I welcome all comments and questions related to old houses, interior design, renovation, gardening, rental property management, and real estate in general, and I’ll do my best to answer them.

Feel free to e-mail me: caramia447[at] gmail[dot]com

See below for:

• looking for property under 150K
• where to find good buys on mid-century furniture
• contemplating a move from the Hudson Valley to Philadelphia
• entering the Brooklyn real-estate market as first-time home-buyers
• renting in Brooklyn with three dogs
  

Q: I am very much enjoying your blog, the articles, the topics, and the photography. As a soon-to-be-retired academic librarian and artist, I’m looking to find a small barn/building that I can rehab into a studio/living space. I’ve been combing the Island but, so far, no luck. I’m currently renting in Northport, N.Y., a place I can ill afford to live, once retired, given a severely diminished pension (yes, A.I.G. got to me, too).  Any ideas about where to find “cheap” digs ($150,000–don’t laugh) with a touch of well-disguised aesthetic, within two or so hours of New York City (in any direction)?  Tall order, I know, but any help will be greatly appreciated. – Ilona

A: Hi, Ilona. I’m not laughing at your budget, but I do think you can forget Long Island. A much better bet in your price range would be to go north, to the Hudson Valley or Catskill region. Check my blog posts in the “Properties for Sale” category. The adorable converted houseboat in Athens, N.Y., for example, has just been reduced again, to $108,000. It’s great for one person and has a river view. But it may be too small for a studio, or just not what you’re looking for. Definitely go to this website, which has upstate New York and Berkshire-area listings, and search in your price range. You will be amazed at what comes up. Glad you’re enjoying the blog. Good luck, and keep us posted.

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Q: I have a beautiful contemporary home in the woods of Berks County, PA, and love the aesthetic of mid-century and Danish/Scandinavian furniture. The one major downside of this area: not much good mid-century — better, none. Where would you suggest traveling (within 100 miles) to look for some great buys? I am more interested in the look than in collectibility. Specifically looking for dining chairs and any other great find. - Haia

A: Thanks for writing, Haia. Foraging for mid-century is best in urban areas: New York, Philly, or mid-sized cities like Allentown and Scranton. It sounds like designer names are not important to you, so I won’t suggest R20th Century or Donzella in Manhattan, where it’s great fun to look but prices are high. Mode Moderne in Philadelphia’s Old City is my favorite vintage modern store in Philly. The most fun of all, to me, is scouring used furniture, used office-furniture, and thrift stores. In Brooklyn, a good vintage modern store that springs to mind is Two Jakes in Williamsburg. There are many more; you can find leads on blogs like Apartment Therapy, design*sponge, and the websites of New York Magazine and Time Out New York. And how about timing a visit to New York with the Triple Pier Expo? The next one is in November. If you haven’t been, you will be astounded at the size of it; one whole pier is devoted to 20th century design.

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Q: My daughter has moved to a place outside Philly. I miss her and my granddaughter terribly, and at the age of 60 am considering moving to Philly. It’s a big decision, as my business is up in the Hudson Valley, but I read your blog and you LOVE Philadelphia. I absolutely love old houses and antiques, so as I read about the Philly you know, I feel I will be happy there. But to start in real estate there at this age, well, I need some inspiration. Just seeing your blog, I feel, is a “sign.” P.S.  Your site rocks! – Sandy

A: Hi Sandy, getting an e-mail like yours is very gratifying:-) You really didn’t ask a question, did you? But I just want to encourage you in the direction of Philadelphia. I’m nearing the same age (unbelievable!), and am energized by the idea of living in Philly some day — just to take advantage of the gardening (there are something like 36 public gardens, and their gardening season is a month longer than New York’s) and, of course, the history and architecture. I suggest exploring the neighborhoods of Society Hill, Queen Village, Fitler Square, the streets west of Rittenhouse Square, and the Art Museum area. It’s all walkable, affordable (certainly compared to NYC), and civilized, with great restaurants and the possibility of a rich cultural life. I can’t advise you on making the career switch, but I feel certain you would love Philly as much as I do. Let me know how it goes.

