New York rebuilds - 911 Memorial opens to the public Monday 9/12

Photo credit: AP

Visitors line up to enter the 9/11 memorial plaza in the World Trade Center site in New York. (Sept. 12, 2011)

They came. They saw.

They remembered.

And many of them cried.

Certainly, to a person, visitors to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, which opened to the public for the first time Monday, found themselves moved by the simplicity, the beauty and the significance of the site -- a memorial erected where the towers of the World Trade Center fell on Sept. 11, 2001.

"There are no words," visitor Eileen Cristina, 64, of Lititz, Pa., said upon seeing the memorial up close Monday morning.
Read the full story here: http://www.newsday.com/911-anniversary/9-11-memorial-opens-to-public-1.3163719

Rent out your loo?

Hmm, I'm all for entrepreneurship, however, I'm not completely "sold" on this one. First off the logistics of finding a bathroom that's close enough to where you happen to be when the need arises seems challenging at best.
I don't think I'd be OK with the random "friend of a facebook friend" considering at least 10-20 percent of most people's "facebook friends" are people they don't really interact with often,  popping over to use my bathroom.
I do think that by the time you did your loo search, recieved confirmation and walked over there; wouldn't it had been easier to stand in line at Starbucks?
To see a short video clip and to read the full story click here:

http://lifehacker.com/5837900/rent-out-your-toilet-with-cloo

More and more rental buildings going with 80/20 program

Gary Jacob, executive vice president of Glennwood Management and the Emerald Green



Developers are increasingly including affordable units within luxury rental buildings as part of the 80/20 program, the New York Times reported.
Steven Spinola, the president of the Real Estate Board of New York, says at least six 80/20 projects are being planned in Manhattan that will add some 1,500 affordable and rent-stabilized apartments.

Previously, when developers of market-rate residential buildings included affordable housing in exchange for tax incentives, the affordable units were often in another complex or even in another borough altogether. But in 2008, the city changed regulations in a way that made it almost impossible for developers to include the affordable units outside the luxury buildings.

Read Full Story Here: 
http://therealdeal.com/newyork/articles/more-and-more-rental-buildings-going-with-80-20-program

2 huge 3 Bdrm's available - Clinton Hill close to Pratt 2475.00 each

NYC's Financial District and downtown starts to swell with stores, restaurants as WTC is restored

A decade ago, the Financial District swelled with workers in suits and ties, only to virtually empty out as the sun set.

Now, the area's growing 24/7 crowd of residents and tourists, along with the progress at Ground Zero as the tenth anniversary of 9/11 approaches, is beginning to attract the attention of yet another group: retailers and restaurateurs.

"Certainly there are a lot more people downtown, either because they're living there, working there, or visiting there," said Robin Abrams, executive vice president at real estate firm The Lansco Corporation.

Read full story:

 http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2011/08/29/2011-08-29_nycs_financial_district_and_downtown_starts_to_swell_with_stores_restaurants_as_.html 

When Income Is Freelance

Financing the purchase of a new apt or home has become increasing challenging and it's imperative to work with a mortgage professional who can get you results with the least amount of headache and time. I always advise my buyers to speak with a minimum of 2-3 mortgage brokers from different banks, because rates and programs can vary widely.

With lower down payment requirements, FHA loans have helped many buyers secure housing loans who otherwise wouldn't have qualified. Despite these loans, buyers still had to show a solid income history, a high credit score as well as supporting documents.

The article below touches on a huge segment of the population whose round peg doesn't fit into the square box. However all hope is not lost! Ironically, This article speaks to real estate professionals such as myself who earn income on commissions only.

WITH the job market still soft, many people have turned to contract or freelance work to pay the bills, which increases the challenges involved in qualifying for a home mortgage.

Read Full Story Here: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/28/realestate/loans-for-freelancers-mortgages.html?_r=1&ref=realestate

- BROOKLYN BRACES FOR IRENE -

***Side note - I'm getting 3 new exclusive listings next week. Two in Park Slope, one in West Harlem. If they are still standing, showings will begin once the subway is back up and running :)

Dumbo and Boerum Hill join the ranks of NYC's most expensive nabes

Considering the proximity of these nabes to lower Manhattan, many former manhattanites are taking the plunge and moving across the bridge. My typical client who is making that move is usually seeking better quality and not so concerned with lowering their current rent. A $2500.00 budget in Mahattan doesn't go very far, even on the Upper East side or Hell's Kitchen where you can often find lower rents.
The draw is leaving your basic walk-up apt with no amenties to finding yourself in a full service bldg with tons of ammenties, rooftops, gyms, laundry, party rooms, conceirge srvc. etc.
Many of my clients who have been on tight budgets and fixated on living in the City, don't mind the 10-20 minute commute, if I can get them to just "take a look" at some Brooklyn neighborhoods. They soon discover that they are not "missing out" because there is a plethora of restaurants, bars, shops, green spaces, etc.

Dumbo and Boerum Hill join Soho and Tribeca as NYC's most expensive nabes

August 16, 2011 12:30PM

Dumbo

Soho and Tribeca were the most expensive New York City neighborhoods in the second quarter of 2011, but Dumbo was a surprising fourth entry on the top 10 list, according to PropertyShark.com. Dumbo was ahead of many other Manhattan neighborhoods such as the Upper East Side, the Upper West Side, the West Village and Chelsea, with a median sale price of $1.075 million. That price increased 9 percent from the median sales price in the second quarter of 2010, which was $990,000,
READ FULL STORY HERE:
http://therealdeal.com/newyork/articles/dumbo-and-boerum-hill-join-soho-and-tribeca-as-nyc-s-most-expensive-neighborhoods-according-to-propertyshark-com

Priciest, cheapest units to hit the market

August 19, 2011 12:00PM

From left: 12 West 83rd Street and 1775 Madison Avenue (source: PropertyShark)

The priciest Manhattan home to come online this week is a four-story townhouse at 12 West 83rd Street, according to Streeteasy.com, that's asking $12.5 million. The five-bedroom, four-bathroom Upper West Side home has ground-floor and parlor-floor entrances, a private garden and a fourth-floor terrace. READ FULL STORY HERE:  http://therealdeal.com/newyork/articles/priciest-cheapest-units-to-hit-the-market--117

FORT GREENE 2 BD 2BA DUPLEX WITH PRIVATE PATIO

FULL LISTING LINK BELOW:

http://www.renthop.com/r/listings/review/1139710/2