Probably 95% of what I do is empower buyers and sellers to move forward in their lives. Real estate remains the most tangible expression of who they are. And what is more tangible than doing a renovation exactly how you want to do it? And yet- this can be incredibly daunting. You need patience and
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It’s that time of the summer when buyers are particularly tuned out from, well, most things. So, it’s not entirely surprising to get “please update me” questions about the real estate market. What seems odd is the question I’m getting quite often right now: “Do you expect the real estate market to drop 15-20% if
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The question that was put to me last week: “Does a building’s rules to allow pets, specifically dogs, impact the value of a property?” I have sold about 25 units in a building on the West Side that has not allowed dogs in many years, so the question isn’t new to me. Some shareholders were
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Quick thoughts about the Federal Housing Administration, also known at the FHA, or HUD – Housing and Urban Development. “The FHA estimates it could insure as many as 60,000 additional condo loans each year under new rules.” What does this mean? Whenever the government is the backstop for a particular property group, it means that
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The summer is a time to recharge the batteries. In the case of the Manhattan and Brooklyn markets, it may also be a time to get really amazing deals. I’m thinking about how mortgage rates are likely to come down, inventory is slightly up in most places, and prices are slightly down from a year
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A big question. How has social media affected real estate purchases? Are there positive impacts? Negative ones? Both? On one hand, I hear stories about how Facebook is helping realtors do business, Instagram helping us promote what we’re up to, spreading the word, quite effectively, with very beautiful photographs. I do get to see absolutely
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Sellers of cooperative apartments who are seeing their properties linger are wondering what they can do. You can take a look at our reports here and here for a bit more color about inventory and the market. I can point out a few trends which hurt the resale prospects of older, less renovated properties: Buyer
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This month we’re looking at technology and how it impacts real estate. Actually, it’s really about relationships and trust! Read below if you don’t want to watch the video, or are looking for a bit more explanation. I have spent the last 16 years learning everything I can about the New York City high-end residential
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Collusion There’s been a lot of arguing about collusion in the news. “No Collusion!” is what we hear from our President. Regardless of which side of that argument you come out on, you are probably disgusted and frustrated. At the very least, it’s a distracting mess. A little closer to home, I am seeing what
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I lived in Cambridge, Massachusetts from 1996-2002. The composition of the people of Cambridge is not terribly different than Manhattan. And in 1995, Rent Control was ended in the state of Massachusetts. This is a state that still has Blue Laws because in concept, people can’t police themselves on Sunday mornings from drinking alcohol. But
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