KVNY "The Downtown Cat"

PopUpSpaceNY Success Story

2012-03-08T07:48:00.001-05:00

Since the recent launch of PopUpSpaceNY at 159 Bleecker street in September by Matat Khatamov from KVNY, this event place has hosted a few major events that shook Greenwich Village. Among those are Brisk Bodega event, Fight Lab 159, Art Battles, and Brucennial that is currently running.

Brisk Bodega was a pop up exhibit of Shady Records’ historic “artifacts”, including “claymated” Eminem puppet, artwork from Yelawolf’s tour bus, and custom art from ArtekNYC. The Shady museum was opened to public on September 17, 11AM-5PM, after which Brisk Bodega held a special invitation-only event featuring live performance of Yelawolf and Slaughterhouse.

Fight Lab 159 was a 1-week pop-up display of the new Nike product – The Melo M8 sneakers. Carmelo Anthony in association with Jordan Brand released this product after he joined New York Knicks. The whole space was occupied by a projection of the exploding basketball court with a huge screen installed in two semicircles in the middle, where the visitors could see a short film about Carmelo Anthony’s life on and off the basketball court.

ArtBattles was created as a reaction to the growing graffiti culture of 1990s and further grew into a contest of modern pop culture. This pop up event, hosted by Pop-Up Space in January 2012 was a unique gallery that in epic scale showcased floor to ceiling 300 works of innovative and rising artists from US, France and Spain. All the exhibited works were painted live on stage in front of hundreds of people in the audience. All these works were available for sale through the auction.

The current event in PopUpSpaceNY is Brucennial, which will be there through April 20^th. Brucennial is an enormous art exhibition created by The Bruce High Quality Foundation & Vito Schnabel. This exhibit challenges the famous Whitney Museum’s Biennial, the art event. PopUpSpaceNY walls are covered with works of 380 artists from ceiling to floor, as well as the 3 levels of mezzanine. Some of the large scale paintings that are presented on the barn-like walls are by such prominent artists as Keith Haring, Damien Hirst, Julian Schnabel, Kathryn Kerr, and David Sherry.

A few of many advantages of PopUpSpaceNY are the size, large walls, three levels of mezzanines, and the location. Many well-known artists in different fields have seen a great fit in PopUpSpaceNY, from art galleries to flea markets, so this venue space has a promising potential.

PopUpSpaceNY has all-white walls with 24’ ceilings. This venue can be used for cocktail parties, art exhibitions, fashion shows, car showrooms, product launches, photo shoots, filming, sample sales, cultural events, concerts, and pop-up retail concepts. The space open and huge, approximately 8500 SqFt, it has ground floor entrance with an exceptional 40’ glass store front, track lighting and two public restrooms. KVNY is very flexible with lease terms, ranging from 1 day to a few weeks or months. An addition to that is the location, which is one of the hottest in NYC – the heart of Greenwich Village, close to NYU, Washington square Park and other famous venues, Sullivan Hall and Le Poisson Rouge.

European investors return to U.S. Real Estate

2012-02-29T11:59:00.000-05:00

The uncertainty among European investors is still strong, but recently it's been noticed the increasing flow of the U.K. investors interested in U.S. properties.

After the collapse of Lehman Brothers Holding Company European investors fled the U.S. market. Holding Company. Nevertheless, European investors spent $1.6 billion in 2011, up from $700 million the previous year.

Legal & General Group, PLC, and AXA Real Estate, U.K. financial services companies, said that they are looking to invest into the U.S.
Steve Collins, an international director at Jones Lang LaSalle's Washington D.C. office, said, “Now, more than ever, the U.S. is attracting even more EU capital in search of a more safe and secure investment.”

Most Common Reasons Salespeople Lose Deals

2012-02-29T11:50:00.002-05:00

Every week Gabriel Suleymanov, the Senior Vice President of KVNY Relocation, is holding sales meetings for our salespeople on various useful subjects, e.g. Ten Power Factors of Negotiating, Web Presence, Internet Marketing and much more.

At one of our weekly meetings Gabriel spoke about the Most Common Reasons Salespeople Lose Deals and How to Prevent it.

Here are some of them:

Lack of understanding and addressing prospects' unique needs
Salesperson didn't perform sufficient background research on the prospect/organization
Salesperson did not ask the right questions
Salesperson did not listen
Salesperson was not consultative with prospect

Not treating prospects as if they would be valued customers
Prospects perceive that they are just another sale
Lack of responsiveness
Arrogance
Your company's size makes prospects feels like small fish in a big pond

Issue with the sales presentation

Lack of personal chemistry or cultural fit with prospect/the prospect's organization

Be aware of such common mistakes we all do sometimes and try to catch it before it happens.

Our New York City

2012-02-20T11:59:00.002-05:00

Today we celebrate New York... for just being New York, this amazing city. Falling in love with NYC is easy and long-lasting. Today we post a selection of nostalgic NYC pictures.

Enjoy!

34th Street at daytime

34th Street at nighttime

Central Park

Saint Marks Place

Furnished Apartments NYC Apartments for Rent NYC No fee furnished apartments

Discounts on NYC furnished apartments

2012-02-13T18:11:00.003-05:00

KVNY Relocation is offering crazy discounts in February for the furnished apartments in NYC that are available immediately. The discount is anywhere from $500 to 1,500 and is valid throughout the month.

