SAFE PLACE

New York City continues to be the safest place in the world to invest in real estate.

Based on a survey of about 200 real estate investors and investment managers from 24 countries, New York is the “most stable and secure” city in the world to do business.

According to Crain’s, the majority of people surveyed said they want to increase exposure in New York City while the remaining respondents were likely to increase their exposure in Los Angeles and Chicago.

GUIDE TO CO-OP "SPONSOR UNITS"

Co-op “sponsor units” are apartments being sold by the cooperative’s original Developer or “Sponsor”. Frankly, sponsor units are a bit of a rarity in Manhattan and therefore highly desirable. They offer the extreme advantage of completely skipping the co-op board approval process. 

Typically a sponsor sale means any credit issues, down payment requirements or other common barriers to purchasing a co-op can be totally ignored – alleviating the purchaser from going through the grueling financial disclosure and board package process.

These units are few and far between, so be prepared to shop for six to 12 months to find one of these rare gems!

Homeowners are getting heavy on metals and mixed materials, as of late, by embracing different textures throughout their interiors, specifically in their kitchens and baths.

Adam Meshberg, founder and principal of Meshberg Group, a design firm based in Brooklyn says clients are going for a mashup of eclectic textures: rough-hewn woven fabric walls with fumed copper accents, polished concrete floors inlaid with a rustic tile and rough-sewn oak cabinetry in a custom kitchen, for instance. “The look creates a sense of dimension in the space,” Mr. Meshberg said. 

Kitchen countertops are good candidates for interesting combinations as well. “Juxtaposed porcelain tile with Italian marble is the new kitchen countertop,” Mr. Meshberg said. “The mixed materials on the countertop break up the stone, add durability and create an elevated design element.”