Finding Home · April 23, 2024
How Much Is a Tree Worth in This City?
FINDING HOME
How Much Is a Tree Worth in This City?
Nathan & Melissa were a couple of globetrotters, hopping from the West Coast to the Far East, and everywhere in between. They met in Brooklyn and have built a beautiful community of friends here, including the couple who introduced us.
When we connected, they weren’t sure what they wanted: Did it matter to them to be near the park? How much space did they need? Would they prefer a home with more character, or newer finishes? Each question was met with a shrug.
It’s not uncommon for clients to come into this process not knowing what it is they want. It’s through our journey together that their priorities tend to come through.
Here’s how their priorities shook out:
Room for their parents to visit
Enough opportunity for Nathan to flex his DIY strengths, but not in need of a gut reno
Surrounded by mature trees
Among their options:
No. 1:
The Chic New Build
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This 2900sf home was designed well beyond any “developer special” I had ever seen. The kitchen could only be described as sleek and sexy, the bathrooms were well laid out and featured a funky design, and the backyard had been thoughtfully designed - with room to dine and space to play.
No. 2:
The Stately Home
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This 2600sf home felt both quaint and enormous, though its squarefootage was the lowest of the three. It featured a few treasures: The block was lined with mature trees and was known to host the best block party in Brooklyn, the peach tree in the backyard was thriving, solar panels had already been installed on the roof, and the building’s positioning allowed the home to have three exposures.
No. 3:
The Architect’s Masterpiece
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Nathan had a degree in architecture, and was fascinated by every inch of this 3300sf townhouse. Zoom in on the first photo: Do you notice the layering of the wooden plank ceiling? The exposed brick work layered with the original and ultra detailed plaster walls? The “undone” design is intentional - bringing the history and inner workings of the house to the forefront. Not pictured: The incredible roof deck with dramatic views of the city. The previous owner was the architect in the renovation, and truly built the home to fit his wildest dreams.
*names have been changed
Which Home Do You Think They Chose?
THEIR HOME:
THE STATELY HOME
This house felt very grounded and down to earth - just like Nathan and Melissa.
The home had been fully renovated in the past 10 years, but there was plenty of room for Nathan to make his mark: He’s eager to build a clever storage solution under the stairs, ready to reconfigure the second floor bathroom, and he’s already done some minor electrical work throughout the bedrooms.
On the garden level sits a one bedroom apartment with a finished cellar, which has already served as an ideal guesthouse for their parents and visiting friends.
Most of all, they’re eager to start building their community on this beautiful block, and can’t wait for the famous block party this summer!
MARKET INDICATOR
Manhattan
The drop in inventory from May to June is expected, but comparing this delta to 2023 is pretty staggaring. Contract signings didn’t shift as much - which leads me to believe sellers are feeling the buyers’ market and holding off on listing, hoping to swing back as buyers grow hungry for more listings.
Brooklyn
Another quite dramatic inventory drop in Brooklyn, finally pushing new listings below contract signings since the turn of the year. While the shift in inventory is greater this year than last, the change in contract signings was more subtle. Brooklyn’s seller’s market is still holding fairly strong.
DESIGN INSPIRATION
We Can’t Stop Fawning Over This Somerset House in Park Slope
The warm neutrals mixed with that bold & cozy green had us in a bit of a trance. We snapped right back with a “beetlejuice!” jumpscare on image 7. What’s your take on this reimagined brownstone?
 | That’s all for today!Questions, comments, or musings to share? Email me anytime. Eager for more? Follow me on Instagram. |