Here are a couple of the furnished apartments with insanely discounted price in a new building with elevator, laundry and rooftop deck on Mulberry st. & Grand st.:

Penthouse / 2 bedroom / $3,950

Kitchen and Dining Area

One of the two bedrooms

1 bedroom / $3,500

1/2 of the Living Space

Gorgeous Bedroom

Justin Long rented an apartment from KVNY Relocation

2012-02-08T18:04:00.002-05:00

A famous actor Justin Long (best known for movies Galaxy Quest, Jeepers Creepers, Dodgeball, Live Free or Die Hard, He's Just Not That into You, Drag Me to Hell, Youth in Revolt) has just rented a luxurious 2 bedroom apartment in East Village with the help of KVNY Relocation agents Vilius Jankauskas and Arik Smila.

A couple of first-hand facts:

He's planning to working on some TV show now
He knows one sentence in Hebrew (and who knows how many sentences in other languages)
He has just rented out his own 2 bedroom apartment on Delancey with the help of Sotheby's Real Estate

KVNY Relocation Customer Service Representative Marisol Gonzalez & Justin Long

Karl Lagerfeld pop-up opens in West Village

2012-02-06T18:20:00.000-05:00

Karl Lagerfeld pop-up opens in West Village

Fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld has opened a pop-up store at 375 Bleecker Street in conjunction with online retailing giant Net-a-Porter, DNAinfo reported.

The pop-up boutique, between Perry and Charles streets, opened last week and will remain in the space until August. Shoppers have the option of having items shipped to their homes using iPads provided for in-store use, DNAinfo noted.

Clothing at the German designer’s shop range from $95 to $1,350.

Why Pay Rent?

2011-12-28T16:32:00.000-05:00

The answer to that question is never easy, but one answer might be found on this mortgage broker’s solicitation that Southern California Real Estate Bubble Blog found on Craigslist. I copy it here.

RENT IS ALMOST LIKE WHAT YOU WOULD PAY TO OWN A HOME PER MONTH. HOW MUCH DO YOU PAY IN RENT? 900, 1200 1700? THAT'S A LOT OF CASH TO GIVE TO SOMEONE ELSE'S MORTGAGE EVERY MONTH. I'M A LOCAL LENDER HERE IN GLENDORA, CA, WHO SPECIALIZES IN HELPING AVERAGE FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS GET INTO THEIR OWN HOME.

GOT BAD CREDIT? - NO PROBLEM! I WILL REPAIR IT. HAVE NO MONEY FOR A DOWN PAYMENT? - NO PROBLEM! WE WILL ASK THE SELLERS TO PAY SUM OR ALL CLOSING COSTS ON THE PROPERTY YOU PUT A OFFER ON.

WE HAVE 100% FINACING PROGRAMS AVALIBLE WITH 500 FICO SCORES AND HIGHER, BUT DON'T WORRY ABOUT YOUR FICO. I HAVE PROGRAMS THAT DON'T EVEN LOOK AT FICO SCORES. IF I CAN'T DO A LOAN FOR YOU THEN NO ONE CAN. INVEST IN “YOUR” FUTURE, NOT YOUR LANDLORD'S.

First Steps To Buying a Home: Finding a House

2011-12-27T18:22:00.000-05:00

Here comes the fun part: choosing a home. Once you have worked out all of the financial aspects of purchasing a home (the mortgage payments and all), now you can start your search for your home, according to the “home wish list” you started earlier. The first aspect of a home that you will want to consider is its location. This will not only affect the “perception” of a home, but it will also affect its value, so be sure that the home you buy is not in a declining part of town, otherwise it will gradually lose its value. While on the topic of location, other things to consider include the safety of the neighborhood, access to shopping, urban/rural environment, commute to work, and, if you have kids, school. Another way to save money (so-to-speak) in this area is to buy a fixer-upper so that the home has built-in property value or even buy in an up and coming neighborhood, so that your property gains value over the course of owning it.

Choose the type of house that is best suited for your lifestyle and preferences. Each type of ownership, weather it be a condo, single-family establishment, or a co-op, has its advantages and disadvantages. With single-family detached homes, you are able to get more privacy, but on the other hand, owning a condo comes with perks such as maintained common areas (like a pool, courtyard, etc). Something to take into account is the amount of storage space you will need: would you rather have more closet space, or more “display-type” storage and more of an open environment? Other things to consider are situations with pets, perhaps there will be the possibility of a family in the future, or even how much remodeling needs to be done in order to make this home just the way you like it. Alternative options include buying a customized home that is developed in a factory, then assembled on-site, or even buying a newly constructed home. In order to sell excess inventory, construction managers will often decrease a home’s price through various incentives.

The next step is to choose a style of house; and by style, we mean architectural. There are so many different styles: from Victorian, to modern, to craftsman, to ranch-style. Each style of house requires different level of maintenance, so be sure to purchase a home that you know will suit your lifestyle.

