Category: Featured

Just a Little Pat on the Back.

November 18, 2021

So nice to be recognized. Thanks to BHS and to all my clients.

Awards for High Sales

3.25 M/ 245 President Street

Awards for High Sales

14k-6.5k/ 137 Atlantic Ave

8.5k/ 378 Adelphi Street

Roof Tops & Life Elevated !

October 20, 2021

Happy to announce the full lease up of 293 Henry St, even though we were shut down by the pandemic we managed to finish renovations and lease up this entire building. We now have a great new roof deck coming in November!

I have been pleased to work with Nicki Adler and https://www.top-yard.com/  in Brooklyn Heights since Nov of 2020, we’ve gone from concept to measurements and elevations, landmarks approval and are now in the stage of fabrication for all components. I met Nicki in Nov of 2020 and introduced Top Yard to this project. Nicki sold us on Top Yard’s , All-inclusive Modular Roof Deck Kit.

We began working with Top-Yard in Jan of 2021 as one of their pilot projects. They provide the structural engineering, landscape architecture & code compliance expertise built-in, which can be very time consuming and expensive to bring together.
293 Henry St has a incredible view of the Brooklyn waterfront and Manhattan skyline, so it’s a premier location. But the pandemic really taught us how rooftops can be a refuge and how green roofs benefit us physiologically and environmentally.

Follow this space for more information on new listings with green roof tops and energy incentives too!

Call today or send me a message on my contact me page today.

 

N.Y.C. will require workers and customers show proof of at least one dose for indoor dining and other activities.

September 14, 2021
New York City will become the first U.S. city to require proof of at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine for a variety of activities for workers and customers — indoor dining, gyms and performances — to put pressure on people to get vaccinated, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday morning.

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I am here to help.

September 14, 2021

I am here to make the operation of investment properties as hassle-free and profitable as possible!

To make rentals a breeze and allow for the most successful conditions possible, here are our top 5 tips:

1.

Properly screen all potential renters: Given the amount of rights that tenants have in the NYC rental market, it is imperative to properly screen incoming tenants. Allow ensure to request standard rental paperwork- past 2 years tax returns, letter of employment stating salary, recent bank statements, copy of ID and landlord reference letter. Additionally, always independently run credit (even if will also be run by condo or coop board)! A credit report is your official report card on whether or not bills are paid on-time. Even if the apartment is in a condo/coop building, it is critical that you pre-screen tenants prior to going to the board. Especially in the case of condos, boards have incredibly limited authority over the acceptance of tenants.

2.

Allow adequate time: When leasing apartments, always ensure you are leaving enough time in between leases for apartment turn-over work. Depending on the work involved in turn-over, we typically like to allow 3-5 business days for turn-over work. However, if the work is fairly involved or for large properties, I would consider increasing this based on scope to be performed. Also, be very careful about promising tenants a quick approval on condo/coop apartments. While sometimes these buildings are quick with board approval, most condos/coops state they have 20-30 days for review of applications. If condo/coop lease is approved only after the lease start date, the lease should begin the next business day after approval is received and the 2nd month of rent should be pro-rated accordingly.

3.

Be on same page about move in condition: Always ensure that both owner and tenant agree on what work will be performed as part of turn-over work. Be sure to include all items the owner actually anticipates performing for the tenant, so that expectations can be properly managed and there is no disappointment when the tenant arrives on moving day. The updated REBNY lease provides an exhibit for outlining what work will be done for tenant move-in! The last thing an owner wants is a dispute over the condition of an apartment and having all action items documented helps prevent this from happening.

4.

Ensure all mechanicals properly checked: Take advantage of the down-time between tenants to ensure that all HVAC systems and household appliances are in working order and have had preventative maintenance performed. This is a good time to ensure that filters are replaced, condensate lines have been cleared, etc so that everything is functioning properly when the tenant moves in. Due to the pandemic, there is currently extended lead times on replacements and parts for HVAC units and appliances, so always best to check their functionality ahead of time.

5.

Have a plan in place to deal with maintenance issues:Especially in the case of absentee owners, its important to have a plan to deal with maintenance and repairs issues that come up over the course of the lease. We always recommend having a property manager in place to deal with issues as they arise. A property manager is a vital component that aside from taking the stress away from the ownership process, can also help save a tremendous amount of money when issues do occur.

Contact  us to learn more!

Beautiful Fort Greene Townhouse with a great story.

September 14, 2021

378 Adelphi Street was built in 1858 by Jeptha A. Jones a compositor and hardware store owner. During the Civil War he was a Captain in the Union army. He was wounded at Bull Run, re-enlisted and fought until 1863. He was called “The Walker” because in battle he led his men with a slow, steady pace. Jones survived the war and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery.

The style of 378 is Italianate and relatively austere compared to later brownstones. The iron work is original and restored. An effort has been made to keep as much early flavor as is reasonable and compatible with modern comfort. more “Beautiful Fort Greene Townhouse with a great story.” …

How to buy a house when you have student loan debt

August 31, 2021

The majority of millennials don’t own a home — and many say their student loans are a major reason for that. According to a 2019 survey from Bankrate, 61 percent of millennials don’t yet own a home, and nearly a quarter of them say student loan debt is what’s holding them back.

