Gea Elika's Blog, page 174

March 10, 2015

Want to Buy a Two-Bedroom in Manhattan on a Budget? Shop These 5 Neighborhoods

A two-bedroom apartment in New York City might seem far out of your financial reach, but if you search high and low, you’ll discover that a few bargains costing less than $800,000 remain. (Unbelievably, less than $800,000 for a two-bedroom is a deal in Manhattan.)


You’ll need to know where to look, however, as many neighborhoods won’t have available inventory in that price range. If space is at the top of your wish list, you might need to expand your search to areas that weren’t originally on your real estate radar.


What are you waiting for? You’d better hop to it and start perusing. The deals below could be snatched by the time you finish reading this blog post.


Morningside Heights


3117 Broadway


This northern Upper West Side enclave has location at the top of its pros ––Columbia University and Barnard College are the hub of the neighborhood. Conveniently located to transportation, Morningside Heights offers more affordable two-bedroom options than many other parts of Manhattan, like this spacious unit for $595,000 right on Broadway.


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Turtle Bay


333 East 43rd Street


This Midtown East neighborhood is headquarters of the UN, the famed Chrysler Building, and historic Tudor City. Located in the East 40s, living here puts you in a good spot to head uptown or downtown –– your choice. You’ll find a few small two-bedrooms to choose from in Turtle Bay like this one, listed at $749,000.


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Washington Heights


474 West 158


You won’t run short on charm in Washington Heights. Many buildings boast original architectural details, and some are in need of renovation, so if you prefer a fixer-upper, this area could be your next home. Take a look at this stunner for $379,000 to get an idea of the apartments on the market in this uptown nabe, which is bordered by Harlem on the south end and Inwood to the north.


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Yorkville


227 East 87th Street


When the Second Avenue Subway finally completes, property values in Yorkville will likely increase, so now might be a smart time to buy. The eastern section of the Upper East Side has maintained its charm over the years with many mom-and-pop shops still intact. This neighborhood is still considered one of the few affordable left ones in Manhattan. Choose from several two-bedroom units like this character-filled floor-through with two baths for $589,000.


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East Harlem


416 East 117th Street


Just north of the Upper East Side, East Harlem or ‘El Barrio’ is brimming with culture and character. The area’s home to a plethora of ethnic eateries and you’re a hop, skip, and jump from all the East Side has to offer. Consider the newer condo buildings in the neighborhood –– you can probably find a family apartment that offers plenty of room to grow but won’t break the bank. Consider this unit for $783,000 with a sprawling kitchen and a washer/dryer.


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Published on March 10, 2015 13:38

March 6, 2015

Get to Know Prospect Park

Don’t rave about Central Park to Brooklynites. Chances are they’ll argue how Prospect Park is superior, and that Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux got it right the second time around. The dynamic duo designed the 585-acre Brooklyn park after completing Manhattan’s Central Park.  Although Olmsted gets much of the credit, Vaux is responsible for most of the design elements.


Prospect Park is a little piece of heaven in the middle of Brooklyn that’s become a destination for both nature-seeking locals and Brooklyn-bound tourists. Park Slope, Prospect Lefferts Gardens, Ditmas Park, and Windsor Terrace lie adjacent to Prospect Park, making the green space an idealistic escape for Brooklyn residents in these neighborhoods. Attracting more than eight million visitors annually, the park offers a multitude of activities for the outdoorsman as well as the urban city dweller. Is there ever an ugly day in Prospect Park? Park-goers would say not.


Prospect Park


One of its most iconic features is the watercourse, which contains a collection of man-made water features and lakes. In addition to the restoration in 1994, the Boathouse was added in 2007. Most recently, the Le Frak Center at Lakeside, the park’s largest water play area, opened.


Enter the park at 15th Street and Prospect Park West, and you’ll discover the “Ravine,” the borough’s only forest. The  Brooklyn Botanic Garden is a popular attraction, and the Long Meadow is a 90-acre section of lush grass –– larger than Central Park’s Great Lawn. Access the meadow south of the main entrance at Grand Army Plaza. Take an afternoon to lounge and take in the peace and quiet. You might see a few kites flying on a clear day. You’ll find Picnic House, a shady grove with picnic tables and public restrooms on the south end.


