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Real estate groups challenge San Fran’s permanent ban on coronavirus-related evictions

San Francisco’s landlords are not happy about the city’s recent ban on coronavirus-related evictions. Four real estate trade groups sued the city this week over the ordinance, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Mayor London Breed signed it on Friday. The ordinance permanently bars landlords from evicting tenants for nonpayment of rent related to the pandemic. The lawsuit was filed by the San Francisco Apartment Association, the San Francisco Association of Realtors, the Coalition for

The Best Way to Keep Your Home Clean and Safe Every Day

If you’re wondering which way is the best way to keep your home clean and safe on a daily basis, this blog post is a must-read. Cleaning often is tedious to do throughout each day, but it is inexpensive and doable. But don’t stress about it. Just be mindful and clean, clean, clean! There is a simple way to keep your home clean and safe. Pandemic Versus Epidemic Do you know what the difference is between a pandemic and an epidemic? Pandemic According to Merriam-Webster, when used as an adjective, pandemic means “occurring over a wide geographic area…

Ditmas Park Victorian With Wraparound Porch Asks $2.5M

Photos: Allyson Lubow/Courtesy of Compass And there’s space for a home office. Price: $2,495,000 Location: Ditmas Park, Brooklyn Built in 1930, this Victorian house at 241 Stratford Road isn’t part of any of the nearby historic districts, but its architectural style and tree-lined surroundings are consistent with Ditmas Park’s characterful suburban vibe. The home is walking distance to the southern tip of Prospect Park and just up the block from the Cortelyou Road thoroughfare, which has restaurants like Purple Yam, the Farm on Adderley, and Mimi’s Hummus, plus Cortelyou Greenmarket, a Sunday farmers’ market. The property comes with a driveway and detached garage, and the closest…

Top 5 Stories on Brownstoner This Week: A Striking Clinton Hill Interior, History of the Bathroom

Striking Art and Playful Inventiveness Create Comfortable Clinton Hill Home A designer’s home is both her calling card and her workshop, but the most important thing, at least to Delia Kenza Brennen, is that it feel like home — a place where she, her husband, and their two daughters can be… Read More >The post Top 5 Stories on Brownstoner This Week: A Striking Clinton Hill Interior, History of the Bathroom appeared first on Brownstoner.

Luxury apartments pivot to virtual activities

About three months into quarantine, residents trapped in small apartments are going stir-crazy. That is unless they live in a luxury apartment with an in-house lifestyle director. Decorating doors for celebrate graduations, virtual cooking classes and zoom workouts, all organized by apartment staff, indicate that, although outdoor seating in a pandemic may seal the deal for some, a rooftop terrace and gym is no longer enough for developers to lease out high-price buildings. They must

How to Find the Best Mortgage Lender with Confidence

Dreaming of buying your first home? Find the best mortgage lender with confidence! Here’s how. Finding the best mortgage lender on your journey to homeownership is important. But it can be challenging, especially if you are a first-time homebuyer. It’s a big deal because picking a lender is an important part of the home buying process. And finding the best the right mortgage is crucial. Here’s some excellent information from NerdWallet to help you navigate this part of buying a home with confidence. 5 Things You Need to Know to Help You Find the Best Mortgage Lender NerdWallet says, “The best mortgage lenders for first-time homebuyers embrace government loans, offer low down payment options, charge reasonable…

What NYC could do with its $6 billion police budget

Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Some of that could go toward homeless services, rental aid, and youth programs. At a City Council hearing in late May, Gwen Carr, the mother of Eric Garner, urged for sweeping cuts to the proposed budget for the New York City Police Department. “No one knows better than me that when you prioritize, fund, and shield the NYPD—instead of investing in our communities—the impact is devastating for black and Latinx communities,” she said. “In the most extreme cases, the impact is deadly. For me and my family…

Top 5 Stories on Brownstoner This Week: Affordable Housing in Williamsburg

Affordable Housing Lottery Opens for 29 Units in Williamsburg, Starting at $1,101 a Month An affordable housing lottery has opened for 29 newly constructed units in a seven-story building at 187 Kent Avenue in Williamsburg. — Live Your Dollhouse Dreams in This Petite Cold Spring Cottage, Yours for $499K If you are drawn to… Read More >The post Top 5 Stories on Brownstoner This Week: Affordable Housing in Williamsburg appeared first on Brownstoner.

The exodus: A rise in remote working could crater expensive housing markets

Why pay an arm and a leg to live near your Silicon Valley office if you don’t need to anymore? That’s what some highly-paid tech workers are asking themselves. The coronavirus pandemic has forced remote working on scores of companies and some have decided to embrace it. Some of their employees are taking it as an opportunity to escape the super high rents and home prices in the Bay Area, according to Bloomberg. Dylan Hecklau,

What are the Best Mortgage Questions You’re Afraid to Ask?

