The Financial District is Still a Boom Town

The FiDi, better known as the Financial District, has been undergoing a transformation ever since the September 11 Terrorist attacks. Once considered only a place to work, the neighborhood is now known as a place to work, live and play.

Since 2001, the area has seen a significant increase in residential development. In fact, according to The Downtown Alliance, there are now 295 residential buildings in the Financial District, with another 35 buildings planned or under construction.

It's with all this development that it's imperative to purchase your home in the Fianancial District now. Home values will only continue to rise as more projects are built.

To learn more about investment opportunities, or if you're considering buying your next home in the Financial District, contact me on lmaysonet@elliman.com

Cameron Diaz Stops By Lisa Maysonet's Open House

Actress Cameron Diaz recently stopped by the open house for one of my exclusive listings at The Silk Building. The building, located in NoHo at 14 East 4th St, has been a regular fixture in the celebrity world since it went condo in 1983. It still attracts celebrities after all these years due to its location and high-quality finishes. Information for the listing can be found here: http://www.prudentialelliman.com/Listings.aspx?ListingID=937041&rentalperiod=&SearchType=Broker_Current&Region=NYC&BID=LMM

To view this top-notch property, please stop by the open house today from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., or email me at lmaysonet@elliman.com to make an appointment.

Happy hunting!

British Soccer Star Robbie Elliott Choses Lisa Maysonet to Represent Listing

I am happy to announce that British Soccer star Robbie Elliott, of Hartlepool United, has chosen me to represent the sale of his home at 205E59 in the Upper East Side. This week the New York Post featured the listing in Braden Keil's column, "Gimme Shelter," which you can view here.

205 East 59th Street, 10C
Upper East Side
$1,900,000
2-bedroom, 2-bath
1,314 square feet
Maintenance fees: $1,302

A 1,314-square-foot, two-bedroom, two-bath condominium in the newly-built 205E59 by The Zucker Organization. The current home of Hartlepool United star Robbie Elliott features 10-foot ceilings, remote-controlled gas-burning fireplaces, a private balcony, washer/dryer, wide-plank Berti Teak hardwood floors throughout. Kitchen features custom Teak cabinetry with Viking and Dacor appliances. Master bath features Wenge wood cabinet and vanity, and Kohler Maestro bathtub and fixtures. The amenity-rich building features a private fifth-floor landscaped garden terrace and fitness center, a 24-hour doorman and resident manager, a 24-hour concierge, a secluded “puppy park” with custom-built playground, an outdoor “Stretching Studio” for yoga and furnished sundeck with a shaded veranda. The residence is currently tenanted until March 2008, making this a great investment opportunity for a buyer. Maintenance fees: $1,302. (Broker: Lisa Maysonet, Prudential Douglas Elliman, 212.891.7195.)

To view this listing, or to see other listings that could be your future home, contact me at lmaysonet@elliman.com

This Week's Open Houses

I have some wonderful open houses this week. There are one- and two-bedroom apartments available. If you still can't find what you're looking for, please check out my other listings or send me an email and I'd love to help you find the perfect home.

CitiView Condominiums, 41-32 44th St.

Residence 4E - Thursday, February 2 - 5:30-7:30 P.M.
Residence 7D - Thursday, February 2 - 5:30-7:30 P.M.
Residence 2E - Thursday, February 2 - 5:30-7:30 P.M.
Residence 7A - Thursday, February 2 - 5:30-7:30 P.M.

Exclusive Listing: 239 Central Park West

I have a new exclusive listing, located at 239 Central Park West, built in 1926 by Sugarman & Berger.

This elegant, 3,000-square-foot, four-bedroom, four-bath pre-war co-op is in the prestigious 239 Central Park West. The large home features a gilded panel foyer with mirrored French doors, a spacious living room with an oversized wood-burning fireplace and an antique mantle, a formal dining room, a separate library that can be converted into a fourth bedroom, and a marble bathroom for each bedroom. The windowed, eat-in kitchen features verde marble countertops, French ceramic tile floors and handmade custom cabinetry. This neo-renaissance-style elevator building features basement-level laundry, a 24-hour doorman, an elevator operator and basement storage. Maintenance fees: $3,950; tax deductible: 45 percent. (Broker: Lisa Maysonet and Gary Kabol, Prudential Douglas Elliman, 212.891.7195)

To view more details on this apartment, or to find more homes that might suit your needs, view my website. Or, feel free to send me an email any time at lmaysonet@elliman.com.

Happy hunting!

Bensonhurst Stays Charming Despite Real Estate Boom

The Bensonhurst section of Brooklyn was born in the late1880s. Since then, Bensonhurst has seen many changes: from the arrival of the Fourth Avenue Subway line in 1915, to the population’s continuing culture shift, to the current boom of new housing developments.

Once considered to be the picture of the Italian-American experience, Bensonhurst was the backdrop for the 1977 hit movie Saturday Night Fever, starring John Travolta. Although there is still a very strong Italian presence, the neighborhood has seen a surge in Asian, Russian, and Middle Eastern immigrants in recent years.

The neighborhood’s landscape is also experiencing change. Now, multi-family apartment buildings are rising among the classic brownstones and two-story townhomes. While complementing the scene, these new developments are also a relief to the growing pains of a rapidly increasing population.

