Real estate brokers attend conferences all over the country learning how to improve their marketing efforts, reach buyers and sellers better and how to sell more effectively. Sue Adler of Keller Williams, New Jersey decided that something was missing from all of these conferences: the voice of the buyer and the seller. Along with several other brokers, she founded Hear It Direct, a series of full-day real estate consumer conferences held in different markets throughout the country with the aim to put brokers in a room with panels of consumers.

I was honored to be a part of a panel at Hear It Direct’s recent east coast seminar on March 13, 2013. With my previous experience as a luxury real estate speaker and panelist both nationally and internationally, I was excited to share my perspective as part of a Gen-Y panel moderated by Inman News founder, Brad Inman. The millennials, who are having their first experiences in the real estate market, have a lot to say and some valuable opinions on how the real estate industry is evolving. While many recognize that technology is quickly changing the real estate industry, it is rare for realtors to hear its effects the consumer directly from Generation Y, who will be our client demographic over the next forty years.

The top two quotes from the Gen-Y Panelists were:

• “I’m used to technology and texting so I like to do my own searches. I don’t need my broker to filter my search or be the first to find the home, but to work with me and to bring their negotiation and interpersonal skills to the table in order for me to close on the house I want. A broker’s knowledge and ability to communicate in person is better than mine.
• “I am not influenced by or even read Zillow Reviews or other ‘Testimonials’ on an agent’s page because, after all, who would post a bad review about themselves on their own website.”

As a broker, I have been committed to improving real estate brokers’ approach to technology, and have traveled globally to real estate conferences to speak with 3,000 agents and mortgage brokers about luxury real estate marketing, how to stay ahead of the curve on social media in luxury real estate and the best way to react to a market setback. To me, this business has always been about the buyer and seller, not the broker, which is why I was proud to support Hear It Direct.
- Tony Sargent

Five years ago, I told a reporter from The New York Times that Manhattan was essentially becoming one luxury neighborhood and we would start to see properties in “newer” residential areas meet the market in more established areas. With all of the residential development over the past ten years, this is now a reality, and, to the surprise of a few people, last month showed that the average price of a home was more expensive downtown than it was uptown.

Above: The Atalanta Building (one of the first TriBeCa conversions) was originally a refrigeration building with no windows.

Having sold downtown for almost 2 decades, I’ve pioneered sales and marketing in a number of these newer downtown areas. And it’s because of the pioneering developers that these neighborhoods have evolved into some of the most desirable residential neighborhoods in the City. Some of the more notable pioneers should be recognized for their vision, and for blazing a trail that benefited the adopters.

What these “downtown” developers created was a product to satisfy the demand of their generation of buyers. Conversions in loft buildings with great volumes of space that the uptown buildings couldn’t satisfy.  Homes that had the amenities, services, and finishes that uptown buyers expected, but in architecturally different and historically significant buildings. New residential neighborhoods like West Chelsea, SoHo, TriBeCa, and the Bowery have now become expensive zip codes and  it’s no surprise that we are currently selling a new development in Chelsea at higher prices than almost every new development in Manhattan.

-Shaun Osher is the CEO and Founder of CORE.

In 2009, there were more than 10,000 Manhattan apartments for sale. This year, there aren’t even half that many. On Tuesday, April 2nd, Jarrod Guy Randolph was featured on a CNN Money segment about the creative measures brokers must take in Manhattan’s current low inventory market. In the segment, “NYC Brokers Get Creative to Score Listings,” Jarrod was interviewed by CNN reporter, Zain Asher. Strategies Jarrod has employed include schmoozing with doormen who know “everything that’s going on in their building” to sending strategically targeted letters. Jarrod has been able to remain successful even in one of the worst markets. His creativity even allowed him to score a gorgeous $1.975M listing at 456 West 19th Street. Watch Jarrod’s interview on CNN Money below.