Something to consider when buying a home is to see what is available for online options. Many real estate agents will often list their properties online, so don’t let you research be limited to open house signs on the streets, or even the real estate listings in the newspaper. Another good option is to look at multiple listing services, MLS, which is a database where real estate agents can list all of their properties in a single database.

A great option, especially for first time home buyers, is to hire a personal real estate agent who will save you the hassle of combing trough the large amount of homes that are available on the market. Something to keep in mind that that buyers don’t actually pay money out of pocket for an agent: the agent’s commission is deducted from the price of the home (as a percent) and then split among the seller’s agent. Questions you may want to ask yourself when looking for an agent are: how experienced are they? How well-versed are they in the neighborhood? How many homes have they sold in the recent-past (the last year or so)? Things you may want to express to your agent include your housing needs, the neighborhood in which you would like to live in and your price range. Throughout the whole process, be sure to keep in touch with your real-estate agent via e-mail, phone call, meetings, whatever you feel would be most helpful and productive in the home-buying process.

One of the most important things that you can do as a homeowner is to stay organized thought the process, because you never know when something or someone may slip up. Since the process of buying a home occurs over the course of an 8- week period, it is a good idea to keep a record of the special features that makes each house unique. If allowed, you should bring a camera to take photos to note the unusual features that each home offers. Questions to ask the homeowner while searching for a home include: How much are monthly utilities (water, electricity, gas)? How much are the yearly property taxes? Who provides the local services for cable, telephone and internet? Are the appliances (washer, dryer, refrigerator) included with the house and what is their condition? Has there been any renovation or major maintenance done on the house (when was the roof last redone)? Has there been any infestations (mold, rodents, leaking)? Be sure that when you are looking in a house that you carefully examine the cabinets, closets, and walls to look for any damage, wear or poor construction. Be sure to keep rating scale of how much you like each house (i.e., “on a scale from 1 to 10”).

More things you should consider (that most homeowners overlook) include the following: is the neighborhood right for you? Is it a smart investment, or is the neighborhood on the decline? Perhaps the homeowners failed to maintain the home properly: is the foundation stable? Does the yard slope towards the house? If so, this could easily lead to water damage or flooding, which can ultimately cause cracks and easily damage the structure of the home. Are there any unusual smells (on the inside or outside of the house?) What about electricity and plumbing? When were the last time the pipes were replaced, or the electricity rewired? Be sure to hire a structural engineer, a pest-inspector, and arrange to have the home inspected before moving forward with the moving process. Look for not functioning windows or doors. Better yet, arrange to see a tour of the house: the whole house (when you express more interest), because some of the home may be blocked off during the initial open house.

Even though you want to do a thorough job looking for your home, there are some of the things that you should avoid doing while attending open houses and house hunting. Firs of all, don’t go to an open house by yourself. Even though it sound appealing, at least take a friend, a family member, or even your agent. That way, you can get a second opinion on the property, avoid pitfall & traps, and not waste your time. Also, don’t make plans after seeing the house: you want to be thorough and allow enough time to linger and time in case you decide to make an offer on a house right away. Don’t wear shoes that take a long time to take on and off: most open houses have you leave your shoes at the front door to keep the house looking spotless; and they can be a hassle to deal with. Avoid bad-mouthing the house while there because the seller is often nearby. One last thing: don’t be afraid to tell your realtor that you don’t like a certain house that they are showing you. They are providing you a service, so do not hesitate to express your opinions or provide criticism of a certain house.

If in fact you are buying a foreclosed home, be sure to hire both an attorney as well as an agent to help through the legal and financial issues. This includes doing the research on both local and statewide foreclosure laws, as well as checking the property liens (or other entity owed by the owners of the property).

As a future homeowner, the next step is to narrow down your home buying options by examining each of the homes that you looked at with a more critical eye. Go back to each of the houses again and ask for a more private visit. Once you have a made a decision on a house, calculate its market value, which can often been really tricky to do on your own. Although you can hire a professional for $250-$400, there are a few steps you can take to get your own, pretty accurate assessment of the value of a home. First of all, add up the square footage of approximately 3 to 5 homes (the more homes, the accurate) in the area to come up with an average square footage. Also, average the price of each home by adding those up and dividing by the number of houses. Then, divide the average price by average square foot, which yields the average price per square foot in the area. Lastly, multiply by the square footage of the house in question to get an accurate price for your home. Be sure not to forget to evaluate market trends as well look into facts that are specific to the seller of the house’s case, such as how much they pair for the house, how long the home has been on the market, etc.

Once you have calculated the estimated market value of a home, the last step is to make an offer. Before singing any documents, be sure to read the terms of the purchase agreement carefully: that it has everything you want in it and nothing you don’t. To break it down, there are around 8 parts to a purchase agreement: the proposed offering price, what is included in the sale, the terms that the sale is dependent on, disclosure that would affect the value of the property, seller concessions, the deposit towards the down payment, the proposed closing date, and lastly the expiry date. Things to consider when making an offer on a house: making a “lowball” offer, hiring a real estate attorney to help with the purchase offer. After you’ve taken these steps, you are ready to close the deal on buying a home!

