Last Week’s Celebrity Update

In the latest installment of Leonardo DiCaprio’s real estate shuffle, the Oscar-winning actor has parted ways his eco-friendly apartment at 66 East 11th Street. According to the Observer, DiCaprio’s 3,663-square-foot condo sold for $8 million — $2 million less than he paid for the pad in 2014 — in an off market deal.

Sculptor Anish Kapoor apparently likes to sleep where he works. The artist whose 40-ton steel sculpture sits at the base of Alexico and Hines’ condo tower at 56 Leonard just purchased an apartment in that very building.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has been making some major plays — in real estate that is. The headline-hogging football player has been revealed by the LA Times as the owner of a $3.2 million condo at Tribeca’s Enrique Norten-designed 1 York Street.

Alas, this is not the house Bruce Willis sold  Bruce Willis has sold his sprawling Mulholland Drive ranch for $6 million. The property comprises eight lots over 35.45 acres with a 2,905 square-foot four-bedroom home, Variety reported.

Disgraced Democratic politician John Edwards has listed his enormous North Carolina estate for $6.9 million, according to the Wall Street Journal. It’s nearly as nice as his haircut.

Kylie Jenner and her Hidden Hills home 

It seems like just yesterday we reported on the youngest Jenner/Kardashian snapping up the $4.5 million home which was reportedly destined to become her home office, and already it’s back on the market — just five months later — for a pretty significant $5.4 million, almost a whole million more than she splashed out for it.

Ben Carson and the Florida home he’s put on the market 

Former neurosurgeon, pyramid theorist, thwarted Republican candidate, and upcoming secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson is ready to part ways with his miniature Florida mansion. Possibly to make room for his ever expanding resume.

This Week’s 5 Most Expensive Lgistings

Each week, StreetEasy has scores of new listings. But here’s the crème de la crème, otherwise known as the five most expensive residential listings to hit the market in Manhattan in the past seven days.

47 West 9th Street

Address 47 West 9th Street
Price $22,950,000
Type/Size Townhouse: six bedrooms and seven bathrooms
This week’s most expensive listing is this Greenwich Village townhouse. Built in 1910, the 9,200-square-foot spread comes with a library, multiple fireplaces, terraces, staff quarters, home theater, fitness center and an enviable 1,000-bottle wine cellar.

21 East 61st Street #15A

Address 21 East 61st Street #15A
Price $21,500,000
Type/Size Cond-op: four bedrooms and five-and-a-half bathrooms
Thanks to a wealth of differing definitions, we’re still not entirely sure what constitutes a cond-op, but this Upper East Side pad apparently is one, according to StreetEasy. We do know that it comes with Central Park views, a library, and a ton of storage space.

121 East 79th Street

Address 121 East 79th Street
Price $18,500,000
Type/Size Townhouse: six bedrooms and five-and-a-half bathrooms
This Upper East Side home is owned by restaurateur Simon Oren, who snapped it up in 1997 for a bargain price of $2.1 million. It has a glass-walled kitchen, elevator, arched floor-to-ceiling windows, artist’s studio, gym and garden.

845 United Nations Plaza #32AE

Address 845 United Nations Plaza #32AE
Price $12,995,000
Type/Size Condo: four bedrooms and four-and-a-half bathrooms
Over in Turtle Bay, this 3,502-square-foot spread at the building known as Trump World Tower is described as a “luxurious mega retreat in the sky.” But alas, unlike Trump Tower, it doesn’t come with any Secret Service perks. Although it does have room for a motorcycle.

326 West 77th Street

Address 326 West 77th Street
Price $10,995,000
Type/Size Townhouse: six bedrooms and eight bathrooms
This Upper West Side townhouse is an odd one. Described as “an opportunity of endless potential” and with only renderings to glance over, we can’t help but wonder what condition the townhouse — which will be delivered vacant — is in currently. Likely it’s divided into apartments, but the listing doesn’t divulge. Instead it tells us that the architects envision multiple terraces and a home gym.

187-Year-Old West Village Carriage House Receives $4M Price Chop

A few months back, it was agreed that despite its magnificent charm, the 19th-century carriage house at 29 Downing Street would need a good price-chopper before a buyer would snatch it up. The owners must have come to this same realization—the home is now asking $8.995 million—a $4.005 million price cut from its most recent ask of $13 million.

Back in June 2014, the 3,480-square-foot home, built in 1829 on land once owned by Aaron Burr, was listed for $12 million. No one bit at that price so the sellers, artist John Bennett and photographer Karen Lee Grant, re-listed the following year for $13 million (yes, we scratched our heads at that too). But it looks like reality has set in, and with that came the new lowered price.

Hopefully the charming home, which has been featured in photo shoots for magazines and fashion brands alike, will have better luck finding a new owner on this go-round. (Or maybe the Hamilton craze will make people more interested? It's big enough to get mentioned in the brokerbabble, anyway.)

Read It Here

187-year-old West Village Townhouse Sold

The 29 Downing Street carriage house, a three-story home built in 1829, was sold for $6.8 million, according to property records.

The home has some historical significance. It sits on land once owned by Aaron Burr, according to a previous report from Curbed. Burr, aside from being the third vice president of the United States, is also known for being the man who shot and killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel.

The property was sold at a steep discount. It was first listed for a price of $12 million in 2014. After about a year with no buyers, it inexplicably went back on the market for a higher price of $13 million.

