In Memoriam Everett Ortner

Dear Friends,

We are profoundly saddened by the death on May 22, 2012 of Everett H. Ortner, noted preservationist and founding chairperson of both the Brownstone Revival Coalition and Preservation Volunteers. For almost fifty years, Everett worked tirelessly to preserve and defend New York’s brownstone neighborhoods.  He was our dear friend.

After purchasing and restoring his Park Slope Brooklyn townhouse in 1963, Everett and his wife Evelyn (deceased 2005) personally spearheaded the brownstone revival movement. By organizing grassroots fairs and conferences, fighting banks who habitually “red-lined” mortgages in struggling brownstone neighborhoods, and founding several local and national preservation organizations, including Back to the City, Inc., the BRC, Preservation Volunteers, and Preservation Action, Everett helped save beloved townhouse neighborhoods in NYC and elsewhere.

A native of Lowell, MA, Everett graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1939. He spent 7 months in a POW camp during WWII and was decorated with the Bronze Star Medal for Valor as an infantry lieutenant in France. He was an editor, writer, and photographer at Popular Science magazine for 33 years until his retirement. He also penned numerous articles on urban revival and preservation topics.

Everett passed away after complications from a fall. He was 92 years old.

Check in on Monday for a full story about Everett’s life and work.

The estate requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to Preservation Volunteers. To donate, go to preservationvolunteers.org.

Sincerely,

Dexter and Jane

Upcoming BRC Market Seminar Videos!

Last Thursday's Vandenberg-sponsored BRC Market Seminar was a fabulous success. The event was standing-room-only, with over 60 townhouse owners, buyers, and preservationists in attendance.

Dexter spoke on the 2012 townhouse market, and Sherwin Belkin Esq. spoke about owner occupancy-proceedings. Attendees also had an opportunity to pose their landlord-tenant questions.

Over the next few weeks we'll be posting videos of the event on Mondays with Dexter and on our website. You can also visit our video page to view past BRC videos, including a BRC Townhouse Garden video that has gone "viral" with over 41,000 views!

Meet the Team: Caroline Paddock

Caroline Paddock Copywriter and Editor

Caroline ensures that Vandenberg’s exclusive townhouses shine on the printed page and online. She painstakingly creates the marketing materials that optimize your townhouse’s value by emphasizing its best features to townhouse buyers.

One of the first steps of the Townhouse Marketing Program™ is the walk-through during which Caroline personally studies your townhouse and notes its most desirable features. These notes, together with Dexter’s Townhouse Expert Analysis™, help Caroline create the feature sheet that will entice buyers to come discover your townhouse for themselves.

Caroline also drafts and edits the copy for our postcards, blog posts, and our weekly e-newsletter, Mondays with Dexter. Having personally viewed townhouses all over Manhattan, she now possesses more townhouse knowledge than many real estate agents. Her familiarity with the architecture and history of these homes makes her capable of spotting the most valuable features of your property and conveying them to an audience of both townhouse aficionados and first-time buyers.

She also plays an integral role in maintaining the Townhouse Advantage Library™. She compiles and organizes not only our own exclusive listings, but information about every other active, signed, and sold townhouse listing in our target neighborhoods. Thanks to her efforts, the comparables and market statistics that help you decide on a price for your townhouse are not only correct, but thorough and detailed.

And for good reason. Caroline comes to Vandenberg with experience as a paralegal. With a degree in English literature and a passion for the written word, she enjoys just about any kind of creative writing work – from creating townhouse feature sheets to penning psychological fiction.

Call Caroline Paddock anytime to find the townhouse you’ve been looking for at (212) 769-2900.

Townhouse for Sale

Townhouse for Sale

338 West 15th Street

Every day, Dexter Guerrieri advises other owners on how to best configure their Manhattan townhouses. You’re invited to discover the look and feel he would choose for one of his own townhouses, now for sale.

Baxt/Ingui, premier residential architects, are creating luxury architectural plans to enable the future buyer to transform this 18.75-feet-wide, single-family townhouse, with an unobstructed South garden, into a 6-story elevator mansion. (As shown in the drawing above). The projected 6,425 square feet will show Dexter’s dream light-filled parlour entertaining level, dream kitchen and dream master bedroom. To top it off, the 6th floor is designed as an open glass-walled artist’s loft, plus media screening room.

