If you are not working with an experienced broker, make sure you know what questions to ask the list broker so you can compete effectively.When would the owner like to close?What amount of financing are the competing buyers working with?What are the financial qualifications of competitors?The above questions are just a few that can help you word your offer. You will definitely want to include an introductory letter about yourself and why you love the apartment as this will set you apart from the rest. Your offer should NEVER be contingent on financing either. Agree to close at the seller's convenience and if you can put down a higher down payment that could sway the odds in your favor. Also, submit a professionally prepared financial statement with your offer and include your attorney i... 07/23/2007

I love listing beautiful, expensive homes in the NYC area. Brownstones are kind of a symbol of greatness here, so listing one properly almost guarantees a sell. I ran across one that was expired a while back and have only seen a picture. I've been talking to the owner and getting a good rapport with her, she asked me to come by and help her sell her Brownstone. She told me she was very old and was going to get something to eat in the morning. I offered to pick her up some food and got her fresh beef, barely and mushroom soup with a banana and low fat milk from my local diner. I drove up to the address and was in shock. I have not seen one in this bad of a condition since the late 70's. I say to myself" fixer upper, it should go for about 775K".     This place was in shambles. It needed ... 07/19/2007

The Kalahari 40 West 116th StreetThe Kalahari will be covered in decorations inspired by South African Ndebele tribal designs. Adinkra symbols" and other African designs and markings will adorn the walls. The 12 story building will contain an independent film center, education center and a gym. The "green" building features: Eco-friendly systems, wind-energy, filtered air-delivery system, zip cars, etc. Nearly half of the 249 planned condos have been set aside for moderate-income buyers. The remaining market priced 129 unit condominium is more than 50% sold. Currently available are 2 and 3 bedroom units ranging from $700,000 to $1,585,000. The two tower building will be completed in early 2008. To receive listings of new developments in Harlem click here. 07/19/2007

A nationwide survey conducted by Bankrate.com showed that New Yorkers paid considerably more closing costs than in other states.   found that while closing costs are lower than last year, residents of some states continue to pay considerably more than others. The average closing costs varied widely from state to state, from a high of $3,830 in New York, to a low of $2,339 in Indiana.New York State Mortgage recording tax was to blame, Bankrate said when reporting the results.   Origination fees averaged $1,637 in New York, while title and closing costs were $2,193. Another factor was the use of attorneys to conduct closings.  Costs are typically higher in states which use attorneys to conduct closings, while states which use title agents or escrow officers have lower overall costs.  Atto... 07/18/2007

The rest of the country may be lukewarm, and some places even cold ... but New York City is at the top of its game in new multi-unit residential real estate sales developments.From 2004 - 2006, 29,245 permits were issued in New York City according to the U.S. Census Bureau.Many fear buying because of the "slowdown market" they hear about in the media. While there's a slowdown in the residential sales market across the country ...that's not true of New York City. Manhattan real estate is hot right now.Developers are building all over Manhattan.  Halstead Property, LLC the firm that I am proud to be associated with, has established itself as a major player in this highly competitive arena of Manhattan residential brokerage, currently managing 58 new developments. Fourteen of those are com... 07/15/2007

In many markets throughout the country $225,000 gets you a three bedroom house with perhaps a nice back yard. There have been many new developments in Manhattan the last several years. Many do not have garages which can be a deal breaker for some new condo buyers. Many buildings that do have garages usually have an outside vendor running the garage and anyone can rent a spot if they are available. A parking spot can cost any where from $350 to $600/month or more depending on the location. Some coops own garages and the spaces are for residents only. New York Towers where I currently have an exclusive listing charges $250/month for residents. 2 Fifth Avenue a prestigeous coop in Greenwich Village has parking spots available for shareholders at discount rates. Some of the new developments... 07/15/2007

Luxury condos going up throughout the city, the latest trend is subtelty. Large spaces with quiet, subtle luxury is being seen in the newer condo projects. Designers are creating kitchens that conceal major appliances. Flaunting appliances such as the Sub-Zero, the Viking, the Wolf are out. Today many buyers are looking for kitchens to be more sleek and concealed they don't want to see appliances anymore.   Many of the new condos are featuring kitchens that look like a built -in-piece of furniture; dishwashers are covered, refrigerators are covered. Instead of traditional ovens, many condos have flat, sleek oven tops. Sleek (and often smaller) appliances with brand names like Fisher & Paykel, Liebherr, Gaggenau, Miele and Bosch are starting to replace the commercial style appliances lik... 07/13/2007

