Ruth @ Trulia

Hi Diana,

$200K might not be enough to score anything decent in Clinton Hill. I live on the edge of Bed-Stuy that borders Clinton Hill near the Bedford-Nostrad G train stop. Prices here are much lower than the Myrtle/Dekalb/Classon/Pratt area and everything's still within walking distance. On nice days, I even walk all the way down to the Fort Greene area near Atlantic and Fulton. I recommend checking out places lining Bedford Avenue.

Good luck in your home search,
Ruth - Sat Oct 18 2008, 17:29

My parents live a couple miles down on Waters. One of my mother's favorite hobbies is to tour new homes before the residents move in. It's very fun; I highly recommend it once the building is safe enough to explore. If you built a home within walking distance of Waters Rd, my mother has been in it.

Anyway, we were all fascinated by the structure as it was coming together (that was when I used to live in Ann Arbor). I have to say that while I do appreciate the aesthetic qualities, I find it unfortunate that the house isn't more eco-friendly. Today, true contemporary design incorporates green elements. While this house certainly looks cool, it fails to meet the expectations set by its appearance. - Mon Sep 29 2008, 17:56

I walk by this building quite often.

The official website is at Corcoran Sunshine:
http://www.corcoran.com/property/nd/detail_overview.aspx?nde…

I can't find any of the listings on Trulia but you should be able to find something using the link above.

You might also like this property around the corner:http://www.trulia.com/property/42458911-609-Myrtle-Ave-Brook… - Mon Sep 29 2008, 17:46

Hi Stephan,

I have lived near the Bedford-Nostrand G stop for six months now. The only crimes I have personally witnessed are...

1. Several instances of neighborhood children sitting on cars and throw glass bottles at passing vehicles. Thankfully, they haven't hurt any cyclists or for that matter, themselves - just minor damages to cars and city buses. The police do not respond when asked to put a stop to this dangerous behavior.
2. People urinating in public and sometimes even in daylight.
3. I am verbally sexually harassed at least twice a week.
4. My basement was broken into by someone attempting to steal copper wires. They busted a pipe and caused a natural gas leak into my building... It wasn't fun.

As for the crimes I haven't witnessed... Within the last month...
1. A taxi driver was shot in the face on the corner of Lafayette and Franklin. He did not die.
2. A club goer was shot and killed at Sputnik on Taaffe and Myrtle.
3. My neighbor was held up at gunpoint while walking her dog.

The bottom line is that when these are all listed together, it probably seems a little extreme. However, all of this could happen in any neighborhood in any big city. There is a correlation between poverty and crime and Bed-Stuy is a very poor neighborhood. This is not to say there aren't families and parks and cafes and other neighborhood staples - there are! But it is always a good idea to educate yourself before moving into ANY neighborhood, regardless of its stigma, reputation perceived risk or actual atmosphere.

This website is a good resource to learn about everything from building permits to restaurant violations to graffiti: http://nyc.everyblock.com/locations/zipcodes/11205/

I hope this helps! - Mon Sep 22 2008, 19:27

As a seller, these are the top five following qualities I value real estate agents:

1. In depth understanding of technology
2. Creative use of online marketing tools
3. Local expertise (market, comparable homes, neighborhood, schools, etc.)
4. Personable and professional
5. Experience (straight up years in the business) - Mon Sep 22 2008, 19:04