Where was Daily Hts when I needed it?

The apt I recently moved from on Eastern Pkwy (btwn Wash and Underhill) just went on the market for 285K. It's a 450-500 sq ft. one bedroom fifth floor walkup in a well maintained but - not - luxury bldg.

Among its shortcomings: all six windows in the apt looked out to the back of another bldg - I'd guess that the space between bldgs was around 20 feet. Very little sunlight entered the apt yet it was exceptionally warm and there was no cross breeze - I needed 19,000 btus of air conditioning and a ceiling fan to get the place comfortable on warm summer days. In it's favor, the apt had nice features such as high ceilings, wood floors with nice inlays, and thick soundproof walls.

In '03 I was offered the unit for 175K - a price that I thought too high then despite what was going on in the market around me. My real estate understanding did not include NYC market dynamics so I focused on all of the things I found wrong - the stairs, the lack of view, the lack of doorman, etc. -- 110k later I see my mistake

I could have continued paying the rent ($1300, up from $975 when I moved in 1998) but I decided to find a cheaper place to live - and I'm very happy with my new $900 apt on 4th ave just outside the slope. It's been a couple of weeks since I moved and I now avidly check dailyheights for news on the hood, something I didn't do while I lived there! Taking stock of the lost opportunity to buy has been a real education. Discovering, through this board, that there is a strong community in the nabe has been an eduction too - I didn't really feel it while I lived there (but maybe I wasn't trying). Perhaps had I felt it earlier I would have been more inclined to put down my roots and buy.

In any event, I thought I'd share this tale. My guess is that my story is one that has been played out by lots of people over the last 5 years. This board is a great tool for the community - thanks to everyone who participates.