Posted by Leonard Steinberg of URBAN COMPASS on October 18th, 2014 There is rich and then there is REALLY rich: As a New York real estate broker I often get lost in this micro-world of what is completely removed from the ‘real’ world, and I try to see the humor in it all. Yes, the… [Read More]
STUPIDONOMICS: NEW YORK PIED-A-TERRE TAX IS SIMPLY STUPID
Posted by Leonard Steinberg on September 24th, 2014 Imposing a PIED A TERRE tax on New York luxury apartments is probably one of the worst economic proposals to raise tax revenue I have ever heard of. The tax of up to 4% annually would be applied to all apartments and homes with a current market value… [Read More]
SEEN FROM THE WINDOW OF 146 WAVERLY PLACE.
Posted by Leonard Steinberg of URBAN COMPASS on September 14th 2014 As you peer out of the window of 146 Waverly Place, the remarkable townhouse being renovated to perfection, designed by architect Wayne Turett, you catch a glimpse of the property at 27 Christopher Street a few doors away that just traded hands for $45… [Read More]
NEIMAN MARCUS GOES WEST: HUDSON YARDS MANHATTAN LUXE!
Posted by Leonard Steinberg on September 4th, 2014 Where will all those chic new homeowners coming to West Chelsea do their shopping? Neiman’s of course! A quick hop onto the Highline Park will take swell Chelsea dwellers a few streets north to Hudson Yards. Yes, its official: Neiman Marcus is coming to the West Side… [Read More]
THE INFLUENCE OF HOTELS ON LUXURY APARTMENT BUYERS
Posted by Leonard Steinberg on August 27th, 2014 I am currently comfortably settled in my hotel room at the tip of a peninsula overlooking the Mediterranean Sea and the famous Faraglioni rocks of Capri. Looking around this room I am reminded why so many buyers of luxury real estate around the world use the quality… [Read More]
SUPER-MODEL GISELLE EARNS $47 MILLION PER YEAR
Posted by Leonard Steinberg on August 21st, 2014 I am happy to hear that Giselle, the ultimate super-model, earns $47 million per year…..she buys lots of real estate, pays lots of taxes and fuels lots of jobs. What I am not happy to hear is the automatic outrage one hears when a corporate titan earns… [Read More]
ONE-TIME CASH WINDFALLS: WHAT TO DO WITH THE MONEY?
Posted by Leonard Steinberg on August 21st, 2014 I sit on the Board of my building, and sometimes (very seldom) a building can come into a windfall of money, a surprise revenue source that boosts its reserves unexpectedly and outside all budgetary expectations. New York State is experiencing this exact phenomena right now: It will realize a… [Read More]
THE INNOVATION ECONOMY: IS TECHNOLOGY NEW YORK'S FUTURE?
Posted by Leonard Steinberg on August 19th, 2014 There can be no doubt that technology has become a key driving force and growth sector for the New York economy (and the world in general). A city that was once almost entirely reliant on the financial sector for high paying jobs is seeing tech catch up… [Read More]
THE 24/7/365 WORLD
Posted by Leonard Steinberg of URBAN COMPASS on August 16th, 2014 In my role as President of URBAN COMPASS, I post some of my thoughts and observations to the company. I thought I would share this one as it highlights the new world we live in: THE 24/7/365 WORLD. Seasons are a magical way of reminding us… [Read More]
IN 'DEFENSE' OF THE ALEXANDER BROTHERS
Posted by Leonard Steinberg of URBAN COMPASS on August 7th, 2014 “In what could be a real estate record for New York City, the nation of Qatar is in contract to buy an Upper East Side townhouse for $100 million, The New York Post reported earlier this week.” This week it was revealed that the… [Read More]