WHAT YOU MISSED
REBNY Presents Residential The 23rd Annual Deal Of The Year Awards
Overlooking a gorgeous view of the Hudson River at night, New York City’s leading residential brokers celebrated a challenging year of skillfully transacted deals while also raising money for charity at The Real Estate Board of New York’s 23rd Annual Residential Deal of the Year Awards and Charity Gala. The event was ”Live from the Waterfront” and held on Tuesday, October 18 at Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers.
The event was well attended and the crowds enjoyed an evening of accolades, chatter and dancing. The much anticipated deals of the year were announced and the winners are…
Sharon Baum of The Corcoran Group took home The Henry Forster Award for lifetime achievement. The Henry Forster Award goes to an individual who not only has a long-standing reputation for their expertise in residential real estate and is a top-producing agent, but also displayed outstanding ethical conduct in the profession and contributed to cultural, charitable and community organizations outside and within the industry.
Baum’s extraordinary body of work, with more than a billion dollars in sales, has helped shape the very landscape of the residential real estate market. She has brought an analytical approach to selling homes that changed the way clients are serviced and a great champion of the co-broking system, which is a lifeline to the business today.
Baum was a recipient of Girls Inc.’s high-profile, “She Knows Where She’s Going” Award. She has also committed herself to a number of other local charities and organizations including Citymeals-on-Wheels, Puppies Behind Bars, and is a member of the Madison Square Boys and Girls Club Women’s Board.
The Rookie Salesperson of the Year Award was given to Sarah Williams of Halstead Property, LLC for her impressive entry into New York City’s residential real estate sales market. Williams has already made her mark as a top producer in sales and marketing and dedicates much of her time to being an active REBNY member. In dealing with customers, she is both creative and resourceful and goes above and beyond the call of her broker duties. Her attention to detail has paid off and she has now secured some sizable exclusives.
Other winners included Norman Horowitz of Halstead Property, LLC, who won the first prize Residential Deal of the Year Award in the residential sales category. Burt Savitsky, Diane Abrams and Felise Gross of Brown Harris Stevens Residential Sales took second prize along with Keren Coplan-Ringler of Warburg Realty Partnership, Ltd. Ann Bialek and Madalyn Robbins of Halstead Property LLC were the third prize winners along with Dell Rubin of Prudential Douglas Elliman.
For rentals, the first prize Residential Deal of the Year Award was presented to Lydia Sussek of The Corcoran Group along with David Spencer of Prudential Douglas Elliman.
“The Residential Deal of the Year Awards is one of the event highlights of the year in real estate,” said Steven Spinola, REBNY President. “It is such a special evening because we get the opportunity to honor those individuals who have contributed to not only the real estate community but also to the community at large. I congratulate all of this year’s winners, and thank everyone for attending and helping raise money for such an important cause, REBNY’s Residential Member in Need Fund.”
The REBNY Residential Member in Need Fund gives financial grants to REBNY members facing hardship because of a physical illness or a family crisis.
Over the last 23 years, the event has raised more than $2 million for various charities.
Award winners are chosen anonymously through a judging committee. Only members of firms who have not submitted deal entries are allowed to judge.
NYcrew Celebrates Ten Years of Success & Style
NYcrew Network, the New York chapter of the Commercial Real Estate Women Network (CREW), is celebrating its 10th anniversary and the start of the holiday season at the elegant the Columbus Townhouse, 8 East 69th Street, on Tuesday, November 29th, from 6:30 p.m. The evening will begin with cocktails, followed by a dinner and awards ceremony at 8 p.m.
Co-chairing the celebration are Faith Hope Consolo, Chairman of Prudential Douglas Elliman's Retail Group and NYcrew 2011 board member/director of communications, and Christine Chipurnoi, senior vice president of Wells Fargo Insurance Services of New York, and NYcrew 2011 board member/secretary. Also serving on the 10th Anniversary planning committee are Leila F. Larjlani, vice president of investments for UBS Financial Services, Kennetha A. Pettus, executive director of Unified New Cassel Community Revitalization Corp., and several of NYcrew's five 10-year members.