The property was originally built as a two-story house. The additional floor was added in 1870. The buyer was 29 Downing LLC. The previous owners, artist John Bennett and photographer Karen Lee Grant, lived in the property and used it as a gallery. The couple bought the 3.480 s/f home in 1977.

See It Here

This Week’s 5 Most Expensive Listings

In the past seven days, 10 new listings priced at $10 million and above hit the market, according to StreetEasy. From that list, these are the crème de la crème, otherwise known as the five most expensive residential listings.

357 West 17th Street

Address 357 West 17th Street
Price $36,800,000
Type/Size Townhouse: five bedrooms and 12 bathrooms
Built in 1920, this Chelsea townhouse is the most expensive unit to hit the market this week. Spanning 11,000 square feet, the home has a whopping 12 bathrooms, a kitchen with two ovens, a 400-bottle wine cellar, a swimming pool, a soundproof home theater with stadium seating, and, from the looks of the listing photos, room for parking too.

157 West 57th Street #59B

Address 157 West 57th Street #59B
Price $27,100,000
Type/Size Condo: three bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms
One57 is best known as the home of the most expensive NYC condo ever bought – a penthouse unit that commanded a record-breaking $100.5 million in late 2014 from an undisclosed buyer. This spread is a steal in comparison, and it comes with floor-to-ceiling windows, marble and onyx bathrooms, and a chef’s eat-in kitchen. Unfortunately we have to image what it looks like thanks to a lack of listing photos.

210 East 5th Street #3FLR

Address 210 East 5th Street #3FLR
Price $25,000,000
Type/Size Condo: four bedrooms and three-and-a-half bathrooms
The listing for this flawless East Village pad tragically doesn’t include any photos. Luckily though, Curbed ran an article all about the place when it was listed back in 2012 (for the same price) so we can still swoon over the interiors. The home was formerly a concert hall known as Beethoven Hall, and its current owner — a photographer — transformed it into this full-floor wonder.

180 Avenue of Americas #PHA

Address 180 Avenue of Americas #PHA
Price $25,000,000
Type/Size Condo: four bedrooms and five-and-a-half bathrooms
Three is the magic number for this is triplex penthouse at Soho’s One Vandam building. It comes with three terraces, and a triple-height staircase, which is framed by a 30-foot-tall wall of glass. Plus there’s an elevator, a spa, and a 28-feet-wide living room.

121 Washington Place

Address 121 Washington Place
Price $16,800,000
Type/Size Townhouse: five bedrooms and five bathrooms
This West Village townhouse was built in 1831 and completely remodeled in 1925. Its most interesting feature is the English styled cottage at the back of the garden. According to its listing, the home has been a gathering place for all kinds of notable folk, most recently including Patti Smith, Allen Ginsberg, Muhammad Ali, and Hillary Clinton.

The Monthly Update - December 2016

 

With President-Elect Trump set to take office in less than 50 days, he and his transition team are well underway in selecting the cabinet and key staff positions. In the meantime, stock markets around the world are betting big that large, publicly traded companies will benefit hugely from a Trump administration. As a result, investors are dumping bonds for stocks, which in turn is driving up interest rates.
What are we real estate professionals going to see at ground level, in the day-to-day business of selling or buying your most prized assets?

Historically, the New York City real estate market follows the trends of Wall Street. When the Streeters feel bullish, they tend to not only buy stocks, but real estate as well. At a first glance, we should assume that this will benefit our local housing market. In fact, the housing market saw strong growth nationally in both September and October.

Here in the city, the day after the election, I saw a brief pause and then a full-steam-ahead, petal-to-the-metal rush forward. Buyers are moving ahead at a strong clip to beat interest rate increases and get their rates locked in as soon as possible. There has also been an international influx over the last few weeks from Asia and even from some Russian investors. From first-time buyers to new investors to seasoned professionals, I'm seeing tremendous activity in requests, offers and pushes to get deals closed before the end of the year. In some cases, I am seeing more negotiability, seller concessions and creative offers being made but deals are proceeding nonetheless.

It seems the short-term Trump effect has been a strong jolt in the arm for the real estate market, with more than a little watchfulness. The long-term effect, meanwhile, is anyone's guess. Any predictions on what the local, national and international economies will do after Trump takes office is mere speculation at this point. Is it a wait-and-see or a bullish push to jump in?

Wall Street’s betting big. Will you?

November's Inventory Numbers

The Numbers:

On average November saw a decrease of 23% over October's inventory. The three-bedroom and more category saw the largest decrease of just over 30%. 

"Compass is building the first modern real estate platform, pairing the industry's top talent with technology to make the search and sell experience intelligent and seamless. "

As part of our promise to offer a more intelligent and seamless real estate experience, we’ve launched Market Insights HERE. You can gain timely insights about your local market by scrolling down the page and entering your ZIP code.

With Market Insights, here’s what we’re offering:

  • Gain the following high-level insights based on your ZIP code:
  • Percent change in home sales for the previous two quarters
  • Trends in home sales over the past eight quarters
  • Pricing patterns for properties per square foot
  • Feel free to share the report by email address or even post it to your social networks

Hot Off The Press!

