This was a perfect spot for our four-person family. We did have to get used to sharing one bathroom, but hey, vacations are for growth, right? We had no trouble getting into Manhattan nearly every day we were there, either via the Sterling station or the Prospect Park station, each down different directions of the street we were on. Both are equivalent walks.
We did rent a car for one day, driving out to Long Island to visit our daughter in college there. Whoever said if you get back too late you might not find parking easily was not kidding. We got home on a Sunday night at about 7 pm and drove around for quite a while before parking several blocks away -- and then we had to move the car by 7 the next morning. But as I said, we'd been warned beforehand. So just consider this your confirmation that it's true.
Communication with Claudia and Doug was super responsive; anytime I had a question or concern, they were quick with an answer.
We were mostly in Manhattan but did dedicate one day to visiting Prospect Park and the zoo there -- HIGHLY worth it. Also, if you're a Trader Joe's shopper, there's one right outside the DeKalb stop on the Q train (in the basement of the building next door), just a couple stops before your stop (Prospect Park).
The heaters could get a bit noisy at times, but that's life in an older building.