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Green Broker Cuts Waste, Educates Consumers

When Jeffrey SchIeider founded Miron Properties, he wanted to build a company that reflected his commitment to the environment. "Our whole goal is to create a different real estate experience," Schleider says. "Environmentalism is very important to me."

So Miron Properties buys electricity that's generated by wind power. "All the electricity we take off the grid comes from renewable resources," Scheider says. To reduce paper use, Miron Properties scans documents and sends PDFs instead of hard copies. To educate consumers about green properties, Schleider created an interactive map of every green building in NYC.

Consumers are hungry for information about reducing their carbon footprints, and he says sharing his expertise helps build his brand. "Be a source for your customers for how they green their own lives and their own homes," he says.

Published July 2010

About Miron Properties

Miron Properties (www.MironProperties.com) is a full service Manhattan real estate brokerage and a green building specialist. This socially and environmentally sustainable brokerage offers sales and rental properties in New York City. It is the only brokerage that is a member of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce’s Green Committee. A portion of all proceeds generated by Miron Properties are donated to charity.

Top Ten Best Movies About NYC

As with any relationship, sometimes you just need a moment to rekindle the romance. If the sticky summer weather and the fresh aggregation of tourist foot traffic has you wishing you were elsewhere, any of these films will remind you why we heart NY.

Manhattan, 1979 (dir. Woody Allen)

Nothing can rouse your New York sentiment like the grand opening of Woody Allen’s cinematic ode to his favorite city, “Manhattan.” As black-and-white images of Manhattan’s most iconic landmarks play in sequence to the sounds of George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” you can’t help but fall in love with New York all over again. And cue the fireworks.

Do the Right Thing, 1989 (dir. Spike Lee)

In this brilliant interpretation of racial tensions in Brooklyn’s Bensonhurst neighborhood, Spike Lee likens the strained relations between the area’s African American and Italian communities to a heat wave about to break. With a colorful opening dance sequence reminiscent of the sweeping intro to “Manhattan,” one can’t help but think if he was influenced by Allen’s style.

Taxi Driver, 1976 (dir. Martin Scorsese)

No one can capture the gritty, criminal underbelly of New York City’s mean streets like NYC native, Martin Scorsese. Known for its famous line, “You talkin’ to me?” the film follows a disturbed Vietnam veteran turned taxi cab driver played by Robert DeNiro.

Wall Street, 1987 (dir. Oliver Stone)

Oliver Stone’s interpretation of the ruthlessness of Wall Street is right on the money. In the aftermath of a financial crisis brought on by behavior similar to what's portrayed on-screen (shady business deals, anyone?), the 1980s film takes on an eerie relevance today. Michael Douglas will reprise his role as greedy broker Gordon Gekko in “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps,” slated for release September 2010.

Age of Innocence, 1993 (dir. Martin Scorsese)

Scorsese's adaptation of Edith Wharton's classic novel takes us back to the time of 19th century New York high society. Daniel Day Lewis is Newland Archer, an elite young lawyer who pushes social boundaries when he falls for his fiance's cousin, Countess Olenska (played by Michelle Pheiffer). Great pick for a rainy day.

Moscow on the Hudson, 1984 (dir. Paul Mazursky)

A feel-good comedy starring Robin Williams, the film follows a Russian clown trying to make it in New York City. Local or not, we can all relate to the challenge to succeed in a city like ours.

New York Stories, 1989 (dir. Woody Allen, Francis Ford Coppola, and Martin Scorsese)

New York Stories, "One City. Three Stories Tall," is a collection of three films from renowned filmmakers (and self-proclaimed New York City lovers) Woody Allen, Francis Ford Coppola, and Martin Scorsese. Though each director choses a different tale to tell, they come together in that each offers a slice of life that is so characteristically New York.

King of New York, 1990 (dir. Abel Ferrara)

In this modern-day twist on "Robin Hood," Christopher Walken plays Frank White, a former drug lord who returns from prison determined to exterminate his competition and distribute his profits among New York City's lower class.

Mean Streets, 1973 (dir. Martin Scorsese)

Yet another great film about New York from Martin Scorsese, “Mean Streets” is set against the background of Manhattan’s Little Italy. Stars such on-screen tough guys as Harvey Keitel and Robert DeNiro.

Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, 1992 (dir. Chris Columbus)

It may be a children’s movie, but "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York" is an NYC-film no-brainer. Come on, who wouldn’t want to be a kid lost in New York City, set up in a swanky suite at the Plaza, with unlimited funds?

