Social Media Versus “Old-School” Methods–Which is Better?

With everything we have at our disposal as real estate professionals today, those of us who remember the days of buying and selling without all the social media tools are rethinking how we go about generating leads, contacting potential clients and ultimately, doing what our main goals is: To sell real estate. Which is more important–your social skills or your social media skills? Is one more important than the other and if you’re lacking in one area, are you the right... Read More

New York Real Estate: How Will the New Real Estate Regulations on April 1st Affect the Market?

Spring is here and for most of us in the real estate industry that means interest is up, people are considering moving, and in Manhattan, the demand for prime real estate is on the rise. But what about the changes on the financing front and how will that affect buyers’ decisions? How will it affect our business as real estate professionals and those companies and individuals we work with? As of April 1, 2011, there’s going to be a change and new rules that dictate the compensation... Read More

Midtown East–Manhattan’s Grand and Central Location

Photography by ©Tomas Fano Midtown East is the iconic and recognizable section of Manhattan that runs from Fifth Avenue to the East River and from 42nd to 57th Streets. What’s in Midtown? Perhaps the “grandest” landmark is Grand Central Terminal, which most refer to as Grand Central Station. Shipping and railroad magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt was responsible for its construction in 1871. Fast forward to 1994 when the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) gained control... Read More

Buyer Tips–What You Need to Know Before Signing on the Dotted Line

You’ve found the perfect Manhattan apartment and you’re ready to make an offer. Below are a few things you’ll need to do in order to make the buying process less stressful and more successful! • Determine a budget and get pre-qualified. Your agent can provide you with a list of lenders to choose from; however, it may also a good idea to shop around yourself for the best rates and terms. Your lender will determine what type of loan is best for you and what rate you’ll... Read More

Ten Reasons to Choose The Bracha Group

1. The Bracha Group had over 200 sales transactions in 2010, with a sales volume of over $200 million. 2. The Bracha Group has extensive experience in the sales, marketing and project management of Manhattan luxury units and developments, including 15 Central Park West, The Rushmore, AOL Time Warner Center , The Apthorp and Jumeirah Essex House. 3. The Bracha Group is a multilingual and diverse group of real estate professionals with a global community of clientele spanning... Read More

BROKER OF THE WEEK / A Close-up Look at Keller Williams NYC’s Associate Broker & Vice President of The Bracha Group: Lawrence Lee

To say Lawrence Lee is an overachiever is an understatement. Twenty-eight-year-old Lawrence has traveled all over the world and overseen some of Manhattan’s largest real estate transactions. His keen business sense and natural interpersonal skills have rapidly propelled him to becoming one of Manhattan’s most promising and successful real estate professionals. Born in Tokyo, Japan, Lawrence grew up in a close-knit family and immersed himself in the familial culture that... Read More

The East Village – A New York City Lower East Side Neighborhood with a Vibrant and Creative Flavor

Photo by ©Artcphoto The East Village is quintessential and unconventional New York City at its best. This is one of the best people-watching places in the city-creative types, the famous and everyone in between (including plenty of pets) wander and walk the streets and parks. From Houston to 14th Street and the East River to Fourth Avenue, New York Magazine proclaimed the area to have “the highest concentration of bars in the city (if not the world). Bars certainly aren’t... Read More

Keller Williams Realty Has Broken Through!

Since our 2011 Family Reunion, we’ve got the latest numbers; surpassing ReMax in 2009 and this year’s numbers shows that continuing trend. We took second place this year, (now above Century 21!) earning the spot of the second-largest real estate company in the country. Take a look at this video by Mark Willis, CEO of Keller Williams Realty. We’ve experienced five years of consecutive growth; we ended last year with 79,315 agents in the United States and Canada and we know... Read More

Moon Over Manhattan

The moon is going to be spectacular Saturday night! We’re in store for a “perigee moon,” which is the largest full moon we’ve seen in almost 20 years. A Nasa website reported that these kinds of full moons are 14 percent bigger and 30 percent brighter. There’s nothing like a moonlight stroll in Manhattan and this one’s going to be magnificent! Be sure and check it out or you’ll have to wait nearly 20 years to see it again. See the full article about it here. ... Read More

The Latest and Greatest in Gadgets for Real Estate Professionals – Keller Williams Realty Just Launched its New System, eEdge!

I am constantly fascinated by the technology we have at our fingertips. I don’t know about you but I’m very into all the latest gadgets that make our lives more efficient, streamlined and paperless. As realtors, we’re always on the go and devices and apps that give us info and help us organize that data is priceless. Keller Williams is an organization that is determined to stay ahead of the power curve when it comes to helping its agents. People have access to more... Read More