The Wall Street Journal is reporting that two adjacent condos in the Plaza Hotel were sold for $19 million, which will certainly be yet another boon to the luxury real estate market in NYC, which has experienced quite the surge in recent weeks. WSJ is reporting that the buyer is Barbara Garza, a director of Mexican bottler Coca-Cola Femsa, in a deal that closed last week after a rather short negotiating period.

What’s surprising about the sale is that the previous buyer had purchased the two units just four years ago. In 2007, author and interior designer Gigi Mahon bought both apartments for around $14 million, yielding a $5 million profit in four short years, or over a 35% ROI!

This might surprise many who read about the economic downtown and the collapsing housing market in America, but it demonstrates one little-known fact about the real estate market in New York City: Manhattan is different. It always has been different and it always will be, so even if a rash of foreclosures are depressing the real estate market nationwide, the luxury market in Manhattan remains strong.

This also means that naysayers about the Manhattan market should be taken with a grain of salt. In 2005, Gothamist scoffed at asking prices in the same building, but Mahon is $5 million richer for not listening to them.

Not only that, but Mahon was able to sell the units for significantly more than market averages, suggesting a rise in sales prices might be on the way. The two adjacent condos sold for a total of $4,985 per square foot, which is significantly higher than condos in the area usually get, but still significantly less than Mahon’s original asking price of $22.5 million, which seems to me to be more grandstanding than anything else. Also worth noting is the fact that the units were never combined; they are still marked as 501 and 502 and were sold as a pair, and the listing was vague on whether zoning or building laws prohibit combining the two. With 3,811 square feet between them and over 1,500 square feet of terrace space overlooking Central Park, there is no lacking for space even if the units stay separated.

Now, Columbus Circle is less two luxury units, but there are still plenty more available for much less than $19 million! Have a look on our website for exclusive and MLS listings, or give one of our agents a call at 1-877-852-6636.

Italian actress Isabella Rosselini listed her Upper West Side condo for $2.895 million just a few months ago, and it’s already in contract for over her asking price, at 3.05 million (the buyer made an initial offer just 20 days after the unit was listed). The unit was a unique property, with three bedrooms on two floors and one terrace facing south and another wraparound terrace facing north. The floor-to-ceiling windows and expansive views made this a handsome property, so it isn’t too surprising that it would sell quickly. Also, with real estate prices in Manhattan refusing to go down, particularly in the luxury market, the high selling price is in step with trends in the city.

Rosselini is giving up city life for Long Island, having left the Upper East Side for the Upper West just a few short years ago. Long Island is still within commuting distance, so I’m sure the city will be seeing plenty of the actress in days to come.

Brunch

If you live in New York, you more than likely love to find a great brunch place on the weekend, especially in the summer when you can sit outside with a good meal and good friends! With literally hundreds of restaurants to choose from it’s difficult to find a place that you enjoy. Like other New Yorkers, I like to take a couple of hours to enjoy brunch and have found some personal favorites that I found myself frequenting time and time again.

The first is 7A Cafe in the East Village which is open 24 hours a day offering comfort food at any time. The brunch is casual and has delicious options like Salmon Eggs Benedict, Smoked Mozzarella Frittata, and Brioche French Toast. All paired with coffee, tea and options of a Bloody Mary, Screwdriver, Mimosa, or Bellini. There’s a reason the wait time is long and every weekend there are diners both in the restaurant and eating their brunch al fresco.

If you find yourself hungry for brunch on the Upper West Side, my pick is Good Enough to Eat which gives classic breakfast options like omelettes, pancakes, and waffles. Personally, I go for the Strawberry Almond Waffles which just melt in your mouth. The food is fresh, delicious, and the service is great! Be forewarned, you will more than likely see a line as you walk up, but the food is definitely worth the wait!

Elephant & Castle

My most recent brunch discovery is Elephant & Castle in the West Village. I can’t believe that I have missed this place so often when I’ve been in this area. This thirty-five year old restaurant’s dishes have been copied and served by other restaurants like it; forcing them adopt the motto “Copied by many, excelled by none”. The namesake of this restaurant has a long history based in England, but the food is unique to New York. The brunch menu has “favorites” such as Eggs Benedict on Potato Pancakes, Old Fashioned Porridge Brule and Yukon Brunch with Country Eggs, Spinach Puree, Hash Browns and Grilled Tomatoes. Nothing beats the warm drinks such as Spanish Latte or Hot Chocolate which are served in a bowl; not a cup!

