The 16,029 Percent Increase Piqued My Interest in 1001 Liberty Street

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If you read Tuesday’s column, you know why this picture is blurry (poor resolution photography)

I know the market is mostly hot, but a 16,029 percent price increase … YOWZA!! That morning alert certainly sent me clicking away to 1001 Liberty Street, Unit 125 (I use an Ebby link here because Keller Williams wants you to login to see listings).  Turns out the property is also for rent and the Realtor, Gary Davis of KW Denton, entered the rental amount instead of the selling price, thus the astronomical increase when corrected. I know, let down city.  You expected something more.

Well, there is a little more … and a happy surprise.

This Bryan Place property has been on the market for 57 days, and in that time, it was listed and re-listed on the same day for pretty different prices. It’s dropped again since, but still rests above the initial listing price.  Not counting the fat-fingering of the pricing that initially caught my eye.

If you were the buyer, would you offer a penny more than $235,290? I mean besides the fact that you’re close to that anyway?  Realtors need to be very careful when entering data, especially pricing data, into the MLS.  All sorts of sites slurp the data and make it available to … you know, buyers.

But as a buyer, knowing the prior listing price of $138,900 is just an excuse to spank yourself for not acting quicker. It’s a stark illustration of how the market has moved.  Hopefully your salary has increased enough to afford $100,000 more in mortgage.

So as I said in Tuesday’s column, a rookie mistake in pricing. As you’ll see in the pictures, rookie mistake of mostly poor resolution shots (just like Tuesday) and only 10 of them. And I’ll toss in a seller’s mistake of using an agent in Denton for a listing in the urban core of Dallas, 40 miles away.

Wait, wait … let me guess, it’s a two-story unit? (pointless picture)

That said, this unit appears a bit of a bargain for the handy buyer.  It’s listed for $250,000 while neighboring unit 121 is pending with a list price of $135,000.  Unit 125 is 1,426 square feet ($175 per foot) while unit 121 is about a third of the size at 458 square feet ($294 per foot).  Why?

Renovation, baby. Renovation.

The building was built in 1983 and unit 125 shows every bit of it. Unit 121 is newly renovated. Can unit 125 be reasonably renovated for less than $100 a foot?  Sure.  Here’s how.

Sand the floors back to the Stone Age and stain them in a single color that blends in that questionable border. Yank the fireplace mantle and marble tile out and replace.  Better yet, rip out the fireplace (if possible) and square off the room for better flow.  Remove the French doors to the study.  Not a lot of money needed here — $5,000 to $7,000.

Kitchen: ditch it. Remove the soffits above the cabinets and extend the cabinets to the ceiling. Throw in a couple more lights. Knock down the raised bar to make a more usable peninsula. Extend the living room floors into the kitchen removing the bad tile.  Cost?  Say $35,000 depending on your appliance tastes.

Bathroom 1: gut it. Looks like the set of a prison shower scene in a 1980s slasher movie.  Assuming you’re not moving anything and keeping the shower pan, I’d price it at <$10,000. If you want to add more lights, budget another grand.

Bathroom two: gut. New sink, new toilet, new floor and demolish the bathtub throne.  Replace tub with freestanding one that uses the same plumbing.  I’d estimate cost at another <$10,000. Oh, sorry, <$10,200 — that high school locker mirror needs replacing too. Again, more lighting/electric, add a grand.

Totting up the totals, you’ve got about $62,000 to spend to make this place really shine.  It’s mostly finishes with minor structural work.  That would put you at $219 per square foot, miles away from $294-ish the neighboring unit snagged.  You’d be in the thick of Deep Ellum and downtown. There’s even the snazzy Sunset Lounge and Bungalow Beach Club within a block to sooth your renovation stress.

So that fat finger mistake got me to click on a link I wouldn’t normally and see a property that’s got some legs.  Sometimes life offers happy accidents.  If you’re looking for a bargain near downtown that needs work, this unit is certainly worth a peek-a-boo.

 

Remember:  High-rises, HOAs and renovation are my beat. But I also appreciate modern and historical architecture balanced against the YIMBY movement.  If you’re interested in hosting a Candysdirt.com Staff Meeting event, I’m your guy. In 2016 and 2017, the National Association of Real Estate Editors has recognized my writing with two Bronze (2016, 2017) and two Silver (2016, 2017) awards.  Have a story to tell or a marriage proposal to make?  Shoot me an email [email protected].

 

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Jon Anderson is CandysDirt.com's condo/HOA and developer columnist, but also covers second home trends on SecondShelters.com. An award-winning columnist, Jon has earned silver and bronze awards for his columns from the National Association of Real Estate Editors in both 2016, 2017 and 2018. When he isn't in Hawaii, Jon enjoys life in the sky in Dallas.

9 Comments

  1. Larry on July 14, 2017 at 1:37 pm

    Staircase pic important.
    .
    Tells you that you can’t bring anything larger than a breadbox to 2nd floor.

    • Jon Anderson on July 14, 2017 at 1:44 pm

      You’ve got some big buns in your breadbox! 🙂 But not necessarily true. Look at the living room pic, there’s an open walkway you could hoist whatever mattresses, bed frames, etc. you need up there.

  2. Gmit on July 14, 2017 at 2:19 pm

    Part Robocob, Part Miami Vice !

    Dont remodel just wait until it comes back around !

    • Jon Anderson on July 14, 2017 at 2:45 pm

      Ha! Headline from CandysDirt.com 2050, “1980’s Post-Modern Prize Hits Market; A Bargain at $1,350,000”

    • Matt Rivera on July 14, 2017 at 3:23 pm

      I also like some of the 80’s PoMo elements! With some minor modernization of finishes, this could be a cool pad. I’d paint all the walls and trim stark white, stain all the hardwood to a light natural wood color, paint the wood fireplace surround black (it has a nice art deco shape to it), and then dress up the kitchen and baths with new tile, new light fixtures, countertops, cabinets, and mirrors (but keeping the PoMo pedestal sink, tub, and glass block shower.

  3. Dr. Timothy B. Jones on July 15, 2017 at 11:00 am

    Bravo on your comment about choosing the right realtor! The Denton market is nothing like the Dallas condo market and this realtor should be ashamed of this childlike visual presentation!

  4. Candy Evans on July 15, 2017 at 10:08 pm

    Glass blocks make me have to take a Xanex every time I see them!

    • Jon Anderson on July 16, 2017 at 12:09 pm

      Is that why you have a single glass block in every room of the house? 🙂

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