Quote:
Originally Posted by icemncmth
I use to work on large equipment ..including elevators...and the lack of use isn't a good thing..
I grew up in the DC area and urban living has been in that area for a while...A lot of the older places that do have elevators don't sell as well because most aren't working. As for the 500 bucks a year..that will last only as long as they are working. Once the elevators start having problems the price will go up. It isn't like calling a plumber to come out and fix a leak. My point to my friend was to look down the road a few years...Upkeep can become a big issue and just look around OKC...
Another thing about urban living is pollution...This will take a greater toll on the housing than living in the rural. The one thing that made me laugh was that some of the brownstones have outside decks....They are nice right now but if the downtown are becomes the place to live and play the traffic will increase and so will the smog...If you go to Alexandria VA and and visit the Town homes that have been their a long time the ones that really sell are the one's with a small back yard. Urban living with a little green. I have friends that live in places somewhat like the brownstones and some of them have upper outside decks..and they hardly get used.
I think they are a great idea and living in them would be fun..but to plop down a million bucks is a big gamble..Downtown is growing but will downtown explode? Will stores pop up all over the place..? Heck there isn't enough parking now. Just think how fun it will be if we all move downtown...
I hope they work but I would be willing to bet that most of the people working at Devon can't afford million dollar house.
|
I don't think pollution is anymore an issue with the brownstones than any of the other townhouses downtown, and it is an issue with any urban living, OKC less than some other cities like Denver, LA. You may be right about the elevators, but there are other issues that are not a concern because of the way they're built. Slate roofs are less maintenance than wood or composition, all brick has no painting issuess, utility costs will be significantly lower and I've spent enough money in cutting down trees from the ice storm and wind storms the last two years to pay for a couple of elevators. Were it me, I'd just tuck some of the money I'd be saving on lawn care and tree maintenance away to pay for any elevator problems down the line.
The most expensive of the townhouses downtown are not a million dollars, and for their size and the types of materials used, they're cheaper than what you can buy in the pricier parts of town. The Maywood brownstones start in the high 500's for the smaller ones.
Of course it's a bit of a gamble, but personally, since I'm thinking about a fairly permanent residence, I'd rather they not appreciate significantly. Appreciation is only good if you plan on selling. If not, your insurance and property taxes keep going up, and yet you're living in the same house. So, if they don't appreciate signficantlly, it's fine with me.