Brooklyn Real Estate Q&A and Info

Well, according to a New York Magazine article written by Nate Silver, the baseball stats guru who became famous by outpredicting the politicos on the outcome of the last presidential election, Fort Greene and Clinton Hill is the 18th most livable neighborhood in the 5 boros.

Of course you know I don’t agree.  Clinton Hill/Fort Greene is number one (could my bias be showing?), but he put together an interesting model that he used to rank 50 of the cities neighborhoods.

First he gathered statistics via an online survey on what most people thought were important factors when choosing a neighborhood and came up twelve categories, such as housing costs, safety, schools and transportation.  Each category received a percentage rating and the stats were complied from there using various sources.

Park Slope took the number one spot with the Lower East Side of Manhattan, Sunnyside Queens, Cobble Hill and Greenpoint rounding out the top five.

Where was Clinton Hill/Fort Greene lacking according to Mr Silver’s statistics? One of the areas was lack of green space. Fort Greene Park and the many tree lined streets throughout the neighborhood surely count towards the area being green.  And I’m pretty sure that a section of Fort Greene won the Greenest Block in Brooklyn contest held by the Brooklyn Botanical Garden every year.

Well, I think the Fort Greene/Clinton Hill section of Brooklyn is a spectacular place to live with restaurants galore, magnificant housing, an abundance of greenery (an over abundance during allergy season) and a 15 minute commute to Manhattan and all it has to offer.  Who could ask for anything more?

If you are looking for a place to live that has all the conveniences like easy access to major subway lines and bus routes, eateries galore, and lots of shopping, then the Philip Howard Apartments are an ideal place for you to live.

Standing tall at 1655 Flatbush Avenue just steps away from the now vibrant Triangle Junction Mall, the Philip Howard Apartments has 640 units and some of the most fantastic panoramic views you’ll find anywhere in Brooklyn.

Getting into Manhattan from the Philip Howard Apartments couldn’t be easier. It’s a 5-minute walk to the #2 and #5 trains Flatbush Avenue Station, and since it’s the end of the line for both of those train lines, you’ll always get a seat on your way to work.

If you are planning on attending Brooklyn College and you would like to live off campus, this coop is ideal. Its well within walking distance of Brooklyn College.

The coop is very affordable. At the time of this writing, a 1 bedroom can be purchased for about $190,000 and a 2 bedroom for about $230,000. The maintenance charges for this coop is reasonable and includes everything except electricity.

Besides location, here are some of the other great features of the Philip Howard Cooperative Apartments.

1. Fantastic Parquet Floors
2. Some Apartments have terraces.
3. Parking Garage
4. Full Time Doorman
5. Fitness Room
6. Beauty Salon
7. Laundry Facilities
8. A Playground for the kids
9. Management Onsite

Philip Howard is a wonderful coop in a fantastic location. If you’d like to find out more about the coop or the properties available for sale, please feel free to give me a call at 917-544-2662 or click here to send me an email.

Fort Greene Brooklyn has a number of spectacular places to live, but none outshines University Towers Cooperative Apartments.  The co-ops complex consists of three sixteen-story apartment buildings located at 122 Ashland Place, 191 Willoughby Street, and 175 Willoughby Street. 

One of the things that I’ve found most impressive about the complex is the 5 1/2 acres of beautifully manicured lawns and stately trees that are accented by a charming gazebo.

The apartments are quite spacious with wood flooring and large windows that let in a lot light.  Take a look at the many amenities that the co-op provides, and you’ll see why University Towers is a great choice for fine living in Fort Greene.

1. 549 Apartments
2. Huge cash reserves of 6 million dollars (in 10/08)
3. 75% Owner Occupied
4. Hardwood Floors
5. Laundry facilities in the building
6. 24 Hour Security
7. Fitness Room
8. Onsite Parking Available
9. Playground
10. Barbeque Pits for residents use
11. Two blocks from the Dekalb Avenue Station
12. 5 minutes to Metrotech, Polytechnic and Long Island University

With prices that are still are very reasonable for Fort Greene (a 1 Bedroom/ 1 Bath apartment was selling for $473,000 in 10/08), University Towers is a great place to get a good bang for your buck and still enjoy high-end amenities.

