Real Estate | Kevin Brunnock | NYC Real Estate Professional

Category: Real Estate (page 1 of 5)

February 16, 2021

Online Tools for Real Estate Agents in 2021

The pandemic has led to online business in many fields, including real estate. Real estate agents are unable to have a physical meeting with their clients due to COVID rules. The good thing is that the pandemic has enabled many people to realize the richness of technology they ignored. Here are some online tools that real estate can utilize.

WiseStamp

WiseStamp helps real estate agents to design professional signatures for emails. The agent has an alternative to use the available templates. They can also choose to create a template from scratch. Amazingly, the email signatures are compatible with Gmail and Microsoft office outlook. The dashboard enables real estate agents to create branded marketing campaigns.

Propertybase

Propertybase is an ideal tool for a real estate agent. Propertybase has marketing tools such as email, website, and social media. The marketing studio has marketing automation that allows the real estate agent to create branded campaigns and follow-up leads. Furthermore, it has a customer relationship management segment that helps the agent improve the customer experience. Some of the features in Propertybase include managing listing and following up with texts.

Canva

Canva is important for non-tech real estate agents. Canva helps the user to create everything they need for their real estate online marketing. An agent can create stationery, business card, and social media campaigns, which can be modified to meet the agent’s needs. A remarkable thing about Canva is that one can create a graphic design from scratch. Some of the exciting features in the Canva include an extensive template gallery, printable products, and a chance to make the desired design.

Instagram TV

Instagram TV helps the agent to showcase their properties. Instagram is an essential tool because it has more than one billion subscribers. Therefore, the agent gets a chance to address the targeted audience. Agents who use Instagram television have an opportunity to develop their presence and grow their following. The best part is that the agent can share short and long videos about their offer. Therefore, they increase the chance of getting more clients.

Knowing the right tools for real estate agents is essential for their success. WiseStamp, Propertybase Canva, and Instagram have proved to be useful for real estate agents.

January 20, 2021

Why New York City is Poised for a Real Estate Bounceback in 2021

Throughout 2020, New York City has been hit hard through various lockdowns and preventive measures against the COVID-19 pandemic. Hope has been on the rise though through upcoming vaccines, and some of the project developments that have cropped up in the meantime. Take a look into just some of these projects opening up in New York City from 2021 and beyond.

Residential

More people than ever are coming to New York City to start fresh or take on a new job opportunity. The city is building around these people through various buildings like Sven, a 958-unit skyscraper built in Long Island City, or the easily affordable building opening up at the Astoria waterfront. For those living around the Bronx, many restaurants and shops are planning on opening up at the La Central residential complex in 2021. Make sure that you are always looking more into how New York City is building itself around the people that live in it.

Commercial

While people have been spending 2020 working from home, businesses have been spending time reinventing their office spaces. JP Morgan Chase is choosing to move to 425 Park Avenue for their brand new tower, a home for many employees working out of the city. Developers around New York City understand the need for more restaurants for workers which is why the Manhattan West complex is planned to open up in 2021, a food hall including some of the most famous chefs and food brands around the city. Always look around and see how New York City is constantly becoming a better place for those working there.

Art

New York City isn’t just a great city for those looking for a new job but for those interested in art as well. At the World Trade Center, the Perelman Performing Arts Center will be opening up for black creators looking to make their work known in theater, music, dance, and more. Architect David Adjaye has also been working with The Studio Museum in Harlem to construct a new building to hold all of their collections. Whether you are interested in some of the pre-existing venues or some of the new art establishments being built in New York City, you always have somewhere to visit no matter what art medium you’re interested in.

December 8, 2020

Tips for New York Home Appraisal

If you are looking to buy a new home or just refinance your current mortgage, your lender will want to schedule an appraisal. This objective assessment helps to determine what your home is worth. Something that ranks high to all lenders is the consideration of collateral on their loan. Whether you are buying or selling, it will help you get a feel for how appraisals work. Here’s how you can prepare for your NYC home appraisal.

What’s Involved?

So what should you expect if you have someone come to your home to appraise it? An appraiser’s job is very similar to a home inspector’s position, with some tiny differences. Items that range from big to small will be taken into account by your appraiser, so that geometric mural that you did during the lockdown may need to go.