You all know by now I love my "job" AND I love New York City.  Perfect combination for me!  Coming out of a consultation one day on the Upper East Side, I decided to walk back to Penn Station for my train home and thought of getting a "dirty dog" along the way  --  Hot Dogs from the carts in New York are called Dirty Dogs, I believe because the water they are in gets so dirty :)  But then you never know what you're going to run into.  I didn't get home until the evening because as I was walking, something caught my eye; and not being one to let anything get past me, I decided to go over and see what was going on.  Thank GOODNESS I had my camera because I can show it!  So what else does a Feng Shui Consultant do?  We run into the best things and have FUN.  I thought I'd share my afternoo... 07/11/2007

To sample restaurants in a neighborhood you might be thinking of moving to, take advantage of Restaurant Week In Manhattan 2007  ... The Best Restaurants ... The Best Prices!For ten days in January and ten days in June/July, more than 100 of New York City's top restaurants offers three course lunches for $24.07 and three course dinners for $35.00 (beverage, tax and gratuities are not included.) Dine at the best New York City restaurants with the best chefs! Whether it's at Mario Batali's Del Posto,  Morimoto New York, Patroon, 21 Club, Spice Market,  Daniel Boulud's Café Boulud, 21 Club, One If By Land Two If By Sea, Nobu, Asia de Cuba, Aureole, The River Café, Aqauvit, or Danny Meyer's Gramercy Tavern, Eleven or any of the other restaurants offered, you can't go wrong. You'll not only ... 07/08/2007

N.Y., N.Y. was my college town...and I went to a school that at the time had no dorms! (not uphill both ways but "A-Train" both ways) Our choices were live at the “Y” (the Village People eliminated that option, at least for me) or get out there with the rest of N.Y. and find an apartment. I chose the latter. At the time I was too young to realize how difficult this actually was. I ultimately found an Illegal, Rent Controlled sublet (huge score for a student). The place was in Washington Heights. That experience instilled me with a STRONG interest in NYC Real Estate. I still follow NYC real estate trends and news with regular reads of Curbed, Brownstoner, Matrix and Property Grunt but my favorite NYC Real Estate site is StreetEasy, great site. Street Easy is the first site I’ve seen to a... 07/05/2007

July 3, 2007Co-ops Slip, but Condos Lead Rise in Manhattan Apartment Prices By HYPERLINK"http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/h/christine_haughney/index.html?inline=nyt-per"CHRISTINEHAUGHNEYWhile housing prices are falling in many parts of the country, the cost of aHYPERLINK"http://topics.nytimes.com/top/classifieds/realestate/locations/newyork/newyorkcity/manhattan/?inline=nyt-geo"Manhattanapartment is continuing to rise over all. But a stark divide is emerging between theprices of co-ops and condominiums. More buyers are choosing condominiums over co-opsand are paying far more for them, according to studies being released today.The average price of a condo in Manhattan rose by as much as 28 percent in thesecond quarter of this year compared with last year, accord... 07/03/2007

"Don't it always seem to go that you dont know what you've got til it's gone.... They paved Paradise and they put up a Duane Reade Walgreens  (Joni Mitchell -Big Yellow Taxi - 1970) The other night I called The Malaysia Grill a restaurant at my corner for dinner they told me they were closing. This morning I went to my local Korean produce grocery store right next to The Malaysia Grill where I have been going for at least the past 10 years and the place was gutted. The Korean family that owns the place were packing up. I asked what happened even though I knew. I knew it was a only a matter of time before the whole block would be rented to a big chain and all the little stores would be gone. The landlord had been advertising the corner, block and storefronts for a while. It's the trend. ... 07/03/2007

Navigating the Manhattan Rental MarketRenting an apartment in Manhattan is a unique process unlike anywhere else in the world.  It is important that one be familiar with Manhattan rental requirements prior to beginning one's search, as this will ensure a positive experience from beginning to end. This guide outlines the steps you should take and things you should know when searching for an apartment.1.      Rental RequirementsAs a general rule of thumb, landlords require that rental applicants have an annual salary equal to or higher than 40 times the monthly rent.  For example, if the monthly rent is $1000, than one's salary must be at least $40,000.  If you plan on sharing an apartment with roommates, then your combined income must be at least 40 times the rent.If you are a working pr... 07/02/2007