Prospect Park


Sports aficionados can play tennis, run, hike, ice skate, and horseback ride. The park is home to an array of sports teams such as The Prospect Park Track Club, The Prospect Park Women’s Softball League, and several baseball leagues. Bear in mind, no sports are allowed on the lawns from December 1 through March 31 to allow time for the grass to recover for warmer weather. You can reserve a synthetic field on the Parade Ground during these months, however. 


Prospect Park boasts activities for the entire family. Children will adore the many playgrounds, and adults can relax for a day of fishing or even barbecue in one of the allowed areas. Treat the kids to the Prospect Park Zoo, which is nothing short of spectacular and a real treat for any age. Housing more than 600 animals from over 140 species, several hundred thousand people visit each year.


Prospect Park


Speaking of animals, dogs have a blast in Prospect Park and can romp off-leash  before 9am and after 9pm in the Middle & Upper Long Meadow (excludes the ballfield area in the Lower Long Meadow), Nethermead, and the Peninsula. The dog beach is a big hit with swimming canines; locals agree that there’s no other spot quite like the dog beach anywhere else in the city. Keep in mind –– dogs must be leashed if it’s not off-leash hours. 


And for arts enthusiasts, “Celebrate Brooklyn” has been a mainstay every summer since 1979, bringing myriad performance troupes from around the world to entertain at Prospect Park’s bandshell. This year will kick off with the “Queen of Funk” Chaka Khan.


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Published on March 06, 2015 18:04

March 4, 2015

6 Reasons Why It Might Be Worth It to Buy in NYC

New York City is a town of renters. Most of its denizens will never own a piece of real estate because in many instances, renting is less expensive than buying, at least for the short term. But if you live in the city, what if you could one day have the means to invest in your future by purchasing real estate? No, you’re not dreaming, and I’m not crazy when I say that it could very well be worth your time to at least think about it.


I realize the funds needed (a 20-25% down payment plus additional monies left in a bank account after closing) aren’t easy to come by for the average person. And you might not be so eager to leave a neighborhood you love like Hell’s Kitchen, to move to Washington Heights so that you can own property. You could be spoiled by your large apartment rental, and maybe you’re not willing to downsize for the sake of investment.


But if you are willing to explore other neighborhoods and change your living situation, or sell real estate elsewhere so you can invest in NYC, think about these reasons why buying in the Big Apple could be for you.


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1. Mortgage rates are still low.


We can all hope that low rates will continue as we move through the new millennium, but mostly likely rates will increase, eventually. Buying in the not-so-distant future is a smart idea so you can take advantage of some of the lowest rates in our country’s history.


2. Your mortgage won’t increase.


If you go with a fixed loan, your monthly note will never increase for the life of that loan. Even the costs of rent-stabilized apartments increase, and there’s always the chance that your building could be sold, and the units could then be rented at market value, which you might not be able to afford. (Or, the price could end up being sky-high ridiculous and you’ll refuse to pay it.)


Maintenance and tax payments are a factor and will increase, however. Know this if you are considering becoming a homeowner in NYC. But this fact brings me to the next point.


3. Tax deductions


Not only will you be able to deduct your mortgage interest but you’ll also be able to deduct a portion of your building maintenance. The percentage varies by building, but could be anywhere from about 40% to 60%. A major deduction like this means that you could reap a heavier refund when tax time rolls around.


4. You might know your neighbors a bit better.


For all I know, you might be BFFs with your current floormates, but there’s also the chance that you barely know the people who live next to you. When you buy a unit in an apartment building in NYC, there’s a stronger possibility that you’ll feel part of a community. Many of the residents plan to stay for the long haul, and you might make a few new friends rather than feeling like you’re living next to a complete stranger. Who knows? You could even grab drinks at happy hour or walk your dogs together.


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5. You’re building equity.