This Chelsea Townhouse is ideally located in the epicenter of the new West Chelsea cultural district, which includes 400 art galleries, Chelsea Piers, the upcoming Whitney Museum, Chelsea Market, the High Line, and “Designer Row,” one block away on 14th Street in the chic Meatpacking District. Directly across the street is Google’s enormous headquarters, recently purchased for a record $1.8 billion.  

Price: $6,950,000

For more information on this townhouse for sale, please visit:

338 West 15th Street

For showings contact our buyer specialist, Cathy Connolly.

Brownstone Revival Coalition Spring Seminar

Dear Friends,

If you haven't yet RSVP'd for the always-popular BRC Market Report seminar on May 17th, be sure to do so today!

Thursday, May 17, 2012

7:00-9:00pm

The Dorot

171 West 85th Street

I will be speaking on this year's townhouse market sales, as I do every year at the Vandenberg-sponsored spring seminar. 2012 is an unusual year so far. To find out why, come to the seminar.

The special guest speaker will be Sherwin Belkin, founding partner of Belkin Burden Wenig and Goldman, LLP. Mr. Belkin specializes in real estate and landlord-tenant matters. He has co-authored A Complete Guide to Sublets and Assignments, authors the column "Real Estate Review" for Real Estate Weekly and writes articles on real estate law published in numerous industry journals. He will address owner occupancy proceedings - a valuable topic for both current townhouse owners and potential buyers.

RSVP to Andrea at andrea@townhouseexperts.com or by calling 212-769-2900. I hope to see you at the seminar.

-Dexter Guerrieri

Clem Labine Receives the 2012 Award for Excellence in the Arts!

One of our good friends, Clem Labine, was recently honored by the receipt of the Newington-Cropsey Cultural Studies Center’s 2012 Award for Excellence in the Arts. The award was given during an evening in Clem’s honor at the Union League Club.

Clem is one of New York’s most accomplished preservationists. After he bought and restored his gorgeous Park Slope townhouse in 1967, he started spreading the word about townhouse restoration and preservation. He founded several magazines, including Traditional Building, Period Homes, and The Old House Journal, and has penned numerous print and web articles on the subject.

The Award for Excellence in the Arts is only the most recent of Clem’s many honors. The National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Preservation League of New York State, and our own favorite brownstone organization, the Brownstone Revival Coalition (www.brownstonerevival.org) have all recognized Clem’s achievements.

To find out more about Clem, check out his blog, The CIVITAS Chronicles.

Congratulations, Clem!

BRC's 25th Annual Market Report Seminar

Dear Friends,

The BRC's 25th Annual Market Report seminar will take place on May 17th, 2012. 

As at every Vandenberg-sponsored spring seminar, I will be speaking on this year's townhouse market.  Is it a buyer's or a seller's market?  Are home values up or down, and why?  I'll offer some answers to these questions, along with an in-depth look at how Manhattan's townhouse-heavy neighborhoods have performed over the last year. 

The special guest speaker will be Sherwin Belkin, founding partner of Belkin Burden Wenig and Goldman, LLP.  Mr. Belkin specializes in real estate and landlord-tenant matters. He has co-authored A Complete Guide to Sublets and Assignments, authors the column "Real Estate Review" for Real Estate Weekly and writes articles on real estate law published in numerous industry journals. He will address  purchasing occupied townhouses and vacating them for family use. 

RSVP to Andrea at andrea@townhouseexperts.com or by calling 212-769-2900.  I hope to see you at the seminar!

--Dexter

_____________________________________________________________

Brownstone Revival Coalition
invites you to the

25th Annual Brownstone Market Seminar

Thursday, May 17th 2012
7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
The Dorot
171 West 85th Street

Wine and Cheese Served

Space is limited.

RSVP: 212.769.2900 x212
Andrea@TownhouseExperts.com

For more information: www.BrownstoneRevival.org

Meet the Team: Nicole Green

Nicole GreenClient Care Coordinator

From the moment a townhouse owner first calls us until their house goes into contract, Nicole Green works as their ally and advocate. Thoroughly knowledgeable, she is here to guide owners through each step of their townhouse sale. She works seamlessly with Dexter to analyze the market potential of each new listing and guide that listing all the way through a successful closing.