Points out Karen Dome, 2011-12 NYcrew President and Chairman of the Board, and a senior associate of Marcus & Millichap, NYcrew is the organization of choice for women of influence in commercial real estate in New York. And now that we've reached this seminal milestone as a preeminent resource and referral network for women and men in the industry, we have a lot to celebrate!"
Founded in late 2001, NYcrew has helped women achieve status in commercial real estate through power, influence and opportunity. It offers members leadership development, networking, community outreach and relationship-building opportunities, and sponsors several educational seminars and panels, such as the Industry Spotlight and Leading Ladies series.
Among 2011's highlights was the organization's debut at the International Council of Shopping Centers' annual RECon convention in Las Vegas and joint golf outing with the Association of Real Estate Women. Various programs during the year included discussions with leading economist Dennis Yeskey, and such informative programs as "The Women of the NY Real Estate Families," with Helena Durst, Andrea Olshan and Lisa Silverstein, and "Women Who Shaped New York," featuring R. Kristian Roebling, Claire Weisz, Andrea Woodner and S. Courtney Clark. Another group of discussions offered insight from "Leading Ladies" Marilyn Kane of Irdium, Pat Goldstein of Emigrant Savings Bank, and Barbara E. Champoux of Crowell Moring LLP.
The most recent Industry Spotlight, focusing on the synergies between retail and hospitality, featured Faith Hope Consolo, Riyaz Akhtar of Hampshire Hotels & Resorts, Andrew Jackson of the Hudson Companies, and Amelia Lim of Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels, with Barbara E. Champoux moderating. Throughout the year, the organization also sponsored members-only networking events that included makeovers at Chanel and champagne rooftop celebrations. Upcoming seminars are being planned with such prominent guest speakers as Annemarie DiCola, a director on the Trepp Executive Board and the first woman President of the Commercial Mortgage Securities Association (now known as the Commercial Real Estate Financial Council).
"We've had an exceptional year in 2011 and are planning an extraordinary 2012 for our members," Ms. Dome continues. "As the oldest New York chapter of CREW, NYcrew provides unlimited opportunities through its connection to CREW's national organization. For this very special anniversary, we have also invited our sister chapter AREW (Association of Real Estate Women) and CREW chapters from Connecticut and New Jersey to join us."
Tickets for the 10th Anniversary are $85 for NYcrew members, $110 for CREW members and $125 for non-members. Tickets and additional details regarding sponsorship opportunities and this year's award recipients will be available shortly at NYcrew Network's web site, http://nycrew.org/node/89 or www.nycrew.org.
Steady NYC Residential Second Quarter Progress According to Survey
A broker survey conducted by the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) for the second quarter of 2011 found that 77 percent believe next quarter’s values and sales will be better than or the same as this quarter. Also, 10 percent more brokers reported closing sales at or above asking price compared to what brokers reported in the second quarter of 2010.
The survey found that over three-quarters (77 percent) of respondents reported closing rental transactions at or above asking rent this quarter, up 16 percent from last quarter. Additionally, 13 percent more brokers reported closing rental transactions and four percent more reported closing sales compared to last quarter.
“Our latest survey shows that residential brokers see slow but steady progress in the New York City residential sales market,” said REBNY President Steven Spinola. “The report demonstrates modest improvement in comparison to the first quarter of 2011, which is essential to continuing the market’s growth and keeping the industry optimistic through the second half of the year.”
According to the survey, 59 percent of brokers reported using neighborhood names (i.e. DUMBO, SoHo) when marketing their properties, and 40 percent reported finding clients more responsive to properties using neighborhood names than to those not including them. The survey inquired about neighborhood names as a result of pending legislation that could impact the use of neighborhood names in real estate listings.
REBNY publishes reports providing indicators of market prices for both the residential and commercial sectors. Please visit us online at www.REBNY.com.REBNY and NY1 News Launch NY1RESIDENTIAL.COM
After nearly four years as New York City’s most trusted real estate listings Web site with thousands of listings from New York’s finest brokers, ResidentialNYC.com is now NY1Residential.com.
The new site, with listings updated every hour, is a joint venture between The Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY), the city’s leading real estate trade association, and NY1 News, the city’s most watched local 24-hour news channel. NY1Residential.com now combines the most accurate home listings in more than 10,000 properties on the site formerly known as ResidentialNYC.com with NY1’s popular real estate reports.
