246 Withers St., Apt. 2C
2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
$875,000
Common Charges: $248
WILLIAMSBURG — Located where the hot neighborhoods of Greenpoint and Williamsburg converge, house hunters thought the spacious two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo was an ideal place for families with children — if one can stand the ongoing disruption caused by construction on the building's façade.
Billed as "boutique-like" living, the apartment at 246 Withers St. also featured a balcony and roof deck. But those features were also under construction, and roof access wasn't available during Sunday's open house.
Hence the question on some prospective buyers' minds: Can family friendliness make up for these inconveniences?
"I think it's just a little too small for what they want," said a neighborhood resident browsing alongside his wife.
"But it's great if you have kids," the wife said, noting how the bedrooms were at opposite sides of the apartment.
An open chef's kitchen boasted granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and custom cabinets. Plentiful windows provided abundant sunlight, and the wood floors gave the new, clean surfaces a warm, homey feel. The condo also had a washer and dryer, as well as a deeded parking spot.
Alan Lerner, the agent handling the condo from MNS Real Estate, tried to dissuade skepticism by touting the property's financials.
During the showing, he told an artist couple that with a 20 percent down payment, the mortgage would be the same as monthly rent. Buying has become more attractive to some — especially those with good credit who take advantage of the low mortgage rates — as rents have hit record highs.
The apartment had been on the market for some five weeks — during which the price had been reduced by $50,000 — but Lerner is confident that new families will soon bite.
"The inventory in Williamsburg and Greenpoint is sort of abysmal," Lerner said. "The demand for two-bedroom, two-bath apartments is severe."
Lerner also pointed out the dedicated parking spot — and conveniently short commute to Midtown — as an added bonus for working families.
For the time being, the husband and wife remained somewhat unconvinced.
"It's more the exterior stuff that's a deterrent," Lerner offered, thinking back on the deck and balcony. "But it'll definitely rent."
