Unrestored homes purchase +83%. Fashion is a ruin

The new trend of real estate, ruined houses for a market in crisis

They are called fixer-upper, more commonly slums, houses in poor condition sometimes to be rebuilt almost from scratch are the latest trend when it comes to real estate in New York.

The trend is becoming increasingly popular due to the decline of the houses on the market and lower prices of the houses in ruins, convenient despite the costs that the restructuring.

Jonathan Miller, head of the real estate firm Miller Samuel, told the New York Times that the purchase of housing conditions as "poor or very poor" rose in the City by 83% from December 2011 to December 2012.

"The properties for sale in Manhattan fell by 34% from the fourth quarter of 2011 - said Miller - touching its lowest level for 12 years now, and that's why those who want to buy a home has become more flexible."

Some giants of real estate, as Corcoran and Brown Harris Stevens, who first proposed not to customers homes in poor condition have decided to change its policy.

And search engines are emerging as RealDirect.com that allow users to perform ad hoc research, entering as keywords terms 'unrenovated', ie not refurbished, and 'needs work', needs restoration.

"Many people, especially in recent months, prefer a place to rebuild from scratch, a home created by them one hundred percent rather than made according to the tastes of someone else" said Doug Perlson, CEO of RealDirect.

Among those who chose to marry the new philosophy there are, for example, Laura Jacobs, a writer, and her husband James Wolcott, cultural critic for Vanity Fair.

The couple decided to buy a house for $ 750,000 in Washington Heights after selling the apartment where they lived for 1.36 million dollars.

"We knew that we would have spent at least $ 200,000 for the renovation, but the space was huge - they explained to the NYT - we were certain that the result would be what we wanted."

Even Corey Reese, attorney for Estee Lauder for nine years for rent in Chelsea, bought a 'slum' to turn on 24th Street, for $ 789,000,

"I saw an apartment in horrible conditions - he said - but I understood the potential: the view, the Art Deco style, the brightness. And finally - he added - the ability to have a real kitchen."