The numbers of the September Real Time Report (click here to download the PDF) are indicative of what I’ve been predicting for the last year. Less apartments are available for sale, prices are continuing to rise, and the overall volume of deals is increasing. Our “for sale” market is shrinking, and it’s becoming more and more difficult to find a home in Manhattan. The limited pipeline of new development inventory may also only satisfy a small part of the really high-end market, because most developers seem to be jumping on that wagon.

I expect that when we finally see the deals that were put into contract over the past few months close, we’ll see that there was less negotiation from the asking price. In fact, we are now starting to see deals accepted at above asking prices.

While there is still no completely accurate data or report that provides contract signed prices for a specific time period of 30 days, I estimate that we are at least ten percent higher (in pricing) than where we were a year ago.

This should be the strongest October in the past 5 years.

Shaun Osher is the Founder and CEO of CORE.

A sampling of last week’s press coverage of CORE and CORE properties.

“Slim supply gives condo prices new pop”
Crain’s
Record rents, low interest rates and wealthy buyers looking to invest their fortunes are all helping to pump up the condominium sales market, Crain’s reports. One of the projects benefiting from the lack of new inventory is CORE’s Walker Tower development (above). “Walker Tower is shattering record prices for downtown,” CORE CEO Shaun Osher tells Crain’s. For more on Osher’s take on the current real estate market, read his comments on the new housing shortage.

“Trophies On Display: In Gaga Global New York, the Loudest Listings Bag the Billionaires”
New York Observer
In the Observer’s look at the current culture within Manhattan’s luxury real estate world (”If you’ve got it, flaunt it. That’s the new rule of thumb in luxury real estate, anyway.”), CORE Managing Director Emily Beare commented on the important roles advertising and publicity play in marketing expensive properties.

“What’s new”
New York Post
The Post’s big fall real estate preview featured CORE’s upcoming 93 Worth Street project on its cover. The former garment factory in TriBeCa, built in 1924, will launch sales later this fall with prices from $1,250 to $2,000 a square foot. Click here for more on the project.

As expected, CORE’s latest Real Time Report (click here to download the PDF), which includes the most current contract data from StreetEasy, showed us that the Manhattan real estate market is strong across the board. Our monthly report found that, compared to last year, overall contract volume rose by over 26%, while inventory has continued to shrink — an overall decrease of 11% since last year. And this week Crain’s reports that this high demand and lack of supply is sending condominium prices soaring, with great success for sellers. In fact, our Walker Tower project is highlighted as one new development that is capitalizing on this “pricing pop.”

So where are we? It’s getting harder to find a good apartment at a reasonable price. (Although doesn’t that always seem to be the case if you’re a buyer?) With inventory levels continuing to shrink, I only see this becoming more difficult, and the housing shortage that I foresaw and predicted three years ago seems to have become a reality.

The effects of this? Higher prices, more bidding wars, less time on the market, and more situations where sellers are remorseful for selling and buyers are regretful over missed opportunities.

Shaun Osher is the founder and CEO of CORE.

As the upper end of Manhattan’s real estate market continues to make gains, CORE is thrilled to announce plans for a new Upper East Side retail location at 673 Madison Avenue, at the corner of 61st Street. Located on the second and third floors of a historic brownstone on one of New York City’s premier commercial avenues, CORE’s Upper East Side office is slated for a spring 2013 opening, following a thorough gut renovation of the 3,500-square-foot space that will begin this fall. The uptown office will be the company’s third, following its original Chelsea retail location at 127 7th Avenue and its Flatiron District office at 104 5th Avenue, which opened last year.

We spoke with CORE co-founder and CEO Shaun Osher about this exciting news, and below you’ll find his remarks on the new office and how it fits his vision for CORE. For more on the announcement, read The Real Deal’s coverage today.

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The beauty of New York City is that it’s always evolving, with modern new towers springing up next to iconic skyscrapers. The Big Apple’s famed skyline is always in flux, and perhaps nothing illustrates that point better than our Photo of the Week, which was taken (and tweeted) by CORE CEO Shaun Osher — who wisely pointed out that both buildings, the landmark Madison Avenue Clocktower and the glassy One Madison Park, happen to be vacant at the moment. Empty or not (there are big plans to change the fortunes of both in the near future), they make for a fascinating pair of neighbors.

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 is a sprawling operation, and it takes solid leadership behind the scenes to make sure all of the moving parts are in their right places and performing the right tasks. Ashley Sternbach, CORE’s Director of Operations, is an expert at streamlining the many sides of our business and keeping things running efficiently, and her 5 years at our company have made her an integral part of our success.

1) What did you do before joining CORE?
I practically joined CORE right after I graduated from Boston University’s School of Hospitality. I knew I wanted to work in real estate after graduating and luckily, it happened.

2) Why did you join CORE?
I liked the boutique feel and felt that working at a start-up would be an interesting challenge.

3) What has it been like to see the company grow and evolve?
When i joined CORE, there were only 10 agents, and the company was really trying to solidify its place in the luxury real estate market. It has been amazing to personally and professionally grow with the company. I like looking back and seeing how far we have come.

