Where: 365 West 20th Street #15-C
Size: 2 bedrooms/1 bathroom
Asking: $875,000
Listed by: Lawrence V. Treglia

The average price of a Manhattan apartment has been hovering around $1.5 million, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t great properties in the sub-$1 million range. This week we’ll highlight three CORE properties that are priced low but valued high, like this two-bedroom co-op in Chelsea Court Tower, a charming pre-war building with a strong list of amenities. It’s tough to find a turnkey two-bedroom in one of Downtown’s best neighborhoods at this price, especially an apartment with impressive city views. Check out the other steals below.

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What’s New is a weekly look at one of CORE’s most striking new listings.

Where: 44 East 67th Street #10-C
Size: 2 bedrooms/2.5 bathrooms/1,450 square feet
Asking: $3,495,000
Listed by: Reba Miller

“Candela” has become shorthand for a particular type of New York City architecture: classic, vintage, sprawling, exclusive. “Modern” is not typically on the Rosario Candela checklist, which is what makes this condominium at the iconic architect’s 44 East 67th Street unique. The tenth-floor apartment has been re-envisioned by Robyn Karp Interiors, adding a contemporary feel (and new oversized windows) to Candela hallmarks like a rotunda gallery that connects the rest of the rooms. Finding a home in move-in condition in a Candela building is a rarity at this price point, especially just off Fifth Avenue. And in the old world of Candela, even two-bedroom apartments have foyers and service entrances. Check out the floor plan below.

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A model apartment with Central Park views at 1280 Fifth Avenue.

SoHo was once “transitional.” So was TriBeCa. And the same goes for West Chelsea (remember the days before the High Line?), Madison Square Park and even the West Village. The point is that Manhattan neighborhoods are always evolving, and well-informed real estate buyers can end up making very wise investments if they put down roots in a neighborhood on the verge of something big. Which is exactly what excited us about getting involved at 1280 Fifth Avenue, and the Financial Times seems to agree. The paper took a trip to upper Fifth Avenue over the weekend and was amazed by the value available at a Robert A.M. Stern-designed building right on Central Park that happens to be a few blocks past the traditional border of the Upper East Side’s ritzy Carnegie Hill neighborhood. The FT wrote:

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“Take the Fifth”
Financial Times (12/9)
The influential international newspaper sees big things happening on upper Fifth Avenue, including CORE’s new development along Central Park, 1280 Fifth Avenue (right), which is seeing lots of interest from foreign buyers. CORE CEO Shaun Osher recently spoke about the building’s wide appeal.

“Inside a Revamped and Relisted $7.46M Tribeca Condo”
Curbed (12/9)
CORE Managing Director Vickey Barron’s penthouse listing at 60 Beach Street, a stunning loft building in TriBeCa, caught the attention of Curbed because of the condo’s extensive high-end renovation. Check out the “after” pictures.

“Broker Beat: Core Group’s Shaun Osher”
Gotham (12/6)
Shaun Osher spoke with Gotham about the CORE’s pioneering use of technology in the New York real estate space. Said Osher, “We live in a world of transparency. Both buyers and sellers should embrace the technology and use it as an asset.”

“A ‘Cozy Treat’ in SoHo”
Wall Street Journal (12/4)
The 600sqft townhouse co-op listed by Ivana Tagliamonte at SoHo’s 47-49 King Street may be on the small side, but it’s getting big attention. Curbed loved its cuteness, and now the historic home has been featured as a Wall Street Journal “House of the Day.” Check out the slideshow for a full tour of the “cozy” charmer.

What goes on atop a Manhattan building is a mystery to all but that building’s inhabitants — and the neighbors in taller buildings looking out their windows, of course. You don’t necessarily expect a 70-year-old pre-war building like 405 West 57th Street to have such a relaxed, fun and communal retreat on its tippy top, but it’s the unexpected that makes peeking into older New York City buildings so interesting. And buyers will have their chance to peek on Sunday, when there’s a scheduled open house for a 1-bedroom apartment in this co-op building. Go ahead and tell us if that rooftop looks as pretty in person.

Celebrity party planner, interior designer and lifestyle guru Colin Cowie sat down this week with CORE Managing Director Emily Beare for an upcoming CORE Talks webisode. The two chatted about Colin’s entertaining “must-haves,” trends to watch and, of course, his tips for throwing a great holiday bash — even in a tight New York City living space. Look for the interview on the CORE Blog next week, and to learn more about Colin’s expanding empire of entertaining, check out his website.

