NYC | Kevin Brunnock | NYC Real Estate Professional

Tag: NYC (page 1 of 3)

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.

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.

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.

December 17, 2019

How to Adjust Living in a Big City

Many people dream of moving to a big city. Much of the time, when they finally achieve their dream of moving to New York City, there is a bit of a culture shock. When living in NYC, there is a lot to get used to. There is much more hustle and bustle, and a lot less space. Here are a few tips on how to adjusting moving to the big city:

Join a Club

This one may seem a little silly, but it’s very effective in making the big city your home. When moving from a small town to NYC, it’s important to find something you love to do by joining a club, If your hobby is gardening, join a community garden. If you love music, find a favorite local band to see a show. One of the best ways to make a city as big as New York feel more like home is by finding something that you love to do through the club, team, or community.

Never Fear Public Transportation

Driving a car might fly in a small town, but it’s a whole other story in a big city. Most of the time, taking the subway, train, or bus is much faster, easier, and cheaper. It’s important to get a feel of the land and learn about the city by public transit. It helps whenever you get lost and adjusts you to the routes you need to take.

Say Hi to Your Neighbor

One of the best ways to make a big city feel like home is by getting to know your neighbors. In a bigger city, some people like to keep to themselves. You don’t have to sit and play Scrabble with them every other Friday, but simply saying hello and introducing yourself to them is a great first step. This might not lead to you making best friends, but it’s always nice to be friendly with your neighbors to build a stronger sense of community.

Take Time to Explore

The big city will seem big and scary at first, and it will be easy to stick to the places you know right away. Try not to get in the habit of only going to the places you know. The city is big enough to find a new adventure every day. Find new favorite spots and you will fall even more in love with the grand New Your City.

September 17, 2019

4 Reasons to Live in NYC

If you’re looking for a new city to move to, you should be considering New York City. There are many reasons that 8.6 million people have chosen to call this great city home. In addition to our world-class museums and entertainment, here are four reasons to live in NYC.

1. NYC is where many great things begin.

If you enjoy being in the “center of the action” or being the first to experience new things, NYC is the place to be. Many great new things start in New York City, including technology, architecture, and music.

2. You can be “green” in NYC.

When you live in New York City, you can opt-out of driving a car. Instead, you can choose to walk to many destinations or, if you have a longer commute, the subway is always an option. Furthermore, an increasing number of apartment complexes are also now composting and recycling. You’ll also find that most places to live in NYC require less energy due to the vertical nature of the buildings.

3. NYC is full of history.

Whether or not you are a history buff, it’s hard not to enjoy the history around NYC. The city’s architecture is full of rich history. Some of the most famous buildings, statues, and monuments are here. New York City is also often the center of “history in the making.” An example is the super tall buildings that are breaking records and will transform the skyline by 2022.

4. Nowhere else has the same amount of diversity or variety.

New York City is one of the most (if not the most) diverse cities in the world. Here you can find people of every culture in the world. As a result, you’ll also find restaurants and other bits of culture from across our planet.

June 26, 2019

How New York’s New Rent Laws Will Affect Real Estate

Tenant protection laws were first introduced to New York City in 1920. The country was recovering from World War I and many landlords were raising rents monthly due to a housing shortage.

Just this month, landlords and legislators are having similar conversations about New York’s rent laws. On June 14, 2019, New York State and Assembly leaders passed new laws to protect tenants by controlling rent in New York. In light of the new law, landlords will have limited ability to raise rents, even if renovate their buildings or apartment complexes. Landlords can also no longer be able to raise rents due to vacancies or deregulate apartments.

So what does this mean for NYC real estate?

The new laws have shocked New York’s real estate investors. Some landlords and investors are concerned that they will not be able to cover the costs of maintaining buildings without the ability to raise the rent. This leads to concerns that property values will decrease and many landlords will choose to sell.

Some people, however, are seeing opportunity in the new market. Some property owners who will now struggle to stay afloat will be looking to sell quickly and likely for lower prices than they would have otherwise. Furthermore, the newly passed laws are expected to cause foreclosures, which lower property values. Investors who are able to take advantage of the lower prices for property may be in luck.

The long-term effects of these new laws have yet to be seen. While it’s likely that some investors will suffer as a result of the new restrictions, others may flourish. Many have theorized on the potential outcomes, but it will take time before the consequences come to fruition. In other words, “only time will tell.”

May 28, 2019

Whisper Listings in New York

If you haven’t heard about whisper listings, that’s exactly what the marketing genius who came up with the idea wanted. They’re properties that are shrouded in mystery on purpose. Curious house-hunters are drawn to the intrigue around them. They’re becoming the new gateways to some of the best-kept secrets in California and New York real estate. Buyers enjoy the privilege of being able to see penthouses, lofts, and estates that are on the market discreetly.

Sellers enjoy the enhanced desirability that being whisper listed creates. It’s not an entirely strategic tactic. Not everyone who has a multi-million dollar home for sale wants that information to go public. Being able to sell the property of higher than average value out of the eye of the press and public is attractive to affluent public figures who don’t want to fall prey to a new rise in negative perceptions about being wealthy. Others simply seek privacy from gossip tabloids and cameras.

The real estate sector is always looking for new ways to build drama around listings. Observers have noticed that properties handled this way don’t sell if they don’t live up to the hype, however. Buyers expect to discover something they wouldn’t find otherwise. Whisper listings do add intrigue but not to the extent that they’re automatically fast sales.

The concept of keeping information private on a specific property, as opposed to aggressively advertising it, is such a winning strategy that a new portal has recently launched. This portal was built and dedicated to promoting the latest whisper listings One important tip is to understand that the luxury real estate featured on the site will be exclusive. This means that its target market will be high net-worth individuals. While the site idea may seem like a new gimmick to boost the sales of real estate that has slowed down in recent years and can be difficult to sell, Parish Pradhan, the former Keller Williams agent behind it believes that having access to a portal of off-market listings is going to help those shopping for property to sidestep the bidding process and ultimately spend less.

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