Real Estate News - real estate

Toasting two trending clients and the revitalization of Stapleton

One of the most rewarding aspects of being a commercial realtor is watching your clients enjoy success with their businesses, and watching the business transition from inception to finding its identity. In 2018, two of our clients have received notable recognition: The Coupe and The Hop Shoppe, both in Stapleton.

The Coupe, located at 379 Van Duzer St., was named by New York Magazine as Staten Island’s first “serious cocktail lounge.” The Coupe is noted for serving craft cocktails made with hand-carved ice and a curated menu of quality bar food, served in a relaxing, romantic atmosphere that extends into the wee hours of the morning.

A short walk away is The Hop Shoppe at 372 Van Duzer St., a fun, eclectic atmosphere for good food and more than 200…

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Real Estate Abbreviations

Like any other industry, the real estate industry has its own lingo. When jumping into the real estate market, whether as a new agent/broker, buyer, seller, or developer, it is important get a good grasp on this language to maximize your understanding of real estate and your communication with others within the industry. Here are some commonly used abbreviations used in real estate listings:

A/C: Air Conditioner

AGP: Above Ground Pool

Ba: Bathroom

BDRM/BR: Bedroom

Bsmt/Bsmnt: Basement

CA: Central Air

CAC: Central Air Conditioning 

CC: Common Charges

C/H: Central Heating 

CMA: Comparative Market Analysis

DR: Dining Room

EIK: Eat-In-Kitchen

Hdwd:…

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No Time for Nostalgia...

I spent a significant bit of time over the holidays looking back. Not so much looking back over the year, but really taking stock of how much things have changed over the last 20 years. From Agriculture to Construction and from Healthcare to Banking, technology has completely transformed all major industries and market segments both domestic and abroad. 

For the most part, we have rolled with the changes and adapted our daily routines to incorporate these technological advances where it was most convenient.

Folks, Real Estate is not only an industry that has also been impacted, it may be one of the market segments that has seen the most dramatic changes. 

I have been around Staten Island Real Estate since I was a toddler. I vividly remember being shuttled…

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The Difference Between Real Estate and Estate

These words are occasionally mistakenly used interchangeably. Even then they can be related in some cases, they have two completely different meanings. 

An estate is the total sum of one’s assets such as money, businesses, and real property (including their real estate), especially after their death. We hear this term used frequently after one has passed away. “X is the heir to Y’s estate.” It is easy to think that the term estate, especially in this context, specifically means their land or house. For many people, the word estate signifies a home, or more specifically a large plot of land and a lavish home. When, in reality, an estate is just the sum of one's assets, lavish or not. 

Another way to look at is that an estate includes…

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3087 Richmond Terr | Warehouse/Office Space Available For Sale

3087 Richmond Terr is a commercial building available for lease located in the Mariner's Harbor section of Staten Island.  This four story concrete and steel building boasts over 12,000 sq ft of office space within its total of 18,528 sq ft along with over 4,000 sq ft of warehouse space with garage on the first floor.

There are three floors of approximately 4,500 sq ft per floor of office space available sitting on top of first floor warehouse space with garage access.  There is a gated entry on the property which allows for screening of visitors.  This building is equipped with a freight elevator and is easily accessible from route 440 and the Staten Island Expressway sitting just over one mile in between each nearest exit.  

This commercial…

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Good Faith Estimate

What Is A Good Faith Estimate?

A Good Faith Estimate is an important document used when purchasing a home. Obtained from the lender, this document gives homebuyers a detailed look at the finical obligation they are taking on by accepting the mortgage loan. It outlines all costs and payments that the buyer will be subject to post closing, including: loan fees, advance fees, reserves/escrow charges, title charges, government charges, and all other charges associated with the mortgage loan. The Good Faith Estimate is a valuable tool in the home buying process: it makes it easier to compare and contrast lenders when shopping around for a mortgage. Homebuyers should leverage this tool by requesting a GFE from at least a few different lenders in an effort to…

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Top 5 Worst Renovations

Converting garage to living space

Believe it or not, converting your garage space into more livable square footage or an in-law suite is actually one of the worst renovations with a poor return on investment when it comes to resale. Instead, keep the garage and purchase new garage doors. This is a way to improve buyers first impression of your home and often offers a return of over 80%

Sunroom Addition

A sunroom is also considered to be one of the worst home renovations when it comes to return on investment. It can be difficult to get a return that’s above 45%. Like many of these renovations, a sunroom can become quite pricey depending on the extravagance, making it difficult to realize a good return. 

Specialized spaces

Try and…

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1432 Hylan Bvd

For Sale or Lease, this unique commercial building is currently used as a medical/community facility space.  1492 Hylan Blvd is a bi-level property which is fully ADA compliant with an elevator servicing each floor.  Ample reception areas make it perfect for high traffic office needs.   The proximity to Staten Island University Hospital makes it prime for any type of medical space, community facility or associated use.   The property can be accessed by local and express bus service and is a short walk to SIRR.  The building can be delivered vacant if desired.  The owner is motivated and will listen to all offers.  Current zoning is R3-2 with a C2-1 overlay.

Call Sonia Tomai at 718.816.7799 or email Sonia@CasandraProperties.com.  To view another…

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What are the Pros and Cons of Buying an Older Home vs Newer Home?

While all homes are different, there are a couple of key things that separate buying an older home from buying a newer home. The primary difference is in the physicality of the home. You almost always can tell when a home was built in the mid-1900’s or before just by looking at it. These physical differences include everything from a historical architecture to small imperfections that contribute to the overall ambiance of an old place. They just feel different. 

Older homes often have more imperfections in the way that they were built. You can almost always find small quirks like non-straight lines, slanted floors, crooked walls, or drafty doors and windows. If you look hard enough, you’ll discover these non-level surfaces. This kind of just adds…

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What is Escrow and How Does the Process Work?

What does it mean to “be in escrow?” 

We hear buyer and sellers often use this phrase and in context, we know that this means the process of buying/selling a home is almost done, but what does it really mean?

In real estate, escrow companies are non-interested third parties that hold funds from both parties until all agreements of a contract have been fully executed. Ever wonder how a seller actually gets paid when selling their real property? Escrow! Financers of the purchase of real estate, whether it’s a lender or cash purchaser, deposit that money into an escrow account where the money is securely held from both parties until the transaction is complete. So, the buyer hands the money to Escrow, who keeps it safe, until both parties have…

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