When an owner contacts Vandenberg, Nicole uses our exclusive Townhouse Advantage Library™ to create an in-depth report of comparables that help Dexter and the owner make an informed decision about pricing the townhouse. With a background in statistics, she assembles the facts and figures necessary to determine the real value of a property. Her detailed product knowledge also aids her analysis of the unique, non-quantitative details of each building. As Dexter puts it, “Nicole has a great sense of townhouses and their value.”

This is no surprise: Nicole personally monitors the sales process of each and every townhouse we list. She oversees floor plans, photos, For Sale signs and more. By knowing the most intricate features of every property listed, she anticipates our townhouse owners’ individual needs and smoothes out bumps in the road ahead of time.

Nicole makes sure the relevant members of the brokerage community know about our exclusive listings. Within hours of a new Vandenberg exclusive listing, she has notified every brokerage in REBNY and sent an email to our custom database of “specialist” agents who work with qualified buyers in the townhouse market. This ensures that each property’s feature sheet goes directly to important agents, rather than get buried in brokerage databases.

During showings of our exclusive listings, she provides critical guidance to agents and buyers, and then reports their feedback directly to Dexter and our owners. She provides input to Dexter and to owners, helping them decide on any changes that will enhance or expedite the sale of the townhouse.

Her role in New York City’s townhouse community of buyers and sellers extends past the signed contract, as she sees all sales through to closing. She hones in on the multitude of tasks to be completed prior to closing, ensuring that architects, engineers, appraisers and contractors are put in place to offer solutions. She works with Dexter and Jane to make sure any issues are addressed, maintaining momentum all the way to successful closings on behalf of our sellers.

Nicole came to Vandenberg with an impressive track record in the financial sector and an avid interest in townhouses. Her no-nonsense personality and keen business sense are highly valued by Vandenberg’s townhouse owners. Nicole lives in Manhattan with her husband, son, and a mischievous Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

Call Nicole Green anytime to find the townhouse you’ve been looking for at (212) 769-2900.

An Excerpt from Mondays with Dexter

An Excerpt from Mondays with Dexter

Dear Friends,

If you haven't yet seen our newest exclusive listing, 357 West 121st Street, call Cathy today to schedule a showing. With hand-rubbed original woodwork, every modern convenience, and a spacious roof-garden, this NYC townhouse is move-in ready. Best of all, a free-market rental on the garden level and extremely low taxes combine to make this townhouse a wise choice at $2,850,000.

Today we're also launching a video from our most recent Vandenberg-sponsored BRC seminar: "Renovations and Strategies to Maximize your Townhouse's Value."

Zachary Kaplan, President of ZMK Group, was our special guest. He spoke about how to assemble a team and organize any renovation, from small projects to large jobs. He also emphasized getting your building permits and Landmarks approval before beginning a job. He provided sample pricing for various jobs -- from relining a chimney to digging down to enlarge a cellar.

If you didn't get a chance to attend, watching this video is the next best thing!

-Dexter

Mondays with Dexter offers an up-to-date summary of properties that are new to the market as well as those that are under contract or sold, the features they offer, and which ones fit your primary residential or investment criteria.

Click here to sign up for free!

Townhouse for Sale: 357 West 121st Street.

An Excerpt from Mondays with Dexter

357 West 121st Street

Dear Friends,

We're pleased to introduce our newest exclusive townhouse listing: 357 West 121st Street. Located on one of the prettiest townhouse blocks in Morningside Heights, this brownstone offers both stunning original details and modern amenities. Hand-rubbed mahogany woodwork, classic relined fireplaces, and ornate mirrors complement the custom-renovated kitchen, bathrooms, and living areas to create a move-in-ready home. 

Live in the owner's quadruplex while earning top rental income from the garden front rental unit, or easily create a single-family home. Either way, with taxes of only $1,762/year, this home is an excellent purchase at $2,850,000. 

Call Cathy today at 212-769-2900 and be the first to tour this immaculate brownstone.