Things That Go Into a Home Appraisal

While your potential buyer may love your place and decide that they are ok with your asking price, all lenders will require you to have your home appraised to determine its value. To help them arrive at an estimate, they will look at the following:

Your home’s exterior: The appraiser will look at just about every part of the construction of your home. From the roof to the foundation, walls, and flooring, these will all be the potential cause for the house’s value to decrease if the appraiser finds something wrong.
Size: A big part of determining the home’s value is the slot’s size and square foot of the lot. The more rooms and bathrooms that a house has can help to raise the value of the home. Knowing the floor area or FAR of the property will tell you if space has room for extensions, which can be another factor in the value.
Condition: Just like your exterior, the appraiser will go over the inside of your home with a fine-tooth comb. The flooring, kitchen, plumbing, electrical, and lighting are all components that your appraiser will be assessing.
Improvements: Your appraiser can also help you determine what might need to be updated to increase your home’s value. Renovating a bathroom or adding an HVAC system can add years of life to the property, which helps increase the value.

Who Receives the Appraisal Information?

The final verdict will be gathered by your appraiser and at the disposal of who ordered it; this is usually the lender. It is then up to them how the information is distributed, regardless of who paid for it. If the buyer asks for an appraisal, the lender is obligated by law to release that information. Your appraisal is valid for six months, but market prices can change quickly. Many lenders will only consider an appraisal to be valid for about three months. Any changes to the market or the property can drastically alter the value price.

October 2, 2020

The Best NYC Neighborhoods To Raise A Family

Living in New York City can be a challenge. It’s a big departure from more urban towns and can be a rather large adjustment. Add bringing a family with children into the city, and you have an entirely new set of problems. When most people think of New York City, they think of busy streets with nonstop traffic and no space for children to play and enjoy life. While some parts of the city can be like that, there are plenty of other great places to raise your children in New York. Here are some of the best neighborhoods in New York City to raise a family.

Harlem

If you journey to the northern end of Manhattan you’ll find Harlem, one of the best places to raise a family in the city. Harlem is known for having a strong community presence and is a cultural hotspot in the city, meaning your kids will grow up in a place that’s safe and full of people from all different walks of life, giving them new perspectives they might never have discovered otherwise. Harlem is known for having lower rents that give families more wiggle room, and there are plenty of activities for kids to take part in due to the various parks in the area.

Riverdale

Located in The Bronx and all the way at the northern end of the subway lines, Riverdale features a much more suburban feel than other New York City neighborhoods. Living here will give you much more space both indoors and outdoors for a better price than you’d pay in most neighborhoods. Aside from that, there are plenty of great activities you and your family can take part in, with several great parks such as the Van Cortlandt Park and of course the ever famous Bronx Zoo.

Astoria

This Queens neighborhood is loved by parents and like the others, features plenty of awesome activities that your family can enjoy. The neighborhood is rather close to both Manhattan and Brooklyn, but more importantly, it features a great public school system so your kids can receive the education they deserve. Speaking of education, the Queens Library has several branches and can be a great place to bring your kids to explore the unending possibilities of reading a good book. Like the other neighborhoods on this list, prices are more family-friendly than many other parts of the city.

September 13, 2020

The Best NYC Neighborhoods To Live In

New York City is gigantic. If you’re thinking of moving into the city, you’ll have plenty of options to choose from in terms of the neighborhood you live in. While you may think you only have to choose between Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, and Staten Island, the fact of the matter is that there are several neighborhoods within these 5 boroughs. That’s a lot of options, and it’s important you pick the right choice for your budget and lifestyle. Here are a few of the best neighborhoods to live in within New York City.

SoHo

Located in Manhattan, SoHo stands for South of Houston and is one of the busiest neighborhoods in the city. If shopping is your thing, you’ll never get bored in SoHo as it features great high-end clothing stores as well as plenty of great food options. You’ll also be able to find various art galleries within the neighborhood and the architecture sets up a certain vibe if that’s your thing. Being located in Lower Manhattan, housing can become rather expensive and you’ll primarily find expensive lofts and co-ops.

