Is Battery Park City coming to the Upper West Side of Manhattan? - 11/30/08 09:48 AM
I have been reading a few different articles and on-line postings regarding the development of a specific tract of land on the Upper West Side/Lincoln Square area near the Hudson River.  Here are my findings.
Once known as Trump City, Extell Development Co. has finally unveiled their plans for Riverside Center.  The plan is said to resemble Battery Park City rather than the West Side and stretches from 59th to 61st St. 
The proposed area is currently a couple of parking lots.  These parking lots would be transformed into a mega complex of 3.3 million-square-feet.  The plan will involve 5 glass … (3 comments)

What Makes New York City Amazing! The Macy's Day Thanksgiving Parade! - 11/27/08 11:15 AM
So a few days ago I decided I wanted to go see the Macy's Day Parade for the first time.  Living in New York City I called the parade hotline wanting to know the logistics of what time the parade started, finished and most importantly what time do people start lining up to see it.  The gentlemen said that people start lining up around 5am for a 9am start and about an 11am finish.  I didn't know how I was going to convince my girlfriend to wake up that early to see that parade.  Luckily we live in the Upper West Side … (18 comments)

New York City First time home buyer and Investor MUST READ! Know Your Buying Power pt. 2 of 5 - 11/26/08 08:14 PM
Part 2 - KNOW YOUR BUYING POWER:
The best thing for a buyer in today's market is understand your buying power. Knowing your buying power means more than just having an idea as to what you qualify for and what your monthly payments are going to be. 
We always ask during our initial consultation appointment with new buyers what amount of down payment they have.  Down payment is so important because it will determine what type of product, condominium or co-op, which is suitable for you.  Aside from the amount of the down payment, it is also important to know where … (2 comments)

New York City First time home buyer and Investor MUST READ! - 11/21/08 08:42 PM
This is Part 1 in a 5 part series focusing on what a first time buyer or investor should know before they purchase an apartment in New York City and the most common mistakes to avoid.
We will cover- Know What You Are Buying, Know Your Buying Power, Financial Report of the Building, Who is Managing the Building, Buying with your Head and your Heart, and more!
Understanding the Products: (Co-Ops, Condos, Condops, Townhouse)
Buying an apartment in New York City will be an exciting and also daunting experience.  Because New York City offers a unique buying experience with many of … (13 comments)

The Me Too Clause - 11/20/08 08:41 AM
For the last 5 years buying a new development condominium in New York City was a sure fire way of seeing a great return on your initial investment.  If you bought in at the early stages of the initial offering, you waited and as the building went up, so did the prices of the available units.  So by the time you actually closed on your apartment your exact same unit would probably sell for 10-20% than what you bought it for.  This was one of the big reasons why there are so many new development condominiums in Manhattan. 
Now that the … (6 comments)

What Buyer Incentives Work and What Don't? - 11/17/08 09:22 PM
Unlike the rest of the country New York City has just turned into a full scale buyer's market.  We were riding a meteoric rise in prices and now we are in the eye of the storm of the financial market crisis.  The New York City real estate market and Wall Street have such strong ties that when Wall Street succeeds a lot of that wealth flows into the real estate market.  Now that Wall Street is restructuring itself, a lot of prospective buyers are sitting on the sidelines waiting to see what happens.
I just took a new listing with a … (1 comments)

What Makes New York City Amazing, $801,000 for a Storage Room! - 11/17/08 04:36 PM

A basement storage room sold for $801,000.00 in the renowned Dakota apartment building.  The Dakota, located on Central Park West in the Upper West Side, is most well known as the home of John Lennon and still is the current residence of Yoko Ono.  The apartments sell for upwards of 10-20 million dollars.Now this was no ordinary damp tiny storage room.  The room was about 800 square feet had 20-foot-high ceilings and two windows.  There is a bathroom and electricity wired already into the unit.  Despite The Dakota being one of New York City's most expensive and desired buildings there is … (6 comments)

What Makes New York City Amazing! - 11/16/08 01:21 AM
About two weeks ago I was reading an article about Donut Plant.  Donut Plant is the promise land for the doughnut lover in all of us.  Donut Plant has been featured on the Throwdown with Bobby Flay which Donut Plant won, and has gone global opening stores in Tokyo, Seoul and has plans for shops in New Orleans, Toronto, and Washington D.C.  The biggest problem with Donut Plant is its proximity to where I live in Manhattan.  I live on the Upper West Side and it's located in the Lower East Side.  So I can't exactly just stop by and check … (11 comments)