Penthouse in peril? Despite high-profile price cuts, NYC luxury digs still attractive
NY Business Journal |  Read Full Article

Hoffman Team Press:
A Fine Vintage
The Compass Quarterly |  Read Full Article

 

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Lets see about that, click HERE and receive a comprehensive up-to-date CMA Valuation Report.

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FRESH OFF THE PRESS TODAY, THE GATHERING ISSUE OF THE COMPASS QUARTERLY.

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Holiday Tipping Guide: How Much To Give Your Building Staff

‘Tis the season for New Yorkers to unfurl their wallets in the spirit of giving—be it to donate or buy gifts for their loved ones—and while they may be sure-footed in that spending, many stumble when it comes to how much to tip the building staff. While The Holidays are still a ways off, most building attendants prefer to receive any niceties from residents in early December (like, now), so let’s get down to it.

A handy annual guide based on a memo sent out by Two Trees Management back in 2005 offers advice on how to dole out the dollars—original here, and years worth of Curbed tipping advice over here—but a memo that’s now over a decade old may be a less realistic guide for giving in New York City today. Good thing Brick Underground has rolled out its comprehensive annual tipping guide that addresses the nuances of holiday tipping in this day and age.

The long and short of it: no, tipping isn’t a necessity, but after this doozy of a year it’s a meaningful way to show one’s appreciation for those that make the day-to-day a little bit easier. How much appreciation should be shown to staff depends on the size of the building, the quality of service, how long a staff member has been with the building, and whether the tipper owns or rents, among other personal factors like financial ability.

Here’s a basic guideline per Brick Underground:

  • Super, resident manager: $75-$175 on average (broad range: $50-$500)
  • Doorman and/or concierge: $25-$150 on average (broad range: $10-$1,000)
  • Porters, handyman, and maintenance staff: $20-$30 on average (broad range: $10-$75)
  • Garage attendant: $25-$75 on average (broad range $15-$100)

In 2015, a poll of more than 1,400 New Yorkers found that majority of owners in doorman buildings set aside between about $250 and $500 for building staff, with majority of owners in non-doorman buildings allotting less than $250 for staffers. At that, one percent of owners in doorman building and 12 percent of owners in non-doorman building tipped nothing.

 

Renters in doorman buildings held their purse strings a little bit tighter with a small majority tipping less than $250. The same goes for renters in non-doorman buildings, who tipped less than $250 to building staff collectively. A big takeaway: about a quarter of renters in non-doorman buildings skip the holiday gratuities all-together.

Brick Underground has been surveying New Yorkers about their tipping practices for five years now, and some interesting trends have emerged from their data: New Yorkers have gotten more generous over the years (though the Great Recession may have a little something to do with that). Fewer New Yorkers said they wouldn’t be tipping last year than any prior year surveyed, and the number of New Yorkers who planned on giving more than $2,500 to their building staff was at an all-time high.

When it comes to actually giving, cash is preferred if gifts are being doled out directly, but if a super or other building staff member is collecting gifts, a check may be the way to go. Considering a gift-gift over a monetary gift? Brick Underground notes that “until colleges start accepting cookies for tuition payments or ConEd for utility bills, gifts are no substitute for money.” (Plus, some doormen have already confessed to providing less thorough service to residents who stiff them during the giving season.)

 

When it comes down to it, tipping is a building resident’s choice, but remember—everyone could use a little kindness this year.

NYC Holiday Shopping Circa 1930

Before the days of Amazon, last-minute holiday shopping actually required putting clothes on and interacting with other human beings. To fully understand just how far we’ve come (and really appreciate the ability to “add to cart”), take a look at this HD stock footage that shows the rush of New York holiday shoppers in 1930. The sidewalks are a sea of black trench coats, with shoppers trying to squeeze their way into stores on 34th Street and buy wares from vendors on what looks like it may be Orchard Street, once the hub of discount shopping.

Ricky Martin's New Beverly Hills Home

Everyone’s favorite turn-of-the-millennium pop star and hip thruster has just snapped up a pretty seven bedroom spread in Beverly Hills.

According to real estate gossip blog Yolanda’s Little Black Book, Ricky Martin paid $13.5 million for the 11,300-square-foot home.

The walled and gated house reportedly sits below the street and is mostly single level. It has 14-feet-high ceilings, walls of custom sliding wood doors, three fireplaces, a chef’s kitchen with a butler’s pantry, a tiered movie theater, and an 800-bottle wine cellar.

Outside there’s a 40-foot infinity-edge swimming pool and spa, a bar, and a fully equipped outdoor dining room and kitchen. Plus the home boasts an eco-freindly rainwater harvesting system capable of storing up to 4,000 gallons, parking for nine cars, and a 2,000-square-foot secluded wellness center.

In 2015 Martin — who earlier this month announced his engagement to his boyfriend Jwan Yosef — sold his three-bedroom condo at Noho’s 40 Bond Street for $7.5 million.

This Week’s 5 Most Expensive Listings

In the past seven days, seven new listings priced at $10 million and above hit the market, according to StreetEasy. From that list, these are the crème de la crème, otherwise known as the five most expensive residential listings.

441 West 21st Street

Address 441 West 21st Street
Price $24,700,000
Type/Size Townhouse
Built in 1854, this Chelsea townhouse has flirted with fame though appearances on “Saturday Night Live” and “Louie”, plus it’s been featured on the pages of Elle Decor, Vogue, Town & Country, and New York magazine. It has nine fireplaces, original moldings, and five skylights.