For more fun New York City stuff and for great NYC apartments check out www.MironProperties.com

Miron's Founder Discusses the Return of Post-Grad Renters to NYC

Welcoming back grads -- at least some: Post-college renters are back in the city, but activity not as strong as some expected

June 02, 2010

By Candace Taylor

In New York, springtime usually means a flood of fresh-faced college graduates ready to start their first job and live together in their first rental apartment.

Last year, much to the dismay of many brokers, that flood was more like a trickle, thanks to the recession. Now, with the economy improving, agents and landlords are expecting the much-hyped return of renters to the market.

"In 2009, there was an eerie lack of the annual stream of recent grads moving to the city for their first job," said Jeff Schleider, founder of Manhattan-based brokerage Miron Properties. "It's reassuring to see that these grads are back."

Buoyed by good news about the real estate market and the economy, landlords and agents gleefully primed themselves for the return of these newly minted renters. Over the last several months, as The Real Deal has reported, many landlords raised their rents and scaled back concessions, such as a month's free rent. For example, Glenwood -- one of the city's major landlords -- spread the word that beginning June 1, it would no longer offer a month of free rent at any of its buildings. (The company will continue to pay brokers' fees, for the time being at least.)

Jared Wiener, the director of sales and leasing at Platinum Properties, estimated that rents are around 5 percent higher than last year at this time. "This season, the landlords are coming out with guns blazing," he said.

But they may be getting ahead of themselves. Some rental agents reported last month that despite the buzz, activity has actually been slower than expected so far this season.

"Rental transactions have been steady since April," said Takeshi "Takk" Yamaguchi, an agent at DJK Residential. "That being said, it's nowhere near as hectic as I thought it would be."

While "landlords are taking away incentives in certain neighborhoods and buildings," he said, "they should not get too carried away in areas like the Upper East Side and Midtown."

Wiener agreed. "May is slower than anticipated, which is surprising," he said. "Clearly the job market is not helping."

That, or renters are reluctant to sign on the dotted line because they're displeased with the deals they're finding. "It's tough when their friends were able to get a similar apartment six months ago for a lower price and a free month's rent," Miron's Schleider said.

Buyers are having a similar experience. Expecting to find a slow market where they'll have their pick of deeply discounted apartments, they're surprised to find intense competition instead.

"Buyers can't believe that there are multiple offers and bidding wars happening so regularly, until they experience it firsthand," said Ari LeFauve, a vice president and associate broker at the Real Estate Group New York.

The competition is being fueled by a continued shortage of well-priced inventory, brokers said, as well as a large number of bargain-hunting buyers all reentering the market at the same time.

"Buyers are coming out of the woodwork," said Ali Jafri, an agent at Prudential Douglas Elliman. "There is a release of pent-up demand."

As a result, "everyone is going after the same listings," said Rob Jackson, a salesperson at the Corcoran Group.

The competition also intensified this spring thanks to the end of the federal homebuyer tax credit program on April 30, and those buyers are now racing to make sure their deals close before the deadline of June 30.

"The government stimulus tax break definitely gave even more urgency for buyers," said Fumiyo Hayashi, a vice president at Barak Realty. "What's difficult right now is the pressure of making sure that things are moving so that the buyers can close by the end of June to capture the tax break."

In general, buyers who don't make offers quickly enough are finding that, often to their great displeasure, they are getting outbid on the properties they want -- sometimes multiple times.

Others can't find homes at all, which can be frustrating.

"In the large-apartment segment, meaning eight to 12 rooms, there is simply no inventory," said Deborah Komarow, an agent at Warburg Realty Partnership, noting that few of these large homes have come on the market recently because sellers want to avoid discounting them. "Now that the market has stabilized, the large-apartment buyer has come back into the market, and there is nothing to show them."

Some buyers simply aren't able to accept that the crisis may be over, said Judi Desiderio, the CEO of Hamptons-based Town & Country Real Estate.

"You have the half-empty/half-full mentalities," she said. "Some are playing it like Chicken Little, 'The sky is falling,' and expect a double-dip recession with housing taking another tumble. Others -- and this is the majority -- believe we have bottomed out and are ready to buy."

One lingering concern for many is the economic turmoil in Europe.