It doesn’t matter if you’re a first-time homebuyer or an experienced homebuyer. Homebuyers always have mortgage questions. And there is no mortgage question your mortgage lender hasn’t already heard. So whether those questions make you feel uncomfortable, naïve, or even stupid, ask them. Remember what your dad told you? “There is NO stupid question except for the one you didn’t ask.” Don’t be afraid to ask the awkward questions. There are no stupid mortgage questions. And there are none your mortgage lender hasn’t already …

Here’s how NYC plans to keep New Yorkers cool this summer

Mario Tama/Getty Images Spacious cooling centers, misting oases, open hydrants, and more The days of a refreshing plunge in a public pool or a cold beer at a baseball game won’t be happening anytime soon in New York. And while many of the summer pastimes New Yorkers use to cool down are suddenly dangerous amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, that won’t stop the sweltering summer heat. Last July was the tenth-hottest recorded in the history of New York City, and temperatures have already climbed into the 80s this May. To brace for another scorching summer, the city aims to set up “non-traditional cooling centers” at auditoriums, sports venues, …

Promenade’s Montague Street Entrance Being Cleared

This morning a crew from Everest Scaffolding has been busy removing planks from atop the sidewalk bridge covering the Montague Street entrance to the Brooklyn Heights Promenade. The bridge is there to protect pedestrians from possible falling debris caused by inspection and repointing of Two Montague Terrace’s facade. Our surmise is that the work on the north facing facade been completed.  It appears they are leaving the bridge covering the sidewalk on the Montague Terrace side.

Top 5 Stories on Brownstoner This Week: Choosing Backyard Plants, Affordable Housing in Brownsville

Affordable Housing Lottery Opens for 37 Units in Brownsville, Starting at $666 a Month An affordable housing lottery has opened for 37 newly constructed units in an eight-story building at 7 Livonia Avenue in Brownsville. — 6 Things You Must Know Before Installing a Fence People must be dreaming of outdoor projects while they… Read More >The post Top 5 Stories on Brownstoner This Week: Choosing Backyard Plants, Affordable Housing in Brownsville appeared first on Brownstoner.

Who made de Blasio’s real estate reopening council — and who didn’t

It’s rarely a good sign when a press release is issued late on a Friday afternoon, as was the case this week when Mayor Bill de Blasio unveiled his construction and real estate advisory council. That’s when the fewest people (and journalists) are paying attention to the news, which makes it a good time to air dirty laundry or just put out information not viewed as having PR value. But perhaps the panel names were

Is Now the Best Time to Consider Purchasing a Home

Is this spring really the best time to purchase a home? According to real estate experts, springtime is the best time to purchase a home. But this year, spring is different. It is anything but typical or ordinary. Many real estate agents are now working remotely and conducting most of their business online. And buyer and seller consultations are done virtually. But many home shoppers are wondering if now is really the best time to consider purchasing a home. Coronavirus or Not, Always Weigh the Factors Social distancing because of the coronavirus is attempting to cripple our economy…

New York City’s Rent Guidelines Board vote, explained

Max Touhey Will rent-stabilized tenants get a rent freeze this year? And all your other pressing questions, answered The Rent Guidelines Board (RGB) will vote on June 17 on adjustments for the city’s 1 million rent-stabilized apartments for the coming year. On May 7, during a virtual hearing, the RGB voted to approve a rent freeze for one-year leases, and for two-year leases, a rent freeze on the first year and a 1 percent increase on the second. The RGB vote happened against the backdrop of the global coronavirus pandemic, with New York …

Top 5 Stories on Brownstoner This Week: Getting High-End Kitchen Cabinets on a Budget

Brownstone Boys: How to Get Budget Kitchen Cabinets With a High-End Look Kitchens are often the most expensive spaces to renovate. There are a lot of complex parts and pieces that add up quickly. Of those, often the biggest and most expensive is the cabinetry. There are a wide range of… Read More >The post Top 5 Stories on Brownstoner This Week: Getting High-End Kitchen Cabinets on a Budget appeared first on Brownstoner.

Western financial firms still want a piece of Shanghai’s office market

Shanghai’s office market stands to benefit from strong appetite from foreign financial firms. Financial institutions from around the globe moved to grab office spaces and expand their operations when the Chinese government announced last year it would ease restrictions on foreign involvement in the country’s financial system. Many are staying the course, according to Bloomberg. “Foreign financial tenants are undeterred by the outbreak. We haven’t really seen anyone winding back expansion plans like some other

What Have You Uncovered in the Heart of Your Home?

You’ve been spending a lot of time at home lately, haven’t you? And I’m willing to bet it’s been rewarding to finally have the time to tackle all those projects that have been piling up. Yeah, nice. But while the whole self-isolating thing may have been great at first, stir craziness is probably starting to set in. So, if you’re still self-isolating and haven’t already tackled the TLC projects in the heart of your home, consider this. You can easily improve the atmosphere of your home in addition to your outlook with seven worthwhile DIY projects for your kitchen. And they’re surprisingly easy! Uncover the value of the heart of your home while…

NYC will open 7 miles of streets in and near parks this weekend

Cyclists and joggers have begun enjoying the warmer weather in parks across New York City. | Stephanie Keith/Getty Images The city will eventually close 100 miles of streets to cars New Yorkers will be able to safely stroll and bike on more than seven miles of city streets starting May 2, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced this week. The rollout comes as part of the city’s pledge to open up to 100 miles of roads to promote socially distant recreation. Of the first 7.2 miles of that initiative…