider audience and quite educational. 

To that end, we present you with "Diary of a Platinum Member", AKA "How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Boom".

Or, better yet, let's just let the author use her own title...

__________________________________________________



The Two-Year Hunt: How To Buy in a Seller’s Market While Maintaining Your Sanity

Hopeful buyers line up in the cold to view a Crown Heights brownstone
The apartment (or house) hunt–especially if the hunting is being done in New York City–is the subject of a million nightmare stories. Bidding wars, investors with suitcases full of cash, open houses with block-long lines, estate properties tied up for years in family squabbles, contracts that turn to dust over tiny details, sellers who change their minds–they exist in myth and in reality. Each story seems more unbelievable than the last, and everyone thinks their story is worse.
Ours was not the worst. And it ended well. And those are the best things I can say about a two-year hunt that covered hundreds of apartments and townhouses throughout some of Brooklyn’s most sought-after neighborhoods. During that time we were booted from an accepted offer (on one of the last great deals in the neighborhood.); we walked away from several others (a bona fide celebrity bought one of our rejects); we got to know pretty much every broker in the area from the mom-and-pops to the polished pros; we were outbid–by cash offers, end-users and investors–on too many occasions to count (including on the house we actually now own).
brooklyn house hunt map, clinton hill map, fort green map 
Just small handful of the addresses we scouted on our hunt
When we began looking for a New York City home, my fiancĂ© and I set a budget and began our search for a nice two-bedroom apartment, condo, co-op or perhaps a house or quirky garage/loft space to renovate. I had lived in the city for nearly two decades and was well-versed in the more subtle differences between its unique neighborhoods and in the many socioeconomic changes that affect real estate markets. He had dabbled in real estate for most of his life and wasn’t daunted by the many moving parts involved in financing, purchasing and renovating property.
We identified our wants and deal-breakers and our ideal neighborhoods–some top choices, others on a case-by-case basis. Many, many apartments in our price range left us underwhelmed. “Mr. Pickypants” earned his moniker as brownstone “ant farm” apartments and newly-constructed drywalled boxes failed to impress as suitable dwellings given the seemingly enormous chunk of money we were offering to trade for the privilege of owning them.
The townhouse bug (it had always been a dream but not a goal) first bit us when we were outbid on a big triplex condo in a two-condo brick townhouse on a lovely Clinton Hill street. After deciding we should kick our budget up a notch (coupled with the idea that rental income was not a bad idea, as it would help us obtain more financing and provide actual income to offset the mortgage), we focused our search on the elusive Brooklyn Brownstone.
This was about six months into our search, sometime in 2012, which was precisely the moment a significant portion of the real-estate hunting public was making the same decision. During the time that comprised our search, Brooklyn real estate prices hit a ten year high and townhouse prices leapt by over 25%. Houses that were under a million dollars when we first threw our hat into the ring were now a million and a half, even two. And inventory was at a record low.
Brooklyn Brownstone, Clinton Hill, Lake Bell, Landscape, Brooklyn Garden, Zen Garden, Townhouse 
Actress/writer/director Lake Bell bought this magical garden far, far from the subway instead of us
The four-story 1860s townhouse on a leafy street in the Clinton Hill Historic District–just around the corner from the aforementioned elusive triplex–that we finally bought was the house we liked best of all, and the neighborhood was among our top choices. We began chasing it (with a late-night email from me that instructed, “BUY IT NOW!”) a full year before the sellers would even accept an offer due to estate legal issues. Once that hurdle was cleared, the price went up. We submitted another offer. We were outbid.
The winning bidder (an Australian investment fund) didn’t sign the contract. Closing took many more months even after the call from the broker telling us we were next in line (more estate issues, some of which almost sent the whole thing out the window). And during all of it, we kept up the hunt, because we had zero faith in things working out with this particular property. In the end, the closing, among a tableful of geeky lawyers, was anticlimactic, though joyous nonetheless.
Our two-year search ended well (so far, anyway) both investment-wise and because we love the house, though a comprehensive renovation looms menacingly on the horizon. But it’s really a jungle out there. And though we’re both experienced in some ways and green in others, we learned an enormous amount of stuff we’d never had any idea about before.
123 Gates, Clinton Hill Brownstone, Brooklyn Brownstone, Townhouse 
The one that didn’t get away
What the experience was not was terribly emotional–though it had its anxious and extremely tedious moments–we both had a healthy sense of perspective on it, which is key to maintaining one’s sanity when hunting for real estate. And we certainly survived. It’s both as bad as everyone says and not as bad as you’re afraid it might be. Be prepared, not afraid.
To that end, here are some of the important things we learned:
Commit the time and cast a wide net.
Though you may feel like you don’t have the time to spare, it is absolutely worth it to dedicate time to the hunt. I found our house while trawling through generic online listings in the middle of night for probably the fourth time that day; I had to practically stalk the property agents to even get a return phone call.
Your search resources should be many.
Regardless of how helpful they may be in making appointments to view properties and keeping after seller’s agents, you can’t rely on brokers to find every property that might be of interest to you. At first, finding listings will seem daunting; there are so many properties on the market it seems you’ll definitely miss something good. There will come a time in your search when you’re pretty much familiar with everything on the market. Then it gets easier because your regular searches will just turn up what’s new.