Mondays with Dexter offers an up-to-date summary of properties that are new to the market as well as those that are under contract or sold, the features they offer, and which ones fit your primary residential or investment criteria.

Click here to sign up for free!

Renovations and Strategies to Maximize Your Townhouse Value (Part 2)

On November 30th, 2011 Vandenberg sponsored the Brownstone Revival Coalition's free Fall seminar.

For those of you who missed it, the topic was "Renovations and Strategies to Maximize Your Townhouse Value."

Zachary Kaplan, President of ZMK Group, spoke about how to assemble a team and organize any renovation, from small projects to large jobs. He emphasized getting your building permits and Landmarks approval before beginning a job, and gave sample pricing for various jobs -- from relining a chimney to digging down a cellar.

Zach also spoke about doing construction projects in stages. In one example, the owners were planning on adding an additional floor but decided they would rather budget for it in the future. So midway through renovations, ZMK and the architect put stairs, a bulkhead, and plumbing lines up to the future roof addition. That way, when the owners decided to do construction on the roof later on, the workers would be able to simply go upstairs without disrupting the rest of the house, and the construction materials could be elevated up the exterior.

This video features some highlights from his presentation. Click here for videos from past seminars.

For more information on the Brownstone Revival Coalition, please visit: www.BrownstoneRevival.org


For more information on Vandenberg, Inc.-- The Townhouse Experts, please visit: www.TownhouseExperts.com


The event was sponsored by Vandenberg, Inc. -- The Townhouse Experts (TM).


©2012 Vandenberg Inc.
Vandenberg, The Townhouse Experts
212-769-2900

Signed Contracts and Closings!

An Excerpt from Mondays with Dexter

Dear Friends,

The Spring selling season is just around the corner, and already the market is picking up. Here at Vandenberg, we've been busy with several new deals in the last few weeks:

70 West 69th Street

70 West 69th Street is now in contract. This 20'-wide Vandenberg exclusive listing is located on one of the Upper West Side's truly premium blocks. With high ceilings, shining woodwork, and excellent light, this UWS brownstone also features unusual double-height ceilings and other architectural touches.

157 West 87th Street also has a signed contract. This four-story single-family brownstone offers a landscaped garden, two luxury renovated lower levels, and an ideal layout, all while overlooking one of the Upper West Side's prettiest tree-lined blocks.

308 West 78th Street

We also recently closed on 308 West 78th Street! This newly renovated owner's triplex with rental units above had been previously rented by Vandenberg with an option for the renter to purchase - now we've represented the seller in the sale of the townhouse. Congratulations to all parties involved!


Last but not least, 133 West 122nd Street has a signed contract. We represented the buyer of this fabulous Harlem townhouse.

All these deals bode well for the 2012 market - if you're considering putting your house on the market, call me at 212-769-2900 today.

--Dexter 

Mondays with Dexter offers an up-to-date summary of properties that are new to the market as well as those that are under contract or sold, the features they offer, and which ones fit your primary residential or investment criteria.

Click here to sign up for free!

Vandenberg Exclusive in the New York Times

338 West 15th Street 

An upcoming Vandenberg listing was mentioned Sunday in article, "Where the Secrets Were Kept" in the Real Estate Section of the New York Times. You can read the article by clicking here.

338 WEST 15TH STREET

UPCOMING LISTING. SHOWINGS BEGIN APRIL 1ST.

Why Own a Townhouse? Part 6

An Excerpt from Mondays with Dexter

Below is the next installment in our series explaining the unique strengths of Manhattan townhouses when compared to other types of real estate.

Historic Picture of  West 15th Street in NYC

Owning a Piece of History

History buffs and preservationists love townhouses because they offer an opportunity to literally own a piece of the past. Residential architectural styles from Federal to Queen Anne are remembered and admired today largely thanks to well-preserved Manhattan townhouses.

Most importantly to preservationists like me, owning a townhouse is like casting a vote. By choosing to invest, renovate, and live in a historic NYC townhouse, townhouse-owners vote for New York to retain its unique historic character and never become a monochrome labyrinth of new constructions. Simply owning a townhouse preserves New York's diverse residential architecture for future generations.

