A Truly Amazing Place To Live: $8500 20th Floor Park Avenue South

Yesterday I stumbled across this enormous two bedroom, two bath on Park Avenue South, literally just steps from Union Square. It's drenched in sunlight and has some amazing city views, including of the Flatiron Building.

The bedrooms are enormous and there is a master suite. Lots of closets. Central air. New kitchen, full service building. Pre-war marble lobby. Building has roofdeck, pool, jacuzzi and gym. $8500 firm.

Master bedroom, 12 x 21.


One of two new bathrooms. All have showers. Master bath has a tub and and a shower.


New kitchen


View from the living room and kitchen

How Much Is....?

Below is a chart of the average market rate for apartments in different Manhattan neighborhoods for June 2008.

A Day Of Fifth Floor Walk Ups And Rescues

This evening I took out my friend Constantine to look at some two bedrooms on the Upper East Side. If you're on a budget but still want to live in Manhattan, then it's the place to go, especially on First and York Avenues.

This is a very busy time of year for real estate agents, and even if you get keys for a place, chances are someone is going to call you to take them from you. This afternoon as I was finishing off dinner at a diner on 89th Street (my first real meal of the day, since granola bars don't count as a meal) when an agent called and tried to get some keys from me. It turns out that we were headed for the same open house at 6:00 p.m., so I told him to meet me there and we would hash out the key issue.

It turns out the agent that called me was a guy named Sam that I was in training with. He and I even took a lunchtime trip to Sephora once. For a guy, he knew an awful lot about hair products and salves. He came along to one place with us after the open house and then we parted ways.

About an hour later I got a frantic phone call from Sam. He and his client went to see a place on 92nd and Lexington and they got locked in the apartment. He wanted to know if I could come by the place and try to open the door from the outside. After all, he could buzz me into the building. Constantine needed a break from looking anyhow, so I left him at a bodega on 94th Street and hopped up to Lexington.

Not only was Sam stuck in an apartment, but it was on the top floor of a six floor walk up. I know what you're thinking: six floor walk ups are technically illegal in Manhattan since all buildings over five floors should have elevators. I thought this was the case, but after this evening I can assure you that six floor walk ups do, in fact, exist. And apparently people get stuck up there.

Sam slipped me the key through a hole in the door (this place was such a dump) and sure enough, it didn't work. The lock was broken. Sam ended up climbing out the fire escape down to the street while I fetched the super from his apartment, and apparently large family, down on the first floor. The look on his face when I told him people were locked in an apartment was priceless. The he turned around and picked up a screwdriver, presumably to take off the lock.

I then hopped back down to 94th Street, where Constantine was enjoying a soda. We resumed our own tour of walk ups, but no one got locked in.

And you thought the Upper East Side was civilized? Ha!

NO FEE Apartments Available!!

There are a ton of no-fee apartment offerings right now, so if you or someone you know needs to move, I highly suggest getting in touch with me.

One large management company is offering no fee on several of their buildings through July 15. Many of these have doormen, fitness rooms and laundry. Murray Hill, Upper East Side, and Midtown available. Studios start around $2350, but I know of some that are $1950, without a doorman.

These are for immediate to August 1 move ins. Call me in August if you need a September lease.

New Huffington Post Blog: How To Get Along With Your Broker

I'm at it again on the Huffington Post, Check it out.

In New York City, brokers are an integral part of any real estate transaction, be it a rental or a sale. We're conduits for landlords and management companies who don't have time to deal with the general public. We run credit and screen applicants to make sure they can actually afford the places they apply for. We're gatekeepers, but above all, we're matchmakers, matching tenants to the right apartments, so that everyone leaves happy.

Outdoor Space In NYC! $4200!

Every now and then I see an apartment that is so cool I need to tell everyone about it.

Over on 69th Street there is a true three bedroom that has its own large private deck, pictured above. You could easily fit 20 people on it, if not more. It also has a huge living room and a separate, eat-in kitchen. It's on the third floor of a walk up, but it's a cool, pre-war building with a big staircase and lots of neat details. I've been in it lots of times and it's full of young professionals.

$4200 for outdoor space and lots of indoor space? Tell anyone you know who may need a three bedroom and I'll set up an appointment. New college grads would love this space. The same building has other three beds that are just as large but without the decks for $3900. July and August move-ins available.

Broker Fee Special: One Month's Rent!

Now through June 30th I am only charging one month's rent as a broker fee for all deals closed by June 30th.

If you need to move in July, now is the time to call me. Broker fees are usually 15% of the annual rent. Save some dough!

Real Estate Deals Of The Day!

This weekend I stumbled across a great building in Murray Hill off of Madison Avenue. It has a doorman, elevator, laundry and really sunny, immaculate units at great prices.

The first unit I saw was a huge studio with really high ceilings. You can easily fit a large bed and a living room set in here. $1,805


The kitchen is all new with lots of storage and full appliances. Check out all the counter space. Cooks, take note!


There are also several duplexes available, and go for about $2500, depending on what floor you're on. These are incredible spaces. The living areas are again, enormous with high ceilings. You could throw a party in them.


Just like the studios, there is lots of counter space and storage and new kitchen appliances.




The bedrooms, on the upper level, are king sized and I saw one that had a walk-in closet. Perfect for aspiring Carrie Bradshaws.

Let's move on to this Chelsea gem. At $2,750 it's a great find for a spacious one bedroom. It has a new kitchen and bathroom. The street is quiet and tree-lined, and just a block or so from the 1 subway.


As if all this space isn't enough, there's a patio where you can entertain.


That's today's deals. Let me know if you're in the market for anything. Citi Habitats has an enormous database, and there's defintely something for everyone.

Real Estate Deals Of The Day!!

As most of you know, I'm working for Citi Habitats now. Every day I see deal after deal come through the office, many of which could be overlooked on Craigslist or even on the Citi Habitats web site.

Thank goodness for this blog and my predilection for taking photos. Today I have a few amazing deals to show you. All of these listings are coming from Citi Habitats, so in order to take advantage of any of them there is a 15% broker fee. But that's standard in New York City. Brokers know of things the average person could never, no matter how much free time they have or how badly they want to "beat the system."

Remember: It's summer, and things do not last long. If you see something you like, jump on it. Immediately. It's not an exaggeration to say that it may not be there the next day.

Check it:

Amazing One Bedroom With Loft -- West 16th Street $2995


I don't usually get jealous when looking at places, but this enormous one bedroom made me seriously take pause. It's big enough to hold both a living room and dining set. The appliances are new, the ceilings are high, and that's just the first level.

The second level is a true bedroom with more closet space than you'll know what to do with. (Ladies: take note!) The whole place is so quiet you could hear a pin drop. The bathroom is pristine. In terms of location, this place is steps from Union Square.


Renovated Chelsea Studio -- $2150


A guy in my office has this as an exclusive, so you won't find it anywhere else. It's a spacious studio, again in the middle of Chelsea on 17th Street. It's been gut renovated, new appliances, bright bathroom -- the works. You can put your bed in the sleeping loft or even your desk.