Hiya StreetEasy folks. Debating between two properties, maybe you can help. The first is a 2-bedroom/1.5-bathroom condo in Downtown Brooklyn. The other is a 4-bedroom/2-bathroom house in Bay Ridge (single family). May as well compare apples to unicorns, yes. But they are both beautifully maintained homes and we like each one a lot for different reasons. Downtown Brooklyn has many subway lines,... [more]
Hiya StreetEasy folks. Debating between two properties, maybe you can help. The first is a 2-bedroom/1.5-bathroom condo in Downtown Brooklyn. The other is a 4-bedroom/2-bathroom house in Bay Ridge (single family). May as well compare apples to unicorns, yes. But they are both beautifully maintained homes and we like each one a lot for different reasons. Downtown Brooklyn has many subway lines, near everything and with full-time super (don't have to worry about shoveling, etc). However, the Bay Ridge home is in impeccable condition (been in same family for generations, very well-kept), closets for days and a sweet yard. Oddly enough, similar price for both. Maintenance and taxes are also in similar range.
It is for our family of 4, with 2 kids. We hope to stay awhile but work might require a move in a couple of years. We're guessing the condo will appreciate more in the short term but the house is beckoning us with its endless rooms and original details. After living off the L Train, we swore we'd never be beholden to a single train line again but this house is making us re-think it!
Which would you pick?
[less]
Response by jelj13
about 11 years ago
Posts: 821
Member since: Sep 2011
Lived in Bay Ridge for 30 years.
PROS: quiet, more like suburbs, Shore Road area built to mimic Riverside Drive, well maintained homes.
CONS: commute to city, local stores run by new waves of immigrants who don't post signs in English, difficult to reach other areas of Brooklyn, need car to shop.
NOTE: Bay Ridge runs from Shore Road to 6th Ave, between 66th St. and the Verrazzano. Realtors add areas around the neighborhood since Bay Ridge always pricier.
LIVED DOWNTOWN A FEW YEARS
PROS: Easy commute to Manhattan and cultural areas of Brooklyn
CONS: Everything else: grocery shopping, laundries, sense of community. etc.
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by berkts
about 11 years ago
Posts: 4
Member since: Feb 2008
Thanks Jelj13. If you were a betting man, which do you think would appreciate better in a couple of years?
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by berkts
about 11 years ago
Posts: 4
Member since: Feb 2008
OP here. Not sure why StreetEasy's displaying my name differently.
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by KnockoutRenovation
about 11 years ago
Posts: 2
Member since: May 2014
a co worker lives in bay ridge and her commute to midtown seems to be horrible almost everyday. If you are not planning to stay maybe the condo makes more sense. This depending where downtown. You have easier access to city. Nice parks along the water front, BAM, Barclays center, food etc... That sense of community might be missing but it may just be different. On the other hand owning land in a nice neighborhood in nyc is always good.
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by John75
about 11 years ago
Posts: 88
Member since: Nov 2011
A friend of mine used to live in Bay Ridge and moved as fast as he could because of the stench coming from the Owl's Head Wastewater Treatment Plant. If I were you I would move to downtown Brooklyn.
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by jelj13
about 11 years ago
Posts: 821
Member since: Sep 2011
The Owl's Head Wastewater Treatment Plant was built in the 1950's. It is on the corner of the neighborhood across the highway and separated from the neighborhood by a huge park.
I lived at that end of the neighborhood, 1 block from the park, for about 18 years and there were RARELY an odors. My parents stayed in the apartment while I moved 10 blocks closer to the Bridge. They rarely smelled anything while I NEVER smelled the odors.
John75, your friend probably lived in Sunset Park. They always got the full brunt of any odors. As I said, the borders of Bay Ridge shift depending upon your realtor.
berkts: If you were buying a house in Bay Ridge, it will continue to appreciate. The new condos/coops were flash and trash. The older buildings converted to condos/coops often needed extensive repairs. The condos/coops that stayed the course over the years were always on Shore Road with water views.
I can't believe that Downtown Brooklyn is so "hot" right now. I'm not sure what future prices will be. I toured the area before I bought my current place in Yorkville. I was surprised at how little you got for the money, considering the area still has that commercial vibe.
