Posted by Leonard Steinberg in January 1st, 2013 I am blogging from sunny Cape Town, South Africa……my place of birth and still possibly the most beautiful place anywhere…….and while far removed from the concrete jungle of Manhattan, I have learned many lessons, or have been reminded of some from the past……so here goes: 1) Beauty… [Read More]
ARE THE CURRENT TAX LAWS UN-CONSTITUTIONAL?
Posted by Leonard Steinberg on December 18th, 2012 While Washington debates what is rich in the USA (we are up to $ 400k/year now….thats rich with 2 kids in Manhattan?), without any adjustment made for cost of living for the city you live in, no-one seems to want to address the dirty truth of how… [Read More]
SIGNS OF FISCAL CLIFF RICH-TAX SANITY?
Posted by Leonard Steinberg on December 17th, 2012 The Republicans have agreed to raising the tax rates on the rich at last…..the real rich: those earning $ 1million and more per year. At last the definition of wealthy has shifted from a stupid version to a more realistic one. Which idiotic politician truly believed that… [Read More]
ANGER-DRIVEN NEGOTIATIONS
Posted by Leonard Steinberg on November 13th, 2012 As the negotiations between Republicans and Democrats to avert the FISCAL CLIFF heat up, one commentator pointed out that in our beloved system, usually both sides have to walk away from the negotiated deal angry for a deal to be done. In New York real estate, I… [Read More]
LET'S WATCH THEM!
Posted by Leonard Steinberg on December 8th, 2012 In a real estate negotiation when the buyer and seller do not trust what their brokers are saying or doing, it is sometimes wise to get involved and monitor things more closely. I think the time has come for us, the taxpayers, to do the same with… [Read More]
THE MANHATTAN INFLATION MYTH
Posted by Leonard Steinberg on December 4th, 2012 Our beloved Government claims that the US inflation rate is currently somewhere around 2.25%…..remarkably they do not include the cost of housing in this figure, probably the single most expensive line item cost in every American’s budget. As we all know the cost of housing is rising dramatically, especially in… [Read More]
REAL WORLD vs. GOVERNMENT NEGOTIATING
Posted by Leonard Steinberg on December 4th, 2012 As the Democrats and Republicans ‘negotiate’ a deal to avert the FISCAL CLIFF, we are again reminded at how very different elected government officials are to the real world. They have the luxury of time I guess? The world around them can crumble, jobs can be lost,… [Read More]
IS WALMART THE NEXT MORTGAGE BANK?
Posted by Leonard Steinberg on December 3rd, 2012 A recent survey shows that one in three US consumers would consider a mortgage by retail giant WALMART. The study shows consumers are willing to try alternative lenders as borrowers focus on price, customer service and trust in their provider when selecting a mortgage, said Doug Hautop, lending… [Read More]
ITS ALL ABOUT THE POWER
Posted by Leonard Steinberg on December 1st, 2012 So the one half of the $ 588 million (that’s over 11,500 $ 50k/year jobs) POWERBALL winners were identified, making a couple from Michigan instantly super-wealthy and very powerful……I did not hear anybody complaining about the fact that these new-super-rich folks earned their money (overnight and through… [Read More]
NEW LISTING – 85 LEONARD 4th FL – TRIBECA 2-3 BEDROOM LOFT PERFECTION
85 LEONARD STREET, 4th FLOOR Conveniently located surrounded by the best Tribeca retail, restaurants and transportation, this dreamy full floor loft boats impressive ceiling heights that amplify the magnificent southern light streaming through over-sized windows. The elevator opens directly into this gut renovated loft: the grand entertaining/living space with a fireplace abuts a sleek kitchen… [Read More]