9 East 89th Street

Address 9 East 89th Street
Price $19,995,000
Type/Size Townhouse
Also on the Upper East Side is this sprawling six-story townhouse, which for the past 30 years has been the home of the non-profit organization, the New York Road Runners. It has an elevator, a limestone facade, Central Park views, and plenty of charming original features.

15 Central Park West #28B

Address 15 Central Park West #28B
Price $18,800,000
Type/Size Condo: two bedrooms and two-and-a-half bathrooms
This swanky 2,367-square-foot spread is at the equally swanky Robert A.M. Stern-designed park-side tower. For your money you get floor-to-ceiling windows, hardwood floors, crown moldings, custom closets, and amenities galore.

157 East 82nd Street

Address 157 East 82nd Street
Price $12,000,000
Type/Size Townhouse: six bedrooms and six-and-a-half bathrooms
This is the second Upper East Side townhouse to make our Most Expensive list this week, and although it’s half the size of the home above, it still comes with plenty of perks. There’s 12-foot-high ceilings, three fireplaces, a library, a chef’s kitchen, a garden, a top floor solarium, and a much coveted private garage.

275 West 10th Street #6D

Address 275 West 10th Street #6D
Price $11,975,000
Type/Size Condo: four bedrooms and four-and-a-half bathrooms
This pretty pad is at The Shepherd, a recently renovated West Village building. The 3,805-square-foot space holds built-in bookcases, barrel vaulted ceilings, and hardwood oak floors. Plus residents have access to amenities including a basketball court, a gym, a golf simulator, and a screening room.

Ten Most Expensive Listings In The U.S.

The luxury residential market may be experiencing a little bit of a slowdown here in New York City, but that hasn’t stopped billionaires around the country from listing their giant homes for equally gigantic prices. On occasion, these listings are snapped up quickly, as the Playboy mansion was earlier this year for $100 million. But often, they linger on the market for many, many months (or even years), until the owners finally budge and sell them for a significant discount.

In the meantime, we get to gawk at the listing photos. Below, the ten most expensive homes for sale in the country right now.

1.

The Manor, Holmby Hills
Price: $200,000,000
Type/Size: 14 Bedrooms, 27 Bathrooms, 56,500 Square Feet
Address: 594 Mapleton Dr., Los Angeles, CA 90024
Current owner: Petra Blunt, previously owned by film/television producer Aaron Spelling
Details: The Manor in Holmby Hills is situated on a nearly five-acre lot and is one of the largest and arguably most impressive residences in Los Angeles. The French chateau-style home was designed in 1988 by James Langenheim & Associates. The current owner is Petra Blunt, who is the daughter of billionaire Formula One executive Bernie Ecclestone. She purchased the home in 2011 for $85 million, which at the time was the highest price ever paid for a home in the United States.

She then proceeded to carry out a lengthy renovation, hiring approximately 500 workers to construct a bowling alley, wine cellar, gym complete with massage and tanning rooms, a 7,000-square-foot master suite with a two-level closet, swimming pool, tennis court, and circular motor court with a fountain and enough space to park 100 cars.

2.

Gemini
Price: $195,000,000
Type/Size: 33 Bedrooms, 47 Bathrooms, 62,873 Square Feet
Address: 2000 S Ocean Boulevard Manalapan, FL 33462
Current Owner: The late publishing executive William B. Ziff Jr. owned the home until his death in 2006. His family put it on the market in January 2016.  
Details: The mansion comes with total privacy on Manalapan’s esteemed barrier island just south of Palm Beach. The property has five houses, including a 12-bedroom Mediterranean-style main residence designed during World War II, a seven-bedroom guest house, two seaside cottages, a property manager’s house, manager’s office, a PGA-standard golf practice area, regulation tennis court, half basketball court, playground, bird sanctuary, an indoor/outdoor pool room, Robinson Crusoe-style tree house and a garden with over 1,500 species of tropical trees and plants.

3.

Great Island Road
Price: $175,000,000
Type/Size: 10 Bedrooms, 10 Bathrooms, 13,107 Square Feet
Address: Great Island Road, Darien, CT 06820
Current owner: Descendants of industrialist William Ziegler
Details: This property is a 63-acre waterfront island estate with East, South and West views of the Long Island Sound. The Italian stone manor house includes four fireplaces, a cabana, a guest house, views of a lighthouse, a secluded harbor in a hidden cove, a terrace, porch, French doors, considerable stable and equestrian facilities including a polo field and an indoor ring along with other dwellings, a beach house and a boathouse. It is located only minutes from Greenwich.

4.

Le Palais Royal
Price: $159,000,000
Type/Size: 11 Bedrooms, 17 Bathrooms, 60,508 Square Feet
Address: 935 Hillsboro Mile, Hillsboro Beach, FL 33062
Current owner: Robert Pereira, the founder of Middlesex Corporation, a construction company
Details: As you can probably tell by its name, Le Palais Royal is a French-inspired palace that was modeled after the Palace of Versailles in France. It was first listed in 2014 for $139 million, but was taken off the market about a year later and returned in November 2015 with an asking price of $159 million. The palace has a 13-foot wrought-iron gate that is embellished with 22-karat gold-leafing; Versailles-esque waterfalls and a three-tier 26-foot fountain; a spacious salon with panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean; a fireplace; four Corinthian columns; elaborate hand-molded plaster and ceiling appliqués and five chandeliers.