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If you would like to find out more about the apartments for sale in University Towers, please give me a call at 917-544-2662 or 718-338-3380 or click here to email me.

Mitchell-Lama is a program that was developed back in 1955 to create affordable housing for moderate and middle income families.  There are 101 Mitchell-Lama developments in New York City with close to 46,000 affordable cooperative and rental apartments.

A Mitchell-Lama development is either sponsored by the City of New York or the State of New York and may be Federally subsidized.   Whether a development is Federally funded or not, they all have eligibility requirements based on income, family size and the number of people that can occupy an apartment based on the number of bedrooms. 

Mitchell-Lama Cooperatives have a Board of Directors like a typical co-op, however, the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) has oversight over management issues and waiting lists.

To obtain one of these apartments, you have to put in an application, which then goes on a Waiting List.  Depending on the desirability and location of the development, and the size of the apartment you want, the waiting list can be several years long.   If you interested in obtaining an apartment in several different developments, you’ll have to fill out an application for each.  For more details on applying for a Mitchell-Lama Co-op, go to HPD’s website.

If you’re looking to make your first apartment purchase, but you’re finding most cooperatives to be out of your price range, a Mitchell-Lama Co-op might be a great alternative for you.  Here is a list of developments in Brooklyn that have open waiting list at the time of this writing.

BENSONHURST

Contello Towers 2
2740 Cropsey Avenue,
Brooklyn, NY 11214
321 Apartments
1, 2 and 3 Bedrooms Available

CLINTON HILL

Atlantic Terminal 1
161 South Elliot Place
Brooklyn, NY 11217
200 Apartments
Studios, 1, 2 and 3 Bedrooms Available

Atlantic Terminal 2
415 Carlton Avenue,
Brooklyn, NY 11238
304 Apartments
Studios, 1, 2 and 3 Bedrooms Availalbe

Ryerson Towers
309 Lafayette AVenue
Brooklyn, NY 11238
326 Apartments
1, 2 and 3 Bedrooms Available

CONEY ISLAND

Sam Burt Houses
2675 West 36th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11224
146 Apartments
1, 2 and 3 Bedroom Available

CROWN HEIGHTS

1185 Carroll Street,
Brooklyn, NY 11225
238 Apartments
1, 2 and 3 Bedrooms Available

SHEEPSHEAD BAY

Kings Bay 1
2520 Batchelder Street
Brooklyn, NY 11235
538 Apartments
Studios, 1, 2 and 3 Bedrooms

Kings Bay 2
2533 Batchelder Street
Brooklyn, NY 11235
356 Apartments
Studios, 1, 2 and 3 Bedrooms

WILLIAMSBURG

114 North 5th Street,
Brooklyn, NY 11211
41 Apartments
1, 2 and 3 Bedrooms

If you would like to find out more about Mitchell-Lama Cooperatives, please give me a call at 917-544-2662 or 718-338-3380 or click here to email me.

Happy Mitchell-Lama Cooperative hunting,

The first thing you’ll notice about Kings Village and the Old Mill Basin section of Brooklyn, is how peaceful it is.  The Kings Village Co-op is situated in the middle of a quiet residential area, with abundant trees and manicured lawns.  The co-op consists of 5 buildings between Avenue I and J.

Getting into Manhattan from Kings Village is simple. Hop on a number 46 Limited Bus which runs along Utica Avenue, and you’ll quickly find yourself at the Crown Heights/Utica Avenue Station on the number 4 Line, which is only 5 stations away from lower Manhattan.   You can also catch the number 6 Bus at Avenue H and take a 10 minute ride to the number 2 or 5 Trains.

