Our Favorite Listing For The Week: With Views of Empire State Building

Looking for a new place to live or just curious about what's on the market? Check out our favorite homes you should make an appointment for this week. 

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96+Broadway, Launches Sales of Residences In Upper West Side



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"Selling the Hamptons" star Bianca D'Alessio Hosts Hamptons 30th Birthday Soiree At Parrish Art Museum

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5 Compromises You Should Never Make in an Apartment Search

Finding a new apartment is rarely an easy experience in NYC and almost no one finds one that ticks off all their boxes. If you have a mile-long wish list and can’t find the perfect place, it may be time to adjust your expectations.

Real estate in the city is hard to come by, so you might need to make a few sacrifices to find something you can live with. However, just because you need to let go of a few of your wish list items doesn’t mean you need to throw all your standards out the window.

If you adjust your expectations too far, you may end up with a source of extreme frustration. When searching for the perfect place, avoid compromising on these five items.

1. Your Budget

You only want to wiggle in your budget by coming in under your estimate. Before getting serious about your apartment search, sit down with your finances and decide on a hard number you don’t want to exceed per month.

Remember you may have other monthly fees associated with your living situation like utilities, insurance, parking or fees to use amenities.Of course, this is easier said than done in a real estate market where rents are rising and competition is heated. As of this summer, only 23% of New Yorkers can afford to pay the median rent price, and qualified applicants are queuing for available units in many neighborhoods.

In this scenario, the best move is to get a good picture of current rent prices and decide on your limit from there. This will give you time to think through your other expenses and make cuts to accommodate as needed. You’ll still go in with a plan to manage your total costs, and that helps.

2. Viewing the Exact Unit

You’ve found a perfect place online. It checks off everything on your wishlist and seems like a steal. You ask the landlord for a tour, but they tell you that one isn’t ready to move in yet. They can show you a similar unit in the meantime.

Sometimes deals seem too good to be true for a reason.

Steer clear of situations like this and avoid signing a lease for an apartment you haven’t walked through before. You could end up saddled with a unit in poor condition or utterly different from the one you toured. If you can’t see the apartment you want to rent, it may be better to walk away.

3. Proximity to Essentials

Location is everything, and it’s important to be realistic about what is important to you in a neighborhood. You’ll want to find an apartment close to your personal essentials. Are you a gym enthusiast or a Thai food addict? Look for space in a building nearby as many of your desires.

At the very least, you’ll want to be able to pick up pantry staples close by and do your laundry if machines aren’t available in your building. Being able to walk to a grocer or at least take a short subway trip will save you from lugging bags back and forth whenever you’re looking to cook.

You may need to compromise slightly when it comes to the wants on your list, but decide on the necessities you can’t live without and don’t wiggle on them.

4. Basic Amenities

Amenities can significantly increase the cost to rent in a particular building. While some are nice to have, you may be able to scale back on extras like in-house dry cleaning or a coffee cart. Weed through your list and sort them into “Nice to Have,” “Really Want” and “Must Have”.

After sorting, you should have a short list with just a few items you aren’t willing to negotiate. Perhaps you can let go of needing air conditioning, but a working elevator is necessary.

You should also check that basic appliances are included in the rental agreement, such as a stove, refrigerator and microwave. In-unit or in-building laundry is also a necessity if you don’t relish walking your laundry to a laundromat once a week.

5. Condition 

A good landlord knows the lobby is their first opportunity to make a lasting impression, so looking around can tell you a lot about the long-term maintenance of the building. If the entry is filthy and appears in disrepair, you can probably expect a similar lack in the rest of the building.

On the other hand, well-maintained communal spaces are a possible sign of a landlord who pays excellent care and attention to their facility.

Likewise, you want to find a unit that’s in good condition. If major repairs need to be made, walk away or get the landlord’s promise in writing to complete them in a timely manner.

Trust Your Gut While Searching for Apartments

Knowing where and when to compromise is challenging, as is the NYC market. However, you need to know what you are and aren’t willing to live with. Establishing what you refuse to compromise on will help you as you start your search.

Hiring an apartment broker can save you time in your search and help you find the right fit for you without making too many compromises on essential items.

Author

Evelyn Long is the editor-in-chief of Renovated. Her real estate work has been published by the National Association of REALTORS®, Rental Housing Journal, and other online publications.

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Andrew Feldman Joins Corcoran

Andrew Feldman

The Corcoran Group, announced today that Andrew Feldman is joining the firm. Feldman will be affiliated with Corcoran's East Side office on Madison Avenue, led by Senior Managing Directors Helen Monti and Tim Rettaliata. 

Feldman, who joins Corcoran from Compass, has over twenty years of extensive experience in the real estate industry. Having started his career in the commercial sector before shifting to residential and new development sales, he has achieved over $500M in lifetime transactions. Whether working with buyers or sellers, Feldman uses his keen negotiation skills to ensure his clients always receive the best deal. Always interested in going beyond, Feldman also leads the charge in adopting new industry technology to grow his business and service his clients. 

"Andrew has been an agent we've had our eye on for a long time, and we're thrilled to finally bring him on board," said Monti. "With his enthusiasm for new advancements in the industry and big ideas, he has already proven himself to be a great asset to our office."

