Seller's GuideIf you want to Sell your Property:Selling your home can be as stressful as it can be exciting, but the right agent with the right personal touch and the right amount of experience can make it fun and lucrative to find the right buyer. If you choose to give an exclusive to BARAK Realty, you'll not only get the agent you prefer, you'll also get the support of our whole team of brokers. At BARAK we have a way of working that benefits you more than the average realtor can. With teamwork. But no matter what broker you choose, be sure the company is legitimately licensed, experienced and a member of REBNY (Real Estate Board of NY). We take pride in our personal service and 24/7 accessibility. Our goal is to sell your property for the highest price in the shortest time, and with ... 07/02/2007

 Buyer's GuideWhether you are in the market for a co-op, condo, or investment property, we're your team. BARAK Realty works as other real estate companies do not: we dedicate all of our brokers and all of their varying talents to your goals. Our method of teamwork has gotten dreams to come true for a growing number of satisfied clients. BARAK Realty has access to a large and updated database of listings through our own exclusives and through our co-brokerage system with all of Manhattan's licensed brokerage firms. We are always attentive to your specific needs and will show you only properties that fit your guidelines. Once you find your dream apartment, we will guide you through your contract, financing, and board approval process. We will make the perfect board package for you to pass... 07/02/2007

New NYC quiet law begins today. For the first time in 30 years the noise code in New York City has been changed. Effective today July, 1 2007 there are new rules regarding noise in the city. According to an interactive survey on The Call Live Wire:http://ny1.com the other night, the three top noises that annoy city residents are: Traffic Dogs Barking Mr. Softee (Ice Cream Truck) For some time now the city has had a special phone number 311 set up for all kinds of complaints and consumer/public non emergency service. By calling this number to complain about noises the offenders can be fined  $175. Mayor Bloomberg has been a great manager for the city with many creative ideas. I wonder how these new rules can be enforced and where do you draw the line? Can someone be fined because their b... 07/01/2007

NYC to Reduce Property Tax Rate and Continue Property Tax Rebate Program for Homeowners Mayor Bloomberg and the City Council announced an agreement on the Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 New York City Budget. The $59 billion budget includes $1.3 billion in property, sales, and small-business tax cuts, including a property tax rate cut rate of 7% for the coming year. These tax cuts are in addition to the $256 million in $400-per-homeowner tax rebates requested by the City and approved by the State Legislature last week. The city has been sending $400 reebate checks to homeowners for the last few years. 06/29/2007

The Landmarks Preservation Commission recently created a new historic district in Morningside Heights on the Upper West Side. The newly created historic district is comprised of 40 buildings on Manhattan Avenue between 104th and 106th Streets. Unlike many of Manhattan's earlier row houses, which were primarily built with brownstone facades in the classical style, the structures in the new Manhattan Avenue district combine Gothic, Queen Anne and Romanesque features. Originally called "New" Avenue when it was created in 1868, Manhattan Avenue starts at 100th Street and continues to 125th street where it merges with St. Nicholas Avenue. Manhattan Avenue irregularly divides Morningside Heights and West Harlem. Morningside is West of Manhattan Ave including Columbia University, Saint John t... 06/28/2007

The NY Sun reported about the bill that would affect coop boards that has long been stalled is now getting support from law professors.The proposed law would require coops boards to put in writing their reason for rejecting a purchaser applicant from their coop. There is still opposition saying the law goes to far. I was quoted in the article.They called me about the board interview process and how I prepare a buyer for the interview.It's best to really keep your mouth shut, only answer questions, and not elaborate on things," a broker with Coldwell Banker Hunt Kennedy, Mitchell Hall, said. One client once talked with a board about making alterations to her apartment and barbecuing, Mr. Hall said, two things sure to turn off her interviewers.In that example the coop had a reason "qualit... 06/27/2007

Summer is here and the Manhattan Residential market has not cooled down. Sales activity remains strong, especially among the priciest properties reports The Real Deal.While new condos hit the market, co-ops are in short supply. Listing inventory is up, but less than last year and the upper end of the market is thriving.On May 15th I posted the REBNY Residential city wide sales report that reported a 23% increase in apartment sale prices in NYC for the 1st quarter of 07 compared to 06. According to the REBNY report the average first quarter sale price rose to $1,107,000 in Manhattan.Jonathan Miller, president of Miller Samuel appraisal firm says prices rose 5.4% to $1,290,000. There is high level activity across the market and upper-end pricey properties areharder to find.I've been very ... 06/27/2007