When you’re writing that rent check every month, you’ll never see that cash again. However, owning real estate enables you to build equity, which means that you purchased your apartment for once price, but a few years later, barring any economic catastrophe, the value should be higher.


6. The NYC real estate market is pretty much bullet-proof.


Even in a weakened economy, people still move to New York and still buy real estate. Now that the economy is on an upswing, apartment prices are at another all-time high (like they were in 2008 before the recession), which is just one more reason why you should give some thought to buying in New York City if it fits your budget and lifestyle.


To learn more about buying a home in New York: Download our Home Buyers Guide


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Published on March 04, 2015 06:30

March 2, 2015

Economic Gains Augurs Well for NYC Real Estate

The national economy and the sundry of statistics garner the news media’s attention. These are important in assessing our domestic economy. However, the local economy, particularly one as large as New York City’s, is an important driver of neighborhood real estate values. Therefore, we are analyzing NYC’s economy and its outlook.


Job growth continues


Employment growth continued to expand. In December, private employers added 8,800 jobs from the prior month. The unemployment rate remained steady at 6.3%. This capped off a year in which nearly 96,000 jobs were added, to 3.6 million. This is a far cry from the depths of the recession when the city was losing jobs, including the rapid loss in the high-paying areas of Wall Street and construction.


 


MTA


 


Importantly, the jobs were more broadly based across industries. Finance had come to dominate both the U.S. economy and NYC’s. During the 1990s, more than 10% of new private sector jobs added came from the securities industry. During this recovery, it has accounted for less than 1%.


The most recent data back up this trend. Finance/Insurance, Securities, and Banking has a net loss of about 70 jobs in December compared to the November. Driving the employment gains have been Professional and Business, Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services, Health and Social Assistance, and Accommodation/Food.


A more diverse economy is beneficial to New York City. Wall Street jobs tend to pay well, even those at lower levels. However, it is very dependent on the economy and sheds jobs quickly during downturns. An increased reliance on healthcare and tech broadens the job base, allowing for a healthier and more stable economy over the longer-term.


The city welcomes tourists  


 


Times Square


 


Tourism is also an important cog to the city’s economy. There is welcome news on that front, too.


In October, the latest date information is available from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, there were 9.9 million travelers flowing through the region’s airports. This is an increase of 3.6% from a year ago.


Broadway attendance was over 1.1 million in December, nearly a 9% increase. It is also tougher to get a hotel room, with November’s occupancy up to 89.3% from 87.9% in the prior year.


Stronger real estate market  


 


NYC-Skyline1


 


We expect the real estate market to continue strengthening. The better employment picture is likely to continue being the main driver. This has benefitted the overall New York City economy, including travel and tourism, as we have seen.


Home prices continued to rise last year. Metropolitan New York saw prices increase 1.9%, according to Case Shiller. Building projects, which include new additions and alterations, rose 17.2% year-over-year. There were 3,231 building project starts that began construction in November, nearly a 23% increase.


Turning to the commercial real estate market, vacancies continued to fall. Class A office space in Manhattan had vacancies drop to 8.9% in December, although the average rent remained steady at $74 a square foot.


Conclusion


New York City’s real estate market has made a nice recovery over the last few years. However, the missing component, job growth, has been on an unmistakable and sustained upward trend. This bodes well for the residential housing market heading into the busy spring selling season.


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Published on March 02, 2015 06:00

March 1, 2015

Don’t Get Misled By New York City Real Estate Listings

Whether it’s lighting tricks used by photographers or promises made by unscrupulous sellers, the Internet is full of New York City Real Estate Listings that look great but actually have a big catch. Although these types of tricks are most common in the rental market, they can negatively impact homebuyers as well.


Realizing that the market is full of tricks and scams can be a little scary. However, when it comes to renting or buying real estate, knowledge truly is power. So as long as you know what to look for and the best steps to protect yourself, you’ll put yourself in a position to properly evaluate New York City real estate listings. This will allow you to find what you want without being led astray.