Renovations are currently happening that will add structures to a smaller lot on the property. Here, there will be two 3,000-square-foot guest homes, a pool and an underground entertainment space with an ice-skating rink, go-kart track, bowling alley and nightclub.

5.

Briar Patch
Price: $140,000,000
Type/Size: 10 Bedrooms, 9.5 Bathrooms, 10,300 Square Feet
Address: 90 Briar Patch Road East Hampton, NY 11937
Current owner: Education entrepreneur Chris Whittle
Details: The 11-acre Hamptons estate was listed in 2014 and is currently the most expensive home for sale in the Hamptons. The waterfront home is situated on Georgica Pond, which can be seen from the sizeable front porch. The property is composed of a 10,000-square-foot main house, in addition to a four-bedroom guest home. The main house was built in 1931 and recently underwent a two-and-a-half year renovation.

6.

Il Palmetto
Price: $137,000,000
Type/Size: 10 Bedrooms, 14 Full Baths, 12 Partial Baths
Address: II Palmetto Palm Beach FL 33480
Current owner: Netscape Billionaire Jim Clark
Details: This house (and its infinity pool) is located on a 5.14-acre lot, which stretches from Lake Worth to the Atlantic Ocean. Built in the 1930s, the main houseincludes two elevators, a wine cellar made of carved limestone that can fit 20,000 bottles, and carved wood ceilings in the living and dining rooms. Clark purchased the home for $11 million in 1999.

7.


Trophy Estate in Trousdale
Price: $135,000,000
Type/Size: 7 Bedrooms, 10 Bathrooms, 18,000 Square Feet
Address: 1187 N Hillcrest Rd,Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Current owner: Lebanese-British business mogul Gilbert Chagoury.
Details: This 2.5 acre property in Trousdale Estates is filled with decadent details, including gold leaf crown moldings, hand woven carpets, a swimming pool and 360-degree views of Los Angeles. Its current owner, Gilbert Chagoury, is a friend of Bill and Hillary Clinton, and has donated a considerable amount of money to the Clinton Foundation. After he purchased the estate for $15 million in 2000, he added Baccarat chandeliers and hand-woven carpets, which will be sold with the home according to the WSJ. The estate also has a giant pool overlooking the city and space to park up to 20 cars.

8.

Rancho San Carlos
Price: $125,000,000
Type/Size: 12 Bedrooms, 10 Full Bathrooms, 3 Partial Bathrooms, 29,483 Square Feet
Address: 2500 E Valley Rd,Santa Barbara, CA 93108
Current owner: Jim Jackson
Details: This 237-acre estate is located in Montecito, where celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Ellen Degeneres and Jeff Bridges own homes. The property includes a 30,000-square-foot main house, 100 acres of citrus and avocado orchards, living rooms surrounded by a central courtyard, an underground badminton court, an English-style bar that can only be accessed through a secret door and upper terrace bedrooms. Charles H. Jackson Jr., a rancher, property investor, polo player and the grandnephew of U.S. President Chester A. Arthur and his wife Ann purchased the property nearly a century ago. It is now owned by Jim Jackson, Jackson Jr.’s grandson, who is selling Rancho San Carlos because his family is not able to maintain the estate. “It’s hard for us to let it go, but it’s too hard to keep,” he told the WSJ.

9.

834 Fifth Avenue #7/8A
Price: $96,000,000
Type/Size: 7 Bedrooms, 10 Bathrooms, 12,000+ Square Feet
Address: 834 5th Ave # 78A, New York, NY 10065
Current owner: Owned by the financier John Gutfreund until his death in March
Details: The most expensive listing in NYC is located on the seventh and eighth floors of one of the most exclusive co-ops buildings in the city. It has a wine cellar, a gallery, a “grand marble staircase” and an enormous master suite. It was initially listed for $120,000,000 in April of this year, but the asking price was brought down to $96,000,000 in September.

10.

Pumpkin Key (Private island in the Florida Keys)
Price: $95,000,000
Type/Size: 3 Bedrooms, 3 Full Bathrooms, 1 Partial Bathroom, 2,942 Square Feet
Address: 10 Cannon Point, Key Largo, Monroe County, FL 33037
Current owner: Unknown
Details: Pumpkin Key is less than a 50-minute boat ride away from Miami. The 26-acre island includes a private beach, tennis courts that can also be helipads, a private airstrip, swimming pool, two cottages, and a boat captain’s apartment. The private marina has parking space for up to 20 boats.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2016

Tomorrow, the 90th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade will make its way to Manhattan, with thousands of anxious visitors flocking to watch the festive procession unfold. Being that this is the 90th anniversary, the parade will likely be even more magical than ever. Of course, this means a traffic nightmare for everyone else. But thankfully, the NYC Department of Transportation has released a list of street closures that will be in effect on Thanksgiving Day.

But it’s not just tomorrow you have to worry about: Thanks to the balloon inflation on Central Park West, some street closures will begin today, too. Per ABC7:

Traffic restrictions begin at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. Between 81st Street and 77th Street from Central Park West to Columbus Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic for the balloon inflation. The inflation can be viewed by pedestrians from 3 p.m. until 10 p.m. on 81st Street and 77th Street from Central Park West to Columbus Avenue. Pedestrians are advised to enter the viewing area from the West side of Columbus Avenue at 79th Street.