My bets are on Morningside Heights for the best appreciation. I looked at Morningside Gardens, (70, 80, 90, and 100 La Salle St. plus 501 and 549 W 123 St.). Columbia is completing a lot of construction on Broadway from 125 St and up. Prices already jumped 100K in the past 2 years since the cooperative loosened their regulations on pricing and brokering through their managing agent. ( http://mhhc.coop/). Many of the apartments have terraces with great views. Look carefully at the amenities on site, the closeness to Fairway, Riverside Park improvement, and other services.
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by berkts
about 11 years ago
Posts: 4
Member since: Feb 2008
Thanks for all the responses! Jelj13, we'll check out Morningside Heights.
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by jelj13
about 11 years ago
Posts: 821
Member since: Sep 2011
You can call these people at Morningside Gardens. They're really nice people. A lot of brokerage firms are also representing sellers.
Sales and Transfer Manager, Frank Aguilar, (917) 340-6155, faguilar@mhhc.coop or Assistant to the Sales and Transfer Manager, Carina Caba, (646) 634-3337, ccaba@mhhc.coop.
Lived in Bay Ridge for 30 years.
PROS: quiet, more like suburbs, Shore Road area built to mimic Riverside Drive, well maintained homes.
CONS: commute to city, local stores run by new waves of immigrants who don't post signs in English, difficult to reach other areas of Brooklyn, need car to shop.
NOTE: Bay Ridge runs from Shore Road to 6th Ave, between 66th St. and the Verrazzano. Realtors add areas around the neighborhood since Bay Ridge always pricier.
LIVED DOWNTOWN A FEW YEARS
PROS: Easy commute to Manhattan and cultural areas of Brooklyn
CONS: Everything else: grocery shopping, laundries, sense of community. etc.
Thanks Jelj13. If you were a betting man, which do you think would appreciate better in a couple of years?
OP here. Not sure why StreetEasy's displaying my name differently.
a co worker lives in bay ridge and her commute to midtown seems to be horrible almost everyday. If you are not planning to stay maybe the condo makes more sense. This depending where downtown. You have easier access to city. Nice parks along the water front, BAM, Barclays center, food etc... That sense of community might be missing but it may just be different. On the other hand owning land in a nice neighborhood in nyc is always good.
A friend of mine used to live in Bay Ridge and moved as fast as he could because of the stench coming from the Owl's Head Wastewater Treatment Plant. If I were you I would move to downtown Brooklyn.
The Owl's Head Wastewater Treatment Plant was built in the 1950's. It is on the corner of the neighborhood across the highway and separated from the neighborhood by a huge park.
I lived at that end of the neighborhood, 1 block from the park, for about 18 years and there were RARELY an odors. My parents stayed in the apartment while I moved 10 blocks closer to the Bridge. They rarely smelled anything while I NEVER smelled the odors.
John75, your friend probably lived in Sunset Park. They always got the full brunt of any odors. As I said, the borders of Bay Ridge shift depending upon your realtor.
berkts: If you were buying a house in Bay Ridge, it will continue to appreciate. The new condos/coops were flash and trash. The older buildings converted to condos/coops often needed extensive repairs. The condos/coops that stayed the course over the years were always on Shore Road with water views.
I can't believe that Downtown Brooklyn is so "hot" right now. I'm not sure what future prices will be. I toured the area before I bought my current place in Yorkville. I was surprised at how little you got for the money, considering the area still has that commercial vibe.
My bets are on Morningside Heights for the best appreciation. I looked at Morningside Gardens, (70, 80, 90, and 100 La Salle St. plus 501 and 549 W 123 St.). Columbia is completing a lot of construction on Broadway from 125 St and up. Prices already jumped 100K in the past 2 years since the cooperative loosened their regulations on pricing and brokering through their managing agent. ( http://mhhc.coop/). Many of the apartments have terraces with great views. Look carefully at the amenities on site, the closeness to Fairway, Riverside Park improvement, and other services.
Thanks for all the responses! Jelj13, we'll check out Morningside Heights.
You can call these people at Morningside Gardens. They're really nice people. A lot of brokerage firms are also representing sellers.
Sales and Transfer Manager, Frank Aguilar, (917) 340-6155, faguilar@mhhc.coop or Assistant to the Sales and Transfer Manager, Carina Caba, (646) 634-3337, ccaba@mhhc.coop.