Development in Demanding Times

Yesterday I attended the Professional Women in Construction (PWC) Developers forum where I spoke about development in demanding times. I was on the panel along with J.J. Bistricer, Executive Vice President of Clipper Equity; Ivanka Trump, Executive Vice President of the Trump Organization; and Louise Sunshine, Development Director at Alexico Group. I was honored that they asked me to speak on the panel with other such highly talented and experienced individuals. Ivanka, J.J.,... Read More

Getting Back to Basics

The past several years have seen an unprecedented boom in the housing market, yet over the past few months we have seen the New York City housing market decline, as the Wall Street Journal pointed out in an article that ran today.  Although New York only went out 6.2% in 2008, we did fare better than most major metro areas. How real estate agents adapt to this change will determine whether he/she will fail, survive, or thrive in the years ahead. Today’s challenging economy... Read More

Buy NOW, Thank me later!

I firmly believe that NOW is the time to buy.  It is a buyer’s market out there- if you have the credit, money, income and the desire, this is the perfect time to buy real estate. People, who were priced out and had been waiting on the sidelines for prices to stabilize, are now swooping in and scooping up great units at competitive prices.  Those not on Wall Street who didn’t experience huge losses still have money to buy- teachers, doctors, lawyers, engineers, architects,... Read More

The Game Has Changed, But I still Enjoy Playing It

I just returned from a Mike Ferry seminar in San Diego, the trip was short, but I learned some very valuable lessons and met some very interesting people.  Some of the brokers I met have been in the business for many years and told me that prices have gone done 60%- 80% since last year in their area.  To put things in perspective, prices here in New York City have dropped 10% to 15%, a fraction of the drops in the West Coast. When I asked my friend Karen Bernardi her thoughts... Read More

Dubai or Not Dubai, no longer a question

For a long time, it was thought that Dubai and other such oil-rich havens of new money development would be immune to a real estate bubble. Since there is so much money from oil, they could continue to build skyscrapers (one that will be the world’s tallest) without waiting to receive commitments in the form of down payments from buyers.  Lawrence Lee, a member of my team at The Bracha Group, just returned from a trip to Dubai and the country of Qatar.  He told me that he... Read More

As Crime Rates Increase So Does the Demand for Doorman Buildings

I’ve started to notice an alarming trend of criminal activity taking place in areas that were only very recently considered to be good and safe neighborhoods (no doubt due to the increased levels of poverty felt not only in the city but also nationwide).  Just last week, it was reported that a string of violent robberies have occurred in the West Village, perhaps the most sought after residential neighborhood in the city. The West Village is known for its great restaurants,... Read More

4Q 2008 Market Overview – On the contrary…

“Despite faltering sales, it appears to be far too soon to declare the Manhattan Luxury Market dead, especially now that the most expensive per square foot condominium in the city has sold, a three-bedroom apartment on the 38th floor of 15 Central Park West for $27 million. The price works out to $9,480 per square foot, not counting the 22-foot-wide terrace facing Central Park.  Even so, that sale reflects some of the new realities of the luxury market, now that the boom years... Read More

Welcome to my new blog

this is where I will share my insights on the real estate market whether they be trends or commentary on relevant news. Expect tips on selling your apartment, analysis of market reports and a few personal stories of the ins and outs of my days as a real estate agent at Prudential Douglas Elliman. Share on Facebook Read More