--Dexter Guerrieri

Mondays with Dexter offers an up-to-date summary of properties that are new to the market as well as those that are under contract or sold, the features they offer, and which ones fit your primary residential or investment criteria.

Click here to sign up for free!

Why Own a Townhouse? Part 5

An Excerpt from Mondays with Dexter

Here is the next installment in our series explaining the unique strengths of Manhattan townhouses when compared to other types of real estate.

A Dollar and A Dream

As a long-term investment, townhouses have consistently performed well. They have stood the test of time, and are still desirable after a century or more.

The biggest advantage to investing in a New York townhouse is the fact that if you take creative action, you can help your investment grow faster than the already-growing market. One way is to renovate or restore your townhouse to increase the price per square foot.

Or you can deregulate rental units for an excellent return on your money. Investing in a well-located townhouse full of rent-controlled or rent-stabilized tenants is another way to exponentially increase your investment over ten or twenty years. For further information on how you can profit from a townhouse investment, talk to Cathy anytime at 212-769-2900.

--Dexter Guerrieri

Mondays with Dexter offers an up-to-date summary of properties that are new to the market as well as those that are under contract or sold, the features they offer, and which ones fit your primary residential or investment criteria.

Click here to sign up for free!

Renovations and Strategies to Maximize Your Townhouse Value (Part 1)

On November 30th, 2011 Vandenberg sponsored the Brownstone Revival Coalition's free Fall Seminar. For those of you who missed it, the topic was "Renovations and Strategies to Maximize Your Townhouse Value."

Dexter Guerrieri, provided strategies on deregulating your rental units, adding square footage, maintaining or adding a stoop, and digging down to optimize your basement.

This video features some highlights from his presentation. Click here for videos from past seminars.

For more information on the Brownstone Revival Coalition, please visit: www.BrownstoneRevival.org

The event was sponsored by Vandenberg, Inc. -- The Townhouse Experts.

©2012 Vandenberg Inc.

212-769-2900

Why Own a Townhouse? Part 4

An excerpt from Mondays with Dexter

Here is the next installment in our "Why Own a Townhouse" series explaining the unique strengths of Manhattan townhouses when compared to other types of real estate.

Town Houses, Town Homes

Many New York parents want their children to grow up in a "real home" instead of in a cramped apartment. They want four or more bedrooms, several levels, stairways, fireplaces, numerous bathrooms, and real backyards.

Townhouses are the best way to make this dream a reality without leaving Manhattan. Even the most expensive condos in the city can't offer growing children a backyard with a tire swing, or banisters to slide down. However, even relatively affordable townhouses offer these important childhood "amenities."

Single people and couples can benefit from living on more than one level as well. Townhouse dwellers agree that there is something psychologically healthy about going downstairs to your kitchen for breakfast, or, after an evening reading by the fireside, climbing upstairs to bed.

--Dexter

Mondays with Dexter offers an up-to-date summary of properties that are new to the market as well as those that are under contract or sold, the features they offer, and which ones fit your primary residential or investment criteria.

Click here to sign up for free!

141 West 81st Street on NBC's "Open House"

If you missed Dexter's tour of 141 West 81st Street on NBC's "Open House" last Sunday, you can view the segment below OR on the Townhouse Experts video page!

Special Announcement: Dexter's on NBC, Sunday 1/22 at 8:30am!

Dexter Guerrieri on location

Dear Friends -

Tune in to NBC's "Open House" this Sunday, 1/22 at 8:30am for an in-depth tour of 141 West 81st Street...guided by me.

Earlier this month, we were thrilled to work with the crew of NBC's "Open House." They filmed our exclusive listing at 141 West 81st Street from gable to garden, and I got in front of the camera to highlight the unique features of this Queen Anne-style townhouse for the "Square Feet" segment of the show. It was a wonderful experience thanks to their terrific cast and crew.

NBC's "Open House"
Sunday 1/22
8:30 a.m.
Outside the Tri-State area, check your local listings!

About Open House

Open House showcases the hottest homes on the market, interior design tips from the experts and everything you need to know about stylish living, hosted by Sara Gore. It airs on Sundays at 8:30am on NBC in the Tri-state area. Check your local listings!