Make the internet your friend. Tailor your search in real estate sections of local papers and sites like Streeteasy, and sign up for daily mailings in any neighborhoods and price ranges you’d even consider. Make your search parameters wide; home prices regularly get chopped and, believe it or not, offers below ask are sometimes accepted. I even periodically searched all listed properties for sale in the entire borough. Look on real estate agencies’ sites as well, especially on the pages of agents who have represented properties you’ve liked.
In addition to real estate agents, “connectors” like Jonah Landman, who publishes the blog BK to the Fullest, make it their business to keep their ear to the ground for off-market deals and pre-market tips. If you find one you can trust, they’re worth the upfront payment; the information they provide is golden.
Ask friends, neighbors and colleagues how they found their homes. You’ll find some resources aren’t very helpful (for example, I signed up for a ton of foreclosure notice mailings early on but found they don’t really turn up in my areas of interest). You’ll soon discover which sources turn up the best finds. Check them daily if possible.
Pound the pavement. It sounds old-fashioned, but you might be surprised at how many people found their homes this way. Walk around neighborhoods you love and look for “For Sale” signs and call immediately. We found out about a house we liked, an amazing Prospect Heights brownstone (one of many on which we were outbid), from someone who saw a tiny, hand-printed sign in a parlor floor window. Hit neighborhood real estate offices as well. Sometimes the local guys have a line on homes before anyone else.
brooklyn brownstone for sale sign, brooklyn real estate, brooklyn brownstone for sale 
This Dahlander-designed Prospect Heights beauty was never listed, just the sign in the window. Outbid, but so close!
Know your market.
The NYC real estate market is unique and neighborhood property values can change almost overnight (though this “change” is usually in an upward direction). Compete on a realistic level by getting to know what comparable properties are selling for NOW (not two years or even six months ago), in the exact area you’re looking in. Look at sales prices, but realize those can be out of date since properties can take a long time to close. Look at listing prices and read local real estate blogs like this one to get feedback on neighborhood pricing. Keep up on neighborhood news and what’s on the horizon for the neighborhood as far as trends, recent changes and planned developments. Spend some time in neighborhoods you’re interested in or that have been recommended to get a feel for what they’re really like at different times of the day. Spend time in a local cafe; see who gets out of the subway station at rush hour; investigate the street scene after dark. Read up and ask around. First impressions can be very deceiving.
Get your team in place early.
Find a good real estate attorney and mortgage broker or brokers early in the game. You might have to go through a few to find the right fit. Having good pros on board can also help you decide on properties with any legal or financial issues that may scare away other buyers.
Get your financing in order  
Besides needing to know what your mortgage situation will be, a pre-approved offer, and, to a lesser degree, a pre-qualified offer, gets you miles ahead of an offer that hasn’t been vetted by a lender. Things happen fast when a great home hits the market. If your offer isn’t seen as serious, someone else will bump you out of the running. Know how much of a down payment you can make. More cash is most often seen as better, but there is no shortage of sellers who are fine with financing, regardless of what you hear. And, maybe most importantly, obtaining financing is one of the biggest and most stressful logistical hurdles in the entire process. Doing the legwork early can make things much easier once you’ve advanced to actually attempting to close a deal. Also, be aware that your financing status may change with each new tax return you file, and you’ll be required to provide the most recent one.
Play the field.
We didn’t find having only one broker to be advantageous. For one, though it’s not considered fair play, some listing agents (especially among small neighborhood companies or single agents) don’t like to share their commissions with another broker and may give an advantage to unrepresented buyers. We also found that sampling the wares of the many different brokers that showed us their properties exposed us to a broader range of options. This “serial dating” method can also help you find a broker you favor for the remainder of your search. It should be approached carefully, though. If one agent shows you a property, you’ll raise legal and certainly emotional issues if you attempt to bring another broker to the table on that property. You can play the field but don’t be a jerk; you will very likely see the same faces again in your search.
Be prepared to make an offer right away.
This freaked us out at first as I think it does with a lot of people. In New York, an accepted offer isn’t legally binding, it’s basically just an informal signed agreement between all parties that the property will be taken off the open market (though the sellers may continue to show it) and the offering party will get a chance to sign a contract. Basically it gets your hat in the ring; you’re not liable for any costs if you walk away; on the other side, the seller isn’t liable if they decide to sell the house to another bidder, so don’t dither once your offer is accepted.
If you’re reasonably sure you want the property, make the offer. It should be an amount that will, basically, get you the apartment. Reams have been written about this, but just to touch on the subject, “lowball” offers are a waste of time and may annoy the seller. Offers can be below ask, but have a good idea of what the comparable properties in the area are going for. You want the home; convey this through your offer. You may be asked for your “best and final” offer. That’s exactly what it means, the most you’re willing to offer with no counter-offer expected. The sellers will evaluate everyone’s offer and, basically, pick one.