Data from the Institute for College Access and Success shows that 62 percent of college graduates financed their higher education with loans, and as of 2019, the average balance was $28,950. As of the second quarter of 2021, combined student loan debt amounted to $1.57 trillion, according to the New York Federal Reserve.

This debt holds back potential homebuyers in two major ways. First, it raises a prospective homebuyer’s debt-to-income ratio, which makes it more difficult to secure a mortgage.  Second, it can make it harder to save for a down payment.

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Discover the History and Landscape of Prospect Park, Central Park’s Little Sister

August 17, 2021

Prospect Park is easily one of the most underrated New York City parks—just ask any Brooklyn resident.

Situated in the heart of Brooklyn, the 585-acre park is affectionately known as “Brooklyn’s backyard.” It draws an average of 8-10 million visitors per year from all around the world. Particularly during the summer months, locals and visitors alike can be found picnicking and barbecuing throughout its sprawling lawns.

The park invokes the picturesque and scenic ambiance of Central Park combined with the casual, neighborhood feel of a local green space. more “Discover the History and Landscape of Prospect Park, Central Park’s Little Sister” …

N.Y.C. will require workers and customers show proof of at least one dose for indoor dining and other activities.

August 5, 2021

New York City will become the first U.S. city to require proof of at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine for a variety of activities for workers and customers — indoor dining, gyms and performances — to put pressure on people to get vaccinated, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday morning.

The program, similar to mandates issued in France and Italy last month, will start on Aug. 16, and after a transition period, enforcement will begin on Sept. 13, when schools are expected to reopen and more workers could return to offices in Manhattan. Mr. de Blasio has been moving aggressively to get more New Yorkers vaccinated to curtail a third wave of coronavirus cases amid concern about the spread of the Delta variant. He is also requiring city workers to get vaccinated or to face weekly testing, and he has offered a $100 incentive for the public.

“If you want to participate in our society fully, you’ve got to get vaccinated,” he said at a news conference. “It’s time.”

“This is going to be a requirement,” he added. “The only way to patronize these establishments is if you are vaccinated, at least one dose. The same for folks in terms of work, they will need at least one dose,” he said, holding up a single finger.

On Monday Mr. de Blasio stopped short of reinstating an indoor mask mandate even as large urban areas, including Los Angeles County, San Francisco and Washington, and at least one state did so. He said he wanted to focus on increasing vaccination rates, and was concerned that requiring everyone to wear masks would remove an incentive for those who are considering getting vaccinated now.

Nationally, new cases have reached an average of about 86,000 a day as of Monday, a dramatic jump from about 13,000 daily cases a month ago but still far fewer than in January. Hospitalizations have risen as well, but hospitalizations and deaths remain a fraction of their devastating winter peaks.

About 66 percent of adults in the city are fully vaccinated, according to city data, although pockets of the city have lower rates. The federal government has authorized three vaccines for emergency use in the United States: The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines both take two doses while Johnson & Johnson uses a single dose. Individuals are not considered to be fully vaccinated until two weeks after their final dose.

Fully vaccinated people are protected against the worst outcomes of Covid-19 caused by the Delta variant, but there’s a sharp drop in the efficacy if an individual has only had one dose of a two-dose vaccine.

The new program, dubbed “Key to NYC Pass,” is not a particular document, but rather the strategy of requiring proof of vaccination for workers and customers at indoor dining, gyms, entertainment and performances, including Broadway, the mayor said.

Indoor movies and concerts will also require people to show proof of vaccination to enter. People will be able to continue to dine outdoors without showing proof of vaccination.

To enter indoor venues, patrons must use the city’s new app, the state’s Excelsior app or a paper card to show proof of vaccination. The mayor did not say how the city will handle vaccinations like AstraZeneca or Sinovac that may be common among international tourists.

Children younger than age 12 will not be excluded from venues because they are not eligible to be vaccinated, he said. But the details of those plans remain to be worked out. “We have to figure out how to do things in a safe manner,” the mayor said.

The city will issue a health commissioner’s order and a mayoral executive order to put the vaccine mandate in place. The six weeks before enforcement begins on Sept. 13 will be spent educating businesses and doing outreach, he said.

The mayor said the city consulted with the U.S. Department of Justice and got a “very clear message” that it was legal to move forward with these mandates, even without full F.D.A. approval.

Only people fully vaccinated in the state of New York can get an Excelsior pass, which confirms vaccination against city and state records. Everyone, however, can use the city’s new app, NYC Covid Safe, because it is simply a digital photo album that stores a picture that a person takes of their own vaccination card and does not double check it against any registry. A paper card from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must always be accepted, too.

Emma G. Fitzsimmons is the City Hall bureau chief, covering politics in New York City. She previously covered the transit beat and breaking news. @emmagf

Sharon Otterman has been a reporter at The Times since 2008, primarily covering education and religion for Metro. She won a Polk Award for Justice Reporting in 2013 for her role in exposing a pattern of wrongful convictions in Brooklyn. @sharonNYT

Joseph Goldstein covers health care in New York, following years of criminal justice and police reporting for the Metro desk. He also spent a year reporting on Afghanistan from The Times’s Kabul bureau.  @JoeKGoldstein

As Reported by The New York Times. By Emma G. Fitzsimmons, Sharon Otterman and Joseph Goldstein, Aug. 3, 2021

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