Pates et Traditions

When I find myself in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, I’m always on the hunt for a unique experience in the young, artsy neighborhood. That’s why I was elated to find a little restaurant called Pates et Traditions that serves French classics and brunch favorites. As soon as you walk in, you feel as if you’ve been transported to the South of France, into some seaside retreat (sans the sea). The waiters (and just about everyone) greet you with a “Bonjour” and all speak French, but are more than happy to revert to English (French accent intact) as you order from their delicious menu. Croque Madame and Croque Monsiuer are offered, but if you really want, they will happily serve you a crepe instead of what’s on the brunch menu.

Wherever you’re having brunch, don’t worry about finding a place to live! Should you find a neighborhood that really catches your fancy, a representative is but a phone call away at 877-852-6636 to help you find the condo of your dreams!

Metropolitan Museum of Art

For those looking for a cultural experience, there’s always a New York City museum that offers changing exhibitions to surprise and wow the visitor. New York City has some of the greatest museums in the world and they’re only a short distance from just about any neighborhood.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is easily one of the best known places to see a diverse display of artwork from all over the world. Sections in the museum include Asian, African, and British art amongst others. Currently, the museum is offering exhibits for the summer and fall.

One specific exhibit on display from now until August 14th is Pastel Portraits: Images of 18th-Century Europe. According to the site, “By 1750, almost 2,500 professional artists and amateurs were working in pastel in Paris alone. Portraits in pastel were commissioned by all ranks of society, but most enthusiastically by the royal family, members of the court, and the wealthy middle classes.”

Museum of the City of New York

At the Museum of the City of New York, now through October 30th, visitors can view The American Style: Colonial Revival and the Modern Metropolis which offers a look at furniture, decorative pieces, and photographs of items from the 1890s until today. This exhibit may offer some ideas for those looking to find decorating ideas for their new home. Other ongoing and summer exhibits are also on display now at the Museum of the City of New York.

For those interested in learning more about world religions, the Rubin Museum of Art is showcasing Pilgrimage and Faith which explores three major faiths: Christianity, Buddhism, and Islam and their journey of pilgrimages, growth, and spirituality. This neighborhood offers this exhibit until October and is close to Union Square and all of the restaurants and bars of Chelsea.

The High Life. 2010. China. Directed by Zhao Dayong

Interested in contemporary art? nothing beats the MoMA. An ongoing exhibit for those interested in Asian Film is ContemporAsian which presents Asian films that may be off the beaten path. To find out more about this genre; this is the exhibit to see! This is Asian culture at its best and if you’re lucky, maybe your new condo won’t be too far away.

Whitney Museum of American Art

Another modern art lovers dream museum is the Whitney Museum of American Art. Right now, this East Side favorite has an exhibit of their founding collection. They always offer the latest and most unique American art around. The show called Breaking Ground: The Whitney’s Founding Collection features heiress Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney’s starting collection and objects from around the 30s when the museum opened its doors. This is sure to be a look into some of New York’s finest art.

Wherever you are in New York City, the cultural epicenter is sure to have something for your taste. As you make your way around the City, be sure to contact us when you decide which neighborhood you love the best so you can find a new place to call home! Call 877-852-6636 to speak with a representative today!

How would you like to live in a three-room bungalow on a roof garden, on the west side of midtown Manhattan? But wait – the place has bath, steam, and hot water, and it’s partly furnished. And not only that – it’s also 1923, which is the chronological equivalent of the best neighborhood in town. Best of all, it’s a steal at $55 per month. Call Columbus 3901, and tell them you saw it in the New York Evening Telegram.

But if a piddling little roof garden isn’t good enough for you, perhaps you’d rather have all of Central Park. The Hotel Pasadena may be just the thing for you. Conveniently situated on the corner of 61^st Street and Broadway, this cosmopolitan dream come true offers one and two-room suites (though someone will have to explain what a one-room suite is) for as little as $23 weekly or $100 monthly.