Closures beginning at 1 p.m.:

-West 79th Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues

Closures beginning at 3 p.m.:

-West 76th Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues

-West 77th Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues

-West 78th Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues

-West 80th Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues

-West 81st Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues

-Central Park Transverse Road at Central Park West and West 81 St. (Both Directions)

And after 10 p.m., 81st Street and 77th Street from Central Park West to Columbus Avenue, along with Central Park West from 59th Street to 86th Street, will be closed completely.

Street Closures

Beginning at 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Thursday, November 24th, the following streets will be closed to vehicular traffic:

  • 6th Avenue between 59th Street and 34th Street
  • 7th Avenue between 33rd Street and 40th Street
  • Columbus Avenue between 81st Street and 77th Street
  • Central Park West between 86th Street and east side of Columbus Circle/59th Street
  • 81st Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
  • 76th Street and 77th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
  • 71st Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
  • 68th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
  • 62nd Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
  • 59th Street between Columbus Circle and 6th Avenue
  • Broadway between 59th Street and 58th Street
  • 40th Street between 7th Avenue and 8th Avenue
  • 36th Street to 39th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue
  • 35th Street between 6th Avenue and 8th Avenue
  • 34th Street between 5th Avenue and 8th Avenue
  • 33rd Street between 6th Avenue and 10th Avenue

Parade Route

The parade’s route will travel 2.5 miles, beginning at Central Park West and 77th Street and ending at Macy’s on 34th Street. Macy’s has also mapped out the route on the parade website:

  • Central Park West between 81st Street and East Side of Columbus Circle/59th Street
  • Broadway between 59th Street and 58th Street
  • 59th Street between Columbus Circle and 6th Avenue
  • 6th Avenue between 59th Street and 34th

432 West 52nd Street, Unit 4A

432 West 52nd Street, Unit 4A

HELL'S KITCHEN, MANHATTAN

2 Bed  |  2 Bath

Offered At $1,495,000

Taxes: $1,654 / mo.  |  CC:$1,476 / mo.  |  New Development  |  Doorman  |  Roof Deck & Gym

  • NO Transfer Tax
  • NO Sponser Closing Fees
  • Seller Will Pay 50% of Common Charges For Two Years
 

Stunning finishes await in this brand-new, two-bedroom home providing a rare opportunity to live in a spectacular new-construction building without paying the sponsors transfer taxes and closing cost fees!

This beautiful two bedroom corner unit features a light-filled master with en suite bathroom, as well as a spacious great room. The home is topped by 9-foot ceilings while white oak hardwood floors run underfoot. The great room provides ample space for living and dining areas while the nearby open kitchen is a model of efficient, attractive design with integrated refrigerator, stainless steel appliances, lacquer cabinets and sleek Caesarstone countertops.

The large windowed master is a serene space with a wall of closets, plus additional closets throughout the home ensure that storage is never an issue. The sleek bathrooms features custom vanity, frameless glass walk-in shower, gorgeous floor-to-ceiling tile and radiant heat flooring. Central climate control, energy-efficient windows and an in-unit washer-dryer provide the ultimate in comfort and convenience.

432 W 52 is a boutique condominium with extensive amenities including a 4,200-square-foot common landscaped roof deck, spacious residents' lounge, fully equipped fitness center and 24-hour doorman. Situated in Midtown within walking distance of Central Park, the Theater District, Columbus Circle and Times Square, the location is quite literally at the center of it all! Nearby access to the A/C/E, B/D, 1 and N/Q/R subway lines puts the rest of the city at your feet. 

18 East 18th Street, 4th Floor

18 East 18th Street, 4th Floor

FLATIRON, MANHATTAN

2.5 Bed  |  2.5 Bath  | Almost 3,000 sqft

Offered At $3,000,000

Co-Op  |  MM: $3,808 / mo.  |  Full Floor Loft

 

Looking for the true Flatiron Loft apartment? Look no farther, this 4th floor loft is by no means a cookie cutter property.

Introducing an incredible turn of the century true Flatiron loft. Your keyed elevator will open directly to your open loft space. With almost 2800 SF of incredible loft space to configure anyway, the possibilities are endless. Currently configured as a one bedroom with an interior bedroom/home office and two and a half bathrooms. There is also a laundry room, huge storage closets, and new open chef's kitchen with large dining area, open living room with wet bar and home office alcove. Or create your own masterpiece; you and your architect can look at this huge property as a blank canvas with no restrictions in terms of use of space. One could truly envision the space as opened up with minimal walls or, if needed, conveniently have two, three or even four bedroom and bathrooms. The configurations and possibilities are endless.

Located in the true heart of the Flatiron District, 18 East 18th Street is surrounded by some of the oldest, newest and most beautiful buildings in the city. Located between two great parks; Madison Square Park and Union Square, your new home will be have the best options in the city for restaurants, grocery stores, transportation, nightlife, bar scene, yoga studio's, small boutiques, large stores and everything in between. However, you'll be transported back to your island oasis once the elevator door opens up to your incredible loft.

This Week’s 5 Most Expensive Listings

In the past seven days, 16 new listings priced at $10 million and above hit the market, according to StreetEasy. From that list, these are the crème de la crème, otherwise known as the five most expensive residential listings.

