Author: admin

By Susanne Dwyer

In TV sitcoms, life in a New York City apartment—and all its colorful trappings—is the stuff of fantasy. But in the real world, where prices for condos and apartments in New York reach record-breaking levels each year, owning property like the West Village loft from “Friends” could require the salary of an A-list actor.

The average price of a Manhattan apartment exceeded $2 million in 2016, according to Douglas Elliman’s Q1 Manhattan sales report. The median resale price rose on a year-to-year basis from $885,000 to $950,000 in the first quarter of 2016.

“(The) real estate landscape has shifted so profoundly over the last two decades that this generation’s girl-about-town occupies a very different kind of space,” Ronda Kaysen writes in a September 2016 article in The New York Times. “And it is [space] that keeps shrinking.”

No matter how small the apartments in New York City may be, demand will always be high. Such has been the case at Carmel Place, a new housing development that features affordable “micro-units” that range between 265 square feet and 360 square feet, which already has a lottery of over 60,000 people who want to live there.

Here are four TV apartments that once upon a time could be had by their characters at favorable prices.

1. “Friends”

The two-bedroom apartment where Monica (Courtney Cox) and Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) lived is where most of the comedy and drama of NBC’s “Friends” took place. The apartment’s patio and favorable location on 90 Bedford Street in Manhattan made it the perfect rental for two young professionals. It was also at a time when renting in Manhattan was relatively manageable. When “Friends” was in its second season in 1996, median rents in Manhattan were $2,000, reports The New York Times. Today, the median rent is $3,344 a month—an increase of 67 percent.

In 2015, the Corcoran Group estimated that the purchase price for Monica’s apartment would be $2.3 million—not exactly affordable for two young professionals trying to make it in the big city.

2. “I Love Lucy”

Life in New York City in the 1950s was unbelievably affordable, if “I Love Lucy” is any proof. Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz) and his wife Lucy (Lucille Ball) paid $125 a month for their one-bedroom railroad apartment on East 68^th Street (between York Avenue and the FDR Drive).

What’s more, the couple signed a 99-year lease, which, if they managed to live throughout the duration of that lease, they would have paid nearly $150,000 over the lease’s lifespan. That’s far cheaper than the $899,000 price tag of the apartment in 2015.

3. “Mad Men”

Having just gone through a divorce from his first wife while launching a new company, advertising genius Don Draper (Jon Hamm) of AMC’s critically acclaimed show “Mad Men” wasn’t in the best position to buy …read more

From:: Real Estate News

Janet Yellen spoke today before Congress’ Joint Economic Committee about the possibility of raising interest rates. Though the markets have shown drastic changes since last week’s elections, she did not mention the new President-elect. Instead, Yellen focused on what the market needs to see to justify a rate-hike in December. …read more

From:: Real Estate Wire

The bank formerly owned by the [rumored] leading candidate to the Department of the Treasury in President-elect Donald Trump’s administration violated federal fair housing laws by redlining minority neighborhoods and engaging in discriminatory lending practices, according to two housing advocacy groups. …read more

From:: Real Estate Wire

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s official “rural or underserved” and “rural” counties lists are out. While the list might bear no meaning for some, it can significantly alter the way other lenders originate mortgages. Check out next year’s list to see if it impacts the way you conduct business. …read more

From:: Real Estate Wire

By Beth McGuire

A rise in the key interest rate could come “relatively soon,” Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen reiterated on Thursday, heightening the probability the Fed will forge ahead with a hike in December, despite initial doubts in the wake of Donald Trump’s presidential victory. Mortgage rates, which generally follow the key rate, shot up this week, with the 30-year fixed rate mortgage topping out at an average 3.94 percent from 3.57 percent the week prior.

“This week, the verdict is in—over the last two weeks, the 30-year mortgage rate jumped 40 basis points to 3.94 percent, almost identical to the 39 basis point increase in the 10-year Treasury yield,” says Sean Becketti, Freddie Mac’s chief economist. “If rates stick at these levels, expect a final burst of home sales and refinances as ‘fence sitters’ try to beat further increases, then a marked slowdown in housing activity.”

Yellen’s position—which comes as the dust settles after one of the most contentious elections in history—reinforces the sentiments of Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia President Patrick Harker and Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis President James Bullard, who both voiced support for future hikes this week.

Yellen also echoed the Fed’s intent to only gradually raise the key rate. The Fed last raised the rate in December 2015.

For the latest real estate news and trends, bookmark RISMedia.com.

The post ‘Relatively Soon’ Rise for Interest Rates as Mortgage Rates Shoot Up Post Election appeared first on RISMedia.

…read more

From:: Finance and Economy