First Steps to Buying a Home: Shopping for a Loan

2011-12-27T18:00:00.000-05:00

Step 1. When shopping for a loan (after taking a look at you overall finances) is trying to develop a long-term financial strategy. Collect your financial documents (current pay stubs and W-2 forms and tax records for the past two years). This is to prove the lenders that you will able to pay the mortgage payments, plus interest. Organize these documents in a binder, so that you can keep track of the paperwork that comes with buying a home.

Step 2 is to decide what type of mortgage is best for you: a fixed rate mortgage, an adjustable rate mortgage, or a mixture of both. A fixed rate mortgage is best for those who want a constant payment amount over the course of a long period of time. The interest rate is higher for these payments because the risk is low for the borrower, but high for the lender. The other type of mortgage payment is an adjustable rate mortgage, where the interest rate changes over time. Although the initial rates are low (an inciting 2 or 3 percent), they can climb upwards of 18 percent over the course of the loan. Government programs such as the Federal Housing Administration, the Department of Veteran Affairs, the Farmer’s Home Administration and the Rural Housing Service, provide loans for specific agencies.

Step 3. Before signing any official documents, you will want to shop around for the best ratesand mortgage loan terms. Make a spreadsheet of our different options and compare the following aspects of each loan: the mortgage type, the interest rate, the length of the loan, the required down payment, the estimated monthly payment, the escrow for taxes and insurance, the estimated closing costs, and (if applicable), PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance) payments. Also, take some time to get a pre-approval letter. This saves times in the buying process and offers more negotiation power. Be sure to budget for an appraisal because getting pre-approved is no guarantee for a loan. An appraisal depends on the size of the home; and it aims to calculate the market value of a home, it is not a home inspection. But speaking of home inspection, consider looking around for a home inspector to help reveal potential problems that a seller may not disclose or be aware of. “Shop” now, so that when you’re ready to buy a home, you will have already hired one. Study your GFE (or Good Faith Estimate), which is a summary of all the initial and upfront payments that are needed to be made when closing a house (this also shows your monthly payment as decided on by the loan terms). Each GFE consists of approximately eight sections: the costs associated with taking out loans, title charges, government recording and transfer charges, additional settlement charges, items required by the lender to be paid in escrow, reserves deposited with the lender (escrow), the total estimated monthly payment, and the total estimated funds needed to close. To make an overall comparison, get GFE’s from at least 3 lenders to compare the interest rates, and other fees.

Step 4. Get pre-approved via an approval letter from the lender. This provides information to the seller and/or his or her real estate agent that someone has agreed to lend you a specific amount of money, which in turn directly related to the maximum amount of money that you are financially able to pay. Be sure to make copies of all of these financial documents for your own personal records as well as to bring when touring houses.

Step 5 is to look into different financial programs that will end up saving you cash in the long run, because you don’t always have to pay Private Mortgage Insurance or pay the full closing costs prices. Sometimes lenders will allow you to negotiate to have the homeowner pay them. If you are unable to pay more than 20 percent of the home’s cost in the initial down payment, you may be required to pay Private Mortgage Insurance, which can increase your mortgage payments up to $200 a month, so ask your lender about alternative payments. Also, be sure to ask your bank about no-fee mortgage payment programs, which can help reduce closing costs and maybe PMI as well.

Step 6. In addition look into alternative mortgage payment programs, be sure to look into home buying assistance programs, such as a mortgage credit certificate. Contact federal, state, and even local programs before moving forward with the homebuying process.

Lastly, there are a few more things to take into consideration that have to do with the details of planning and careful financing. When buying a home, you need to figure out the effect of the costs on your taxes. Luckily, costs such as mortgage interest and property taxes are both tax deductible. The next step is to make an offer on the house you wish to buy, having already prepared all the necessary financial documents (pre-approved by a lender). Talk to your lender about the possibility of locking in your interest rate. For even more ways to save (and to avoid the traditional loan and mortgage financing option), you can ask a seller if they will consider seller financing, ask the seller about mortgage assumption (you would take over their mortgage payments). Another option is to ask the seller to pay points to lower the interest rate if it is too high. Another thing to do is to protect yourself from predatory lending where you can end up paying mortgage payments that are ultimately more than your house is worth. This can often lead to foreclosure and/or mortgage default. To prevent this from happening altogether, avoid becoming a miserable mortgage payer by fixing your credit and be sure to verify your lending source via e-mail correspondence (at the very least). If you follow all of these steps, you will be sure to avoid the pitfalls of buying a new home and (financially) be on the right track towards home purchasing.

Real Estate: What NOT TO DO When Making an Offer on A House

2011-12-27T14:50:00.000-05:00

There are many things to worry about when buying a new home, so be sure that you DON’T do any of the following things when thinking about putting an offer on a house.

Don’t “lowball” the seller far below the asking price, especially if the property is already listed as a fair price. They might not take you seriously as a buyer and most likely will not accept your offer.

On that note, when making a lowball offer, don’t justify the property by bringing attention to the property’s condition or neighborhood.

Be sure to be flexible and don’t disregard market prices: putting an offer about a house is about compromise.

Also, don’t get too attached to a home. If you really love the house, then be sure to bother your realtor about it (not the homeowners).