Still, with all of its growth, Bensonhurst has maintained its charm. Every year the community comes together to celebrate the Feast of Padre Pio in June and the Feast of Santa Rosalia in late August and early September. Warm months welcome shopping at outdoor fruit and vegetable markets on 86th Street and afternoons at the 17.5 acre Bensonhurst Park or the smaller Seth Low Park.

Bensonhurst also offers several dining attractions such as Ten Zan Japanese restaurant, Naniwa Sushi, Dolce Pastry Shop, the Russian-inspired Passage Palace and local favorites Il Colosseo and Villa Paradiso pizzerias.

Aside from fine dining, Bensonhurst can also stake claim to a remarkable school system. The neighborhood has 13 public elementary schools, three main high schools and several private Jewish and Catholic schools, all with test scores at or above the national average. The Touro College main campus is also located in the neighborhood and CUNY's Kingsborough College is just minutes away.

Bensonhurst is definitely New York at its finest, continuously demonstrating its ability to grow and embrace change without losing its charm.

Historic Garden District Offers a Walk on the Sunnyside

Just a short ride from Manhattan on the 7 train is Queens’ hidden gem, the Garden District of Long Island City.

The planned community was built between 1924 and 1928 and was added to the Register of Historic Places in 1984. With its brick houses, intimate apartment buildings and winding walkways, the Garden District is 17 tree-lined city blocks of some of the most desirable real estate in New York.

A stroll around the district is truly a walk in the park with its abundance of green spaces.
The Garden District boasts Sunnyside Park, the largest private park in New York City; Lou Lodati Playground, host site for the Skillman Avenue Greenmarket; and the Thomas P. Noonan Playground.

The historic area is also home to a wealth of diverse ethnicities including community members from Albanian, Armenian, Bangladeshi, Chinese, Colombian, Dominican, Ecuadorian, Filipino, Indian, Irish, Japanese, Korean, Mexican, Romanian and Turkish cultures.

Feeding from the Garden District’s variety of multicultural residents is the cornucopia of dining options such as Shin Chon Kalbi’s Korean barbecue, the fresh-baked Mexican treats of Tulcingo Bakery, and the delicious French crullers of Alpha Donuts.

Yet another bright side to the Garden District is the entertainment. There is the Irish-inspired bustling nightlife of pub row, events and performances at art collective Flux Factory, live original musicals at Thalia Spanish Theatre and discount Tuesdays at New Center Cinema.

The community is also home to the Sunnyside branch of the Queens Borough Library and two public elementary schools. Add the great boutique shopping on Greenpoint Avenue and the Garden District is definitely the as-of-yet undiscovered jewel of Queens.

Brokers Get Selective With Their Listings

The newest real estate trend? Brokers turning down listings:

Some sellers still consider it a "seller's market" and aren't willing to be flexible when it comes to their sales price and more. In response to this, many brokers have decided to turn down these types of listings, which can take longer to sell than necessary. Of course, there are brokers out there - usually discount brokers - that are more than happy to take these listings. However, sellers soon learn that dropping the price or being more flexible on other components was the right way to go from the start and bring their listing to the more experienced broker.

To learn more about this trend, pick up the December issue of The Real Deal when it hits newsstands.

Making the Selling Process Easier and Faster

As has been discussed extensively in the media, the median time a home is on the market is continuing to rise. But that doesn't mean that your home needs to sit on the market for the median amount of time. Here are a few tips I've compiled to help make the process smoother and faster:

• Make sure buyer is qualified for loan before accepting bid.
• Be prepared to ask yourself tough questions:
• - How soon do you need to be in your new home?
  - Do you need to sell in order to buy?
• Stage your home.
• Have documentation ready. This can inlcude past inpsections, the deed and more.
• Create a checklist for potential buyers:
  - What offers are you willing to accept?
  - What terms do you require in order to sell?
  - What financial ability to you require of a potential buyer?

Most importantly, consult your real estate broker for specific tips on how to sell your home faster and easier. You'll thank your broker in the end.

Group Maysonet Named Exclusive Broker for Citiview Condominiums in Sunnyside, Queens

New Building is the First Ground-Up Development in Neighborhood

Group Maysonet has been named as the exclusive broker for Citiview Condominiums, a new development located at 41-32 44th Street in the Garden District of Long Island City that is currently available for occupancy.

Developed by Sunnyside Commons LLC, the luxury building includes 29 one- and two-bedroom residences that range from 610 to 929 square feet. Prices for the homes range from approximately $374,000 to $575,000.

Residences feature solid oak hardwood floors throughout, nine-foot ceilings, washer/dryer hook-ups, air conditioning units and video intercom systems. Open kitchens include solid black granite counter tops, maple cherry cabinets, stainless steel appliances by Frigidaire and under-mounted sinks by Elkay. Master baths boast marble floor-to-ceiling tiling, Kohler fixtures and Danze faucets.

Amenities at the pet-friendly condominium include a 1,800-square-foot common rooftop deck with views of the Manhattan skyline, nine parking spaces available for purchase in the rear parking lot and a part-time superintendent.

Citiview Condominiums is located in the desirable Garden District of Long Island City, a planned urban community built between 1924 and 1928 that is renowned for its private gardens and tree-lined streets. The neighborhood is filled with diverse restaurants, boutiques and amenities, including the Skillman Avenue Greenmarket at the nearby Lou Lodati Playground, and is a short commute to Manhattan via the 7 train.

To visit Citiview Condominiums, please contact Lisa Maysonet at 212.891.7195.