Running with a Gorgeous View of Manhattan's West Side


This past weekend, the brain trust that is my running group agreed to a run over the George Washington Bridge into New Jersey, to enjoy Fort Lee Park and a shady run down to the Hudson’s edge. This is a run where few runners go, with cyclists speeding by as you head down the hill
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New Disclosures Required for RE Purchases over $1.5mm- Will You Be Affected?


As of August 28th (2016), all boroughs of NYC will be affected by new guidance by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FINCEN). Here is the link. Will you be affected? Where you are purchasing a co-op or condo, you could be. This year, 35% of co-op purchases and 56% of condo purchases have been made
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The Hamilton Craze Takes Over Running, too


Like so many of you, I have become relatively obsessed with the Hamilton soundtrack. And the show, actors and who’s replacing the original cast, ironic t-shirts, biography, etc. I confess! I’m also having trouble letting go of double spaces at the beginning of sentences. I mean, how does one stop that habit after 25-30 years
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What's Noise and What's News


Are you sick of this presidential election yet? I am bone weary it. It’s so ugly! Of course, in Manhattan, Trump means a lot more than the TV show and his recent circus act, or at least he used to represent other things. Lots of noise. I have this white noise machine in my 4-month
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What Does $2000 Per Square Foot Get You in NYC?


I remember fondly back in 2006 or 2007 when the $1000 per square foot barrier was being broken again and again all around Manhattan in the condominium market. Fast forward a decade, we are seeing a range of prices for resale condominiums in the range of $1300, $1400, $1600 per square foot for run-of-the-mill renovated
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The End of Aspirational Pricing


Over the last few weeks, I have been asked from time time to sum up my thoughts on the market. One recent morning I responded, “I think we’ve seen the end of aspirational pricing for some time.” Something about that comment seemed to resonate with me. What do I mean? First, I do not intend
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What is the Future of L Train Brooklyn?


I spent a few weekends this past winter heading out to Bushwick, Bed Stuy, Stuyvesant Heights trying to understand the investment upside. I was seeing townhouses with asking prices of $1-2mm, all renovated, with promised returns of 5-6%. That is, a net return of $50,000-60,000 per year on a purchase price of roughly $1,000,000. I
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How Brexit Will Impact the NYC Housing Market


Heading for the exits already? As I write this, the stock market is in a bit of freefall. We’re on the other side of a surprising result in the UK (not sure how United it will remain, however), which seems, in my view, to be an excuse for markets to sell off. Global weakness did
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June Eye Candy – New Development Round-Up


I give a lot of credit to real estate developers. They take on big risks and reap large rewards when enough things go right. 100 Barrow in the West Village In some cases, buildings are designed with the thinking that they will become rental apartments. In that case, it would be no surprise to see
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Why Coops Are A Bargain


Jonathan Miller, one of my favorite NYC real estate thinkers (and appraisers) put together a piece showing the end of a “tight market” in NYC with an increase of resale apartments, both condominiums and cooperative units. Given that inventory has come up 15% year over year, this is an accurate call. I’ve been thinking about
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Recent Blog Posts

Deal of the Month: When the Third Time (or Agent) Is The Charm
(VIDEO) The Quarterly Report Is Old News
Deal of the Month: How to Know You’re Getting A Good Deal In the Moment—An Upper West Side Purchaser Story
(VIDEO) The One Thing You Need To Know About the Market (and ignore the rest)
My Experience with Fake Renters, aka Section 8 Ambulance Chasers
How Will The NAR Settlement (and its copycat lawsuits) Impact New York City’s Real Estate Market?
What The NAR Settlement Means For the Real Estate Industry
Apply To Be On The Pursuit Of Home Podcast
(VIDEO) What Are You Waiting For? The Manhattan & Brooklyn Aren’t Waiting For Spring to Bloom
The Silent Killer? Building Operation Costs. Here’s What Buildings—and NYC—Can Do About It.

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