4) As a Director of Operations, you’re typically behind the scenes, so explain to people how your role works, and why it’s so vital to the business.
The work that I do as Director of Operations is very versatile. The unique thing about operations is that it is all about performing multiple roles at the same time, while other jobs tend to focus on a specific, narrower scope. I am often wearing multiple hats, whether it is setting up a new sales center for a new development project or interviewing potential new employees to bring on board, no two days have ever been the same — and that is one of the best parts of my job!

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A sampling of last week’s press coverage of CORE and CORE properties.

“The Rewards of Patience”
New York Times
CORE CEO Shaun Osher and CORE’s Walker Tower development (above) are featured prominently in this New York Times column on high-end real estate projects that waited out the worst of the economic downturn and now stand to perform well in the current thriving luxury property market. The Times‘ Alexei Barrionuevo writes, “[D]omestic buyers are also circling, and are especially eager to buy downtown, developers say. And as downtown projects go, nothing seems as primed to capitalize as quickly on the favorable market conditions (for the industry) than Walker Tower, the Chelsea building originally designed by the architect Ralph Walker that is now being converted into 50 condominiums.”

“Turning Double Play Into Big Single”
Wall Street Journal
Steel magnate Leroy Schecter is combining his two 35th-floor apartments at 15 Central Park West — one of the most successful and famous residential buildings in New York City — and has listed the massive spread for $95 million with CORE Managing Director Emily Beare. It is one of Manhattan’s most expensive listings.

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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.

On the eve of her third anniversary at CORE, Elizabeth Kee has firmly established herself as a rising star in the industry, one who has shown great skill in managing and executing deals at all levels, including both residential and commercial property. And it’s no secret why she’s been so successful: real estate is in her blood. Read on for Elizabeth’s thoughts about the industry, and for more on Elizabeth’s background, click here.

1) How did you get into the business?
Since I was a small child, I have been obsessed with real estate. My parents were in the side-business of flipping houses. Instead of reading “the funnies” on Sunday morning, I preferred to read the Real Estate section.

2) Who is your mentor?
My mother has always been my mentor. She is a successful entrepreneur who I learned my professionalism, work ethic and business skills from. She is an amazing businesswoman and a fantastic mother – a very tough balance to maintain.

3) You’ve become very successful in a short time. What do you attribute this success to?
Real estate is my passion. When your career and your hobby are the same, it is nearly impossible not to be successful.

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A sampling of last week’s press coverage of CORE and CORE properties.

“Living Large: $7 Million Manhattan Penthouse In Full-Service Boutique Building”
CBS
CBS 2’s Emily Smith goes inside the stunning 3,000-square-foot Chelsea penthouse in the Emory condominium (watch the video above), designed by star designer and party planner Colin Cowie. The duplex apartment, with custom hidden storage compartments, a wet bar and a private outdoor rooftop entertaining space, is listed by Emily Beare.

“Big Deal: Shooting for the Moon”
New York Times
CORE CEO Shaun Osher commented extensively on the next wave of trophy properties to hit the market in Manhattan, saying, “What makes a trophy property is the fact that it really is an intangible, priceless object, like a piece of art. This part of the market is not a rational decision, it is an emotional one.” CORE’s brand new Walker Tower project, and its upcoming $50 million penthouse, is singled out as a new trophy residence for well-heeled buyers. The story was also covered by The Real Deal.

“Tapping the Last Central Park Addresses”
The Epoch Times
A story about development along the north side of Central Park highlights One Museum Mile as the latest luxury development to take advantage of the burgeoning neighborhood.

“Inside New Chelsea Luxury Conversion Walker Tower”
Curbed
An extensive photo gallery inside the brand new, fully furnished model residence at Walker Tower.

“Open House”
NBC/LXTV
Michael Graves’ 72 Reade Street condominium listing in TriBeCa was featured as the intro property on LXTV’s “Open House.”

A sampling of last week’s press coverage of CORE and CORE properties.

“Buyers in a hurry to buy at One Murray”
Real Estate Weekly
CORE’s new Long Island City condo development, One Murray Park (right), is off to a quick start, with 40% of the building’s 45 units already in contract. “Price ranges are like 2006, 2007 levels,” says CORE’s Doron Zwickel, who is marketing the building. “Some prices are even higher.”

“Living small in New York City”
CNN
Watch Shaun Osher comment on Mayor Bloomberg’s plan to build 300-square-foot “micro-apartments” in Manhattan on CNN, and read Osher’s additional thoughts on the topic in his CORE Blog post last week. CORE’s Jarrod Guy Randolph also commented on the Bloomberg plan in the New York Daily News.

“Love letters”
New York Post
A feature story on surging prices and interest in the Alphabet City portion of the East Village includes some analysis of the neighborhood’s real estate market by Elizabeth Kee. “Never in our wildest dreams did we ever imagine [prices would be this high], but it’s a simple supply and demand curve,” says Kee.