Category: Ask Andrea
In the Press | U.S. News and World Report | Spring Prep
In the Press | Better Homes and Gardens | Pools
Embracing New Tech – Citysnap in NYC
Citysnap Snapshot
Sellers – Owners: Have confidence your property reaches buyers – tenants and stays top of mind with a home search experience tailor-made for the unique environment that is New York City.
Buyers – Investors – Tenants: Rest assured the properties found on Citysnap come directly from the REBNY (Real Estate Board of New York) RLS multiple listing service.
Citysnap is the first search site and app to feature all data from the RLS, giving New Yorkers better, more accurate and more comprehensive content. In addition to the listing data, Citysnap offers features that are uniquely designed for New Yorkers’ home searches, including distance to nearby subway stations and need-to-know details on the buildings in which each listing is located. Additionally, Citysnap will launch with a cutting-edge Sky Cam feature—over 50,000 360-degree aerial videos of residential buildings throughout New York City to further enhance the user experience for consumers and industry participants. These features, combined with RLS data, make Citysnap the essential search tool for anyone looking for available properties in New York City.
Brick Underground | When a NYC unit is back on the market…
…Is it an opportunity-or warning sign?
A deal that’s back on the market does offer buyers a second chance at an apartment and can even indicate a seller is ready to negotiate. It can also be a warning sign. The truth is, you should never come to any iron-clad conclusions when you first see a unit’s back on the market.
Buyer backed out: info uncovered
If the apartment is in a condo or a co-op, between an accepted offer and signed contract, the buyer’s attorney will perform due diligence, which means, among other research, that they review the building’s key documents.
“That will include the [building’s] offering plan, financial statements, and board minutes,” says Andrea Saturno-Sanjana of Brown Harris Stevens. “The buyer might decide not to move forward on the property in light of this information.”
Seller backed out
Most of the time, fizzled deals are due to the causes listed above, but apparently, some sellers like to toy with prospective buyers’ emotions. “It might be that the seller is ‘testing the market’ and might only intend to sell at a specific price or at a later time,” says Saturno-Sanjana.
Or is it a sign of trouble?
There is no reason to assume a failed deal is a sign of a lemon. Oftentimes, it’s the result of a problem on the buyer’s side, not the seller’s.
A deal that doesn’t go through can also leave the seller feeling “burned,” resulting in more restrictive, sometimes insurmountable, terms of sale. “If the earlier deal fell through because of appraisal or financing issues, the seller might look more carefully at the buyer’s financing in any future offers. Fewer contingencies—cash or non-contingent financing—could be attractive to a seller in this situation,” says Saturno-Sanjana.
How do you find out what happened
If a situation is less cut and dry, you might never know the full story. “A good buyer’s agent will maintain good communication with the listing agent throughout the process, so while you might never know every single detail of what happened, you should have enough information to decide whether or not to make an offer on the property,” says Saturno-Sanjana.
History | NY | Legacy Brand | Brown Harris Stevens
As New York City’s legacy brand, Brown Harris Stevens was founded in 1873, the same year Central Park was completed. Just five years later, Manhattan’s first elevated railway—the “El”—began service.
This photograph by noted photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt published in Life Magazine was taken in Manhattan in the 1940’s and shows a woman in classic fashions of the era with the “El” in the background.
Pounding the pavement on behalf of our clients since 1873…
Photo Credit: Alfred Eisenstaedt/LIFE (via @retro_newyork)
Prime Property | NY | Brown Harris Stevens 2019 Stats
Prime Property | Development | NY | Bronx | Parkchester
2123 Newbold Avenue is a five-unit multi-family property sited on a large lot with room for development where Unionport meets Parkchester in The Bronx. Only two blocks away from the Castle Hill Avenue subway station and the 6 train, the property is perfectly situated in a thriving residential community with plenty of upside for growth.
From unique local businesses such as Havana Cafe to major chains such as Planet Fitness, the community is also served by large department stores Macy’s and Marshalls in Parkchester. Just three blocks from the Cross Bronx Expressway – I-95, 2123 Newbold Avenue is easily accessible to the Bronx Zoo, the New York Botanical Garden, the Bronx Night Market, Fordham University and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
Prime Property | Investment | NY | Manhattan | East Harlem
406 East 119th Street is a 10-unit multi-family property in East Harlem in Manhattan, which enjoys a favorable property tax rate. Only six blocks away from the 116th Street subway station and the 6 train, the property is perfectly situated in a thriving residential community with plenty of upside for growth, particularly with the extension of the Second Avenue Subway station at 116th Street to be served by the Q train.
A community of historical and cultural interest, East Harlem residents are served by El Barrio Community Garden, Thomas Jefferson Park and swimming pool, classic eateries such as Rao’s and Patsy’s and cosy newcomers such as Yura’s Blue Plate, Las Delicias Mexicanas and La Shuk. Large stores Costco, Target and Aldi can be found in the nearby East River Mall. Just three subway stops from The Mount Sinai Hospital and three blocks from FDR Drive, 406 East 119th Street is easily accessible to I-278 and both LaGuardia and JFK Airports.
Prime Property | NY | Lenox Hill | Park Avenue Splendor
The largest two-bedroom, two-bathroom condominium home currently available on Park Avenue, Residence 6G in 530 Park Avenue offers timeless elegance in a contemporary design for living.
Maintained in mint condition and with southern and northern exposures, Residence 6G’s classic interior details include custom-finished herringbone hardwood floors, high coffered ceilings and hand-finished cove moldings. The entry foyer opens to the expansive living room, which is perfect for entertaining or relaxing.
The separate dining room leads to the gourmet kitchen, which is outfitted with handcrafted, custom-painted English wood cabinetry by Smallbone of Devizes, Pietra Cardosa Italian granite countertops, Italian porcelain floors and stainless steel appliances by Sub-Zero, Wolf, Viking and Bosch.
Approached though a gallery, the private sleeping quarters consist of two well-proportioned bedrooms with en-suite, spa-style, marble bathrooms and walk-in closets. The second bathroom features two entrances and a Bosch washer and dryer, and both bathrooms are enhanced by custom-made stone top vanities with Kohler Caxton sinks. Double-pane, energy-efficient windows and individually and thermostatically controlled heating and air conditioning systems by McQuay are throughout the home.
Originally built in 1941 and located on one of the world’s premier boulevards, 530 Park Avenue was redesigned in 2013 by Handel Architects with interiors by Georgis and Mirgorodsky Architecture and Design. Residents enjoy round-the-clock doorman and concierge service from the stunning lobby, tranquil sitting rooms, a library with a billiard table, a catering kitchen, a private fitness center with Cybex equipment, a children’s creativity center, bicycle storage and additional laundry facilities. Residence 6G and the building amenities are fully accessible.
Setting 530 Park Avenue apart from its neighbors is the French garden with European pea gravel walkways, a reflecting pool, a fountain, seating areas and seasonal and perennial plantings-a true oasis in the heart of Manhattan. 530 Park Avenue is a pet-friendly community.
Within the attractive Lenox Hill neighborhood and just two blocks from Central Park, 530 Park Avenue is close to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Bloomingdale’s and unique boutiques on Madison Avenue, Lexington Avenue and side streets. Enjoy breakfast at Sant Ambroeus, lunch at Serafina and dinner at La Grenouille–all on the same block. From a casual stroll through Whole Foods or the Food Hall at The Plaza to Michelin-starred fare at Daniel, Cafe Boulud or Aquavit, dining options abound. Served by the 4, 5, 6, F, N, R, W and Q trains, Museum Mile, and any other New York City neighborhood, is just a short jaunt away.
Andrea Saturno-Sanjana 