“NY1Residential.com makes finding a New York City home effortless,” said Steven Spinola, president of the REBNY, which owns ResidentialNYC.com. “With this site, the process is easier and more transparent.” NY1Residential.com enables visitors to quickly view exclusive home listings without wading through duplicate postings and outdated information often found on other real estate listing sites. The website is updated with several enhancements making the process even easier for potential homeowners. New for NY1Residential.com are the “walk scores” on a property’s detail page. Users can check the scores to see check the walking distance to local amenities.
Also new for NY1Residential.com is the “New to Market” scroller, which allows visitors to quickly view the newest listings added without having to search through every listing. The new Web site will continue to offer home seekers the most updated information about available sales and rentals in New York City with no “bait and switch” tactics, no pop-up advertisements, no for-sale-by-owner listings, and no open listings.
Listings are updated hourly to ensure accuracy and all listings link directly to the exclusive broker who is selling or renting the property. Prospective homeowners can select properties to “watch” and set up email alerts to notify them of price changes. In addition to these features, NY1Residential.com offers visitors NY1.com’s dedicated real estate coverage which includes feature stories about current market trends. The weekly real estate report runs several times throughout the week.REBNY Presents 2010 Retail Deal of the Year Awards
The retail transactions that brought Filene’s Basement and Syms to Fifth Avenue at 44th Street and Fairway to East 86th Street took home the coveted top honors as the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) presented its 2010 Retail Deal of the Year Awards on Tuesday night at the 101 Club. The annual prizes recognize the City’s most creative and significant retail deals.
“This is one of REBNY’s most competitive contests because of New York City’s stature as a world class retail destination” said Steven Spinola, REBNY President. “This year’s Retail Deal of the Year winners had to overcome a number of obstacles to bring these transactions to completion. The awards are presented to those who are able to use their expertise, skill and creativity to meet retailers’ needs and ensure their continued growth and expansion in our city. We commend this year’s winners and nominees.”
Robin Abrams and Howard Dolch of The Lansco Corporation won the Most Creative Retail Deal of the Year for “Two great stores under one roof: Filene’s Basement & Syms Clothing” at 530 Fifth Avenue. They faced numerous challenges in finding a location for the retailer: a flagship location that would drive sales; a location with good 24/7 loading/delivery areas; a layout that would accommodate all the store’s departments; and a space that would meet Syms/Filene’s build out requirements and budget. Abrams and Dolch ultimately convinced Syms/Filene’s to be part of the growing specialty apparel corridor developing on Fifth Avenue below 48th Street. They focused on 530 Fifth Avenue because it met all of the requirements. Despite a potential deal breaker just prior to closing, the brokers were able to restructure the deal, and complete the transaction successfully.
Robert K. Futterman, Gary Alterman and Ariel Schuster of Robert K. Futterman & Associates won for the award for the Deal that Most Benefits Manhattan for “Meeting the demands of an underserved market; The Fairway ‘Like No Other Market’ lease” at 240 East 86th Street. The deal has not only met consumer demand but has also revitalized the block, which at one time was a less sought-after location along the 86th Street retail corridor. The Fairway ‘Like No Other Market,’ which opens later this year, takes the former location of Barnes & Noble and Circuit City, and is the first new grocery store to come to the area in 30 years. Despite the desire for a retailer like Fairway, over the two-year deal process, RKF faced many challenges including marketing a space with no existing plans, the uncertain impact of construction from the Second Avenue Subway, and zoning restrictions. The four-level Fairway will be the only market of its kind in the heart of the Upper East Side. The value of area retail and residential properties has increased and the surrounding blocks have been rejuvenated, all as a result of RKF bringing the retailer to this space.
Judges for this year’s submissions were: Mark Finkelstein, Retail Strategies; Benjamin Fox, Massey Knakal Realty Services; Bruce Leffler, Goldfarb & Fleece; Lester Schwalb, Ogden CAP Properties; and Forrest Williams of Foot Locker.
The Real Estate Board of New York is the city’s leading real estate trade association with more than 12,000 members. For more information visit www.REBNY.com.
PWC Healthcare Forum