12 East 80th Street

Address 12 East 80th Street
Price $35,000,000
Type/Size Townhouse: seven bedrooms and nine-and-a-half bathrooms
This 10,000-square-foot home is just off Fifth Avenue, and just a stones-throw away from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Built in 1886, it has four fireplaces, three laundry facilities, three terraces, a roof deck and what looks like a pretty impressive kids play room.

740 Park Avenue #6/7A

Address 740 Park Avenue #6/7A
Price $29,500,000
Type/Size Co-op: four bedrooms and six bathrooms
This spread is at 740 Park Avenue, Manhattan’s most prestigious co-op building. It comes with a marble gallery, a sweeping staircase, a “baronial” living room facing Park Avenue and a library. This isn’t the first time that the tony 12-room duplex – known as the Bouvier Apartment – has been up for grabs; it was originally listed for $44 million in 2014.

3 East 94th Street

Address 3 East 94th Street
Price $29,500,000
Type/Size Townhouse: six bedrooms and six-and-a-half bathrooms
This Upper East Side townhouse which was owned by the late president of American Express has a fully-equipped gym, a sauna, two master bedrooms, which each have their own master bathroom (in case you don’t want to share), a roof terrace with views of Central Park and a wine cellar that can hold 400 bottles. Plus it was designated a landmark in 1974.

941 Park Avenue #5/6C

Address 941 Park Avenue #5/6C
Price $20,000,000
Type/Size Co-op: seven bedrooms and seven-and-a-half bathrooms
This listing is the opportunity to combine two full-floor spreads. The resulting pad would be a 9,000-square-foot duplex with a formal dining room, library, media room, home office, den, play room, and two wood-burning fireplaces.

505 West 19th Street Penthouse-1

Address 505 West 19th Street Penthouse-1
Price $17,500,000
Type/Size Condo: four bedrooms and four-and-a-half bathrooms
Perched next to the High Line you’ll find this building, and its swanky penthouse. The full-floor unit has oversized windows, a chef’s kitchen, a cast iron soaking tub and multiple terraces.

424 West 49th Street, Unit 3A

424 West 49th Street, Unit 3A

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, MANHATTAN

1 Bed  |  1 Bath  |  622sqft

Offered At $850,000

CC: $753 / mo.  |  Taxes: $348 / mo.  |  Condo

 

This spacious, move-in ready one-bedroom features great light and storage in a prime Hell’s Kitchen location, providing a phenomenal opportunity to acquire your next home, pied-à-terre or investment property.

Gleaming hardwood floors and leafy views set the tone the moment you enter the oversized great room, stretching nearly 23-feet long. This ample space provides plenty of room for living and dining areas, set near the recently updated kitchen, which is neatly outfitted with full-size appliances, including a dishwasher, great cabinet space and convenient breakfast bar seating. In the generously proportioned bedroom, you’ll find a large closet and more north-facing windows, while another double closet lines the living room.

424 West 49th Street is a six-story elevator building housing just eight apartments. The pet-friendly building is surrounded by the best of Hell’s Kitchen – one of Manhattan’s most exciting residential neighborhoods due to its amazing collection of restaurants, nightlife venues and cultural destinations. The stunning Hudson River Greenway and sprawling Central Park are within walking distance, and transportation is a breeze with C/E trains two blocks away and A, B/D and 1 trains available at Columbus Circle.

Listing HERE

2017 Michelin Guide Is Here!

Although this year’s Michelin Guide to New York City shouldn’t be released for a few days, thanks to an eagle-eyed shopped over at Eater, we’ve privy to this year’s top ranked restaurants a little early.

Eater managed to get their hands on a copy of the guide at McNally Jackson Books in Soho, and they’re reporting that Aska, Fredrik Berselius’s tasting menu spot, is among the spots that won big this year — Michelin awarded the Williamsburg establishment two stars.

Michelin defines their one-star rating as “a very good restaurant in its category,” two stars as “excellent cuisine, worth a detour,” and a restaurant with three stars as “exceptional cuisine” that is “worth a special journey.”

According to Eater, for a sixth straight year, no new restaurants were admitted into the three star category, and as we reported last week, The Spotted Pig is sans star for the first time since 2005.

Here is the full list of starred restaurants in the 2017 New York Michelin Guide (new additions are bolded):

Three Star Restaurants:

Chef’s Table at Brooklyn Fare

Eleven Madison Park

Jean-Georges

Per Se

Masa

Le Bernardin

Two Star Restaurants:

Aquavit

Aska (new)

atera

Blanca

Daniel

Jungsik

Ko

Marea

The Modern

Soto

One Star:

Agern (new)

Ai Fiori

Aldea

Andanada

Aureole

Babbo

Batard

Betony

Blue Hill

The Breslin

Cafe Boulud

Cafe China

Cagen

Carbone

Casa Enrique

Casa Mono

Caviar Russe

Contra (new)

Delaware & Hudson

Del Posto

Dovetail

Faro (new)

The Finch

Gabriel Kreuther

Gotham Bar & Grill

Gramercy Tavern

Gunter Seeger (new)

Hirohisa

Jewel Bako

Junoon

Kajitsu

Kanoyama (new)

Kyo Ya

L’Appart (new)

La Sirena (new)

La Vara

Luksus at Torst

Meadowsweet

Minetta Tavern

The Musket Room

Nix (new)