Relocating to Manhattan - 11/15/08 11:37 PM
Having the unique experience of starting my real estate career on the West Coast in Seattle, WA and now being an agent in Manhattan has given me the ability to help first time home buyer's relocating to Manhattan.
I grew up on the West Coast in Seattle, WA and started selling real estate once I graduated from the University of Washington.  Relocating to Manhattan from Seattle was definitely a culture shock, so I understand what its like to move the big move here.  I understand the buying process in a more traditional real estate environment and then coming to an almost … (2 comments)

Its Official...New York City Real Estate Downturn Begins - 11/09/08 10:18 PM
According to the New York Times, a crack in New York City Real Estate's mighty armor has finally showed its ugly face.  On the front page of the New York Times real estate section states, " Even though the average price for a Manhattan apartment, at $1.5 million, is higher than it was a year ago, some New York neighborhoods have already started to feel the downward tug that has wrenched the housing market elsewhere in the nation."
Though this is the first major article stating that a downturn has begun, we have been seeing this for awhile now.  Since the … (2 comments)

Life without LockBoxes - 11/08/08 09:07 PM
Can you imagine your life without a lock box on every one of your listings?
Well here in New York City this is my reality.  Manhattan apartments that are on the market for sale do not have a lockbox on the door.  When I have told this to agents who work in different states they look at me and are shocked. 
So rather than plopping that lock box on the listing and walking away checking up with whoever shows the property this is what happens in Manhattan.  It's very simple, but it can be very time consuming.  We personally show every … (30 comments)

The Tide is Turning for New York City Rentals - 11/08/08 03:37 PM
"Why is it so hard to rent an apartment in New York City?" I had a young woman relocating from San Francisco ask me this question just a few weeks ago after we found her an apartment in the Upper West Side.  The other statement I usually here is, "I'm so sick of looking for an apartment!"  Despite the difficult nature of finding an apartment in Manhattan things might be getting a little bit easier.
As the Manhattan real estate market turns into a buyer's market, many buyers are becoming renters to wait out and see what happens to the market.  … (4 comments)

The Champagne of Tap Water - 11/06/08 09:05 PM
"New York City water is the best in the world.  It's the only thing that tastes right to me."
The reason that I found this article so interesting was because I am originally from Seattle, WA. and I always thought that we had the best mountain water anywhere.  When I learned of the passion that New Yorker's had for their very own water I had to learn more.
Such passion and love for the cities water isn't uncommon among New Yorkers.
Like some massive God-given Brita filter covering 2,000 square miles on both sides of the Hudson River, the oak and pine forests, … (13 comments)

Pet Friendly Apartments in New York City - 11/04/08 02:43 PM
Pet Friendly Apartments in New York City Part I
According to Animal Fair Magazine New York City was chosen as the nation's pet friendliest destination.  According to Animal Fair Magazine, "The Big Apple is not just a tourist attraction for people anymore, but is inviting for their traveling pets too! Animal Fair is proud to present New York City the Pet-Friendliest Destination Award of 2008!"
So if New York City is so pet friendly for tourists why is it hard to find an apartment to rent or buy for the pet lovers who call New York City their full time residence? 
… (6 comments)

For Sale By Owner In Down Market - 11/02/08 09:41 PM
I call For Sale by Owner properties on a consistent basis and have a relative amount of success with them.  I am constantly trying to improve my approach to this lead generation source.  I would be interested in hearing other agent's approach on the phone and what they do to overcome the most common objections they hear?
I am trying to put together a list of the most common objections so I can come up with answers to them?  If you could share the most common objections you encounter I would greatly appreciate it.  If you could share any insights and … (3 comments)

First Time Homebuyer Seminars - 11/02/08 08:44 PM
Hi,
Anybody done a first time buyer or investor seminars?  I am putting together my first seminar and naturally want it to be as successful as possible.  What type of venue was most successful?  I am trying to schedule space at a local library, but am running into problems because I am a for-profit entity. 
Because of the changing real estate market that we are working in, what kind of information did you present to help your buyers over the hurdle of so much negative press everywhere they turn?
I am going to bring with me a mortgage broker and an … (7 comments)

 
Ar_moe Rainmaker_large

Morgan Evans-New York City Real Estate Expert

Manhattan, NY

More about me…

Douglas Elliman Real Estate

Address: 26 W 17th St Floor 7, New York, NY, 10011

Office Phone: (212) 321-7147

Cell Phone: (917) 837-8869

Email Me

New York City Manhattan Real Estate agent specialize in Manhattan Condominium market such as Resale Condominiums, New Construction condos and condops. We work with first time home buyers, foreign buyers, investors. We Specialize in neighborhoods: Upper West Side, Chelsea, Midtown West, Midtown East, Nolita, Lower East side, Greenwich Village, Soho, Union Square, Financial District in Manhattan.

Locations of visitors to this page



Listings

Links

Archives

RSS 2.0 Feed for this blog