The crew of OPEN HOUSE prepares to shoot 141 West 81st Street

About 141 West 81st Street

141 West 81st Street

Custom renovated in 2006, this Queen Anne townhouse offers five stories of contemporary luxury. Bold lines, a striking black and white palette, and plenty of natural light excite the eye. The elegant structure of this historic home is used to architectural advantage – bow windows, cathedral ceilings, original beams and exposed brick are found throughout. Natural light and arresting geometry add interest to every room. The completely round kitchen is like nothing else in New York. The dramatic second floor includes a floating walkway open to the floor below. The outdoor spaces are as generous and modern as the rest of the property. The upper unit benefits from a duplex terrace/roof deck, while the lower unit’s custom landscaped garden includes not only a dining area and built-in barbecue but also an adorable miniature garden cottage. A keyed, windowed elevator makes each unit accessible.

You can easily reconfigure this house into your dream single-family home. Indeed, the current owner designed this luxury renovation to accommodate a seamless transition to a single-family. However, you may also prefer to live in the owner's garden triplex/quadruplex and receive top-dollar rental income from the upper luxury duplex.

141 West 81st Street

Why Own A Townhouse? Part 3

An excerpt from Mondays With Dexter

The garden at 345 West 121st Street

Here is the next installment in our series explaining the unique strengths of New York City townhouses when compared to other types of real estate.

The Most Outdoor Space for Your Money

In Manhattan, outdoor space is at a premium. Even the narrowest terrace or the merest glimpse of a park is considered a luxury in this city.

Manhattan townhouse owners, on the other hand, often have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to fresh air and al fresco dining. In addition to the terraces and Juliet balconies often found on New York brownstones, most townhouses also offer generous roof decks and back gardens. The opportunity to landscape, plant shade trees, and even do some serious vegetable gardening in Manhattan is largely the privilege of townhouse ownership.

In short, there is no other type of housing in Manhattan that gives you as much outdoor space for your money. As long as there are nature-lovers in this city, outdoor space will continue to make NYC townhouses an especially desirable real estate investment.

Next time: The Joys of a Multilevel Home

Mondays with Dexter also offers an up-to-date summary of properties that are new to the market as well as those that are under contract or sold, the features they offer, and which ones fit your primary residential or investment criteria.

Click here to sign up for free!

Why Own A Townhouse: Part 2

141 West 81st Street - $6,300,000

Here is the next installment in our series explaining the unique strengths of Manhattan townhouses when compared to other types of real estate.

Romance

Owning a NY brownstone built by the renowned architects Henry Hardenbergh or Clarence True is like owning an original painting by an old master. It's much more romantic than owning a sterile new condo.

Even if your NYC townhouse doesn't have a "starchitect" pedigree, it's a part of a century-old tradition of elegance. The very sight of a row of  brownstones evokes Old New York, and the handcrafted details inside some Manhattan brownstones simply cannot be replicated with the same quality today.

New York town homes are also literally romantic: as I've mentioned before, a pair of Vandenberg buyers once proposed to each other on the stoop of the building, and later married each other at the townhouse!

Next time: The Most Outdoor Space for Your Money

New York Times Articles Generate More Buyers For Your Townhouse

 

 Elite New York City Journalists Rely On The Townhouse Experts  

When journalists need an expert opinion for a townhouse-related article, they turn to Manhattan’s townhouse expert, Dexter Guerrieri of Vandenberg–The Townhouse Experts (TM). The New York Times, New York Magazine, The New York Observer and The Real Deal join our many clients in trusting us to deliver sound advice based on over two successful decades in the Manhattan townhouse market.

As part of our exclusive Townhouse Marketing Program (TM), we also contact the media about our exclusive listings and suggest articles to help sell your property in a timely manner, for the right price. Feature articles are priceless marketing for your townhouse and drive buyers to our website.

 VANDENBERG  IN THE PRESS

2010 – 2011

“Upper West has Upper Hand.”

The Real Deal, 7/1/11

“It’s Free to Look: The It’s-Not-What-You-Think West Side Townhouse.”

The New York Observer, 5/27/11

“A $5M UWS Townhouse with a Waterfall.”

The Real Deal. 3/8/11

“House Proud.”

The Real Deal, 3/1/11

“Pets Help Sell Manhattan Apartments.”

