building at 334 West 22nd Street

Dunno.

But I am left speechless at this video for an apartment in that building:

http://www.halstead.com/properTV.aspx?video=5B1BFD5289

Failed actor turned real estate broker?

Stuart Smalley as action adventure broker hero

also love that he walks into a kitchen with a window that faces a brick wall, but when they cut to the window, it is filled with beautiful tree leaves. CONTINUITY!!!!!

o. m. g.

LOL. It's a video that's all about him. And did you read the property description? INSANE! First of all, it's not a one-bedroom, it's an ALCOVE STUDIO. "High ceilings"? "Loft-like"? They're 8 feet. Has he only sold Adobe huts before? "Enviable location with bragging rights"?? Who the hell "brags" about living on West 22nd Street, way the hell over by Ninth Avenue? Unless, of course they're moving off of Roosevelt Island (or Riker's Island!).

Interesting how in the pics and the video they carefully edited out the view of the ENTIRE kitchen, which would reveal there's no room for a full-sized refrigerator. All they have is one of those dorm-room sized under-the-counter models, with a freezer big enough to hold two glasses of ice cubes.

This listing takes realtor-speak to a whole new absurd level.

(seller says: "cash buyers to the front of the line.")

The price isn't totally outrageous given the size, but as someone pointed out, that's a lot of maintenance for a 1BR walkup. Location isn't bad since you're close to trains, and this is a landmarked block. I've seen a few places with Brian Lewis before - some people love him, some people are really put off by his somewhat aggressive and sometimes very "fake" style (he once made a comment about my "eyes" - no joke), but he certainly isn't ashamed of going for it. The language in the listings is way over the top, always makes for a good laugh.

He's a failed actor.
First he came to NYC to try to be an actor, did the thing as a waiter. Then moved up a bit. Finally, clear he couldn't do much more than the two ensembles and one bit part in Law and Order ... broker is pretty easy.

Well, definitely wouldn't buy that apartment, but after seeing the video thinking it might make a great set for some midget porn, which would make the ceilings look cathedral, the refrigerator look normal size and the apartment look like a real 1 bedroom. Wonder if the owner would consider a short-term rental if I agreed to share the video with his broker Jim Jardushe?

It seems to me that the windows and view of trees are nice, actually, and if that block is one of the nice ones over there, this isn't so bad, so the issue for me would be maintence (why would it be so high for no services building?), and price psf, which, not knowing the sf I dont know but have the impression it must be 1000 psf which still strikes me as too high. But, leaving aside price, I don't get the derision of the apartment.

WoW!! Oh, Brian!! At least, no one can say he doesn't have enthusiasm for his work. But, let's keep it real. Nobody "blows out" a doorway to turn a proper one bedroom into a studio!! That alcove is tiny. Who do you think you're fooling, Buddy? The neighborhood is great, though!

Not only is the neighborhood great, but according to Brian's listing, it actually comes with "bragging rights"!

Apparently people brag about living on West 22nd Street.

Who knew?

I dont know this guy Brian and I am NO fan of re brokers, but I give him credit for his video, charm and chutzpa (he doesn't look Jewish). Putting price and charges aside, it's also a pretty nice little abode on what more than a few people consider a great block.

flatironj, I agree with you on all counts.

What I don't agree with is the broker's lying and exaggerations about the nice little abode.

Not sure how projects one block away both to the north and the west would be considered "a great block" by anyone. Get real people!

Oh but it has "bragging rights"!

I saw this unit, it's real nice, very nicely done work, in fact excellent, but, building is the problem, only 6 sales, need all cash buyer, some investor group or perhaps sponsor which owns 18 units is perhaps trying to make this a rental building....or perhaps too many rent controlled/stabilized units. Give this broker his due credit, video is excellent, he does his job with the proper degree of enthusiasm, in total he's a pro, working and promoting his client, in this case the seller. If not for building situation this is great value and I would have bought this unit for cash.

teeman -- Always makes me laugh when people say "would have." I saw this unit as well and if you were seriously considering shelling out $500K in cash for this 500 sq ft unit, you are either a multi-millionaire with a dream of living in the projects with no regard for cost (do you realize as someone pointed out above that 2 of the biggest projects in the city are within one block of this building - and location is EVERYTHING - which is why the video showed a squirrel rather than the surrounding area and dumpy walkup building before cutting to the apartment), or you are just not a very bright investor? DO THE MATH- interest rates are sure to rise back to normal levels and the risk free rate on cash will be back to 3-5% for short term investments. This means that you would be forgoing $20K plus in risk free interest per year to own a walkup small studio apt, with even the most aggressive brokerages forecasting between negative and very little positive price appreciation over the next several years. Or are you just a "friend" of this "excellent" broker? If this unit needs to be purchased 100% cash, fair price is definitely south of $400K. With close to $1000/ mo in maintenance, one can't even make good $ as an investment property, which is what I was considering this for until I saw the projects next door and the building itself. Oh, and I made my $ myself teeman, so am careful to invest it well. I only wish people had posted above about ther projects and crappy building sooner, so I didn't waste my time viewing this unit (and almost getting caught in the middle of a police incident on the corner 9th/22nd when I was there -- yes "great block" -- just dont walk 10 ft to the end of it). Thanks for honesty of people on this site to offset broker and friend of broker BS!

