Category: Market Update

In working with several clients of mine, I’ve become intimately familiar with the $10M plus market place in Manhattan. I predict the $10M plus market place will offer buyers great opportunities through 2019.

Why? In 2012 developers started building luxury buildings; the high cost of land and development somewhat forced developers’ hand into the luxe market to make numbers work. An unprecedented re-sale at 15 Central Park West topped $80 million started the ultra-luxury race at One57 and in Manhattan everyone chased the money. The market took off and developers followed and the funnel of buyers seemed unending.

20/20 hindsight shows us that the top of the market was early 2016. Cracks started though in 2014 when oil prices dropped, the US dollar strengthened, Manhattan’s prices shot through the roof and BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) growth faltered. Looking for better returns global buyers turned to other markets including San Francisco and the Los Angeles area. This market continues to adjust here.

Today (Jan 28, 2019) in Manhattan there are 600+/- active homes priced above $10 Million:
8% of all active listings on the market. As a comparison in 2014, $10M+ sales represented only 1-2% of Manhattan properties. We have a high-inventory issue.

Newly signed $10 Million+ contracts currently average approximately 19 per month, meaning there’s a 30-month supply of $10 million+ homes in Manhattan. Uber-luxe homes which sold in Jan 2019, were discounted from 7-30% off their last asks.

As a smart investor or buyers now is an opportune time to make your move on Manhattan. Secure a stunning property at a fantastic price. Interested? Click here to connect with me. Let’s talk

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Wherever you are in New York, people ask – “How’s the market?” “The Market” really depends on which segment of the real estate market you are interested in. New York’s market is divided by neighborhood, by price point and property type.

Sellers ranging from Greenwich Village Studios to Deluxe Upper West Side apartments and to West Village Townhouse owners have contacted me lately asking about the market and evaluating selling. I’ve been actively marketing 2-3 Bedroom homes in Chelsea and Williamsburg, Brooklyn giving me a deep snapshot into the market on multiple levels.

• West Village Studios – ($550K to $850K)  – The Studio / 1Br market is picking up again after a slow summer and fall. Contracts are being signed at a faster clip. Prices seem to be stable
• Chelsea 2-3 Bedrooms – ($2.25M to $3.3M) – Chelsea continues to have higher levels of inventory in this category, providing buyers with some opportunity. Well priced listings are selling, or those listings that lingers have been going to contract, after their prices align with buyer expectations. On average 5-7 contracts have been signed per month with approximately 50+ active units on the market. My listing has a contract out. Fingers crossed!
• Williamsburg –  When you move away from the Williamsburg waterfront and look at townhouses, there is little on the market that is not older. Around the Lorimer Street / Metropolitan Avenue area development of multi-family homes is evident. Walking up and down Devoe, Ainslie or Powers street old homes have been replaced by more modern designs. The are is vibrant and for the un-initiated, the Lorimer / Powers area is almost the perfect tip of the triangle to be able to have access to South Williamsburg and Williamsburg Bridge within minutes or being able to access the Bedford Street area and McCarren Park of Williamsburg. My listing there at 60 Powers Street has seen a lot of activity of late. Buyers are out in force – and many already live in the area and are renting or begrudgingly looking outside of Dumbo where they have been enjoying loft living for many years.  The big question is this: What about the L-train?  After being in Brooklyn now for two months to prep and stage my listing and market it, I’m in love. The train also (especially from Lorimer St) will hopefully be less of an issue than one thinks. To get to mid-town it’s four short stops to Court Square and a connection to the E or 7 train as well as others. For downtown, it’s easy to get to the J,M and Z trains.
• Luxury Properties – The luxury sector has picked up significantly compared to 2017. That’s not to say it’s flying, however buyers who were on the sidelines have jumped into the market and are buying properties which have been reduced in price. Reports have been showing 24+ signed contracts over $4 Million which is a significant jump from the slower months recently. New Developments are still commanding the highest prices and volume of new luxury contracts with their views, amenities such as private garages and secure driveways like at 70 Vestry Street in Tribeca.

Bottom line: It’s still a challenging market for most, however if well positioned both sellers and buyers have opportunity in this market. If you have any questions, please contract me. I’m happy to help you.

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Alexis Christophorous Interviews Jonathan Miller on Manhattan’s Luxury Market & Foreign Buyers

Last week major real estate firms in Manhattan issued their Q1 2016 Manhattan Market Reports. According to the reports, the average Manhattan home now costs $2 million. The reports also reveal some interesting insights into foreign buyer trends and the larger real estate market.

When speaking to clients in the last few months, these questions have come up repeatedly Read more…

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Much has been written about Chinese and Russians dropping $30+ million on Manhattan luxury condominiums since 2012. As a result, even sellers of condos priced between $1-4 million ask: “Where are the foreign buyers for my home? What will you do to attract them?”

While huge amounts of foreign currency is being spent on US real estate, not every property type is benefiting from it or is appealing to an international buyer. Generally, foreign buyers who Read more…

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Has ultra-luxury development gone too far? Cary Tamarkin’s 10 Sullivan development announced that it is splitting its 8,000 Square foot Soho Penthouse, following CIM Group and Macklowe Properties late 2015 decision to do the same to some larger unsold units at the ultra-luxury 432 Park Avenue. Brokers have begun to quietly wonder if we’ve hit the peak of luxury in price point and market saturation.

Starting in 2013, strong demand for downtown luxury new developments combined with extremely low re-sale inventory caused re-sale values to skyrocket. The price-per-square-foot ceiling rose on all sales as local, domestic and international buyers snapped up properties at a frenetic pace.

Lately though, I’ve been noticing Read more…

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In 2015, a confluence of micro-market trends led to one of Manhattan’s most successful – and competitive – real estate years on record. My team and I have been digging through the numbers to better understand how 2015’s trends will impact sales in 2016.

Average Sales Prices Up 12% in 2015, Re-Sale Up 15%, Lofts Up 13%

Overall, average sales prices increased by 12 percent. New developments and re-sale prices increased 8 and 15 percent respectively, according to Jonathan Miller’s quarterly report. Average price-per-square-foot skyrocketed 28 percent over 2014. Median prices rose a strong 15 percent, thanks to multiple new luxury development units closing during Q4 2015 that went to contract during 2013 and 2014.

Co-op sales volume Read more…

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Thanks to today’s globalized economy, few blink an eye when real estate investors snap up properties around the globe. Most of the time, buying a pied-a-terre here and a villa there is simply a particularly fabulous form of collecting or a portfolio management decision.

In 2014, the New York Times ran an investigative report on some Read more…

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