Deciding between places Jerome Park, Bronx (Cortland, Independence: apartments, rental, mortgage)

[rvent]

I have a choice in moving between 180 Van Courtlandt Park South and 75 West 238th street. Which is a better part of the neighborhood?

[bluedog2]

It's a pretty good neighborhood either way.The 238th st place would probably be quieter but not as convenient to the subway and shopping on Broadway so it might depend on which of those factors is of more value to you.

Aren't these buildings both co ops ? If you are renting you might not have to delve too deeply into all the legal and financial stuff too much to decide but if you are buying all that stuff would be more important than the previously mentioned factors.

[rvent]

Actually I am purchasing and would like to know which would be a better location being that they are so close?

[mf_colon]

I would go with the one at 180 Van Courtlandt Park South. It is right next to the number 1 train, Van Cortlandt Park is across the street and the 87 highway is just down the block. It would be a little less quieter than the other location but more accessible.

[rvent]

As far as resale value, which one would be the better location?

[bluedog2]

Originally Posted by rvent

As far as resale value, which one would be the better location?

Since you are buying you have to do your due diligence first to determine the financial and physical health of each of the co ops.You must also become very familiar with the by laws and with the "culture" of the buildings as those will also have a bearing both on your everyday quality of life and on the resale value.Only after you have done that should you start thinking about whether being closer to the subway or closer to the park is better for resale because the other stuff is much more important.

So many questions.Is one building better maintained than the other? Does one have a substantially bigger underlying mortgage ? What percentage of apartments in each building are occupied by owners and not by tenants of the original sponsor or tenants of the owners? What is the resale history of other apartments in the buildings and particularly other apartments in the same lines ?Does the building permit owners to rent their apartments or is there a strict owners only,no rental or very limited rental rules.Does the building permit dogs ? All of these factors and many others will in the end effect your resale value more than the distance to the subway stop.

If all things are equal with the important stuff,which would be a big assumption,I personally would like the 238 st location because I think Sedgwick Ave by the reservoir is more attractive and I wouldn't want to be staring at the el on Broadway every time I went in or out of my building.It looks like some of the apartments in the Van Cortlandt Park South building might actually have views of the el and that the front door of the building is literally right there,which might be a little too close for comfort.

[rlrl]

i think there are 2 sections of W 238th street in that area, and i'm not sure where 75 W. is. I know there is 238th that runs between Ft Independence St and Irwin Ave(by the step street going up to Waldo), and there is a smaller 238th street with a step street off Sedgwick by the reservoir

180 Van Cortlandt park South is at the bottom of the hill and is a noisier, more congested area as the Deegan interchange is right there. There is a higher section of Van Cortlandt Park South up the staircase that leads into W Gun Hill Road after you cross Mosholu Pkwy--that section is quieter and nicer

[SeventhFloor]

Originally Posted by bluedog2

Since you are buying you have to do your due diligence first to determine the financial and physical health of each of the co ops.You must also become very familiar with the by laws and with the "culture" of the buildings as those will also have a bearing both on your everyday quality of life and on the resale value.Only after you have done that should you start thinking about whether being closer to the subway or closer to the park is better for resale because the other stuff is much more important.

So many questions.Is one building better maintained than the other? Does one have a substantially bigger underlying mortgage ? What percentage of apartments in each building are occupied by owners and not by tenants of the original sponsor or tenants of the owners? What is the resale history of other apartments in the buildings and particularly other apartments in the same lines ?Does the building permit owners to rent their apartments or is there a strict owners only,no rental or very limited rental rules.Does the building permit dogs ? All of these factors and many others will in the end effect your resale value more than the distance to the subway stop.

If all things are equal with the important stuff,which would be a big assumption,I personally would like the 238 st location because I think Sedgwick Ave by the reservoir is more attractive and I wouldn't want to be staring at the el on Broadway every time I went in or out of my building.It looks like some of the apartments in the Van Cortlandt Park South building might actually have views of the el and that the front door of the building is literally right there,which might be a little too close for comfort.

I dont get why people buy homes with the intent to re-sell.....isn't the purpose of buying a home is to make it home?

[Mistertee]

Originally Posted by SeventhFloor

I dont get why people buy homes with the intent to re-sell.....isn't the purpose of buying a home is to make it home?

It depends after a while, some folks like to move to a better home.

[bonafidelatina]

Not sure if you already made your choice but I live in the area and also recommend 180 Van Cort