As an aside, “cash offers” are often simply offers that do not include a mortgage contingency. The standard offer with a financed purchase informs the seller that the intent to purchase the property will be contingent upon the buyers’ ability to obtain financing and, usually, a report from a certified building inspector. Making the offer non-contingent on financing means you won’t have the right to get out of the subsequent contract if a lender won’t lend you the money to buy the property. It’s sometimes considered a “cash” offer, but in many cases the buyer just takes the risk and gets a mortgage anyway. As long as the deal goes through, it doesn’t matter. Non-contingent offers get sellers’ attention because they mean less time before closing and they’re more of a sure thing early on. Talk to your lawyer and mortgage broker about contingency waivers, but unless you really do have the cash or a guarantee of ability to obtain the funds, they are not recommended.
Be prepared to walk away.
This one may be even tougher. No one is suggesting you submit offers frivolously, but given the above reality, you’re getting very little time to decide on a significant financial commitment to what could be your family’s home for years to come. Though you don’t want to waste time before signing a contract, you’ll have a small window of time to do things like get the property inspected by a certified inspector, see how far the it really is from subways, how the block feels after dark, and, if you happened to be the winning bidder on multiple properties, decide which one is best rather than trying to make that decision on a dime amid a frenzy of prospective buyers. It may make you feel kind of crazypants at first (and brokers may try to discourage you), but you’ll get used to it. Remember, your goal is to find a home you love, not to make everyone else happy.
Don’t annoy the sellers.
Unfortunately in a sellers’ market, you’re buying the property on the sellers’ terms. Trying to haggle and make demands beyond the most obvious (such as removal of seventy linear feet of disturbed asbestos in the basement) will simply get the house sold to the next guy in line who’s willing to deal with the issue himself. It may be an unwelcome reality but there’s no getting around it.
368 Grand Avenue Brooklyn 
We had an accepted offer, then got bumped for another buyer on this Clinton Hill steal.
Know your dealbreakers.
This is a common topic as well. Know what you absolutely need and don’t get distracted by things that wow you in the moment. A totally amazing landscaped yard might be a cool thing to have, but 1. you only use the yard half the year, and 2. you can landscape the yard yourself. Is it worth paying a premium or buying a house that isn’t up to your standards otherwise to get that wow factor out of the box? Kitchens are relatively inexpensive to re-do, even to move to another floor. “I hate the kitchen cabinets” is absolutely not a reason to pass on a house or apartment that is otherwise great.
When it comes to prioritizing, the old adage, location, location, location, is worth heeding; you can change any number of things about a home, but you can’t move it to another neighborhood, off a noisy or sketchy block or closer to the subway. And prices in prime neighborhoods tend to climb fast. When in doubt, give location a high priority.
In our case, we didn’t want to be on the ground floor, or in a walkup above the second floor. Outdoor space became a must (even, in the case of apartments, if it was common space). As our search progressed we ruled out certain blocks and neighborhoods completely. The more you can rule out quickly, the more it helps to avoid wasting your time.
Embrace adversity.
For example, staying on top of the hunt during traditional real estate down times like the winter holidays or the dog days of summer may find less on the market but also takes a lot of competition out of the running. If you’re willing to put in the renovation work, unattractive and outdated finishes may also thin out the competition. If you know your markets, egregiously high price tags can dissuade buyers. Keep an eye on the property and see if it stays on the market (it likely will). Keep checking in; the seller may be glad to accept a more reasonable offer after having no takers for a while. Even seemingly thorny legal issues can put someone who is savvy about those issues in a prime place to make a deal.
Keep track and follow up.
Even if a house you love was snatched up by someone else, they may drop out before closing. The house may go back on the market. It doesn’t hurt to check in with the seller’s agent periodically to see if a contract was signed. You may get a window of opportunity if things fall through and the sellers don’t want to go through the hassle of re-listing.
A note on staying sane.
This is the “soft” advice that doesn’t involve dollar signs or priority lists.
  • It’s important to keep things in perspective. Remember the things you already have and are happy with prior to your new acquisition. Assuming you already have a serviceable roof over your head, it’s just an apartment (or a house), and your life is fine without it, right?
  • If there are two (or more) of you, be a team. Divide tasks (getting financing, finding listings, calling brokers) and make sure you are diligent in doing what you’ve signed up for. If you’re asked to pinch hit for the other guy’s job, do it willingly (I think this strategy is what really made our operation a well-oiled machine bound for success).
  • As scary as it sounds, if you really, really hate it, you can sell it. No one wants to think that way, but this isn’t a situation without any kind of exit strategy (especially in a sellers’ market!). Choose wisely but don’t give the choice more significance than it needs to have.
  • Take a break or two. It’s important to devote time to the search in order to succeed (and yes, it will even seem like another full time job at times), but taking the occasional breather keeps things in perspective.
  • Try not to take it too seriously. A sense of humor goes a long way in a stressful situation.