Where: 1 Wall Street Court #205
Size: 3 bedrooms/2 bathrooms/1,495 square feet
Asking: $1,170,000
Listed by: Ivana Tagliamonte and Kevin Mallen

This “nose” unit at the landmarked Cocoa Exchange in the Financial District has a curved living room, allowing light to pour in from the windows. The distinctive architecture (and a very cool address) makes the building one of the standouts in Downtown’s fastest-growing neighborhood, and a 3-bedroom apartment at this price point sweetens the deal.

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Welcome to Ten, CORE founder and CEO Shaun Osher’s rapid-fire interview series with prominent CORE figures. Read on to find out how this week’s subject deals with being on the hot seat.

Tony Sargent joined CORE this year after a long association with a much larger firm. He is an agent who has built a sound reputation in the industry and is known for his Sargent Report. His attention to detail and thorough knowledge of the market is an asset to us as a company and he is also one of the most approachable people in the business.

1) How long have you been selling real estate?
Twelve years.

2) How did you get involved in real estate?
I grew up moving around internationally and so I saw a lot of different styles of living and design in my youth, and I love architecture and working with people. In 1999 I met someone in real estate and we talked about his clients. One morning I started looking online at luxury townhouses and apartments and never stopped. A month later I was sitting on the beach watching the sun rise and I knew I wanted to do this. I am driven by my passion to help others and to be able to create a positive difference in someone’s life by helping them find or sell their home. It makes me incredibly happy.

3) What was your quickest transaction?
A Park Avenue classic seven. I was sharing it with another broker. The co-op board rejected the first buyer on a Thursday. The other broker called me to say the owner’s daughter had called on Friday out of the blue and was threatening to pull the listing. Given my numbers background and the fact that the owner’s daughter was in finance, I called her and used my business skills to give her confidence we were going about things the right way. I shared that we’d had another buyer interested three months prior who had strong qualifications. I reached out to that buyer’s broker on Super Bowl Sunday with a strategy. I let her know that the deal had dissolved, but we were about to raise the price (true). If her buyer was willing to come up $150,000 higher than their last offer, make no contingencies and simultaneously sign a contract by Tuesday morning with the seller, they had a deal. It happened in two days for over $3 million.

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Last week it was revealed that CORE has taken over the sales and marketing at 1280 Fifth Avenue, the new Robert A.M. Stern-designed condo tower above the Museum for African Art on Central Park. The building, with direct park views, a wide variety of layouts and amenities including parking, 24-hour concierge service and a rooftop swimming pool, offers an impressive list of qualities to buyers currently searching the Manhattan new-development market for a unique place to call home. We asked CORE founder and CEO Shaun Osher — who will be overseeing the sales effort — to answer a few questions about the project:

What will CORE bring to 1280 Fifth Avenue to highlight the building’s special features?
1280 Fifth is one of the best new projects to come to market over the past 5 years. It has all of the attributes a buyer could want in a new development property. One of the hottest neighborhoods. A 5th Avenue address. The best views of Central Park. Every amenity one could want. A developer who has a stellar reputation. One of the most renowned residential architects of our generation. A price point that is not available anywhere else on 5th Avenue and the Park. We will educate buyers on these qualities.

What would buyers be surprised to find out about the development?
Really, it’s the proximity to everything. A 5th Avenue address has more to offer than just Central Park at your doorstep, though that’s obviously an incredible benefit. It’s such a convenient location.

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“On the Market in New York City”
New York Times (12/4)
This past weekend’s On the Market slideshow included a visit to a two-bedroom CORE listing at 247 West 46th Street (above), a stunning glass tower named the Platinum. Here’s what the Times said about the apartments “pros:” Floor-to-ceiling windows offer stunning southern and western views of the city and the Hudson. Designer finishes and high-end appliances are virtually brand-new.

“2012 residential market predictions: As clear as eggnog”
The Real Deal (12/1)
The real estate magazine asked a number of top real estate minds to review the state of the market and make some predictions for where the market is headed in the new year. What’s holding back the current market? According to CORE Senior Vice President Doug Bowen, a lack of new product and a tricky mortgage landscape.

“Core takes over for BHS at 1280 Fifth”
The Real Deal (11/28)
The Real Deal’s website broke the news of CORE taking over the sales and marketing of 1280 Fifth Avenue, a new 116-unit tower designed by Robert A.M. Stern that faces Central Park. Word quickly spread to other sites, like Citybiz and Harlem Condo Life.