Downtown Brooklyn

If you’re looking for a location based on convenience such as having plenty of transportation options, Downtown Brooklyn might be the place for you. It’s located right over the Brooklyn Bridge and in the past few years, thousands of new apartments have been made as the neighborhood grows. Plenty of subway and bus lines get off in the area, meaning you can get to Manhattan in about 15 minutes and also be close to other great neighborhoods where you can find options for dining and shopping. Due to the location’s recent growth, housing will likely be expensive, though not as expensive as SoHo.

Forest Hills

If you’re looking for something a little more urban and not as much big city, Forest Hills in Queens might be a good spot to check out. The area features a fantastic view of the Manhattan skyline so you’ll be close to the city but not smack dab in the middle of all the commotion. The architecture is one of the area’s many points of interest and you’ll find many single-family homes as opposed to the many apartments deeper into the city. To top it off, the area is much cheaper than Manhattan or Brooklyn if you’re not trying to break the bank.

July 28, 2020

Tips For New Residents of New York City

So you’ve decided to take the plunge and choose to live in New York City. While this is an exciting choice, it’s oftentimes a gigantic change, especially if you’re coming from a small town or someplace more rural. While you might think making the adjustment will be easy, it’s almost guaranteed you’ll have a rough time if you’re moving there and have nobody to guide you. Luckily, there are plenty of guides that feature tips and tricks to help you adjust, with many of them coming straight from the mouths of both newer and older New York City residents. Here are a few of those tips and tricks.

Prepare Your Budget

You’ve probably heard about this but you won’t truly understand until you experience it; living in New York City can be expensive. Many times you’ll find that living in Manhattan and other parts of the city costs double of what it cost to live where people are previously coming from, unless they’re coming from an equally pricey area such as another metropolitan area. If you think you have enough money prepared for the adjustment, think again as you’re likely under prepared.

Public Transportation

Owning a car while living in New York is often no fun at all. Many New York Residents have gotten used to taking public transportation. You have the option of taking a bus, taxi or the subway, and the options vary in price and where they’ll bring you. Since traffic is always so jammed up in the city, public transportation is likely your best option so it might be wise to figure out your favorite style of transportation and stick with it.

Feeding Yourself

Feeding yourself when moving into the city can be a little challenging at first. Depending on where you live, you’re likely not going to be able to go to the large grocery store’s you may be accustomed to. Oftentimes you’ll be walking to the closest bodega and only getting enough groceries that you can carry home to your apartment. If that isn’t enough to satiate you, you may be tempted to order take out or go to a restaurant. While that’s not necessarily a bad choice, it’s quite expensive and can add up quickly. It’s important to figure out this balance before you overspend by eating out all of the time.

June 4, 2020

Should You Buy Or Rent In NYC?

If you’re moving to New York City, one of the hardest decisions you’ll likely have to make is choosing between buying a home there or just renting one. Many different factors come into play when making this decision. Are you planning on staying in New York for a long time? Can you afford extra chargers such as utilities, food, entertainment, and property taxes? These are some of the common questions you should ask yourself before deciding if owning your home is worth it. It usually takes about 5.6 years in order to break even after buying a home in New York, so if you think you’ll be there that long or longer, buying may be worth it. To be sure, let’s take a look at some of the other benefits that come from both buying and renting in NYC.

Renting

While a lot of people say that renting is a waste of money in the long run, there are still plenty of perks that come with it, especially in a place like New York City. First off, by renting your home you can give the neighborhood or even the building you’re in a “test drive”. It gives you the chance to learn more about the area you’re in. Another great perk to renting is that in most situations the landlord will pay for most utilities outside of electricity and the internet. You may have to pay more for these units but overall this makes things like budgeting much easier. Renting also helps you get your money situation in order in case you ever decide you do want to buy.

Buying

One of the biggest perks of owning your home is the fact that you build equity. When you rent, the landlord builds equity, meaning you get nothing but the space you’re renting. Building equity is great because once the mortgage is paid off you can use that equity to borrow money for another large purchase in your life. Buying is also great because of the tax reductions you get, as well as the potential for the IRS not applying capital gains tax when you sell your house. Finally, the ultimate benefit of buying your home is the freedom you get. You can do whatever you want to your home when you own it, but when you rent it there are usually distinct boundaries.

May 14, 2020

Making the Most of a NYC Studio Apartment

New York City is known for a lot of things, one of them being its real estate. While many people dream of someday living in a spacious New York City apartment, a lot of those living in a city are confined to small one-bedroom or studio apartments. It can feel a bit cramped, but with these tips, you can make the most of your NYC studio apartment.

