View Full Version : Ugh I am jonesing for this condo...bad!
iris lilies
7-19-20, 6:54pm
This is exactly what I don’t need, another piece of real estate. While it’s true that I will retain a place in the city When we move to Hermann, I’ve been doing my best to talk myself out of buying a condo. I don’t need a condo, I can rent. The freedom of renting is wonderful! I’m only stuck in a place for the year of the lease! I do not need to own a condo!
But I have been obsessed with this condo building for years now, and now there is an apartment that is just absolutely beautiful.There is also the same floor plan unit a few floors down that has not been dolled up. I’ve already seen one just like it and I like it well enough.
The that’s all decorated for $75,000 —what a cute place!
The apartments I’m looking at in this building are 530 ft.² so they are quite small.
This is the luxe unit...note the fab mirrored tile in kitchen!
https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/3438-Russell-Blvd-Apt-904_Saint-Louis_MO_63104_M82627-82817?view=qv
this is the plain jane unit
https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/3438-Russell-Blvd-Apt-504_Saint-Louis_MO_63104_M83864-07861?view=qv
They are both very cute. I wouldn't like the 311 a month HOA, but that's just me, I'm sure its worth it.
Could you put laundry in your own unit? My days of wanting to take laundry to a communal facility are over.
iris lilies
7-19-20, 7:07pm
One of the things I like about this Condo is that it is in a handsome building that has a great setting and wonderful mature landscaping. It’s right next to the Magic Chef mansion. It sits back from the street so it has a gracious, stately look to it. I just love the architecture of these old prewar apartment buildings.
This afternoon I drove around another part of town that has Several of these old building and looked at the outside of the buildings to see if I could imagine renting an apartment there. They are far more in the hustle and bustle of a high urban setting which is nice. But that’s not quite the gracious setback, peaceful and quiet like this building.
So I asked my friend and real estate agent to show this unit to me. It’s at the top floor of the building which means it’ll have a great view.
I’m also worried about how hot it would be to live there so this is an absolutely perfect time to test how hot that place gets since we are in the height of summer and in high degree heat.I also wonder about roof problems since that’s the top floor, my unit would see the roof leaks.
Both elevators were replaced in the past two years so that’s a major huge expense this out-of-the-way. The condo fee of around $300 is a little high people tell me for condos in the city.
iris lilies
7-19-20, 7:09pm
They are both very cute. I wouldn't like the 311 a month HOA, but that's just me, I'm sure its worth it.
Could you put laundry in your own unit? My days of wanting to take laundry to a communal facility are over.
No to the laundry question. But I don’t mind communal laundry as long as it’s in the same building and I won’t be there all the time anyway. I will do most laundering in Hermann.
Teacher Terry
7-19-20, 7:10pm
I would take the upgrades. They cost more than 15k. Super cute!
Would you have a balcony--you want a balcony! I noticed the window ac unit in one of the pictures.
iris lilies
7-19-20, 7:15pm
There is an ugly old balcony on each floor for the use of all residents on that floor. I’m not sure that I would have faith stepping out on it that it’s solid. I don’t like heights. Which reminds me I’m actually scared of elevators. The first unit I saw in this building was on the second floor and it was perfect I should’ve just bought that one!
There’s no central air conditioning in these buildings and that’s pretty much true for 75% of buildings of its era in my city. So there are these ugly air conditioners hanging out of the window and that’s too bad.
OMG, I love the plain Jane unit. But not being able to have my own washer and dryer would be a deal breaker.
Those prices are wonderful! I'm with Tradd, though--I'd want a W/D.
This is one I saw this week--it's in the same complex as my old one. It was on the market for two days. They staged the hell out of it.
https://www.johnlscott.com/search/listing/4838948
But seriously--at those prices, I'd certainly go for it.
I could probably manage a down payment on something like the one above, but I'd be a nervous wreck if my house didn't sell right away. If I could buy a likely unit for 60 or 75K, I'd jump at the chance.
How would you deal with the doggies here? That always puts me off the condo idea, which otherwise, I like a lot.
Nice layout. But so. much. stuff. in. it...
There’s no central air conditioning in these buildings and that’s pretty much true for 75% of buildings of its era in my city. So there are these ugly air conditioners hanging out of the window and that’s too bad.
There are portable air conditioners (https://www.target.com/c/air-conditioners-home-appliances/-/N-5xtutZgvtgmi5vi4yZdzcr2?type=products&Nao=0); you'd need to drain the hose into the sink or (heh) out the window. No box hanging out of the window, though.