The process isn’t complete until your offer is accepted, so sit back and let your realtor do the work!

How to Get Started in the Real Estate Investment Business

2011-12-19T11:58:00.000-05:00

It is important when you are in Real Estate to follow the key concepts before getting started. The first of them is timing: when values are down it is a good time to get into the market.

Another key concept to grasp is location. When talking about location in New York City, look for long-term appreciation in value (look for the indicators that it will appreciate in value). Look for different types of properties. Look for properties with high value or ones that will appreciate quickly. Single-family houses are the most successful in both of these categories because everybody needs to live somewhere, so single-family houses are constantly in demand. Another type of a good investment is commercial and apartment buildings for sale.

Be sure to look for a home with great resale value. The fourth concept is to try and buy a property at the right price.

The fifth thing is the condition, meaning the condition of the property. You want to look for a property with all of its capital investments taken care of, the property that is in excellent condition, so that you don’t have to do maintenance and spend money for repairs.

The sixth point is cash flow. Buy for cash flow now: avoid negative cash flow to avoid losing money month after month.

The last thing to look for is find a property that is easy to manage: find a property manager to take care of the rentals.

If you can get these seven key components mastered when buying a property, you will be sure to be successful in the investment real estate business.

New York City's new venue in Greenwich Village

2011-12-12T14:24:00.000-05:00

KVNY is pleased to introduce its new venue - Pop Up Space. This all-white 8500 square foot event space is located in the heart of Greenwich Village at 159 Bleecker street. It has a ground floor entrance and an exceptional 40’ retail storefront, drive-in access and 24’ ceilings.

The most recent events that we held in Pop Up Space are The 2011 Degenerate Craft Fair, Pop Up Flea, and Melo M8 showcase.

A sort of anti-art fair, The Degenerate Craft Fair featured over 75 artists and designers, and most of the items were offered at cost less than $50. This Fair, sponsored by Gamblin Artist Colors and Knitty City, has been held on the weekend of December 10^th -11^th, and featured music and free beer, lovingly provided by Brooklyn Brewery.

Pop Up Flea, held on December 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th, was the fourth edition of menswear market of desirable new and vintage goods, featuring those who appeared on the previous PUFs as well as a bunch of new labels.

In October 2011 Nike's Jordan Brand had a week-long media and consumer installation at Pop Up Space to showcase the M8, which has a suggested retail price of $135. Carmelo Anthony debuted his new Jordan Melo M8 sneaker after Carmelo Anthony made his Knicks introduction at the Garden.

This new HOT venue can be used for cocktail parties, art exhibitions, fashion shows, car showrooms, product launches, photo shoots, filming, sample sales, cultural events, concerts, and pop-up retail concepts.

KVNY is looking for creative pop-up and event ideas.

Renters flock to furnished apartments | The Real Deal | New York Real Estate News

2011-11-09T17:41:00.000-05:00

Renters flock to furnished apartments | The Real Deal | New York Real Estate News
Renters flock to furnished apartments
November 08, 2011 10:00AM

A furnished NYC apartmentMany of the same factors that have powered a strong rental market are driving a demand for furnished apartments, New York Magazine reported.
Turnkey apartments tend to offer shorter term leases, which appeal to renters who consider their current job temporary or are putting off purchasing decisions. They don't want to invest in furniture if they believe they won't be in the apartment for long. Another group prefers the short-term leases that characterize furnished apartments because they are typically quicker to process and require less paperwork. Regardless, they are faced with higher costs.
"In general, anything that rents for less than a year and is furnished will come at a premium -- at least double," said Jeff Schleider, managing director of Miron Properties.
As a result more owners are putting their furnished apartments on the market. The number of such listings on the market peaked during the third quarter, hitting 1,890 in Manhattan alone. That's more than double the amount of furnished listings in available in 2008. Much of that inventory comes from small owners who rent out their furnished co-ops, condominiums and townhouses, rather than larger landlords.
The trend has also crept into the sales market, New York Magazine said, as sellers try to distinguish their listings from the rest on the market by offering a well-decorated home.

Furnished flats used to be generic spaces of last resort. Not anymore.

2011-11-09T17:22:00.000-05:00

The financial climate has buyers skittish and banks reluctant to lend, and that’s largely why the rental market has come alive this year. Vacancies are down to less than 1 percent throughout the city. Within that market, there’s a noticeably intense niche, and one that’s growing: furnished rentals. Bond New York’s Doreen Fuentes, who has specialized in turnkey rentals for six years, says out of 50 deals she’s done in the past few months, 15 of them have been furnished—far more than usual. Brown Harris Stevens’s Lynda Wiggins says weekly calls about high-end furnished rentals have doubled in the past six months.

What’s more, their clients aren’t looking for a generic midtown crash pad. The new renters are insisting on residential neighborhoods like the Upper West Side, the Upper East Side, and the Village. They’re not content with space that looks like a hotel room. “They’re specifically saying they want someone’s home,” says Wiggins—and, she and her colleagues add, they’re willing to pay for the privilege. “In general, anything that rents for less than a year and is furnished will come at a premium—at least double,” says Jeff Schleider, managing director of Miron Properties. A Murray Hill one-bedroom with a roof deck, for instance, is asking $5,000 a month; unfurnished counterparts are more like $3,000.

