Market Pulse and the New Development Ground-Up Round-Up


This month, I am combining a market check-in with my new development updates. Some main market views: Two bedroom / One-bath units are just about back to 2008 numbers. They should surpass them by end of the Spring. Cooperative One bedroom pricing has vastly improved, but still has a way to go overall. Downtown pricing
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Why Lending is Top of Mind in March


I recommend to my buyers to assemble their team and organize their finances completely before they set out to find an apartment. This includes creating an updated balance sheet, getting as specific as possible on the ideal apartment with me and my team at Brown Harris Stevens, speaking to a real estate attorney so he/she
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New Development Round Up February 2013


What a thrill to see new inventory coming to the market! I’ve gotten to preview and/or view with customers a number of properties. Here are a few to throw on your radar: 150 Charles Street is peeking images out today, so it’s apropos to discuss it. With only 91 units, the sub-100 unit trend continues.
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Mortgage Rates Climbing Towards 4% Again


As of today, mortgage rates are nearing 4% again for 30-year fixed rates. That is, rates are at their highest in months. This reflects a strong stock market and a climbing 10-year Treasury pricing. A mortgage broker at Citibank, Michael Most, gives me a good read on his current borrowers. He tells me that he
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NYC Jobs- A current push/pull on Sales and Rentals (Part II)


I promised our Chief Economist, Greg Heym, that I wouldn’t quote him in my monthly newsletter, at least as it related to a long conversation we had last week, off the record. We had discussed thoughts about the stock market, how correlated it is or isn’t to the real estate market, and what other factors
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Rod Blagojevich and Too Many Other Metaphors (Part I of II)


Too many metaphors seem apt at the moment to describe this property market. I wouldn’t need to look back on previous posts, as I am fairly certain I have not seen the market like this before, even having experienced 2006 and 2007 a broker. There has been a frenzy as I have not seen it.
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New Development Thoughts- Tax Abatements


The new year is still very new, without a new development to rave about, per se. I have been busy viewing “busted” new developments, leftover units in Upper East Side buildings that were not properly renovated (I won’t name names), and resales in recent new buildings. It has me thinking of the warts on current
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Mortgage Rates, Direct and Indirect Impacts


Stop me if you’ve heard this one: “Banks are lending at nearly zero percent. After my deductions, money cost less than 1.5%. Why wouldn’t I borrow as much as I could?” This is the conversation I’m having with buyers right now. They understand that their buying power has doubled since the time of 6% rates.
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Boston Marathon 2013- I'm Raising $5000 for cancer research- Will You Help?


For any of you who follow me on Twitter, you may see my running triumphs and travails. This April 15th (3 months from today!!) I’ll be running the Boston Marathon. While this will be my 13th marathon, running Boston will be one of many firsts for me: 1) My first Spring marathon 2) My first
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A Continued Housing Crisis? Or is Inventory Turning the Corner?


Happy New Year! Dear clients, friends, and readers: I have loved consistently delivering a newsletter mid-month for all these many months and years, as it gives my voice a little more room to resonate, when I’m not competing with quarterly reports, and the noise of beginning-month missives. With the beginning of 2013 a few days
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Recent Blog Posts

What’s Worth More? Staging or Off-Market Marketing? Our Deal of the Month @ 130 West 30th Street
What is Congestion Pricing Going To Do to Manhattan’s Real Estate Market?
(VIDEO) A Return to Real Estate Health in 2025
The End of Rental Broker Commissions As You Know It. The Beginning of Even-Higher Rents.
The Sometimes Secret to Dealmaking? Waiting. (Our Deal of the Month @ 52 Riverside Drive)
(VIDEO) Don’t Take My Word For It. The NYC Housing Market is Better Than You’ve Heard.
How Much does Overcustomization Cost? (Our Deal of the Month)
A New Way To Save Real $$ on your Prewar Apartment Renovation—by Using Smart Home Systems (and Calling the Electrician)
(VIDEO) The Win-Win Window is Closing
What Happens when Your Agent Becomes an Advisor? Our Deal of the Month: 24 East 82nd

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