Teacher Terry
7-19-20, 9:49pm
We lived in a condo with 3 small dogs and they used potty pads. If I was alone I would go back to one. Safer and no maintenance. Yes Steve the condo was too busy. For that price no reason not to buy.
iris lilies
7-19-20, 10:27pm
How would you deal with the doggies here? That always puts me off the condo idea, which otherwise, I like a lot.
The dog(s) would live in Hermann.
I’ll be the one using the city apartment most of the time. I probably wouldn’t bring a dog often but I might, and if both of us come to the city we would likely bring the dog. But we could also get a dog sitter in Hermann.
Dogs would potty outside on a leash. It’s not a burden if I don’t have to do it every day, day in and day out.
But an absolute requirement of my condo is that they accept 65 pound dogs so that’s something I have to check with the condo rules. I have seen large dogs at this building but I want to read for myself, with my own eyes, the deed restrictions for dogs.
rosarugosa
7-20-20, 6:06am
Those are nice units in a venerable building, but I don't think I would be happy in a large building like that. I would feel claustrophobic. However, if you are only there occasionally, that makes a bit of a difference.
Those prices are wonderful! I'm with Tradd, though--I'd want a W/D.
This is one I saw this week--it's in the same complex as my old one. It was on the market for two days. They staged the hell out of it.
https://www.johnlscott.com/search/listing/4838948
Jane, I like this one:
https://www.johnlscott.com/search/listing/4763345
I just noticed that the HOA fees are pretty much the same as in IL's prewar blg. Interesting, given price differential.
The communal balcony would put me off, especially since it's visible from my bedroom, but if there is only one other residence on your floor, it would probably be fine.
I am going to have a lot of trouble moving to a communal space, I think. I need my yard so badly.
I can totally understand your wanting a toe-hold in St. Louis, and having a small, dirt cheap apartment with character in a great neighborhood would be very appealing to me. Factors that would weigh into a decision to purchase would be: Do I want to be in a high-rise? (I lived in a high-rise only once in my life--DH HATED it! Lugging groceries up the elevator, smells of other people's cooking in the hallways, people above, below, on both sides..) Can I get away with not needing a communal laundry much? Is the HOA fee worth it? What purpose would it serve?
It is adorable, and at that price, very tempting. In fact, being able to buy a nice home in a city for the price of a luxury car makes me wish I lived in St. Louis. Living in the NE, I can never get over the prices of homes in the Midwest.
iris lilies
7-20-20, 8:13am
The communal balcony would put me off, especially since it's visible from my bedroom, but if there is only one other residence on your floor, it would probably be fine.
I am going to have a lot of trouble moving to a communal space, I think. I need my yard so badly.
I doubt that people ever go out on those balconies. It’s old and uninviting.The comment about seeing it for my bedroom – that’s interesting. I’m gonna have to pay attention to that when I look at these units since I have not seen a back of the building unit yet.
The HOA fees maintains an old building. It’s a 1927 building with Tuckpointing needs, roof plumbing, boiler, cleaning. And the landscaping is extensive. That’s what’s great about this building where as in the big buildings in deep urban area there’s no landscaping. This place has lovely grounds, a majestic setting.
I’m not sure about the communal living. The guy I talk to yesterday says it’s a very strong community in that building. I can see that, I know of people who have moved there but I can’t say I know them personally.
Because it is “small “living I won’t have a lot of garbage to take out, I won’t have a lot of groceries to haul around, I won’t have a lot of laundry to do.
I can certainly see the appeal. I lived in one high rise in Chicago in the 70's, and had to move when it went condo and they asked 40,000. I just looked it up on Zillow. The same unit I was renting is now selling for 125000. A fascinating lack in appreciation over 40 years. They are asking 1300-1500 in rent for the same unit, which is also really interesting to me. I guess I could buy one now, finance it, and rent it. But I don't know what the HOA was.
Mine was a one room studio, very boxy, but with a great view:
https://hotpads.com/1-e-scott-st-chicago-il-60610-u9sn/2002/pad?lat=41.9046&lon=-87.6283&z=15
Anyway this whole conversation is taking me in a really bad direction because now I want to buy a condo in IL's building, the plain Jane, and rent it out, heaven help me.
What could you rent it for, if you bought the cute one and decided it wasn't for you, but you liked it as an investment, or you wanted to rent it some years and not others?
Ah, here's a rental:
https://www.zumper.com/apartments-for-rent/8450326/2-bedroom-compton-heights-st-louis-mo
1050. Hmm. Meets 1 percent rule.
Jane, I like this one:
https://www.johnlscott.com/search/listing/4763345
I just noticed that the HOA fees are pretty much the same as in IL's prewar blg. Interesting, given price differential.