"The Euro zone crisis may still yet spill over into the global markets, which in turn will hit New York real estate values, and this is of serious concern," said Schleider.

Still, conditions are markedly improved for brokers.

As John Reinhardt, president and CEO of Fillmore Real Estate, said, "It's great to be busy again."

"If we're taking vacations, we're not staying away too long," he said. "This is the right environment for a salesperson."

About Miron Properties:

Miron Properties (www.MironProperties.com) is a full service Manhattan real estate brokerage and a green building specialist. This socially and environmentally sustainable brokerage offers sales and rental properties in New York City. It is the only brokerage that is a member of the Manhattan Chamber of Commerce’s Green Committee. A portion of all proceeds generated by Miron Properties are donated to charity.

Why Good Real Estate Brokers Should Embrace Sites like StreetEasy and Zillow http://bit.ly/bOmlkG realestate zillow streeteasy nyc apts

Best Resources for Biking NYC

The thought of biking in New York City can be a harrowing one, conjuring up visions of endless congestion, reckless driving, and disgruntled taxi cab drivers. However, more and more New Yorkers are opting for riding over driving, and recent transportation developments have made it easier than ever to commute by bike.

Beginning with Mayor Bloomberg’s announcement of PlaNYC 2030 on Earth Day 2007, an ambitious environmental undertaking which calls for the creation of 1,800 miles of bike lanes, and continuing with the growth of cycling advocacy groups, there has been a borough-wide push for more parks, more bike lanes, and harsher penalties for traveling by car.

These organizations have compiled the most useful and up-to-date resources for cyclers, including maps, guides to cyclers’ rights, and where to find a bike if you don’t already have one.

Transportation Alternatives; transalt.org

Transportation Alternatives, better known among hard-core cyclers as the brains behind the epic NYC Century Bike Tour, is a well-known advocate for bicycling, walking, and public transit. The organization is involved in a host of advocacy campaigns to make NYC streets more biker and pedestrian-friendly, including plans for a car-free Central and Prospect Park. TransAlt has some of the best resources for cyclers, ranging from an extensive list of bicycle maps that cover New York’s urban and suburban areas to a discount bike shop directory.

New York City Department of Transportation; nyc.gov/dot

New York City’s Department of Transportation is a key player in expanding the bike network, and has undertaken such initiatives as installing outdoor bike parking and administering the Bikes in Buildings program to expand the availability of indoor bike parking. The DOT online offers bike routes, safety tips, and car-free greenways where you can enjoy a relaxed and leisurely bike ride.

NYC Bike Maps; nycbikemaps.com

NYC Bike Maps is a basic site that is all about the maps: NYC bike maps by borough, maps of cycling events such as the Five Boro Bike Tour and TransAlt’s Century Tour, mountain bike maps for trails in Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island, and maps for rides in Westchester, NY. The site also offers the option of checking out where you’re riding with a Google Earth NYC Bike Map. NYC Bike Maps also features information on upcoming bike events.

Why Good Real Estate Brokers Should Embrace Sites like StreetEasy and Zillow

After making a name for myself at the big corporate firms, I decided to start Miron Properties, a firm that works differently and I believe creates better results. At the old firms, you often hear people speaking of the threat of the internet - that clients wont need brokers to find homes anymore. To me, that is insanity - I don’t ever want to create value because I have information our clients don’t. Instead I see our real value in our ability to provide market insight, knowlegable advice and skilled negotiation.

So to that end, we do things differently. We give our customers access to full and complete listing data, even going as far as paying subscriptions for them at real estate data sites, and if they feel they would like us there on their side when deciding what to buy and negotiating a price, we’re happy to be there.

So far the results have been superb. Every single customer has stayed with us as their buyers broker. Our clients love the automatic email updates and access to data about availabilities and closed sales data. And our time has freed up, so instead of focusing on mundane task of digging through new listings, we can devote more of our time to the stuff we enjoy -providing unbeatable market insight and negotiating killer deals for our clients.

So my advice to all the real estate brokers out there- Don’t fear that clients will leave you when they have access to full listing data, instead embrace these new tools and be the source that provides the data. Our clients are thrilled with the access and in all likelihood yours will be too, especially if you focus on providing great insight and negotiating great deals.

Jeff Schleider is the founder and managing director of Miron Properties, a New York City real estate brokerage specializing in residential rental and sales of condominiums, coops and investment properties.

NYC No Fee Apartments: New York City Real Estate: Miron Properties