With prices like that, who wouldn’t want to stay in 1923? I see here in the December 29 New York Evening Telegram that one could sublet an “elegant” new seven-room apartment for the reasonable price of $5,500 yearly. It’s on 37^th and Seventh, where at 2011 prices you’d be lucky to find something for $5,500 monthly.

Or if it’s commercial real estate you’re after, you might consider getting in touch with A.H. O’Brien to discuss leasing an office, a small suite, or even an entire floor of this ultra-modern office building in the heart of the theatrical district – the southwest corner of 48^th and the Big Street. O’Brien’s ad doesn’t list prices, but you may rest assured that it would be a bargain – especially compared to 2011, with the same site occupied by a slightly more imposing (and far less charming) structure:

On the other hand, you may be looking to escape from the city entirely. Frankly, we have no idea why anyone would want to do this, but if you do, it would be hard to top this offer, publicized with a full-page ad in the New York Evening Post, August 9, 1943:

That’s right – if you’re willing to make the trek out to Long Island, you can have a plot of land comparable in size to five city lots, for only $99 – that’s $20 down and one dollar per week for seventy-nine weeks. There’s only one catch – you’ll have to build your own house. Want the luxury without the strain? Call 877-852-6636 to speak with a representative today!

I used to think that if I had a time machine, I’d use it to prevent the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, or to meet Groucho Marx in person. But no. The obvious priority, for anyone endowed with the ability to travel through time, would be to secure a miraculously inexpensive New York City apartment – as these read-‘em-and-weep real estate listings (from the June 7, 1924 New York Evening Post) make clear.

Yes, the Manhattan of 1924 was a place where if you wanted to “Avoid the Subway Crush” (and who doesn’t?), you could “Live in the Residential Section of OLD CHELSEA” – in a four-room apartment “In New Modern Building,” no less – for $85 to $95 per month. Now, that sounds very reasonable. Just call James N. Wells’ Sons at Chelsea 5266.

Looking for a co-op in Greenwich Village? Well, who isn’t? Here we have a brand new elevator building with playgrounds, tennis courts, and exposures on three sides, and it’s only one block from New York University. The rent is $16. There’s only one catch: It’s not really in Greenwich Village, because in 1924 NYU was in the Bronx. But wouldn’t you live in the Bronx if your rent was $16? Call Vanderbilt 9431.

But maybe you have a family, or a large collection of pewter windmills, and you need more room. Perhaps I can interest you in a spacious six-room, two-bath duplex at 137 East 66^th Street. This Lenox Hill charmer costs its owner $1,520 per year, and has an annual rental value of $4,000 – in 1924, of course. In 2011, you can still live in this same elegant building, but buying an apartment there will now set you back about three million dollars.

Okay – I can see you’re a discerning customer, and if it has to be luxury, you can’t do any better than the elegant Bradford, at 210 West 70^th Street. This “Distinctly Unusual” building is “distinct in combining all the best features of a home and a hotel, unusual in the perfection of this combination.” Got it? Distinct and unusual. Come and take a look at these two- and three-room suites. Each has one or two baths, “superior maid service,” “a completely equipped serving pantry” (I love a good serving pantry), “unusually large rooms” (the key word here is unusual), “spacious closets” (very unusual), and an “owner managed restaurant on premises to insure perfect cuisine.” The only problem is that there’s a bit of a wait – it’s not ready for occupancy until September 1, 1924. Call Endicott 6271. The 1924 advertisement doesn’t list any prices, but we can assume it was a good deal less than the $8,250 per month being asked for rental units at the Bradford today.

Have you ever heard someone say that they love the Upper East Side more than The Upper West Side? Or Midtown East vs. Midtown West? There are so many comparisons that could be drawn between East and West in Manhattan for many reasons.  Do you have a preference?

I personally am an East Side man, but that is probably because I live and work on the East Side. I feel getting to the West is a huge hassle that concludes in me just haling a taxi down.

Every one has their preferences. Let’s do a pro and con list of the Upper East Side Vs. The Upper West Side.