The NoMad

Peter Luger

Piora

Public

Rebelle

The River Cafe

Semilla

Sushi Ginza Onodera (new)

Sushi Inoue (new)

Sushi of Gari

Sushi Yasuda

Sushi Zo (new)

Take Root

Tempura Matsui

Tori Shin

Tulsi

Uncle Boons

Ushiwakamaru (new)

Wallse

ZZ’s Clam Bar

The History of the Rockefeller Tree

The official website of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree describes the holiday tree as a “world-wide symbol of Christmas,” a statement we really can’t argue with, especially since 125 million people visit the attraction each year. And as you’ve probably heard, Wednesday is the 83rd Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting, an annual celebration that attracts tens of thousands in person and hundreds of millions more on television. In anticipation of the big event, we decided to take a look back at how this tradition got started and how it has evolved over the years.

The two trees in 1936.

On Christmas Eve, 1931, during the height of the Clutch Plague, workers at the Rockefeller Center construction site decided to pool their money together to buy a Christmas tree, a 20-foot balsam fir that they decorated with handmade garland from their families. The men lined up at the tree to receive their paychecks. Two years later in 1933, Rockefeller Center decided to make the tree an annual tradition and held the first official lighting ceremony. In 1936, they put up two trees to mark the opening of the skating rink and also held an ice skating competition.

Three trees in 1942.

The tree during the 1950s.

During WWII, the tree’s décor switched to a more patriotic theme, with red, white, and blue globes and painted wooden stars. In 1942, no materials needed for the war could be used on the tree, and instead of one giant tree, there were three smaller ones, each decorated in one of the flag’s three colors. It was also the first year that the tree was replanted after the holidays. In 1944, the tree remained unlit due to war time black-out regulations. When the war ended in 1945, the year of darkness was soon forgotten, as six ultraviolet light projectors were employed to make it appear as though the tree’s 700 fluorescent globes were glowing in the dark. By the 1950s, it took twenty workers on scaffolding nine days to fully decorate the tree, and 1951 marked the first time that NBC televised the tree lighting with a special on The Kate Smith Show.

The famous wire angels, via wallyg via photopin cc.

Another famous holiday staple at Rockefeller Center is the triumphant collection of metal wire herald angels in the Channel Gardens. Sculptor Valerie Clarebout debuted the twelve figures in 1969. Influenced by the nature movement of the time, the tree was first recycled in 1971; it was turned into 30 three-bushel bags of mulch for the nature trails of upper Manhattan. Though the tree typically makes its journey on a truck bed, in 1998 it received the royal treatment and was flown in from Richfield, Ohio on the world’s largest transport plane. The following year saw the largest tree in history, a 100-foot beauty from Killingworth, Connecticut.

The Swarovski star.

Following the 9/11 attacks in 2001, the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree was once again adorned in patriotic red, white and blue. In 2004, a 550-pound Swarovski star graced the top of the tree for the first time. Designed by German artist Michael Hammers, it features 25,000 crystals and one million facets and is 9.5 feet wide. In a continued effort to go green, LED lights were introduced on the tree in 2007. They use 1,200 fewer kilowatts of electricity per day, enough to power a 2,000-square-foot home for a month.

Santa looks on as a crane raises the 1951 tree.

The tree makes its way through NYC.

In the past, many trees were donated to Rockefeller Center. Otherwise, David Murbach, Gardens Division Manager of Rockefeller Center at the time, would take to a helicopter to scout for a tree in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Vermont, Ohio, or even Canada. Today, the tree is typically a Norway spruce and is scouted by Erik Pauzé, Head Gardener at Rockefeller Center. While the tree is being cut down, a crane supports it and moves it to a custom telescoping trailer for its journey to Rockefeller Center. It’s then supported by four guy-wires at its midpoint and a steel spike at its base. Workers install scaffolding around the tree to allow them to put up the 45,000 rainbow LED lights.

This year’s tree is a 78-footer (it was 85 feet last year), donated by a family in Gardiner, and it is the first time in five years the Rockefeller tree has come from New York state. The tree was the centerpiece of a man named Albert Asendorf’s childhood home and was already 20 feet tall when his family moved into the home in 1957.

2015 also marks the ninth year that the tree will be donated to Habitat for Humanity once it comes down after January 7th, which is the Christian feast of the Epiphany. It will be milled, treated and made into lumber that will then be used to build homes.

MTA Might Increase Subway Fare To $3.00 In 2017

Swiping a MetroCard at a subway turnstile could cost an extra 25 cents in March, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority announced Wednesday. The MTA finance chairman has suggested to raise on fares on subways, buses and commuter rails, and tolls on bridges and tunnels, to help curb increasing debt. The proposed change would go into effect in March 2017. 

Two proposals for the subway and bus fare increase have been drafted by the MTA. The first would raise fares for subways and buses to $3 from $2.75, which would increase the MetroCard purchase bonus to 16 percent from 11 percent. The second would keep the current $2.75 fare, but drop the bonus to 5 percent.

Under both proposals, the price of a weekly MetroCard card would rise to $32 from $31, and a monthly card would increase to $121 from $116.50. Likewise, tolls on tunnels and bridges, and tickets for commuter rail lines, would increase by four percent.

The board is expect to vote on the hike in January 2017.

Your new home awaits.