Seller's GuideIf you want to Sell your Property:Selling your home can be as stressful as it can be exciting, but the right agent with the right personal touch and the right amount of experience can make it fun and lucrative to find the right buyer. If you choose to give an exclusive to BARAK Realty, you'll not only get the agent you prefer, you'll also get the support of our whole team of brokers. At BARAK we have a way of working that benefits you more than the average realtor can. With teamwork. But no matter what broker you choose, be sure the company is legitimately licensed, experienced and a member of REBNY (Real Estate Board of NY). We take pride in our personal service and 24/7 accessibility. Our goal is to sell your property for the highest price in the shortest time, and with ... 07/02/2007

 Buyer's GuideWhether you are in the market for a co-op, condo, or investment property, we're your team. BARAK Realty works as other real estate companies do not: we dedicate all of our brokers and all of their varying talents to your goals. Our method of teamwork has gotten dreams to come true for a growing number of satisfied clients. BARAK Realty has access to a large and updated database of listings through our own exclusives and through our co-brokerage system with all of Manhattan's licensed brokerage firms. We are always attentive to your specific needs and will show you only properties that fit your guidelines. Once you find your dream apartment, we will guide you through your contract, financing, and board approval process. We will make the perfect board package for you to pass... 07/02/2007

New NYC quiet law begins today. For the first time in 30 years the noise code in New York City has been changed. Effective today July, 1 2007 there are new rules regarding noise in the city. According to an interactive survey on The Call Live Wire:http://ny1.com the other night, the three top noises that annoy city residents are: Traffic Dogs Barking Mr. Softee (Ice Cream Truck) For some time now the city has had a special phone number 311 set up for all kinds of complaints and consumer/public non emergency service. By calling this number to complain about noises the offenders can be fined  $175. Mayor Bloomberg has been a great manager for the city with many creative ideas. I wonder how these new rules can be enforced and where do you draw the line? Can someone be fined because their b... 07/01/2007

NYC to Reduce Property Tax Rate and Continue Property Tax Rebate Program for Homeowners Mayor Bloomberg and the City Council announced an agreement on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 New York City Budget. The $59 billion budget includes $1.3 billion in property, sales, and small-business tax cuts, including a property tax rate cut rate of 7% for the coming year. These tax cuts are in addition to the $256 million in $400-per-homeowner tax rebates requested by the City and approved by the State Legislature last week. The city has been sending $400 reebate checks to homeowners for the last few years. 06/29/2007

The Landmarks Preservation Commission recently created a new historic district in Morningside Heights on the Upper West Side. The newly created historic district is comprised of 40 buildings on Manhattan Avenue between 104th and 106th Streets. Unlike many of Manhattan's earlier row houses, which were primarily built with brownstone facades in the classical style, the structures in the new Manhattan Avenue district combine Gothic, Queen Anne and Romanesque features. Originally called "New" Avenue when it was created in 1868, Manhattan Avenue starts at 100th Street and continues to 125th street where it merges with St. Nicholas Avenue. Manhattan Avenue irregularly divides Morningside Heights and West Harlem. Morningside is West of Manhattan Ave including Columbia University, Saint John t... 06/28/2007

The NY Sun reported about the bill that would affect coop boards that has long been stalled is now getting support from law professors.The proposed law would require coops boards to put in writing their reason for rejecting a purchaser applicant from their coop. There is still opposition saying the law goes to far. I was quoted in the article.They called me about the board interview process and how I prepare a buyer for the interview.It's best to really keep your mouth shut, only answer questions, and not elaborate on things," a broker with Coldwell Banker Hunt Kennedy, Mitchell Hall, said. One client once talked with a board about making alterations to her apartment and barbecuing, Mr. Hall said, two things sure to turn off her interviewers.In that example the coop had a reason "qualit... 06/27/2007

Summer is here and the Manhattan Residential market has not cooled down. Sales activity remains strong, especially among the priciest properties reports The Real Deal.While new condos hit the market, co-ops are in short supply. Listing inventory is up, but less than last year and the upper end of the market is thriving.On May 15th I posted the REBNY Residential city wide sales report that reported a 23% increase in apartment sale prices in NYC for the 1st quarter of 07 compared to 06. According to the REBNY report the average first quarter sale price rose to $1,107,000 in Manhattan.Jonathan Miller, president of Miller Samuel appraisal firm says prices rose 5.4% to $1,290,000. There is high level activity across the market and upper-end pricey properties areharder to find.I've been very ... 06/27/2007