DOES THE LOW INTEREST RATE MARKET REWARD THE WEALTHY OR/AND THE 47%?

Posted by Leonard Steinberg on September 21st, 2012 Interest rates are at record lows, so financing a property today is more affordable than ever. Here are some disturbing facts to absorb: 1)  Is everyone who has a mortgage and takes the tax deduction part of Mitt Romney’s 47%?…..the mortage deduction is a government subsidized handout….basically. I… [Read More]

KATE MIDDLETON AND PRIVACY.

Posted by Leonard Steinberg on September 18th, 2012 So while war is raging throughout the world, our economy is about to head over ‘the fiscal cliff’, and more, world headlines are focused on the topless photos taken of Kate Middleton sunning herself in Provence. Topless tanning in France is pretty standard. Taking excessive photos of… [Read More]

WALKER TOWER $50m PENTHOUSE FINDS A $ 95m BUYER: RUMOR OR REALITY?

Posted by Leonard Steinberg on September 17th, 2012 Rumor has it that the $ 50 million penthouse at 212 West 18th Street (Walker Tower) has gone to contract with a rather rich oil+gas guy from Texas…..and the rumor goes further ….that he combined additional units to make a $ 95m combination penthouse. If this rumor is true, this… [Read More]

BERNANKE DELIVERS GREAT NEWS FOR REAL ESTATE

Posted on September 14th by Leonard Steinberg Fed. chief Ben Bernanke delivered some great news for the financial markets and especially real estate land: he plans on keeping interest rate low ‘well into 2015’:  That bodes especially well for New York real estate buyers who currently confronted with ultra-limited inventory of existing apartments will feel… [Read More]

GREENWICH VILLAGE: THE GILDED GHETTO?

Posted by Leonard Steinberg on September 5th, 2012 This month Vanity Fair termed Greenwich Village the “GILDED GHETTO”:  is this the appropriate description of the neighborhood everyone, including foreigners, Uptowners and Downtowner’s, agree is the ultimate New York living environment? The area’s unique combination of (guaranteed) low lying buildings that provide the best light in… [Read More]

APPRAISAL INSANITY: THE NEW MATEMATICS IN REAL ESTATE APPRAISALS?

Posted by Leonard Steinberg on August 20th, 2012 A new insanity has reached our shores in “Appraisal-Land”: Yes, New York Real estate appraisers have come up with a new ‘SCIENTIFIC’ method for valuing apartments that is so absurd, ridiculous and stupid, it defies logic. This is what they are doing: The appraiser will come in for… [Read More]

ANOTHER WEST VILLAGE MEGA-MANSION?

Posted by Leonard Steinberg on August 15th, 2012 We have heard that a contract has been signed on the building at Washington and Charles Street? Will this become the next Gottesman/Bass-style mega mansion that has infiltrated the area and made the West Village the best location downtown….by far?

DOES TELEVISION AND THE WEB MAKE REALITY OUT OF LIES?

Posted by Leonard Steinberg on August 15th, 2012 We are witnessing the very worst of THE BIG LIE, whereby just because something is displayed or said on television and online, it automatically becomes reality: This election cycle is amplifying this horrible phenomenon. The Obama campaign runs an ad. that blames Mitt Romney for the death… [Read More]