With that goal in mind, let’s dive right into the most common problems you want to watch out for, as well as how you can protect yourself throughout this process:


3 Common New York City Real Estate Listing Scams


The first rental scam that goes on in New York City is people trying to rent out a place they don’t own. Whether they have access to the place through a friend or another channel like AirBNB, the bottom line is they aren’t the legal owner of the property.


The second scam that’s fairly common is a bait and switch. Although someone does own an apartment, they use information from other New York City real estate listings to make theirs sound much more appealing. But since their apartment is nothing close to what they’re promising online, they try to pressure interested parties to rent it sight unseen.


Finally, the other common scam is when an individual poses as a real estate agent. Their objective is usually to hold a fake open house so that they can try to get multiple parties to pay an application fee, which of course they won’t refund.


5 Signs That a Listing is a Scam


When it comes to online New York City real estate listings, the first red flag is being asked to pay in cash or wire funds. The second sign to watch out for is when a broker or landlord is overly eager to do business with you. While speeding up the process may sound appealing, you don’t want to find yourself in a situation where there’s no paper trail of your agreements.


High pressure sales tactics are another bad sign. Also, if you ever have a bad feeling about a NYC real estate listing, be sure to listen to your gut. Finally, if an apartment seems ways too good for the amount that’s being asked, you need to be extremely cautious about the possibility of a scam.


The Best Way to Protect Yourself from NYC Real Estate Scams


While the information we covered will help you avoid many scams, navigating through New York City real estate listings to find the right one can still be very challenging and stressful. If you want to eliminate as many of the obstacles from this process as possible, find out more about how Elika renter’s representation can help you find the ideal luxury apartment in New York City.


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Published on March 01, 2015 07:00

February 28, 2015

Neighborhood Spotlight: Living in Carnegie Hill

In case you’re wondering, Carnegie Hill is a pocket on Manhattan’s Upper East Side and was named after the mansion built by Andrew Carnegie at 91st Street and Fifth Avenue. Today, that same building houses the renowned Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum. This somewhat posh area of town has been a designated historic district since 1974, and longtime residents claim the stately enclave, unlike some other areas of the city, “feels like a real neighborhood” due to its proximity to local shops and businesses. It’s not uncommon to walk down the street in Carnegie Hill and recognize a familiar face.


The Neighborhood


Bound by 86th Street to the south, 96th Street to the north, Fifth Avenue to the west and Third Avenue to the east, the northern boundary has stretched in recent years to include streets above 96th on Park Avenue. Previously, the area was designated at Spanish Harlem or “El Barrio.”


One of the main attractions of living in Carnegie Hill is the shortage of new buildings (to its denizens, that’s a good thing), leaving the neighborhood with a similar feeling to decades ago. You’ll find mostly low-rise apartments with retail establishments on ground floors, as well as stunning 19th-century townhouses, and a few high-rise towers mixed in.


 


Carnegie Hill Townhouses


 


Things to do


Art and culture prevail in Carnegie Hill –– Museum Mile runs straight through the neighborhood. If you stroll up Fifth Avenue starting at 86th Street, you’ll catch the Metropolitan Museum of Art (82nd to 86th), The Neue Gallerie (86th), The Guggenheim (88th), The National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts (89th), The Cooper Hewitt (91st), and the Jewish Museum at 92nd.


 


Guggenheim


 


A local favorite, the Corner Bookstore still stands at 94th and Madison. Choose from an array of eateries such as Sarabeth’s, Pascalou, and Le Paris Bistrot, just a few blocks away. Other not-to-miss spots in the nabe include Café Sabarsky, an authentic Austrian coffee house in The Neue Gallerie, Eleni’s for decorated cookies, and Yura on Madison, a classic UES spot for lunch.


Lexington Avenue and East 86th Street is home to the only chain stores in the neighborhood. There you’ll find retailers like Best Buy, Barnes & Noble, Sephora, and Fox’s, among others.


For nature–seekers, Central Park runs along the west side at Fifth Avenue. Steps inside the park, you can easily access the trail around the Jackie Onassis Reservoir. With it’s flat, even surface, and its stunning water views, the track is an ideal escape for a long walk or a light jog.