Why the premium? Many of the takers are newcomers on temporary assignment—there are more of those lately, as people who are out of work take what they can get—and they’ll pay extra just to avoid committing to a full-year lease until their firms commit to them permanently. Some, like a museum executive from Seattle who’s working with agent Robert Varvara, expect to buy but want to take their time and know they can afford to, given the stagnant sales market. (The agent says that clients like these prefer not to spend money on furniture for an apartment they expect to leave soon.) Others go the furnished route simply because it’s an easier, faster way to secure an address: Because these apartments are geared toward short-termers, their landlords tend to require less financial documentation and less money in the bank. (Co-ops are the exceptions; many insist on board approval no matter how short or long the stay.)

The market is responding. The number of furnished rentals reached a peak this past quarter, with 1,890 listings in Manhattan alone. (In the same period of 2008, there were 827.) Fuentes says one landlord has reworked all twenty units of one of his walk-ups into furnished rentals. He fully expects to see a return on the investment he made, which included freshening up the building and setting up Wi-Fi and a cleaning service.

One-off landlords—pied-à-terre owners and small-scale real-estate investors, not corporate-housing moguls—are capitalizing on the trend, too. In fact, 72 percent of the furnished-rental inventory last quarter was in co-ops, condos, and townhouses, per Streeteasy. Fuentes has one client who lost his job and is leasing out his $1.4 million Chelsea two-bedroom and moving to a studio. “It’s going to help him coast through a difficult time,” she explains. Varvara says one of his sellers just decided to put his for-sale studio up for lease—even though he’ll have to prep it, replacing a television and reinstating the cable, as features like these are typically included—because the rent will more than cover his mortgage and maintenance while he waits for the market to bounce back. And why not? “You have a lot who bought at the peak, and because prices dropped below or at what they paid, they can’t afford to sell,” says Streeteasy’s Sofia Song. As long as rents stay high, “this is buying them time.”

For those who aren’t waiting out the sales market, fully furnished apartments are proliferating there, too. Available inventory in 2011 has increased fivefold since 2008—and the year’s not over yet. That’s because design-savvy and décor-proud owners are now offering the whole package, as a way to stand out in the sea of listings. Buyers don’t often bite, says Schleider, “but the sales market is still struggling, and people are seeking an edge.”

Old Nolita carriage house hits market after condo conversion | The Real Deal | New York Real Estate News

2011-11-07T11:58:00.000-05:00

Old Nolita carriage house hits market after condo conversion | The Real Deal | New York Real Estate News
By Adam Fusfeld

Exterior and interior photos of Brewster Carriage House

The first phase of sales in the Brewster Carriage House, a six-story, 19th century building in Nolita, began Wednesday night.

Five of the nine units in the building, at the corner of Broome and Mott streets, have hit the market. The available condominiums range from a 1,969-square-foot, one-bedroom, two and a half-bathroom second floor unit that is asking $2.85 million, to a 3,553-square-foot, two-bedroom, three-bathroom penthouse that is listed for $8 million, according to the website of exclusive marketers Prudential Douglas Elliman. Four more units, including a duplex with a private roof space, are being held back, the condo's website shows.

The Brewster Carriage House was once home to carriage manufacturer Brewster & Co. and later a canvas manufacturer, according to previously published media reports. In 2005, developer Ross Morgan purchased the 26,000-square-foot building for $9 million under an LLC named Little Red House and began a condominium conversion. Now, five of the nine units in the building have hit the market with John Gomes and Fredrik Eklund of Prudential Douglas Elliman.

Morgan, Eklund and Gomes all declined to comment through a spokesperson.

The Corcoran Group was initially chosen to market the units, agent Larry Carty confirmed, before Morgan settled on the Elliman team. Carty said he and Irene Lo, both agents in the Corcoran Soho office, brought the buyer who is currently in contract to purchase the penthouse.

Priciest, cheapest units to hit the market | The Real Deal | New York Real Estate News

2011-11-07T11:50:00.000-05:00

Priciest, cheapest units to hit the market | The Real Deal | New York Real Estate News

From top: The priciest listing at 100 Eleventh Avenue and the cheapest at 1919 Madison Avenue
The priciest Manhattan listing to hit the market this week is a 9,493-square-foot penthouse apartment at 100 Eleventh Avenue, asking $38.9 million. The condominium unit, which is at the Jean Nouvel-designed Chelsea Nouvel building, features eight bedrooms and seven bathrooms and is listed with Holly Parker and Trisha Reidel of Prudential Douglas Elliman.

The second most expensive listing to come online this week is an historic Lenox Hill townhouse, designed by architect Paul Rudolph. The four-bedroom, four-and-a-half-bathroom property at 101 East 63rd Street has a 1,600-square-foot terrace and is listed with Noble Black, Carmen Marques Perez and Bonnie Pfeifer Evans of the Corcoran Group for $38.5 million.