Clever Storage

The best way to ruin the layout of a tiny apartment is by having all your belongings out in the open. To give the apartment a clean and open appearance, find ways to store your belongings away. Every piece of furniture is a storage opportunity such as a bedside bureau, a side table with shelves or a drawer, or a lidded ottoman.

The Mirror Trick

Making tiny apartments feel bigger can be tough, but there is a super easy trick you can try. Especially is your space is lacking natural light, decorate your apartment with mirrors. Setting up a mirror helps bounce light around, creates depth, and makes the room look bigger than it really is.

A Stylish Dresser

To add style and sophistication to your small space, invest in a good dresser. In a studio, the dresser can be utilized in many different ways. The top of the dresser can be used as a dressing table, a makeshift kitchen table, of a place to add some decoration. A dresser can easily become the focal part of your studio, so make it count!

Furniture to the Wall

Another great way to keep the space open is by keeping furniture against the wall. Furniture in a small space can easily block out the natural light and make it appear to be even smaller. Pieces such as couches, dressers, bookshelves, nightstands, and other pieces should also be kept partially open to create expansiveness in your studio by leaving room for white space.

March 4, 2020

Historic House Museums in NYC

Across New York City, there are dozens of historical buildings and history on nearly every corner. However, there are little-known house museums, 23 in total, spread across the city. They are all run by a non-profit group, the Historic House Trust, which aims to preserve the richness of the past to educate the present and future generations of those who choose to visit. Here are some of the top houses to visit on your next trip to the big apple.

Merchant’s House Museum

As one of the first individual buildings to be designated an official landmark, this home is steeped in history. It features a gorgeous facade, many items from the late 1800s, and offers a rare glimpse into domestic life during the 19th century. You might want to book your tour in advance for this popular house!

Gracie Mansion

If you want to see how the wealthy once lived along the East River, look no further. Built by a merchant, Archibald Gracie in 1799, this house is the only one of its kind left along the river. After the rich owners left, it once was used as an ice cream stand for the surrounding park, but upgraded its standing by becoming the home to the mayor in 1942.

Morris-Jumel Mansion Museum

Built in 1765 as a retreat for a wealthy couple, this home has seen quite a few changes. From host to fashionable parties, to being seized by the Continental Army to serve as the headquarters for George Washington, to becoming the extravagant home of a French wine merchant, this mansion was finally opened to the public in 1904 as a museum and features items from each of its transitional periods.

January 14, 2020

Blending Traditional and Modern: New York City Real Estate Architecture

When you think “New York City architecture”, you probably immediately picture towering skyscrapers that reign over the city with all glass windows. You aren’t wrong, but if you look closer you’ll start to see several addresses transforming their facades in a new and exciting way. More and more architects are reimagining what buildings throughout NYC should look like. Many real estate addresses are taking a blended approach, giving a nod to the past while bringing the building into the future. Here are five of these innovative buildings you can search for the next time you find yourself in the Big Apple.

Prospect Leffert Gardens, Brooklyn

This 467-unit luxury rental building still boasts a glass facade, but incorporates brownstone-esque bay windows, precast concrete, and a chevron pattern to give homage to the surrounding architecture. The result is a stunningly unique place to live in Brooklyn if you’re looking for something both modern and traditional.

Oskar, Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan

This luxury rental fuses modern glass and shapes with old-school masonry. The building features a rounded glass form but incorporates the traditional with white terracotta wrapped around the facade. While it blends well within its surroundings, its impressive fusion of modern and traditional elements set it apart, making it a unique find within New York’s real estate market.

11 Hancock, Harlem, Manhattan

This building, by far, has the most powerfully modern shape, but the traditional aspects are certainly there to make it stand out above the rest. The 12-story cantilevered structure offsets its modern shape by combining glas, steel, brick, and burnished copper, all paying tribute to different eras of construction in the city.

40 Bleecker, NoHo, Manhattan

Manhattan has no shortages of condos, but not all condos are made equally. This 12-story building sits in a landmark-rich neighborhood. The architects wanted to do something different but not so different the building would stand out as an eye sore. This address features a brick and metal facade with punched-glass window openings to give homage to the pre-war buildings that dominate the area.

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