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Yes, as an ex-New Yorker, I went right to the NY Times. It is quite a nice site compared to others. I couldn't find much there but I will keep checking. Thanks again!
Some of the better listings sell quickly, and by the time they reach the MLS, they are gone. I would look into some of the local brokerages in Forest Hills, and interview an agent to see if they think your price range is realistic and that they can look for a property that might meet your needs, both for rental, and eventual sale. One of the main culprits is the city's exclusive brokerage agreements that keep properties from the MLS, and are withheld from the market if an area specialist knows that they can get a sale without a cooperating brokerage.
The Pinnacle, The Windsor, Novo64, and The Summit are all condos that I looked at in Forest Hills for a relative who needed a second home in the city, and wanted to be closer to Park Slope than the UES, which always takes longer because of the river crossings. That, and proximity to the airport as their primary residence is still in Texas, for now. She was going to buy at Novo, being a low-rise building, and brand new, but the relative that she wanted to be near in Park Slope stumbled upon a find in the form of a sponsor co-op from which the tenant had just relocated when visiting for a mommy's play group. She did not want a co-op, but this is a small building, is in Park Slope; and being a sponsor unit, had no board approval. I think the 2BRs in The Summit that I saw only had one bathroom, however, but an agent did tell me there are 2/2 in the building, but none on the market at that time. The 2BRs were in the low-mid $500s at that time, to the best of my recollection, below the Windsor and Novo's price points. Park Slope and bargain don't usually work together, and a similar condo that I looked at in Forest Hills was in the $800s-low seven figures for a 2BR, so there is still a good price advantage for FH.
There was another community that I recall looking at a while back in Douglaston, not far from Alley Pond Park, and it's a condo, but townhouse style, and a gated community. It's near the golf course, but removed from the city, so to speak, so while it's good space, low condo fee, garge, etc., it's probably a bit too suburban in character. I do believe the units are under $550k today, or thereabouts.
In Kew Gardens, I would check to see if Talbot Gardens has fully converted as I think it would be in the right price range, but is unique because it's a low-rise Pre-War complex, but a new renovation/conversion. You would be about a mile from the heart of Forest Hills, as a reference point, at Talbot Gardens. Austin is the next street over from Talbot, but you'd need to be on the other side of Union Turnpike to be in FH.
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~William Shakespeare (As You Like It Act II, Scene VII)
Thanks much. Today I spent quite a bit of time looking for a condo or a co-op that does not require Board approval in or near Forest Hills. I basically came up empty. I widened my search to include other nearby areas including Bayside but still came up empty. My search criteria was max $525,000 so it could be that I am at least $100,000 less than I need for what I am looking for. I'll keep checking around.
I think that in the Forest Hills/Rego Park areas it is difficult to find an apt./condo/co-op that doesn't require Board approval.
Hi everyone,
My wife and I are from the East Coast (I am originally from Brooklyn) and have been living in Chicago for the past 40 years. For a number of reasons, we would like to return to the vibe of the NE.
We have mellowed over the last 40 years (Chicago is sedate by NYC standards) and have been looking mostly in Westchester (White Plains) as a good possibility, but not wanting to leave any stone unturned, I was wondering if it was worth trying to venture back into the city itself? Here is what works for us:
Housing budget: Max: $2800 2b/2b rental with 1 car parking; $500,000 condo (no coop); prefer a receiving room and/or doorman. Quiet and no pets.
Vibe: low key urban; must have organic produce; we really like to walk and enjoy meeting people and visiting local shops (not malls), enjoy reading at a non-Starbucks coffee shop (sorry Starbucks); progressive and diverse.
Rec/Activities: Yoga and table tennis a must; tennis, bridge a plus, art film theatre; rec center to meet new people our age (we are very active 60 year olds);
Anyplace in Queens or any other borough that might work for us?
Thanks!
Have you ever thought of retiring perhaps in CT, near NYC but not quite in the city..close enough to hop on a train and go visit or go to the theatre? I love New England myself and wouldn't retire anywhere else. I am 64 and we are in CT now, lots to do and down towards the coast super nice. My advice is to get online and check out different places that offer what you want. My Mother In Law who is in her mid 80's lives in Fairfield CT and still golfs, goes to plays, nice restaurants; very active. She took me on a short tour of Fairfield and surrounding areas and what a gorgeous place to live! We are more or less in the middle of the state of CT but can catch a train for a 2 hr ride to NYC to the theatre if we so desire.
Good luck with your search and welcome back to NE!!
Some of the better listings sell quickly, and by the time they reach the MLS, they are gone. I would look into some of the local brokerages in Forest Hills, and interview an agent to see if they think your price range is realistic and that they can look for a property that might meet your needs, both for rental, and eventual sale. One of the main culprits is the city's exclusive brokerage agreements that keep properties from the MLS, and are withheld from the market if an area specialist knows that they can get a sale without a cooperating brokerage.
Thanks for the heads up. Yes, I think I will have to get in touch with a broker that specializes in the condos in the vicinity that I am most interested. I'll also have to check out other types of listings for exclusive listings. Pretty complicated ... but that is NYC! Thanks again for all of your help and info!
I think that in the Forest Hills/Rego Park areas it is difficult to find an apt./condo/co-op that doesn't require Board approval.
This could very well be the case. I am not concerned about passing approval. I am more concerned with issues if I ever decide to sell. I prefer not going through Boards when I am selling. Thanks for the additional info.
Rego Park still has a lot of sponsor owned cooperatives that don't require annoying board meddling.
(I think O/P should widen his choice to co-ops because, especially in Queens, it is by far the largest choice of apartment ownership in NYC.)
You can get a LOT of nice large 2 bedroom co-ops in Rego Park for under $300K.
Thanks for the recommendation. Just want to be sure I have the definition of sponsor owned coops:
"Sponsor units have no board approval! When an individual or company converts a rental building to a co-op or condo, the first transfer of an apartment, or "sponsor unit" does not require board approval."
I am more concerned with what happens when I sell, so it does not seem like sponsor units will help me since it would be at least the second transfer. Correct me if I am wrong. Thanks.
Have you ever thought of retiring perhaps in CT, near NYC but not quite in the city..close enough to hop on a train and go visit or go to the theatre? I love New England myself and wouldn't retire anywhere else.
Thanks for the suggestion. Yes, we are considering CT and will take a look at some of the areas that are closer to NYC. Some areas have been recommended to me on another thread so we are looking forward to checking them out. Thanks again for your wonderful recommendation.
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