Traffic and parking in Manhattan is a major issue. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has a plan to charge motorists to drive below 86th Street in Manhattan.If approved, many real estate brokers are already saying it may do more than simply reduce traffic, noise and pollution in the Manhattan business districts. They are saying that it could add an extra sense of exclusivity to what is already some of the most expensive residential real estate in the country.Mayor Bloomberg's plan for what he calls "congestion pricing" would impose fees of up to $8 a day for cars and $21 a day for trucks driving below 86th Street between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays. Instead of setting the boundaries at the entrance to midtown Manhattan at 59th Street or at the bridges and tunnels entering Manhattan the bounda... 06/26/2007

Let me say first that I have to get personal with my clients.  Sometimes VERY personal.  If I don't know what their particular issues are, I am not going to be able to help them as best I can.  Most of my clients fully understand this and I am always careful to be two things:  HONEST (as I see things) and MINDFUL.  Sometimes achieving both is a difficult balance.I am also a Sagittarius.  Which means in most cases we suffer from "Hoof and Mouth Disease" or always putting our foot in our mouths.  So I'm careful to try the best I can to work around that as well....it's a fineline.  About two months ago I did Feng Shui Consultation for a lovely couple in New York City, right in Midtown Manhattan.  And I ask questions:  The history of the home/apartment and if they knew why the former occupa... 06/23/2007

I received a call tonight from an old friend who now lives in Syosset.  A friend from Junior High School, we had spent all of our High School years together and I recalled a wonderful post I had just read by Jo-Anne Smith Who Are The 'Forever' People in Your Life?   Although I did not know it at the time, Donna was to become one of my few treasured "Forever People."  She called because she had just dressed and sent her daughter off to her Prom which made her nostalgic; she said she was thinking of US and the prom we had gone to with our old dates and the fun we'd had that night.  We spoke at length, first reliving the old days and catching up with the new.  She is in a good place in her life right now and I realized, so was I.  Although we followed vastly different paths and both had ou... 06/21/2007

Fujifilm joins Friends of the High Line with Portrait project Hundreds of photographs will be displayed in unique outdoor galleries to raise awareness of High Line park, projected to open in 2008.As the High Line park takes shape above the streets of New York City, construction fencing in the neighborhood will feature improvised outdoor art galleries covered with photographs of High Line supporters from the local community and beyond according to Friends of the High Line. The group will also launch a Web site featuring the portraits, http://www.thehighline.org/portraits. Dubbed "The High Line Portrait Project" and made possible with a $50,000 donation from Fujifilm, the photographs capture the spirit of the inventive new park that is being built atop the High Line elevated rail structu... 06/21/2007

 1871 Originally Grand Central Depot Reborn "Grand Central Station" Constructed of glass and steel, it rivaled the Eiffel Tower and Crystal Palace as one of the most dramatic engineering achievement of the 19th century. When the steam locomotive era ended the existing station was demolished to create a new double level terminal for electric trains. Re built "Grand Central Terminal" In 1913 Grand Central Terminal opened and became an anchor for the real estate development in the midtown Manhattan neighborhood. During the 1920's, hotels and apartment buildings began to rise on Park Avenue, skyscrapers simultaneously were erected along East 42nd Street. On Lexington Avenue, the Hotel Commodore opened  and the Graybar Building and Chrysler building each with a passageway connection to Grand... 06/16/2007

UWS News: Rezoning Battle The Department of City Planning is proposing the first comprehensive rezoning of the Upper West Side in almost 50 years. The battle mostly started by the Ariel Condominiums - two 30 plus story towers currently rising on Broadway between 99th and 100th streets. The buildings have led to some neighborhood opposition because of their height. The rezoning calls for height limits on new construction that would see most future developments rise less than half the height of Ariel Towers, the New York Sun and The Real Deal reported. In my Morningside Heights Market Report there is more information about Ariel condos and the landmak Art Deco Metro Theatre next door that remains. When I was photographing the theatre for my blog several people I talked to in the neighborh... 06/15/2007

