Streeteasy – A Website That Invites Discussion and Directs Buyers and Sellers to Listings and Developments in New York City and The Greater New York City Area

We recently had the opportunity to meet Dawn Doherty and Jared Kleinstein, the head inventors of Streeteasy, a website that gives detailed information about listings in New York City. This site could very well be a customer’s best friend, but is it a broker’s worst enemy? As most of you are probably aware, Manhattan doesn’t have any type of MLS to showcase condominiums for... Read More

Google Street Views — A Helpful Tool or an Encroachment on Privacy?

There’s been alot of buzz lately on Google and their street-mapping services. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is currently investigating them because it seems that Google accidentally collected consumers’ personal info and sent that data over wireless networks. A private advocacy group filed a complaint in May with the FCC asking that that they find out whether... Read More

Virtual Staging – 21st Technology to Aid Brokers and Buyers

I was reading through the real estate section of the New York Times last week and an article caught my eye called Furnished With Pixels. The article stated what we as brokers and sellers know; it’s a tougher sale when a unit is empty than when its shown with beautiful furnishings. Many of our listings, new york rentals, Manhattan apartment and luxury rentals, new york city lofts... Read More

An Old Favorite Leaves to Make Room for a New One

Those of us who live on Manhattan’s Upper West Side have frequented the Barnes and Noble on West 66th Street many times. It’s a great place to go to have a coffee, peruse the shelves for the latest best-sellers and relax. For 15 years the B&N near Lincoln Center was a four-story marvel of books, music and a cafe. At the end of January, B&N will close its doors and... Read More

Redesigning New York streets

New York City is taking “going green” to a whole new level. The Bloomberg administration has just issued a design manual to redesign New York’s streets in a cost effective and environmentally safe manner, including sidewalks made of recycled rubber and LED street lights. The plan also seeks to create aesthetically appealing neighborhoods “in an effort to make over the utilitarian... Read More

iPhone to replace the real estate agent?

Every day we see and learn about new and amazing innovations in technology. In fact, many people are now communicating more through Twitter, Facebook and text message than by phone or face to face dialogue! Speaking of Facebook, I’m jumping on the bandwagon so feel free to friend me next time you’re on. Technological advances are often a result of the consumer’s desire for... Read More