 



 


What it costs


Prices run the gamut. If you’re in the market to buy, expect to pay in the range of $350K to $450K for a studio, about $650K for a small one-bedroom unit, and $800K and up for a more generous one-bedroom. A two bedroom co-op could easily cost in the $1.5 million range, with some smaller apartments coming in lower, and others with more space and amenities such as a fireplace, washer/dryer, and a view coming in higher.


Rental prices have a wide range too. Small one-bedrooms or studios rent for about $2,000-$2,500, though don’t expect much space or modern conveniences such as a dishwasher, elevator, or doorman for this price. Large two-bedroom units are few and far between. Expect to pay $6,000 and higher for a modernized family apartment.


Transportation


The 4/5/6 trains stop at 86th and Lexington, and the 6 stops at 96th Street. Local trains tend to be especially crowded, but rides should be a bit more comfortable once the Second Avenue Subway construction finishes in a few years. Crosstown buses run on both 86th and 96th Streets, making travel across to the west side fairly easy. The M86 route is one of the most traveled in the city, so getting a seat on this bus can be a challenge during rush hour.


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Published on February 28, 2015 06:00

February 26, 2015

Affordable New York City Apartments – What’s Realistic?

When someone uses the word affordable, it’s important to understand that it doesn’t have a universal meaning. What seems affordable to one person may seem very expensive to someone else. This is often the case with affordable New York City apartments.


For people with experience in the NYC real estate market, their awareness of consistently increasing property values means they have specific criteria for finding a good deal. But for someone who is new to this market, they may be shocked when they see the prices of different properties.


Putting Affordable New York City Apartments in the Right Context


If you’re putting serious thought into buying in New York City instead of renting, it’s important to start this process with the right mindset. The first thing to realize is that New York City has the highest cost of living in the entire United States. The second important reality is not only is New York City an expensive place to live, but the competition for real estate is high.


The reason there’s so much competition for NYC real estate is due to the combination of its limited inventory and interest from investors all over the globe. As a result of New York City’s high cost of living and the high demand for real estate, the two best things buyers can do is be realistic about what they can afford and remain open to compromise.


 


New York City Apartments


 


Thinking About What’s Most Important


The worst situation that a New York City homeowner can get into is needing to sell their property prematurely. Because that’s the most common reason buyers lose money, it’s important to have the future in mind as you start looking for a place to purchase. Specifically, you want to be able to find a property that can grow with you for at least five years.


Since you want a place that provides future flexibility, you may not be able to get 100% of your wish list. That’s why we recommend buyers focusing on getting 80-90% of what matters to them most. By being open to a little compromise, you’ll ultimately end up in the best position.


What Buyers Need to Know About Affordable New York City Apartments


In New York City, buying an apartment is 22% cheaper than renting one. That being said, many new buyers overlook the full scope of costs associated with owning a home. Those costs include high property taxes and homeowner’s insurance. In many cases, buying a home also comes with the responsibility of paying common charges or maintenance fees.


In addition to understanding the full cost of an affordable New York City apartment, it’s also important to have your finances in order prior to buying. Not only do you want your credit to be in great shape, but you also need cash available for your down payment, closing costs and 6 months worth of a capital reserve.


Since there’s so much additional information that can help put you in the best possible position as a buyer in the New York City real estate market, we highly encourage you to download and read our free Home Buyers Guide.


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Published on February 26, 2015 08:30

February 25, 2015

10 Things Every New Yorker Should Expect From a Doorman

Doormen might be a dime a dozen in New York City, but the good ones are rare. If you polled New Yorkers about how happy they are with their doormen, I’d be interested to hear what they have to say. (Something tells me the results would be less than favorable, for the most part.)


Here are 10 things that all doormen should do, and therefore, every NYC denizen living in a concierge building should expect these from the man tending to their front door.