Feldman remarked on his move, "I joined Corcoran because of the robust technology the brokerage offers its agents and the way agents are set up for success with incredible support from the entire team. Since I walked through the doors, everyone at Corcoran has been warm and welcoming, embracing me as if I were a family member. I'm excited to see what I can accomplish using its valuable tools and resources to push my business to the next level."

Andrew Feldman is a native New Yorker who started his career as a chef. He spends his time trying new restaurants in the city, enjoying the theater and live music, cooking for friends, and volunteering with organizations supporting children with cancer and wounded veterans.


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Homes With The Best New Commute, The Ferry

As offices and restaurants begin to reopen, many New Yorkers are starting to plot their future commutes, dreading the crowded subway they used to hop on without a second thought and imagining a better way to travel. One transportation alternative that comes to mind for many is the ferry: a breezy, open-air commute that takes less time than the subway, car or bike, and provides ample space (not to mention iconic skyline views!) along the way. 

QUAY TOWER (Brooklyn Heights)

 Courtesy RAL Companies and Oliver's Realty Group

Courtesy RAL Companies and Oliver's Realty Group

Situated right on the Brooklyn Heights waterfront, mere steps from the ferry stop at Pier 6, Quay Tower – the record-setting condo tower – couldn't be any closer to the ferry. Residents enjoy an easy, breezy open-air commute to FiDi and Midtown. Proximity to the ferry has been a major selling point for the development. Even the building's penthouse buyer, who just closed on his home for $20M+, the most expensive home sale in Brooklyn history, was lured to Quay Tower by the ease of a ferry commute. With architecture by ODA's Eran Chen and cool, California-modernist interiors by AD100 firm Marmol Radziner, Quay Tower offers a serene indoor/outdoor lifestyle that's inspired by surrounding Brooklyn Bridge Park. Homes start at $1.675M for a two-bedroom. 

FRONT & YORK (DUMBO)

Credit: Williams New York

Credit: Williams New York

Located in Brooklyn’s dynamic waterfront neighborhood of DUMBO, Front & York positions residents within minutes of the Financial District via the ferry, a brief and scenic open-air commute across the East River that takes only four minutes. The ferry offers numerous departure and arrival times throughout rush hour each day, making the commute an absolute breeze. Front & York residents can enjoy the quick walk to the terminal from the development, which has been designed with double-wide sidewalks to prioritize pedestrians. Designed inside and out by Morris Adjmi, Front & York offers spacious homes with unobstructed views of the iconic Manhattan skyline and an unprecedented amenity-rich lifestyle, including a private park and a co-working lounge for residents looking for a balance between working from their apartment and going into the office.

AVORA AT PORT IMPERIAL (Weehawken)

Credit: Courtesy of Avora

Credit: Courtesy of Avora

Situated on the Hudson River waterfront at Weehawken’s Port Imperial, Avora is a luxury residential oasis enveloped in breathtaking views, natural light and beautiful, fresh air. Developed by Landsea Homes – a leading international homebuilding and development company sought across the United States, Europe and Asia for its high-performance, high-quality homes – Avora is a LEED silver certified development that combines 184 one- to three-bedroom residences with an incredible array of resort-style amenities paired with immediate access to Manhattan to offer the ultimate Gold Coast lifestyle. The building is located right at the Port Imperial ferry stop. Many residents in the building travel to and from the city via ferry.

ELLIPSE (Newport)

Credit: Courtesy of LeFrak

Credit: Courtesy of LeFrak

Located on the waterfront of Jersey City’s thriving Newport neighborhood and designed by internationally-acclaimed design firm Arquitectonica, Ellipse has upped the ante for luxury living in Jersey City, with spacious waterfront homes and Manhattan-style amenities. For those commuting into Manhattan but looking for an alternative to the PATH, Newport provides easy access to the NY Waterway into Midtown Manhattan, an enjoyable commute in the fresh outdoor air. Residents of Ellipse are moments from several ferry stops: the Hoboken Terminal, accessed via a scenic walk along the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway, as well as the Paulus Hook terminal. NY Waterway also announced last year that ferry service will resume between Manhattan and Newport in the future as well, making for even more options and an even easier commute from Ellipse.

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Wines You Can't Miss Out On This Month

Each month we scour the world for some new wines that we can’t wait to share with you. From Long Island to New Zealand, no wine is off-limit. Perfect for a night in, or a collector’s piece for your top shelf, here are our favorite wines for July.

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Our Favorite Listing For The Week: Williamsburg Apartment With Private Yard Hits The Market in Time for Summer

Looking for a new place to live or just curious about what's on the market? Check out our favorite homes you should make an appointment for this week. 

Have a listing you think should be featured? Submit your open house or contact us to tell us more! And be sure to view our new Listings Calendar


143 Powers Street Unit #1 | $2,495,000 | Agent: Jessica Peters of Douglas Elliman


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Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Former Midtown Pad Hits the Market

Ever wanted to walk into Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs home, and live the life of luxury? Now’s your chance, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs former Manhattan apartment has just hit the market for $5,995,000 with The Didier Team at Douglas Elliman. The rapper, producer, and entrepreneur bought the 2,300-square-foot condo at 230 West 56th Street back in 2005 and sold it in 2017.


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