Quote from Trend Fader:
This whole national housing melt down is a big joke. Yes there will be poor areas that will get hurt,, but prime areas like manhattan are still thriving. Check out this building in manhattan.. its been on the market for 3 days and is already 20% sold out. Prices are starting at $2mil. Brokers there have no issues moving units like these priced around $2k per sq ft. As long as unemployment stays low, mortgage rates are low ( i am talking about the majority of prime borrowers) and the stock market doesnt crash - housing will thrive in most strong metro markets, especially like NYC.
www.thelucida.com
Green building, LEEDs certified. A huge marketing edge, perfect for those spoiled trust fund babies looking to do nice things for the environment. Rich ppl, not working people, cause unemployment is at least double what the reports are telling you.
The fact that it was not quickly snatched up like the Solaire prior to even being completed only shows that Manhattan is hurting and has been hurting. Solaire is rentals, but they were all booked up prior to completion, 20-30% premium rents over your next luxury building and with a long waiting list.
2-3 years ago, these condos would have been almost all sold out without even the model floor being completed. Now you are looking at 20% with half the building complete. The developer is not too happy, that building is expensive and $2k a foot is the low end of what he should charge considering how much more expensive construction is nowdays. 2 years ago he could have gotten $2.5k a foot.
Housing is not thriving here, condos are not selling, that's why they are quickly being turned into hotels. The Manhattan, and even Astoria, Long Island, Brooklyn real estate markets all pulled a quick turn in 2006. Downside is limited, but then you never know.