Thoughts on Windsor Terrace?

Hi,

We are currently trying to decide on buying our first home. We reside in Brooklyn Heights (on rent) and even if we would likely want to stay in this neighborhood, it is impossible for us to afford anything here. We were browsing the area, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, and Park Slope was growing on us until we ran into this house in Windsor Terrace.

Sorry for my ignorance, but we have never heard of Windsor Terrace before, until we found this house (I have also just moved from Canada couple months ago, so have a better excuse than my husband who lived in Brooklyn for over 15 years). The last few days we were spending some time in the neighborhood daytime and nighttime and it seems just great. If our offer was to be accepted, we can really see ourselves growing our family there. We saw many families, seems like a really family oriented safe neighborhood, with 2 major parks in walking distance. The only downside for us is not having many bars and restaurants but then Park Slope is just too close.

We will literally put all our savings into this house, this will be our biggest investment ever, we are a couple in their late 30s to early 40s, and I have a few questions to those who knows about the NY / Brooklyn housing market and the area overall before we make this decision :

1. We felt like the neighborhood was a hidden gem and would only appreciate in price over the years, so on top of a house that we can see ourselves living in for a long time we also see this as an investment property that will potentially appreciate. Are we right? It won’t be a gut renovation but we have the space to expand the house a little to create more sqf.

2. Is there anyone here or anyone you know who happily grew their family in Windsor Terrace?

3. Currently the zoned public elementary school seems to be a really good one but should we be worried about zoning changing in 6 years or so?

4. Are there any projects or developments that might not be for the benefit of the neighborhood?

5. Lastly, is there anything else that we are missing and that we should be aware of? You can be as mean as you’d like, just be honest!

Thanks a lot to all the replies in advance.