cfingliss,
I am a multi-millionaire, former fifth avenue new yorker, retired, bought huge estate in Vermont, now looking for pied-a-tierre because prices are so low, your not too bright
if projects annoy you don't look in Chelsea...try Upper East Side, or Mid-town and be sure to VOTE for the like of other wonderful Americans like Dick Cheney and George Bush, I'll match education and net worth with you anytime, by the way I made my millions dealing with jerky dopes like you in the supermarket business, one of the largest in the tri-state area, hope you weren't one of the thousands who worked for me....
you missed the point entirely the only problem with this listing is the building, that's what you should may attention too..........also don't know the broker from Adam, but he could work for me anytime!!!, you go back to your squirrel hole and hide your head in same, further in NYC police incidents are a way of life, where are you from, what country!!!

Any other multi-millionaires out there looking for 450 sq ft in a crappy walk up building next door to the slums? Either you are the cheapest SOB around, or more likely, you have more in common with the rent controlled tenants that make up the current population of this building so you would be right at home there. And any real investor knows that the true value of a cheap investment property is the ability to mortgage it for the tax deduction, which you wouldn't know teeman since you probably never had a tax rate >10%. Don't worry though - maybe some dope will buy it, rent it to you for $1200 per month and be your slumlord. And you can then live the college experience you never had with your dorm size fridge -- otherwise its back to Vermont and your cashier position...

Oh and teeman -- not sure about your political references but hate to break it to you that with Obama RAISING TAXES on the wealthy (in Vermont - Middle class in NYC) - the value of mortgage ability and tax deduction is EVEN GREATER.

Seriously? Multi-millionaires look at walkup studios as pied-a-tierres?

Many rich people became rich by leaving beneath their means. I know a guy worth $50 million who rides his bicycle around Manhattan instead of paying for cabs.

Many rich people have become poorer by overextending themselves in real estate.

I agree with modern however there is a distinct difference between living beneath your means and living in a 20x20 craphole. I know some pretty cheap rich people, but all have nice apartments/ houses and all value LOCATION above all else. I think teeman is booty call of broker...

OK, it's hardly a "craphole". It's actually quite a lovely apartment, with -- for an alcove studio -- and amazing number (TEN!) of windows. It's just very small, in a decent (but hardly with "bragging rights") location in a walk-up building with a too-high monthly maintenance.

Which from multi-millionaire perspective = "craphole" (it is all about perspective). Although, I believe I am only qualified to judge if multi is defined as 5 or more... I have had too much fun with this one -- moving on...

I don't think anyone in NYC with $5 million considers themselves "rich". Maybe "lower rich". At 5% interest/earnings, that would throw off $250k per year pretax or about $125k per year after tax. So it is entirely possible to be worth $5 million and not want to spend more than $400 or 500k on a pied-a-terre. In fact, if 5m is all you have and you are retired you probably can't afford to buy a pied-a-terre, better to rent a hotel room.

Modern - if you start a fund for teeman, you convinced me to make a donation so that he can at least upgrade to an elevator building outside the slums. I don't think the hoodrats in the projects across the street are sympathetic to the plights of the "lower rich" and am concerned for his welfare...

"I don't think anyone in NYC with $5 million considers themselves "rich". Maybe "lower rich". At 5% interest/earnings, that would throw off $250k per year pretax or about $125k per year after tax."

Given that 90% of all Americans have a net worth of less than $10,000, $5 million in the bank would make you "rich", regardless of how you "feel" about it.

If you think having $5m in NYC and $5m in Tennessee are the same thing, you have bought into the conventional political view that screws NYers every day, from the AMT (which hurts high tax states) to the home mortgage deduction limit ($1m in Tennessee is plenty for 99% of homes, in Manhattan maybe half at best).

Assets and income are 2 different things. What defines "rich" is the ability to spend income freely. I guarantee you nobody in Manhattan raising a family with kids in private school considers $125k per year after-tax income as "rich".