1. Be polite at all times.


A doorman is paid to be polite, pleasant, and cordial. (This could be the most challenging aspect of a doorman’s job.) Granted, everyone has a bad day here and there, but even then, a great doorman will smile and say hello to every person who walks in and out of a building.


2. Man the door.


This one is obvious, but you’d be surprised how often doors are left unattended, at least in my building. I understand that nature calls, but if that happens, at the very least, a doorman should lock the door to the building, or get a porter or someone else to cover. And, in this case, residents should own a key to their front door to always have access.


 


Manhattan Doorman


 


3. Open the door.


Opening and closing a door all day long probably gets tiresome, but again, a doorman is expected to handle this mundane task. Taking a catnap while apartment dwellers struggle with groceries or other packages as they come home from a long workday isn’t exactly part of the job description for concierge. Get off the butt and get to work.


4. Know everyone’s name.


Remembering several hundred names isn’t easy (I would definitely fail since remembering names isn’t my strong suit, even if I’ve just met you), but knowing who lives in what apartment is very important, which brings me to the next point.


5. Know who’s home.


A doorman should keep track of who’s coming and going, who’s in their apartment, and who’s not. (This part of the job requires a good memory but knowing each resident helps too.)


6. Accept packages.


Logging in UPS, FedEx, and USPS packages is part of a doorman’s job, so knowing which apartment and tenant/shareholder gets which package is essential. Many buildings now use Building Link, which is an effective online portal that sends the recipient an email when a package has been delivered. Still, the doorman is responsible for entering the correct information.


7. Get instructions right.


When I leave town and have a pet-sitter or family staying in my apartment, I give a key and instructions to the doorman on duty. I trust that all of my doormen will know who can enter my unit and on which days. And since we have day doormen and night doormen, I want to be sure that each one will know what’s going on in my apartment, as they should.


8. Help you get a cab.


Cabs in New York can be hard to come by at times, and I’m not sure what it is, but doormen have a knack for flagging them down.


 


NYC Doorman


 


9. Call when visitors arrive.


Although it’s another given, I can’t tell you how many times a delivery person has shown up at my apartment door with hot Thai food in hand, yet I didn’t receive a call from my doorman. Yes, I know I called for delivery, but that’s beside the point. New York is a big city with its share of crazy criminals, and having a doorman is a luxury that should ensure a higher level of comfort and safety.


10. Stay out of personal business.


A doorman should know when to chat and when to keep quiet. He shouldn’t get involved in family quarrels or personal conversations, even if he hears them. Your doorman will know enough about you (probably more than you’d like), and he’ll see you at your worst (when you’re sick, without makeup, and hung over). Do you really want him to catch you in the middle of a lovers’ quarrel? Bear in mind, apartment residents should try and keep private matters private and discuss behind closed doors whenever possible.


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Published on February 25, 2015 08:30

February 24, 2015

New York City Real Estate Taxes: Expect Increases in 2015

Recently released assessments point towards a 9% property value increase in the 1.06 million properties located through New York City. As a result of this increase, New York City real estate taxes are expected to have a noticeable hike.


Because of the substantial increase in property value, the New York City real estate market now sits at a cumulative value of $988.3 billion. While value increases are normal, the latest is quite significant. By comparison, last year’s increase was just 6.6%.


How Much More Will Homeowners Pay in New York City Real Estate Taxes?


The average increase that people will be responsible for paying depends on the type of property they own. The Department of Finance projects that those who own a single-family home can expect to pay an additional $228 this year.


New York City


If that doesn’t sound too bad, it’s because it is definitely less than the increased amount that co-op and condo owners will be paying. There are two reasons that co-op and condo owners are on the hook for higher amounts.


The first reason is because the market value of these properties increased by a full 10.86%. And the second reason is because both co-op and condo buildings are assessed at a higher tax rate.


What Tax Bill Increase Can Co-Op and Condo Expect to See?


As a result of the fact that co-op and condo buildings saw an even greater increase in value, as well as are assessed at a higher tax rate, owners in this category will see a more significant tax increase. New York City real estate taxes for co-op owners will go to $448, while the Department of Finance projects condo owners to experience an average hike of $838.