One Museum Mile made New York City real estate history yesterday with the news that one of its residences sold for the highest price per square foot in the neighborhood of Upper Carnegie Hill. At $3.6 million – a price which broke over $2,000 per square foot – residence 11B features a wrap-around terrace with sweeping views of Central Park. Outlets including Curbed, The Real Deal, and Buzz Buzz Home featured this neighborhood record and referenced One Museum Mile’s recent sales milestone of over 50% sold and in contract.

Downtown Nudges Out Uptown as Priciest Destination for Luxury Buyers

The Real Deal

For the first time in a decade, the asking prices for luxury Downtown apartments have outpaced those in Midtown and Uptown. Walker Tower is highlighted as one of Chelsea’s most desirable developments.

Wallabout Refloats Next to the Navy Yard

The Wall Street Journal

The Wallabout neighborhood in Brooklyn is featured in last week’s Wall Street Journal. Doug Bowen gives insight into the revival of this area, spurred by bolstered activity in the nearby Navy yard, thriving businesses, and the development of a new mixed-use complex.

Go for Brooke

New York Post

Sofia Vergara visited Jeff Smith’s 301 East 52^nd Street penthouse listing.

Taken from the penthouse at 39 Fifth Avenue, this week’s photo of the week was shot by CORE’s Tony Sargent, who perfectly captured the mechanics and architecture of old New York. If you’re walking around Manhattan, especially downtown, it’s hard to miss dozens of rooftop water towers, even when they’re concealed. In addition to the water tower’s charm, we are drawn to the beautiful architectural details of this Emery Roth-designed building that is covered in interesting patterns and designs that are typical of Spanish Renaissance-style architecture.

To many New Yorkers, Roosevelt Island isn’t necessarily a weekend destination. However, that may change this spring after the Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park has racked up quite a few awards for its overall design and beauty. Read the rest of this entry »

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.

CORE has set the standard for New York City real estate brokerage websites. Luna Vega has been working with CORE for the past two years and is responsible for the look and feel of our webpage. She started her own business in 2006 and has been a digital strategist for the past seven years with a range of clients including Unilever, Chase, Nissan, Nokia and Verizon Wireless. Here are Luna’s answers to Ten questions:

1) How long have you been a digital marketing strategist? 

My “digital birth”, as I like to call it, was in 2003 when I attended ITP, a NYU graduate program and immersed myself in the digital realm. I fell in love with the tech industry, so I decided to follow my passion and start my own business in 2006.

2) How did you get into the business?

While working at RGA, a digital advertising agency, I witnessed first hand the newly-found power of bloggers. The roles were shifting. Influential blogs like RocketBoom, Cool Hunting, etc. had more committed audiences than bigger publishers. Audiences were also becoming increasingly segmented, creating more opportunities for marketers to target desired demographics. I was exhilarated by all these novel opportunities and wanted to transfer this knowledge to small businesses. My goal was to empower and grow their business organically, strictly using the web.

Read the rest of this entry »

Recently awarded with the Pritzker Prize, one of architecture’s most prestigious and coveted honors, Japanese architect Toyo Ito’s portfolio of work is a true architectural achievement. At 71-years-old, Ito is known by many within the architectural community for creating conceptual architecture, which in many ways has shaped the discipline of modern architecture today.

Ito’s rich portfolio of structures includes several public spaces, theaters, libraries, and offices throughout Asia and Europe. Ito had the privilege of designing the 2009 World Games stadium which was built by using 100% reusable materials in addition to 8,844 solar panels on its roof. Click below for an image of the stadium.

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Last week, CNN showcased Michael Graves’ $17.5 million listing at 105 Chestnut Ridge Road in its “Unique Homes” feature.  The state of the art French manor house with a Corinthian stone exterior is located in one of Saddle River’s most prime locations and offers ultimate luxury and sophistication.  At 25,000-square feet, this sprawling home features radiant heated floors, custom moldings, an elevator to each floor, a universal Crestron home entertainment system and USTA grade tennis court, just to name a few of the homes’ amenities.  This home’s most impressive feature, however, has to be the indoor swimming pool, located in the middle of the living room, accommodating up to 40 people.  Watch the video below to get a look at this stunning new property.