Friday, September 12, 2014

Platinum Plays in Bed-Stuy: 183 Halsey Street





Despite the dozens of folks who continue to enter the real estate market looking for one, the million dollar fixer-upper in brownstone Brooklyn is a dying breed.  Especially if you want to be on one of the more-coveted blocks of the now no-brainer neighborhoods that people once thought of as the final frontier, like Bed-Stuy.  In the time it took for Platinum Members to do a barely on-market deal at 183 Halsey Street well under a million, neighbors like 107A Halsey Street have shot up from the $1.4M range (with offers over asking price) to asking $2M today.  But don't try below-market moves like 183 Halsey Street on your Corcoran.com!

Yes, 'twas a frozen winter night with snow on the ground when the deal at 183 Halsey Street was going down.  We were worried that Platinum Members might lose the deal as word about the good buy started to get out.  One broker had rumored to us that a Corcoran broker's client had the deal all locked up.  At a fancy a holiday-type get together at Crown Heights' 1234 Dean Street, a number of Corcoran brokers asked us, "So you work in real estate?" and stood a little dumbfounded as we described how we make our moves and navigate deals that big brokers are typically shut out of.  Then one of them pulled out their business card and patronizingly said, "Well, when you're ready to run with the big boys, give me a call..."  At that very instant, we got the text that Platinum Members and not the Corcoran client had fully executed the contract at 183 Halsey Street.  And the rest was history.

Yup, with a closing price of $800K in February of this year, and a turn-around refinance of $700K+ back out of the property just a few months later, we checked in last week on the renovation under-way...










By now, you know the drill... solid 20' wide 4-story Italianate brownstone with some original details worth preserving.  Slide the A/C and new plumbing and new electrical in.  Set it up as a triplex over garden rental... and -poof!!- you get something with a 2-handle on it in this market in "west" Bed-Stuy.






With a little heat gun and a lot of elbow grease, years of paint come right off of all kinds of original wood in the building...




The blue stone is in, and the yard will clean up even nicer than this when it's all said & done...




Many buyers with deeper pockets have paid significantly more for worse houses on this same block in the past few months (but we won't name names).  Although, we'll name names for the collabo' at Halsey.  With a little help from Steve Hartstein on the refinance, who was temporarily 'mortgage broker non-grata' to us after failing to deliver a loan on 1134 Bergen Street; and a lot of help from Chris Horner, a broker experienced in the ways of underground and above-ground deals - Platinum Members came out on top and Corcoran clients were left in the cold.  Can't wait to follow-up on this reno when it's all done.



Pro's:  curb appeal, west Bed-Stuy location, well under a million, delivered vacant, legal 2-Family, no SRO issues, appraised for much higher soon after closing, refinanced almost all the money back out to fund the renovation, quick walk to Nostrand express A train & voilĂ !

Con's:  long gone already, not easily repeated, plenty of work to do, took cash upfront to close, sellers delayed for a bit, rocky road to pull it off, "doesn't pencil" as an investment for overly-greedy investors

Ideally:  another barely-marketed slam dunk.  If "running with the big boys" means missing out on deals like this, what's the point?