Friends, colleagues, neighbors, |
Leap into spring is the message this month. February is a short and sweet month, and it is almost over already, even with the extra leap year day.
Before we know it, we will officially be in the spring selling season, which kicks off usually in March. Easter is early this year, March 31st, and Passover is late, April 22nd. I am not wishing away the months but if you have used these words “Let’s wait until the spring before…”, I would say spring is on the horizon.
Leap don’t walk into action. Whether selling, buying or both, the early bird catches the worm for sure in the market we have now.
Connection. Place. Security. Life. These are all what home means to all of us.
If you need help to get started, ask me. Always happy to share my contacts, knowledge, and cheer you on to success.
Wishing everyone health and wellness, until we meet again. |
 | The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, is one of The New York Public Library’s renowned research libraries. This February the exhibition opened “The Ways of Langston Hughes: Griff Davis and Black Artists in the Making”.
Harlem Renaissance poet Langston Hughes (1901–1967) held friendships with artists across generations and disciplines. Photojournalist Griffith Davis (1923–1993) was a student and Hughes a visiting professor when they met. In this exhibition, Griff Davis’s photography is complemented by archival material from the Schomburg Center’s collections and letters reflecting decades of personal correspondence. My introduction to the poet was through my daughter when she was in preschool and they read a number of his poems and chose their favorites. Hers was “Dreams”. Still sticks in my head to this day.
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 | A new exhibition at the wonderful British Museum, “Legion: Life in the Roman Army” is a fascinating walk through the life and service of a real Roman soldier. It brings to life the career choice that was a Roman soldier. “Few men are born brave; many become so from care and force of discipline.” Great quote by Vegetius, Fourth-century Roman writer
The British Museum is well worth a visit if you are in London, so much to see.
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 | Have to remind everyone to toss those pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, the 13th Feb this year. Mardi Gras takes place on this day also of course, marking the beginning of lent the next day. British pancakes are light and thin, so easy to toss, as seen by yours truly on my instagram account, if you want to take a look. Lemon juice and sugar is still my all-time favorite way to enjoy them. But cheese and sweetcorn is the savory option in our household. Every year I tell myself why don’t I make these more often?
So Shrove Tuesday aside, just make them. Easy and delicious. |
 | There have been many David Bowie exhibitions over the years. This one
“A LONDON DAY by Kevin Davis”, captures David Bowie over the course of a single day in 1992. The session was done to promote the release of his 18th studio album Black Tie White Noise. Davis rediscovered all 400 negatives photos during covid lockdown and he then built this exhibition around a number of Bowie’s own selects taken from his mark-ups on Davies’ original contact sheets and reveals a timeless, almost age-less David Bowie in the prime of his life.
The Fitzrovia Chapel was part of the Middlesex Hospital and has a fascinating history itself worth exploring. Exhibition runs 1st March until 20th March 2024.
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More reasons to be cheerful about the NYC property market
Let’s start with last week’s signed contracts in Manhattan - The number of signed contracts the first week of February rose 9% week on week and was 12% higher than a year ago
- The biggest increase in activity was seen in apartments priced between $1MM to $2MM
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And what about Foreign Buyers and Investors? - 2023 saw the return of foreign buyers and investors, with the highest share of the total buyer pool since 2019
- Foreign buyers accounted for 32.4% of city’s investors
• NYC regaining the top spot as the top city for foreign investment
- Qatar and Japan were the No. 1 and No. 2 buyers of NYC real estate
What does all this mean for buyers?
More competition if you are a buyer and from cash buyers if they are foreign investors
If you are in the market to buy a new development condo, you will likely see more investors around you in 2024 than 2023
But more inventory is and will come on for buyers
And for sellers?
Sellers, don’t wait, plan to come to market soon, to capitalize on the demand as it grows, with less competition around you from similar properties
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Our second half of 2023 townhouse sales in Brooklyn and the last 10 years of townhouse sales in Manhattan, have all the facts and figures about the decline in the number of sales, the average sold price, the median sold price and the price per square foot
What do I want to highlight from this somewhat gloomy set of facts?
👉Yes, there were 15% fewer closings in the second half of 2023 versus 2022, but that was because of the significant drop in inventory, less for sale means fewer sales 👉As interest rates climbed in 2023, buyers sat on the sidelines, unable and unwilling to transact 👉The neighborhoods with the highest sold prices remained the same, Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens and Boerum Hill 👉If a townhouse came to market in 2023 that was well presented and well-priced for the market situation it would garner interest from buyers 👉Any townhouse in the top 5 Brooklyn neighborhoods that came to market for under $4 million, would usually garner a bidding war even in 2023 👉Both sellers and buyers are adjusting to the reality of where mortgage rates will be over the next 12 months 👉Pricing is key for sellers right now, get that right and buyers will come 👉The desire to own a townhouse in New York City is a constant and there will always be demand 👉Closed sales data is looking in the rear-view mirror and cannot reflect the real time activity right now out in the marketplace three months since the end of 2023
If you would like to discuss your circumstances and real estate goals in more detail and drill down in the data history, always happy to do that. |
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I have always wanted to launch a listing on Valentine’s Day, and this is the year! 157 Waverly Avenue, Apt 2C
This three-bedroom apartment in a 14-unit boutique Clinton Hill coop building, won over my clients when they purchased it.
What made them fall in love with it?
❤️ Lofty 12-foot ceilings and huge windows ❤️ Wood burning fireplace ❤️ Washer Dryer in unit ❤️ 1,200 interior sf ❤️ Renovated bathroom and kitchen ❤️ Exposed brick wall ❤️ Three good sized bedrooms ❤️ Low maintenance Clinton Hill is home to great shops, restaurants, and bars, has Fort Greene park on its doorstep, the Pratt Institute and BAM a stone’s throw away and an easy commute/walk to many other neighborhoods.
Call, text or email me to hear more and to be one of the first through the door after Valentine's Day. |
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