Prospect Heights / Crown Heights

I have liver in that area for five years, on park pl. between Classon and Franklin. It has come to be a decent neighborhood with new bistro's/ and such, but Franklin Ave. is still caught between worlds, it has a couple of new decent coffee places,great bar called Franklin Park and a flea market that is promising. It also has a drug trade that won't do away anytime soon. They seem to keep to themselves and I have never had a problem, my wife has also never been close to feeling any real danger, even coming home late at night is fine if you are male and have some awareness. If you are having kids the schools may be a real problem, check out the stats on the local elementary if you don't trust me. All the local families find a way to get their kids to better schools. Also a real lack of a good food store, unless you schlep to fairway, trader joe's, or join the park slope coop it is a bummer. We are moving to Red Hook for the above reasons.

I really think you ought to rent in Crown Heights before you buy. There is no buying opportunity in CH that is not still going to be there in one year's time.

It has been a ghetto neighborhood for so long, I'm sure there are changes but that they are spotty, and being one block over can make a world of difference.

Don't go into a very complex and nuanced neighborhood like that blind. Live there for a year as a renter first, get to know the good blocks and the bad. Then decide if you want to buy.