Bigger and cheaper! My next place definitely won't have stairs, though.
I've vetted the other one, since I lived there, and I love the layout, size, private patio space, entryway, the large kitchen, en suite bath, pools. The over-the-top staging (and color combination), not so much. It's appreciated almost 1000% since I bought mine--from 35K to 319K--if my math is right.
Are you looking in earnest now, IrisLily? How exciting. (I get my thrills vicariously these days...:~) )
$300 is nothing. The first high rise in Indy has a $1,200 monthly HOA. Monthly - 1217, Monthly, Association Home Owners, Common Cable, Exercise, Insurance Building Hazard, Maintenance All Ground, Maintenance Building Exterior, Pool, Security, Snow Removal, Trash Removal Prices have gone up as the units have been remodeled.
iris lilies
7-20-20, 9:35am
$300 is nothing. The first high rise in Indy has a $1,200 monthly HOA. Monthly - 1217, Monthly, Association Home Owners, Common Cable, Exercise, Insurance Building Hazard, Maintenance All Ground, Maintenance Building Exterior, Pool, Security, Snow Removal, Trash Removal Prices have gone up as the units have been remodeled.
Well this old building has no exercise room, no pool, nor do I want to pay for those features.
The one thing that really bugs me about the building is that the lobby is dowdy. I mean it looks like aunt Mariam‘s living room. It has a lowered ceiling, ceiling tiles, n that beautiful gracious lobby entry. UGG.
Jane, I guess I’m looking in earnest because I’m besotted with this building. I’m looking at both units this afternoon so I’ll let you all know how it turns out. DH is cranky and unhappy if I buy something. So what else is new!
Well this old building has no exercise room, no pool, nor do I want to pay for those features.
The one thing that really bugs me about the building is that the lobby is dowdy. I mean it looks like aunt Mariam‘s living room. It has a lowered ceiling, ceiling tiles, n that beautiful gracious lobby entry. UGG.
Jane, I guess I’m looking in earnest because I’m besotted with this building. I’m looking at both units this afternoon so I’ll let you all know how it turns out. DH is cranky and unhappy if I buy something. So what else is new!
I've personally never known real estate to depreciate, though I know that can happen. So You can always sell if it becomes troublesome, but I doubt you will. When I bought my condo, I knew immediately when I saw it that I wanted it (after looking at many, many others). Wait for that feeling. It may be that you'll have to look at a few more buildings--or take on the lobby remodeling yourself. Waiting impatiently to see how this goes.
iris lilies
7-20-20, 10:03am
I always lose money on real estate. Always. With no exception!
iris lilies
7-20-20, 10:21am
Ah, here's a rental:
https://www.zumper.com/apartments-for-rent/8450326/2-bedroom-compton-heights-st-louis-mo
1050. Hmm. Meets 1 percent rule.
brilliant find! This is what I need, to rent a unit in that building before I commit to buying.
Except that I’m not ready to move from my city house yet, but dang it, that unit is perfect! Thanks Tybee.It is one of the full one bedroom units that’s not too big for me but I don’t want an inch bigger.
sweetana3
7-20-20, 11:02am
Iris Lilies, we have also lost money. Not a lot. More than made up for it with other investments. RE has only been just housing and not a big part of our portfolio. Both my brothers got caught in serious downturns in their locales. One brother was in central CA when 2008 happened. Houses could and did decrease 90%. They both survived but it was a long time and took some big decisions.
Looking forward to hearing the review of these units. I see lots of possibilities...
frugal-one
7-20-20, 3:30pm
Being in a high rise gives me the chills. Even when going to a hotel don't want to go above 6 floors. How far do fire truck ladders reach?
I know they are bad investments but sometimes I think one of those funky little Florida style trailers in a small court would be fun. I have actually considered a few in Tx as a winter home but am put off by the fact that the lots are almost always leased.
iris lilies
7-20-20, 5:30pm
Being in a high rise gives me the chills. Even when going to a hotel don't want to go above 6 floors. How far do fire truck ladders reach?
Oh stop that!
Yeah, I walked out of the second unit On the 5th floor because ( at first it seemed) there was no back door and that was a dealbreaker. As it turns out the original back door was there it was just covered up with kitchen cabinets and I would redo that kitchen anyway. And open the back door. Because it opened right into a back hall that went to the fire escape.