 Chelsea New Construction update: 175 Ninth Avenue (No condo towers for Seminary) The General Theological Seminary has reversed course on a plan to build a 15- story condominium tower on its campus after news of the plan met with fierce community opposition as reported in the NY Sun. The seminary wanted to build a 151-foot tower to generate $21 million in revenue for renovation of its existing 19th century buildings. Community activists charged the tower would have been out of place in the neighborhood. Officials are now presenting a plan for a seven-story mixed-use residential building. IMHO tax exempt landmark churches have no business in real estate development. Look for my Upper West Side construction update coming soon where I will tell you about the 21-story residential building a... 06/11/2007

It is unusual for me to be called for a Feng Shui Consultation when the occupants AREN'T having some issues or life changing events.  Sometimes they feel the "energy" is just off in their space, sometimes it is for health issure or relationship problems or career changes and they've heard or read about Feng Shui (or lately, The Secret) which has touched off a ripple effect in the way people are now reacting to the principles of Feng Shui.  They are the same with additional principles of how their home or office surroundings may be affecting them in some way.I was more then surprised, then, to get called for this particular consultation.  And so was my client's partner.  He was looking forward to a day off from work and only was told that morning that I was coming.  Neither of us knew ab... 06/11/2007

I don't believe in just luck but I DO believe in synchronicity....things fall into place, everything works out the way it should and keeps on going.  I am fortunate enough to be in that right now.  In part of post I had up recently, it was mentioned that on my "accomplishment wall" was a picture of Paris.  I've never been there and have been wanting to go for more years then I can remember.  And it was "never the time," there was always something in the way.I booked that trip scheduled for August less then a week and a half ago.  Finally!  I had actually covered my bills (did you DO that??) and have been working often and with wonderful clients.  I decided it was time and I could finally afford to go.  I book my weekend consultations kind of far in advance as it's usually the only time ... 06/02/2007

I got this today in the mail, it was too lovely not to share....Maybe......Maybe . . . We were supposed to meet the wrong people before meetingthe right one so that, when we finally meet the right person, we willknow how to be grateful for that gift.Maybe . . . When the door of happiness closes, another opens; but,often times, we look so long at the closed door that we don't evensee the new one which has been opened for us.Maybe . . . It is true that we don't know what we have until we lose it,but it is also true that we don't know what we have been missing until itarrives.Maybe . . . The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best ofeverything; they just make the most of everything that comes along theirway.Maybe . . . The brightest future will always be based on a forgottenpast... 05/31/2007

I didn't know if it was time for another Feng Shui "Tip" or not on how to increase your Wealth. Since I was trying to take this in steps so that YOUcould see the difference, I don't know if enough people read my last post for Feng Shui Money and if they've covered their bills.  I decided to post this one anyway but it would be helpful for me, for those that have an interest in Feng Shui to know HOW things are going.  Did it work, are your bills covered?  Did you miss the post?  I know many have a real interest because of the emails I receive and I don't want you to miss a step.  They're so easy to do and that's why I'm "presenting" them this way.  So that you'll give Feng Shui a chance, even if you happen to be a non-believer.  Plenty of them have been converted :)This method can be app... 05/31/2007

No, sorry, not this time.  Although I CANwrite about Feng Shui Sex, I'll leave that to a later blog.  I was driving home today after a long meeting and just wanted to get home, turn on some mindless TV and relax.  I have HBO On Demand and they were re-running episodes of Sex in the City, one of their terrific series.Yes, I know---the show was at times outrageous and sometimes completely "out of line."  But it gave us many messages as well.  If you watched it, you'll know what I'm talking about.  It talked about four ladies passion for New York City.  It's no secret that I absolutely LOVE New York City and spend as much time there as possible.  I don't often go with an agenda, I let the day take me where I'm supposed to be.  And seem to always run into something or someone or have some e... 05/29/2007

I thought I would direct this post directly to the Home Stagers to see if  you have opinions, comments or suggestions on exactly what YOU would like to see represented to Real Estate Agents during a Presentation.  Yes, I know, I primarily speak of Feng Shui.  But for years I have been speaking to Realtors about the advantages of Staging because they are so closely related and I feel they work hand in hand.  Since I have two speaking engagements coming up and I'm trying to put them together, now's the time to tell me.  Am I leaving out things you feel they should know?  Am I adding things they perhaps aren't aware of?  While I agree it is much better to have a full stager come in to do that part of the Presentation, it isn't always possible. I wrote a very long blog (which I accidentally... 05/27/2007