Category: News + Insight
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How to Buy Real Estate Without a Bank or Big Down Payment
The biggest reason most people never buy their first investment property is not the market. It is the money. In Episode 403 of The Build Up podcast, we sat down with Pace Morby, widely known as the creative finance guy and founder of the SubTo community, to break down how investors are buying real estate…
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What’s the Best Time to Buy a Home in NYC?
Is There Really a “Best” Time to Buy a Home in NYC? Buyers often ask whether there’s a “best” time to enter the New York City real estate market. The short answer is yes, but it depends on what you’re optimizing for. Timing in NYC isn’t one-size-fits-all. Each season brings different advantages, and understanding those…
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The Line: Mortgage Rates Rise Again
No major economic news came out this week, so today’s column consists of a bunch of quick hits on mortgage rates, unemployment claims, job security, and two special wishes. Mortgage Rates Rise Again The average 30-year conforming mortgage rate rose to 6.38% this week, up from 6.22% the previous week. One year ago, mortgage rates were averaging 6.65%. Since the war…
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The Rise of “Luxury” Buildings—and Why Quality Isn’t Always Guaranteed
Not All “Luxury” Buildings Are Created Equal in NYC New construction has become synonymous with “luxury” in New York City, but that label doesn’t always tell the full story. In recent years, a growing number of newly built properties, particularly on the rental side, have faced issues ranging from maintenance concerns to construction quality. While…
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The Line: The Fed Leaves Rates Alone
Today, we have the latest from the Federal Reserve. The Fed Leaves Rates Alone As expected, the Fed made no changes to interest rates this week. While that doesn’t seem that exciting, they did release their latest summary of economic projections, which gives us some insight into when they may act again. Here’s a summary of their economic forecast: To sum up, the Fed expects decent…
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A Record Year, a High-Risk Pregnancy, and a Landmark Deal at 80 Clarkson
Luxury agent Marina Bernshtein achieved her best year ever—while navigating a high-risk pregnancy. Throughout the year, Bernshtein continued to manage complex, high-value transactions and demanding client relationships even when she faced thrice weekly testing for her and her unborn twin girls. Bernshtein discovered she was pregnant with twins at the age of 40, which came…
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Winter in Review: Sellers Waited for Spring, But Buyers Stayed in the Market
If you’ve been following my weekly and monthly updates over the past few months, you probably noticed a recurring theme: the weather. This winter brought one of the coldest and snowiest stretches New York has seen in years. Snowstorms and freezing temperatures periodically slowed showings and delayed listings from coming to market. At the same time,…
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How to Invest Passively in Real Estate Without Losing Your Shirt
Most people assume real estate investing means buying a property and managing it yourself. But there is another way to build wealth through real estate without ever being a landlord. In Episode 402 of The Build Up podcast, we sat down with Brian Burke, President and CEO of Praxis Capital and author of The Hands-Off…
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Dear Buyers, Days On Market Are Facts!
In my newest Inman opinion piece, I argue that days on market and price changes are not optional narratives — they are facts! Buyers rely on these signals to make informed decisions, and the broader market depends on transparency to operate fairly and efficiently. Hiding metrics or pretending a property is somehow “not really on…
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The Line: Consumer Prices Up 2.4% from a Year Ago
While today is Friday the 13th, we promise not to scare you in this edition of The Line. Consumer Prices Up 2.4% From a Year Ago The consumer price index rose 0.3% in February and was 2.4% higher than a year ago. Both these figures matched expectations, so this report is good news. Core CPI, which excludes food and…