You are right, fire is a big concern of mine in this building and ain’t no way I would cover up the second method of egress.
iris lilies
7-20-20, 5:36pm
So the report is this:
The ninth floor unit, the one that’s decorated to the max, is darling, beautifully tastefully decorated, with a very high-end kitchen, and a fabulous view. I mean that view is to die for!
But really, I don’t require a nice view like that because I have a nice view in Hermann.
This trip confirmed that I want a unit in the front of the building with a front view.front of the building view Because the views are pretty at the front no matter what floor you’re on.
I’m not going to buy either unit. I’m sit on my hands and wait a while and maybe a small unit in front will come on the market in the next two years. I will keep the photographs of the ninth floor unit to use as my blueprint for renovating any one of these units that I buy.
The one Tybee found for rent Would suit me very well.
I like the idea of renting in a building to get a sense of the place. It seems you have a plan.
iris lilies
7-21-20, 4:59pm
Those prices are wonderful! I'm with Tradd, though--I'd want a W/D.
This is one I saw this week--it's in the same complex as my old one. It was on the market for two days. They staged the hell out of it.
https://www.johnlscott.com/search/listing/4838948
I finally took time to look at this unit. Well I do like it stays all that blue is really pretty! I think it looks like a very nice little unit in that square footage is about right.
Now do these things have basements?
frugal-one
7-21-20, 5:39pm
I know they are bad investments but sometimes I think one of those funky little Florida style trailers in a small court would be fun. I have actually considered a few in Tx as a winter home but am put off by the fact that the lots are almost always leased.
We were in TX this past winter and put a down payment on a trailer to rent in a park where the land is owned, not leased. It was so much fun we wanted to go back. Sadly, it is not looking possible now. I would never have guessed I would have enjoyed it so much.
Yossarian
7-21-20, 10:33pm
The that’s all decorated for $75,000
Wow. My parking space in Chicago was almost that much. And it's not decorated at all.
iris lilies
7-21-20, 10:35pm
Wow. My parking space in Chicago was almost that much. And it's not decorated at all.
I just looked up the equivalent of this darling prewar building 550 foot condo as it sits in Central Park West. It is $550,000.
I finally took time to look at this unit. Well I do like it stays all that blue is really pretty! I think it looks like a very nice little unit in that square footage is about right.
Now do these things have basements?
I've never seen a Portland-area condo with a basement. My house doesn't have one. The houses I grew up in generally had them, though.
We were in TX this past winter and put a down payment on a trailer to rent in a park where the land is owned, not leased. It was so much fun we wanted to go back. Sadly, it is not looking possible now. I would never have guessed I would have enjoyed it so much.
I wouldn't rule out a mobile home in a park where you buy the lot it sits on. I know of one like that. I like the idea of having a stand-alone dwelling.
iris lilies
7-22-20, 11:07am
A basement is where you store all of your crap. It gets dirty and that’s OK, because sometimes our crap is dirty.
I have rejected one condo building that is otherwise pretty attractive as a place I would rent because it has no storage space. Most of these old world condos with their tiny square footage have a basement or first floor cage where you put your Christmas decorations, your big stock pot, etc.
There's a tiny storage unit attached to the carport at that condo, and many owners have built one-car garages there.
A basement--for all its storage--would be useless to me at this point, unless it had an elevator. Fortunately, I have a huge garage...
iris lilies
7-22-20, 11:47am
There's a tiny storage unit attached to the carport at that condo, and many owners have built one-car garages there.
A basement--for all its storage--would be useless to me at this point, unless it had an elevator. Fortunately, I have a huge garage...
Oh yes! I forgot that there is land so as long as the HOA allows you to build a decent looking storage unit outdoors, that serves the purpose.
Teacher Terry
7-22-20, 12:42pm
When I lived in a condo alone I didn’t need any extra storage. I fit fine in 869 sq ft. It did have a small storage unit on the patio that was built in but I didn’t even use it.
Oh yes! I forgot that there is land so as long as the HOA allows you to build a decent looking storage unit outdoors, that serves the purpose.
The garages I have seen built all look alike; I imagine there's a standard. I would like to think I wouldn't need extra storage, but...
A basement is where you store all of your crap. It gets dirty and that’s OK, because sometimes our crap is dirty.
I have rejected one condo building that is otherwise pretty attractive as a place I would rent because it has no storage space. Most of these old world condos with their tiny square footage have a basement or first floor cage where you put your Christmas decorations, your big stock pot, etc.
We rented an apartment that was very similar and the storage space was in the basement. Storage was a cage in the basement and good sized too, we actually didn't use up all of the space.
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