Kings Village is affordable.  Studio apartments sell for around $115,000, 1 bedrooms for around $170,000, 2 Bedrooms for $255,00 and 3 Bedroom Apartments for only 325,000.  Here are some the other great features of the Kings Village Co-op:

1. Maintenance includes everything except electricity.
2. Newly Renovated Lobbies, hallways and elevators
3. Large windows, some have unobstructed Manhattan views.
4. Beautiful wood Floors. 
5. Private Security On Site
6. Some apartments have terraces.
7. Ample Closets.
8. Storage is available at an additional cost.
9. Parking available at an additional cost.
10. Kings Plaza, the New AVIATOR Sport Center, beaches and horseback riding, and hiking trails only minutes away. 

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If you looking to purchase an apartment that is affordable in a picturesque setting, then King Village Co-op may be what your looking for. For more information, give me a call at 917-544-2662 or Click Here.

If you’re looking for a place to live while you attend school at Pratt Institute’s Brooklyn Campus, or you simply love the Clinton Hill area, then Willoughby Walk Co-op Apartments is a great place for you to consider purchasing an apartment. 

Tall and majestic, this co-op has terraces that let you enjoy the great out of doors without leaving your apartment (technically), and breathtaking Manhattan views that rival any postcard.  Here is a list of the other great features that makes Willoughby Walk an ideal place to call home:

1. 100% owner occupied.
2. Only 10% down required by the co-op!
3. Large windows bring a lot of light into the apartments.
4. This is a gated community with 24-Hour Security.
5. The Co-op is Pet Friendly.  Dogs and Cats are welcome.
6. Some apartments have terraces.
7. Some apartments have picture postcard Manhattan views.
8. The Co-op has great Financials and cash reserves.
9. Brand new laundry facilities on campus.
10. Storage is available.
11. Steps away from The Pratt Institute’s Brooklyn Campus and St Josephs College.
12. Fort Greene Park, Myrtle and Dekalb Avenues are also steps away.  Both streets are lined with marvelous shops and restaurants. 

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Apartments in this co-op do not become available often, so when one does, its an event not to be missed. If you’re interested in finding out about apartments for sale at Willoughby Walk Co-ops, give me a call at 917-544-2662 or Click Here.

Clinton Hill Co-op Apartments – A Jewel In Brooklyn

If you are looking to purchase an apartment in the $300,000 – $475,000 range in Brooklyn, I highly recommend you take a look at the apartments available in the Clinton Hill Co-ops, which has two campuses on Clinton Avenue between Myrtle Avenue and Greene Avenue. There are so many reasons that purchasing at the Clinton Hill Apartments is a wise investment, but here is a list of just a few:

1. The apartments are large, with good sized closets. One bedroom apartments are approximately 850 Square Feet!
2. All of the apartments have large windows that let in a lot of light, and many of them have fantastic Manhattan views.
3. The co-op has strong financials and a large cash reserve.
4. Apartment values have tripled in the last 7 years.
5. There is 24 hour security and maintenance, as well as onsite laundry facilities.
6. Storage and Parking available.
7. The co-op has a dedicated board that meets all requirements for shareholder meetings and handles it fiduciary responsibility of making sure all of the co-ops bills are paid.



8. The co-op is located in a section of Brooklyn that is just minutes from Manhattan. (I’ve been able to reach 34th street in Manhattan is less then 30 minutes).
9. The Clinton Hill/Fort Greene area has many restaurants and shops, with more and more opening every month.
10. Clinton Hill Co-ops is located on one of most beautiful streets in downtown Brooklyn, namely Clinton Avenue, which has been called “Mansions Row” because of all the historic mansions that line the tree line street.
11. The neighborhood is diverse and has a little bit of a small town feel in the heart of the big city.
12. For you pet lovers, Clinton Hill Co-op is pet friendly. Dogs and cats are welcome.

Have I convinced you that Clinton Hill Co-ops is a fantastic place for you to look for a new home? If you would like to see what apartments are available at the co-op for sale, click here.

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