Toni Haber

A private outdoor space is a rare and coveted luxury in Manhattan. It's no wonder that so many house hunters (including myself), have outdoor space at the top of their must-have list. My last four apartments have had outdoor spaces, of all different shapes, sizes, and exposures. My penthouse on...

With all the talk of improving economic indicators, it's pretty easy to get swept up in optimism. But despite improvements, the numbers still aren't that good. Last month's unemployment numbers fell to a three year low of 8.1 percent, but that's only because less people are actively seeking...

1) Have I spoken to a mortgage broker? I've said it before and I'll say it again. Talk to an expert! Don't assume anything... Cause when you assume... Well, you know the rest... Get pre-qualified! The worst thing is going to see an apartment that you love and finding at...

Last week I gave you the first quarter Manhattan market report on co-op and condo sales. The rental market report has just been released. The average rental price has increased 6.0 percent from first quarter of 2011 to first quarter 2012. The rental price-per-square-foot has gone from $49.09...

It's about that time again, the first quarter Manhattan market reports are out and all of the major players have weighed in, all painting the picture of a stable real estate market here in New York City. Douglas Elliman's market reports are produced in conjunction with Miller Samuel to provide...

If you've been looking to rent an apartment recently, you might be experiencing a little sticker shock. Seven grand for a two-bedroom on the Upper West Side... Really? Really!!

As you may have read in previous blogs, the rental market has seen some significant increases over the...

The combination of dramatically rising rents, ridiculously low mortgage rates and bolstered consumer confidence in our fragile, yet seemingly slowly recovering economy has created a perfect storm of buyer enthusiasm. With rental rates increasing up to 10 percent over the last year, renters are beginning to ask themselves...

What makes a penthouse specialist? I get asked that question a lot. Has there ever been a time when you were just doing something you love? And after years of focus and experience you suddenly realize you know a lot about it? Well, I love penthouses and that's exactly what...

"Lack of inventory," "nothing to show out there," that's all I hear when I talk to my fellow brokers, that's all I've been hearing for more than a year. The fact of the matter is... beautiful, "move-in ready" apartments are rare and go quick, which I just experienced at The...

I'm talking about furniture...! As some of you may know from previous posts, I've recently closed on a Condo in NYC. Finally having found the ideal place to settle in was so exciting, but even the thought of having to go through all of my stuff and move apartments was...

Last week I delved into a question that crosses most people's minds throughout their careers: whether or not they should stay with their company. My own journey involved a lot of inward reflection and forced me to take an honest assessment of my career. I asked myself some key questions...

Here's an interesting stat from the Bureau of Labor Statistics: The average person changes jobs ten to fifteen times during his or her career. This means that a lot of time and energy is spent navigating job change, evaluating prospective employers, and refining what, exactly, it is...

Not long ago, The Haber Team was assigned a unique property. It wasn't just that the space was distinctive; it was illustrative of the varied (and often unpredictable) qualities sellers are looking for in a broker.

Two very interesting things happened when I went to go meet the owners....

The Chelsea Stratus, located at 101 West 24th Street is a condominium building built approximately four years ago -- and boy was this developer spot on. I have to say that this is one of the few buildings where there is a list of people waiting to buy or rent...

As a real estate broker for almost for 30 years, I have seen many people come and go, in and out of this industry. In this highly competitive market, I've often asked myself: what makes the difference? Why do some succeed, while others tuck tail and run? Everyone dreams of...

They say if you can make it here you can make it anywhere, and that old line certainly rings true for Manhattan's renters. With rental prices skyrocketing across Manhattan, days on the market down, and landlord concessions plummeting, New York City is truly a tough market for those looking to...

New York City may be busy, fast-paced, and stunningly diverse but there's at least one thing about it that's surprisingly stable: Manhattan has a strong, steady real estate market unlike anywhere else in the country. Though the housing market is in flux across the U.S., Manhattan real estate remains a...

I'm all about making connections: I love networking, and I'm not exaggerating when I say I've been doing it my entire life. These days my favorite way to network is by being a resource for people and sharing my real estate and experiences. Whether it's by introducing people to someone...

After months of searching, I finally found a new apartment!

In my last post I mentioned that we have a saying in the real estate industry that "buyers are liars" -- and that it's not that they lie, but that they may be open to possibilities they aren't even...

We have a saying in my industry that "buyers are liars." Buyers aren't actually lying to their brokers, it's just that sometimes we think we must have a certain neighborhood or amenity and later we come to find out that our "must haves" are wants rather than needs. That is...