The third priciest listing is a four-bedroom, 6,000-square-foot condominium unit at a prewar building at 20 East 65th Street, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. The 25-foot-wide residence features a private elevator and four wood-burning fireplaces. It is listed with Nikki Field and Helen Marcos of Sotheby's International Realty for $17.5 million.

The least expensive Manhattan listing to hit the market this week is a one-bedroom co-op unit at 1919 Madison Avenue in Central Harlem. The apartment, the sale of which is restricted to buyers with an income of less than $92,160, is listed with Joe Davila and Norma Maupins of Fenwick Keats Real Estate for $160,000.

The second cheapest listing is a 350-square-foot, one-bedroom co-op unit at 875 West 181st Street in Hudson Heights. It's listed with Susanna Saarinen of Access Property Group for $189,000.

The third cheapest listing is a one-bedroom, Upper West Side co-op unit at 375 Riverside Drive. The apartment, which requires a gut renovation, is listed by Weichert Realtors for $190,000.

Condo developers flock to Chelsea | The Real Deal | New York Real Estate News

2011-11-07T10:52:00.000-05:00

Condo developers flock to Chelsea | The Real Deal | New York Real Estate News

A steady stream of developers are trying to cash in on the influx of tech workers to Chelsea since Googlemoved its New York headquarters to 111 Eighth avenue last year, the Wall Street Journal reported, with many keen to build residential properties to house Google's employees.

The number of condominium unit sales in Chelsea jumped to 121 in the third quarter, from 78 during the same period in 2012, according to appraisal firm Miller Samuel, and the neighborhood has more condo projects in the works than any other neighborhood in Manhattan.

DDG Partners recently secured a $26 million construction loan and has broken ground on a 40-unit condo project at 345 West 14th Street and the Brodsky Organization will be launching sales at buildings it purchased from the General Theological Seminary which spans 20th to 21st streets, and Ninth and Tenth avenues, in early 2012.

Harlan Berger, CEO of Centaur Properties, even went as far as to plan a "Google House," a building that would cater exclusively to Google employees, which never materialized as a result of zoning problems. A project by Centaur at 305 West 16th Street has drawn some executives from the tech company, however.

"Google is a game-changer for the neighborhood and the city," Berger told the Journal.

Kvny Real Estate is on the "Hunt" again

2011-10-30T09:40:00.000-04:00

KVNYCommercial has just wrapped up a smooth and FAST sale of the building in the rapidly developing Central Harlem. 79 West 127^th Street represents a very attractive redevelopment opportunity in Northern Manhattan. World renowned chef Marcus Samuelsson’s new restaurant Red Rooster and long time neighborhood icon Sylvia's draw customers from around the world and are just some examples of the areas vibrant and exciting resurgence. This building was brand new to the market got sold for $1.6 million in mere 3 weeks! That’s the way KVNYCommercial closes its deals – easy and fast, with an extensive knowledge of the city’s inventory and a great understanding of the investor’s needs.

We are please to announce that KVNY Residential has just obtained a thrilling 3 bedroom / 4.5 bathrooms exclusive for rent in Tribeca, 137 Duane Street. This 5500 SF fully renovated loft goes for $17,500. 2004 Condo Loft conversion features 50’x50’ huge living room space with decorative columns and 14ft ceiling. As a unique 1860's Loft it has an unbelievably beautiful wall of arched windows facing Thomas Street. Besides the living space the loft has three huge bedrooms, each with a bathroom and a walk-in closet, a family room and a playroom. The dining room and the open chef's kitchen with 2 dishwashers is a dream come true. Exclusive by KVNY agent: Julie Bohush.

KVNY boasts another luxury rental exclusive. Situated in the heart of Chelsea in a recently renovated 24 hour doorman building, this 4035 SF condo offers great Southern light exposure via expansive windows and a PRIVATE TERRACE with a view into a very quiet, park-like setting. This 4 BEDROOM, 4.5 BATH home features 14ft ceilings, two living rooms, two laundry rooms with Bosch washer & dryers, two separate entrances to the apartment, and many architectural features that distinguish it as one of Chelsea's finer homes. One living room features an enormous drop-down screen with projection viewing for television and movies, and the 40 speakers embedded in the ceilings throughout the home provide separate zones or continuous playback for exquisite sound. A separate media closet features a floor-to-ceiling computer/media rack that safely stores the technology out of view. The other living room features floor-to-ceiling windows that open out onto the private terrace, and a theatrical curtain that hangs between it and open-space flex room which can be used as another bedroom or other purpose. As for storage, abundant closet space exists throughout the apartment, including the guest bedrooms, of which three feature walk-in closets. All bedrooms feature private bathrooms (3 of which feature both separate tubs and showers). The building features a private gym with adjoining children play area, a bike room, a lounge, and private storage is also provided in the basement for this unit. Exclusive by KVNY agents: Brian Cerilo, Julie Bohush.

Suite Direct Provide The Best Solution For A Vacation spot For All The Family in NYC

2011-10-01T07:57:00.000-04:00

There is just one thing that individuals just about all look forward to and that is our Vacations. There was a time not too long ago when we had just one annual Vacation – but these days it is very common for people to enjoy several Vacations a year. As airfares have become more economical the planet has become much smaller and long haul getaways are now just as popular as short haul holidays. One nation that many individuals look forward to touring is America – with its different tradition and large amount of different places to pay a visit to. Every preferred with Vacation and Hospitality makers from around the globe – America has become one of the worlds top rated Vacation locations.