The New York Times, 2/20/11

“The Unusual One-Room-Per-Floor Murray Hill Townhouse.”

The New York Observer, 1/3/11

"Fully Furnished with Anecdotes."

The New York Times, 12/26/10.

"Top Sales Agents of the Week,"

The Real Deal, 9/24/10.

“It’s Free to Look: 116 East 78^th street.”

The New York Observer, 9/15/2010

"On 86th Street, a Town House Awaits Former Glory,"

The New York Times, 9/2/10.

"Yikes! It's A Garage,"

The New York Times, 7/30/10.

“Splash down

New York Magazine Online, 7/10/10

"Loved. Lived In. Listed as an Estate Sale."

The New York Times, 6/11/10.

"Riverside Drive house with link to 1800s stage actor hits market at $21.5M,"

The Real Deal, 6/1/10.

“Transactions; Recent Sale.”

The New York Times, 5/26/10

"Charmed Obsolescence,"

The New York Times, 4/2/10.

"A Brush with a Beatle,"

The New York Times, 3/7/10. 

 

Go to TownhouseExperts.com for press pieces

and features on our many townhouse properties. 

Why Own a Townhouse?

An Excerpt from Mondays with Dexter

Dear Friends,

What makes townhouses so special? Why are Manhattan brownstones still desirable after a century or more?

Here is the first in our series explaining the unique strength of Manhattan townhouses when compared to other types of real estate.

Townhouses Offer Independence

Most types of New York City residence are all tied up with red tape. Co-op owners often need board approval before performing even the simplest improvements to their property. Condos often have stringent regulations about pets, decoration, renovation, and more. The owner of the condo or co-op sometimes has minimal control over important decisions regarding their own living space.

Townhouse with double-height ceiling

Townhouse owners, on the other hand, enjoy freedom to renovate, improve, and configure a property in new and creative ways. Pending City and Landmarks regulations, townhouse owners can dream big and make their dreams a reality. Interior improvements are usually limited only by the townhouse owner's imagination. Over the last 20-odd years, I have seen almost every conceivable townhouse layout. I've seen loft-like interiors with double-height ceilings and open staircases; I've also seen painstaking recreations of the 1890s, right down to the William Morris wallpaper. The common thread was the satisfaction the owners felt in creating exactly the living environment they had always wanted.

Most importantly, townhouse owners have the freedom to maximize their investment. The freedom to renovate means the freedom to increase the price per square foot, thereby growing one's townhouse investment even faster than the general market.

Next time: The Romance of Townhouse Ownership

--Dexter Guerrieri

Mondays with Dexter also offers an up-to-date summary of properties that are new to the market as well as those that are under contract or sold, the features they offer, and which ones fit your primary residential or investment criteria.


Click here to sign up for free!

Mondays with Dexter

Our New Listings

70 West 69th Street - $7,950,000    141 West 81st Street - $6,300,000 Price Reduced!   157 West 87th Street - $4,175,000  Price Reduced! 345 West 121st Street - $2,670,000 248 East 30th Street - $2,595,000 Price Reduced!   For showings: Cathy@TownhouseExperts.com   This Week's Featured Listing! Premium 60s Park Block!      70 West 69th Street Price: $7,950,000 20'x 100.42', Built 77' deep Description:  70 West 69th Street offers you the rare opportunity to own a spacious townhouse on one of the Upper West Side's most coveted blocks. Twenty feet of width and fourteen-foot ceilings create vast interiors. Every level shines thanks to hardwood floors, bay windows, French doors, and plenty of natural light. Fully functional wood-burning fireplaces have been preserved throughout. Unusual double-height ceilings and an uncommon loft-like garden rear are just a few of the architectural touches that make this home so special.   West 69th Street is one of a handful of truly premium blocks on the Upper West Side. It is tree-lined, quiet, and located near every imaginable amenity. Walk your dog in Central Park or stroll easily to Lincoln Center or Juilliard. Dine only a few doors down at Telepan, or choose from among the many other restaurants lining Columbus Avenue. Currently configured as an owner's triplex (including the basement living areas) with three floors of high-income free-market rentals above, this home is ready to be restored to its turn-of-the-last-century glory as a single-family mansion.