Checking In

Hello All:

Sorry I have been a bit MIA. Last week I spent Tuesday through Thursday in Houston attending a real estate marketing conference. I came back with some interesting ideas that I will be implementing soon to take it up a notch when market the properties I represent. Aside from some great new marketing tidbits, I also came home with a new pair of Fendi Sunglasses! My hotel was attached to the Galleria - which is basically Fifth Avenue in a mall. (But without need to doge the tourist and taxi's while you jump from store to store!)  I must stay my heart started to beat faster when I stepped into Neiman Marcus and was instantly surrounded by Jimmy Choo, Prada, Manolo, Gucci, LV, et all. I did behave myself though - so it's all good :)

I have been very busy. One of our new projects in Brooklyn is about to launch sales in May. So today was a late night as we put the finishing touches on our brochure before sending it to the  printer. Website is up next. More details to come...

Caio for now.

Friday Travel Blog - Tokyo Dreams

So it's Friday again, and I am once again pondering what my next big travel adventure should be? Due to a lot of activity (thankfully) in the work sector of my life right now - a big trip in the very near future is probably not going to happen. However, I do need to start planning one. Otherwise, I start to get all anxious and shaky if I don't have a booked itinerary sitting in my email inbox with a specific date of departure all set.

This morning (after the following email deal was waiting for me on my blackberry when I woke up) almost found me on the phone booking this amazing deal to Japan. Really - only $456. including taxes round trip to Tokyo??!! I'll admit it - I almost did it. Even had my calendar in my hand to check dates. But, then responsible Kellee got travel addict Kellee under control and back to reality. Guess it's just not meant to be this time around.  

But if I were to go to Tokyo...I am thinking I would stay here. ( The KiwiCollection is a great source for finding some of the great hotels of the world)      

A girl can always dream until she has some time off...          

More Good New for Manhattan Real Estate

According to the New York Times - prices are up a bit for the first quarter. Most apartment activity is in the under 1 million price point.
 

NYC Postive Economic Indicators

Some good NYC news for a change:

Wall Street bonuses are up over last year and unemployment is trending down. This always helps Manhattan real estate. When Wall Street is buying it has a trickle down effect. Unfornueatly, most of the payout this year was in restricted stock. But here is hoping once that vested date arrives - it's used for a down payments!

See the latest in the March Heym Report from Halstead Property.by clicking on the title of this post.

F'd! UES co-op kills sale after reading kid’s Facebook page | BrickUnderground

Buyer's beware- it is now becoming more common for boards to Google and Facebook potential purchasers for NYC co-op's with sometimes not so favorable results.

F'd! UES co-op kills sale after reading kid’s Facebook page | BrickUnderground

Saturday - girls night out

Quick Post:

Saturday night was girls night out with a few of my closest friends. We had a really nice dinner at one of my favorite restaurants - Kittichai. Although not as trendy, or as hard to get a table, as it once was, Kittichai offers its diners a nice intimate space, good decor, interesting and tasty food ( try the chocolate baby back rib appetizer - de-lish!) and even tastier drinks -  passion fruit martini or a  mixed berry mojito anyone? Although they no longer offer the asian pear martini that used to be my stand by drink, there is something to please every New Yorker's jaded taste buds, and each perfectly made.

After a nice dinner of girl talk, we headed over to the lounge at The Soho Grand hotel for even more girl talk. Which interestingly enough, has not updated their website to show the renovated lounge area. The space is now all chocolate leather with turquoise accents, highlighted by big bird cage looking objects filled with feathers and flowers.  A relaxing spot to chill out with friends for drinks and nibbles. Many times this is where I do an after work meet up.( Since I usually work till 730-ish and this is only a few blocks from my office -it winds up being the best solution)  And except for the velvet rope now ensconced at the entrance on weekends (which doesn't make a lot of sense- it's a hotel- not 27th Street) I highly recommend popping in sometime.

All in all it was nice night out. Sunday it was an Open House at 60 Broadway and reading this month's book club book - Eleven Minutes by Paulo Coelho. Since this is a family friendly blog, I will skip over the contents and theme of this one, and suggest that everyone reads his book The Alchemist . The Alchemist with its themes of love, luck, fate, destiny, and personal responsibility to fulfill ones dreams and goals - is truly a life changing book. Then... after a few loads of laundry, vacuuming, and my usual Sunday night facial mud mask,  it was to bed and up for a busy Monday.

Hope everyone's week is off to a good start!

Getting the first-time homebuyer tax credit

Getting the first-time homebuyer tax credit

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