One of the key tourist places in America is NYC – situated in the North East of America – appropriately called the "BIG APPLE" City. With tourism becoming important to the local economy it is definitely not a shock to see that the superior of accommodation accessible is of a really high standard. NYC – the primary hub of tourism has many thousands of hotel beds and suites as well a broad array of

expensive Extended Stay Condos.

Staying in an Luxury Condo Apartments can have many advantages over a hotel. To start with they are private and typically furnished to a extremely high standard, some are located on community’s which will in some cases are gated delivering an extra level of comfort and security.

The advantages of the residential areas where the condos are located is the fact they are close enough for them to be just a short journey away from the principal attractions yet of course as they are privately owned you are out there from the sometimes busy hustle and bussle of the much larger lodges.

You also have the flexibility to eat as and when you want – the contemporary kitchens that furnish most of these Family Luxury Condos are second to none. Stacked high with present day appliances – a private Condo Apartments is a "Home Away from home" on your Vacation – with all the creature comforts of home combined with the luxury of a luxurious hotel.

This blend is very well-liked with families as of course the exclusive Apartments will enable most family members to have their own bedroom which can work out very costly if you try and accomplish this at an hotel. In addition, you have far more room simply to relax as in general in an hotel the only way in which you could accomplish this is by utilizing one of the public areas which can get very occupied and of course are not very private.

So private Luxury Condos especially for families are terrific – tons of space to relax, a games room if you are lucky and of course a bedroom for everyone and the opportunity to visit in a home that just is so exceptionally furnished . In fact the chances are that you will enjoy your Vacations so much you basically will not want to come home and that is always the signal of a excellent getaway.A great choice for a Vacation with SUITE DIRECT ,"Your Home Away From Home"

find the very best furnished apartment in Nyc "Your Home Away from Home"

2011-09-30T09:17:00.000-04:00

Finding the greatest quality Hospitality Management apartments in NYC can be a challenging process. In fact, a lot of individuals believe it is pretty much not possible to find the right kind of furnished apartment in this place. Well, the reality is that furnished apartments are usually in high-demand, so it often is difficult to acquire one for you, but it is also correct that there are ways to choose the appropriate furnished rental in a great area. You can do this by making use of the Internet. There are several websites offering help to those who don’t want to endure any inconvenience to find a furnished rental. Searching for various furnished apartments that have everything definitely will accomplish this goal.

One important thing to comprehend is when you locate one in Manhattan, you will not find your property manager to be responsible for any sort of tv, telephone, or other amenity/installation. For that reason, if you don’t get these things preinstalled, or if they, are not included with your rental, you have to count the expenses. Another essential thing to understand about furnished rentals is that there are many instances when it becomes easier to determine the proper type of them in this particular city. The last three to five days of every month and first seven to ten days the following month will always throw more opportunities your way. In the course of taking a furnished rental, it is crucial to understand that most landlords will ask you to proceed with an upfront security deposit. In most cases, this will be the equivalent of one month’s rent. As you may know already, you won’t be helped by your property manager for phone, tv, or other utility installation, but water and heat bills will be included in your rental money. This is exactly what you have to also consider when locating the best quality Relocation Hospitality Management furnished rentals in Nyc.

A small number of property managers might not offer this choice, so it is a smart idea to find one who takes the responsibility for water and heat bills. Last but not least, there’s something which is quite necessary to understand, and that’s in regards to the sum of money you need to get a furnished apartment in this particular location. These are a few things that are necessary to know about furnished rentals. It is not easy to find the best one The Big Apple, however, if you use the correct way of finding one, you are sure to get one you are on the lookout for. This is the way to go about getting quality NYC furnished apartments in the proper way for "your Home Away From Home".

First phase of Second Avenue Subway tunneling complete | The Real Deal | New York Real Estate News

2011-09-23T07:13:00.000-04:00

First phase of Second Avenue Subway tunneling complete
September 22, 2011 03:00PM

Rendering of the Second Avenue Subway
Today, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority will finish tunneling the first phase of the Second Avenue Subway, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Trains won't be running on the new subway line for at least five years, but that's just a blip in the long history of the project, which was first proposed in the 1920s and has been kicked around ever since.

For now twin tunnels have been dug between 63rd and 96th streets. Next, construction crews will blast out three stations, finish the tunnels with concrete and lay the tracks.

All told the project costs $4.45 billion, and will extend the Q train north to the Upper East Side. Though the MTA hasn't secured all the necessary financing, it has agreements with federal authorities that should compel the agency to complete this phase. [WSJ]

The Real Deal | Soho House from "Sex and the City" episode for sale

2011-09-23T07:12:00.000-04:00

The Real Deal | New York Real Estate News

2011-09-23T07:10:00.000-04:00

The Real Deal | New York Real Estate News

Fed sends world markets plunging - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News

2011-09-23T07:09:00.000-04:00

Fed sends world markets plunging - Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News