Author Archives: Doug Heddings

More Training Available For Manhattan Real Estate Brokers

Posted on June 28, 2007 by Doug Heddings

Thanks to The Real Deal for the reminder that a while back I received an email from REBNY about a new professional designation available to "seasoned" New York real estate brokers. Here’s the text verbatim from REBNY’s website: New York … Continue reading →

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How National Housing Market Stats Effect Manhattan Buyer Psychology

Posted on June 27, 2007 by Doug Heddings

Maya Roney’s piece entitled Americans Afraid to Buy Homes that she wrote for BusinessWeek Online is a prime example of why there is NO "National Housing Market" but also why those "national housing stats" are having a psychological effect on some Manhattan … Continue reading →

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iPhone Hype! You Believe It?

Posted on June 26, 2007 by Doug Heddings

There is no doubt that the Manhattan real estate industry will be flooded with iPhones over the coming weeks (release date June 29) with most in my profession being suckers for new technology.  The Consumerist even provides some clever and not … Continue reading →

Posted in A Broker's Job, Fun | 1 Comment

Manhattan Real Estate Industry Reacts to Fair Housing Laws

Posted on June 25, 2007 by Doug Heddings

The buzz across the Manhattan real estate market is Vivian S. Toy’s article in The New York Times Questions Your Broker Can’t Answer, which addresses Fair Housing Laws and the very recent push by brokerages to make sure that their … Continue reading →

Posted in A Broker's Job, Dirty Real Estate Tricks, Market Insight, Tips & Advice | 6 Comments

Co-ops Closer to Disclosing “Why?”

Posted on June 22, 2007 by Doug Heddings

It’s no secret that I’m a supporter of transparency in real estate…every aspect of it.  Which is precisely why I believe that something needs to be done about the secret society that is the Manhattan co-operative.  Check out these previous … Continue reading →

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Residential Real Estate Never Ceases to Irritate

Posted on June 21, 2007 by Doug Heddings

The next time you get very excited about the presentation of a property on a web site I would recommend calling the listing agent and asking one very simple question: Was the property photographed with a wide-angle or fish-eye lens? … Continue reading →

Posted in A Broker's Job, Dirty Real Estate Tricks, Market Insight | 8 Comments

The United States of Other Country’s GDPs

Posted on June 21, 2007 by Doug Heddings

This is the second time I’ve stumbled upon this map (via Kottke and Boing Boing) in the past couple of weeks and think it’s interesting enough to share: Check out the full analysis at Strange Maps.

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Homebuyers Revisiting Hybrid Mortgage Products

Posted on June 20, 2007 by Doug Heddings

From The Wall Street Journal Online comes a report of shifting investor strategies as long term bond rates rise.  The recent bond market rout is prompting some fixed-income investors and mortgage shoppers to rethink their strategies. Some investors have begun … Continue reading →

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Manhattan Real Estate Inventory Scarce: Sell Now?

Posted on June 19, 2007 by Doug Heddings

Check out the latest inventory numbers from Jonathan Miller’s Matrix which shows the number of available co-ops, condos and townhouses dropping 26.1% from last year to its lowest level since August 2005.  So what does this mean?  Frustrated buyers!  There … Continue reading →

Posted in Market Insight, Tips & Advice | 2 Comments

Hazy, Hot and Humid?…Buy a Condo with a Pool

Posted on June 18, 2007 by Doug Heddings

What better to blog about on a hot and sticky Manhattan day than the increase in the number of condominium projects with swimming pools (via The New York Sun).  As I walked to the office this morning sipping my hot … Continue reading →

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