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Q: I happened upon your blog by way of Brownstoner and really enjoy paging through it. I appreciate the level of thoughtfulness with which it is written and the personal insights you have to share. I am hoping you might be willing to share your thoughts on the best approach to entering the Brooklyn market as first- time home buyers. We have been working with a broker since November and are looking to spend under $1.1M. We are looking in Carroll Gardens, Park Slope, Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, and Fort Greene, and have been disappointed by the over-abundance of new condos and chopped-up brownstones. Our goal is a two bedroom, two bathroom of at least 1100 square feet. While we would love to buy a house, I don’t think it’s within our means, or at least it doesn’t appear to be. Do you have any suggestions of neighborhoods (someone was recently suggesting Victorian Flatbush)? Or maybe a specific broker who could point us towards the kind of thing you are looking to rent but for sale? - Sally

A: Hi Sally, thanks for writing. First of all, I don’t think you’re doing anything “wrong” – it takes a long time to find the right home (I should know – we looked at sixty houses over a period of a year before finding our place in Cobble Hill!) You might expand your search to more neighborhoods - certainly Victorian Flatbush, if you can handle a detached one-family (a lot of maintenance, no rental income, but some very pretty blocks) and also (perhaps surprisingly) Brooklyn Heights, which seems to be more reasonably priced lately than in the past, especially for co-ops and condos in pre-war apartment buildings.

I would also work with more than one real estate broker. Why limit yourselves? I am working with half a dozen just to find a rental apartment! There isn’t anyone I would suggest specifically – it’s a matter of who has the right listing. My experience is that they are all people of reasonable integrity or they wouldn’t last long in the field. Save everyone’s time and energy by narrowing your focus as you go along (to, say, brownstones rather than condos, and particular neighborhoods) and insist on seeing photographs in advance whenever possible, because brokers have a tendency to drag people to whatever listings they have, appropriate or not.

I am generally in favor of buying a whole house rather than a condo, and if it IS a condo, I would recommend an older building and avoid new construction. If you’re going to buy in Brooklyn, why not buy a piece of Brooklyn? A 19th century row house has intrinsic and historic value that a new condo does not. It also provides the option of rental income in most cases. As for ‘chopped-up’ brownstones, that’s a pity, but don’t rule them out altogether. You don’t say if you’re willing to do any renovation, but if you are, things open up considerably.

Your budget of $1.1M sounds do-able; I’m not entirely conversant with recent sale prices, as I’ve not been actively looking to buy in Brooklyn myself, but I am aware of houses having sold recently in that range in Boerum Hill. You also don’t say whether you’re willing to be landlords and rent out part of your house, but I would recommend that too. There’s no mystery to it, and collecting monthly checks far outweighs any minor hassles finding tenants or addressing maintenance issues.

Keep looking and ye shall find. Good luck!

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Q: My family and I want to return to Brooklyn after a self-imposed five-year exile in the suburbs. We do not plan to buy in Brooklyn, but to rent. We have three dogs: two little ones and one big one. The bigger one is 11 years old, practically silent, sweet and good, and the others are papillons; together, they hardly weigh 20 lbs. They are cute, funny and lovable. We always crate or pen the little ones when we are out of the house.

In general, we are meticulous, considerate pet owners and great tenants, having rented in brownstone Brooklyn previously for many years. We’re middle-aged, with long-standing jobs, good FICOs and references, never missed any kind of payment, etc., but I am concerned this time about having three pets as renters. I am looking for advice, thoughts, observations, tips, etc., on how to present ourselves. Should we take the dogs with us when looking at apartments so they can charm prospective landlords from the get-go? Offer a pet deposit before they even ask for one? Help! – C.P.

A: Hi, C.P. By now I hope you are ensconced in a Brooklyn apartment you love with your 3 dogs. Personally, however, as a landlord, I will do just about anything to avoid renting to people with dogs. I have sustained dog damage in both cases where I rented to dog-owners — scratches that virtually ruined a door, and pee on wall-to-wall carpet. I’m not a dog person myself — I’m a cat person, and I don’t love renting to cat-owners either, mainly for reasons of pee, again (which is worse than dog pee, of course) — but cats at least keep the mouse population under control where that’s an issue.

Your best bet is to find dog-loving landlords. In my case, bringing along 3 dogs on a go-see would NOT be a good idea. I have next to no interest in them, and would not be charmed. (Everyone says their dogs are the “best ever,” by the way.) I would only rent to dog-owners if I was absolutely desperate for a tenant and had exhausted all other possibilities. The pet deposit offer wouldn’t influence me that much. In the case where the door (an exterior door to the backyard) was deeply scratched, I had a deposit and did not return it. But in general, I’m a ‘no dogs’ kind of landlady. Sorry!