UPPER EAST SIDE:

Pros:
-Major art museums along Fifth Avenue: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Guggenheim, El Museo del Barrio, Museum of the City of New York, The Neue Gallery, The Frick, The Cooper-Hewitt Museum, The Whitney (Although on Madison, a short walk from Fifth Avenue).
-Shopping along Madison Avenue
-The Central Park Zoo
-Spanish Harlem
-Hunter College
-Park Avenue

Cons:
-Overcrowded 4,5,6 subway lines
-No Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s or Fairway.
-The East River.

UPPER WEST SIDE:

Pros:
-The Museum of Natural History
-Columbia University
-Central Park West
-A,C,E Subway lines
-1,2,3 Subway lines
-Shopping at Columbus Circle
-Riverside Drive
-Farmers market
-Lincoln center (Music, Ballet, and Theater)

Cons:
-No equivilant shopping to the East Side’s 86^th Street.

For some reason I am unable to come up with more cons for the Upper West Side. I feel that I am lacking knowledge in the neighborhood.

If you are interested in buying a condo on either the Upper East or West side, CondoDomain would be happy to help.

He is rumored to have bought the condo between 5 to 6 million dollars. Which I would say sounds rather cheap for a 4 to 5 bedroom high-rise luxury apartment with incredible views of the Hudson River.

Gary Barnett, the building’s owner is quoted by curb as saying A-Rod “Loved the building, the park and the water views, but we think the clincher was the baseball field outside the front door.”

If you are interested in buying a unit in The Rushmore there are several available:

1) For example apartment 6P: which is a two-bedroom, three bathroom for the total $1.789 million.

2) Or you can check out the One-Bedroom, one bathroom on the 5th floor for a total of $995,000.

You can enjoy these units along with the beautiful amenities of the 50-foot swimming pool, a state of the art fitness center and a screening room.

So it is goodbye to renting at 15 Central Park West and hello to The Rushmore. I hope A-Rod won’t miss his amazing old Central Park views.

If you are interested in buying a condo in this cool building, please contact one of our helpful agents. CondoDomain is always more then happy to help.

It was another snow day here in New York City, and I don’t know if you noticed but the day was a perfect for heading to New York public parks for some fun in the snow. Minus the transit troubles, the city was beautiful. Just check out my friend Gillian’s view outside her balcony on East 89th Street, a tree line shot right to Central Park:

If you are a new comer to New York, or you are planning to buy a new condo in the area, here are some tips for adjusting to the harsh New York winters.

1) Make sure you have serious snow boots that can take the deep slush puddles on every corner as the snow slowly melts. Great snow boots are key to wintering in New York.

2) Make sure you have the proper socks, jacket, hats and gloves because you are going to need it. You never know when a the subway is cancelled or the buses get cancelled and you need to do a little more walking.

3) If you have a car, I would suggest parking it in a garage for the winter. Digging your car out in New York can be impossible. Just check out my friend Marley’s car in Chelsea:

It took my friend several hours get this car out.

4) Watch out for falling trees, icicles and the over abundance of salt eating away at your shoes. Check out what happened on my co-worker Anna’s block, a tree could not handle the weight:

I feel like I see way to many people out there that are unprepared. If you are new to town or planning on moving to New York in the future, you will look like a natural with my tips.

If you need help in your process of buying your piece of New York, contact one of our agents. We can help you save money that you can use to buy your stylish winter gear.

The New York Times recently reported that twenty-somethings moving to New York for the first few years are doing everything they can do to survive in this expensive city during this horrible economic slump. Being a twenty-something myself, going on my fourth year in the big apple, I understand all these baby New Yorker woes.

Living in a city where you have to start out residing in a windowless box, sleeping on a twin bed with your feet hanging off one end is not the ideal situation for any young adult trying to make it on your own, but hey this is New York. If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere. Hang in there my fellow twenty-somethings, one day you will be able to afford that luxurious condo with a view like the this picture above.

My suggestion to those parents out there that are worrying about their off spring living in closets in the sketchiest New York neighborhoods, is to invest in the New York real estate. Why not buy a condo. If you are lucky enough to afford one, your starting out twenty-somethings can take care of your investment until they get on their own feet.

Hey it might not be the best option for everyone. But if you are parents that can afford the option, help a struggling baby New Yorker out.

If you are interested in buying a condo and saving money at the same time. Check out Condodomain. We can help you help your struggling twenty-something.