In Manhattan, the average increases will be even more substantial. Manhattan co-op bills will see an average rise of $817, while property tax bills for condos will have an average of $1,150 added to them.


Differing Views on These Increases in New York City Real Estate Taxes


Out of all the properties in New York City, which will see the greatest tax increase? The answer is single-family townhouse owners in Manhattan, who will pay an average of $2,131 more this year.


In terms of the impact of these increases, there are two very differing views. While the de Blasio administration said that the increases are a great sign because of their direct link to rising property values, plenty of city lawmakers feel that the current system for assessing property taxes is far from ideal.


If you’re already a property owner in New York City, the above information will help you properly plan for the upcoming year. And if you’re thinking about buying a home, co-op or condo in New York City, be sure to get our free Home Buyers Handbook.


The Home Buyers Handbook covers New York City real estate taxes in detail, as well as everything else you need to know about purchasing property in this competitive and often confusing market.


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Published on February 24, 2015 08:44

February 20, 2015

Not Ready to Buy? Consider Living in These Not-So-Average Manhattan Rental Buildings

If you’ve relocated to New York recently, perhaps you’d rather rent for a few years until you learn the lay of the land. Getting to know your way around town and deciding in which neighborhood you’d like to settle before making the long-term investment is pretty smart. And if you’re all about luxury, not to worry, you don’t have to get a mortgage to secure an upscale residence in the Big Apple. Rental buildings have plenty to offer in terms of a luxurious lifestyle. Here is just sampling of not-so-average apartments available to rent in Manhattan.


The Beatrice - 105 W 29th St


Residents will adore the Chelsea location, the state-of-the-art fixtures and finishes, and the panoramic views. Perched on top of the Eventi Hotel, the Beatrice boasts a 3,700 cloud lounge and rooftop terrace on the 54th floor, and a yoga studio on the 24th floor for health-conscious residents. Apartments start at $3,450 for a studio and go beyond $6,750 for a two-bedroom unit.


 


2012-02-17 11.47.48


 


The Corner - 200 W 72nd St


Located in the desirable Upper West Side, this Silver Lead Certified Green Building offers effortless apartment living with sprawling floor plans, elegant kitchens, and bright spaces with floor-to-ceiling windows. Choose from 47 unique layouts. Prices range from $3,450 to $17,000 per month.


505 W 37 th St


Call Midtown West home when you live in this luxury building at 37th and 10th Avenue. The loft-like residences feature floor-to-ceiling windows with expansive Manhattan views. Choose from more than 20 generous floor plans to suit your individual lifestyle. Two-bedroom units rent in the $5,000 range.


The Lara - 113 Nassau St


This new mixed use building in the Financial District comes complete with amenities such as a gaming/media room, fitness center, lounge, and roof terrace with a sculpture garden and cascading fountain. Units come equipped with solar shades, walnut-hued floors, luxury bath fixtures, and high-end kitchen appliances. Prices start around $3,500 per month for a studio.


Two Sutton Place North - 1113 York Ave


This 31-story building at 61st and York can’t be missed –– its black glass façade is unlike any other building in the neighborhood. You’ll smile every day you return home to the tree-lined, cobblestone driveway, or when you relax in the private landscaped park. Expect to pay in the range of $3,250 for a studio and more than $9,000 for a three-bedroom unit.


2 Cooper Square


If having a prime address is high on your list, look no further than Greenwich Village’s 2 Cooper Square in which one-bedrooms start around $5,200 per month. The 15-story building promises ultra-luxury living in one of New York’s  hippest neighborhoods. Spoil yourself in the yoga and dance studio, lounge, or on the 6,500 square foot rooftop complete with a swimming pool, barbecue station, and bar. Looking for some private outdoor time? Relax on your terrace, instead. City living never looked so good.


The post Not Ready to Buy? Consider Living in These Not-So-Average Manhattan Rental Buildings appeared first on | Elika Real Estate.

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Published on February 20, 2015 10:06