Irreverent Real Estate: Should You Sell Your Apartment or House Now?

Dear Readers:

Apologies for the delay since the last post. The market is totally wacky right now and I honestly haven't had the time to write this blog. But I'm back with you and I have only one worthwhile message to share at this time. And that is: Sell your apartment.

And if you don't have a place to sell. Sell someone else's apartment. That's right, sneak in, steal the keys, and sell your neighbor's place. Why? Because by the time they get back from work and notice you are there--you will have ten offers all above the highest asking price of their wildest dreams, and instead of reporting you to the police--they'll give you a big kiss and buy you a new coffee grinder.

I'd sell my apartment. Seriously. I want to. The money right now is just that good (and we just bought our place too) but my kids would scream more than they do normally (teenagers) plus I'd have to pay for therapy for everyone--but otherwise, seriously, I'd do it.

But I understand, making the decision to sell is hard to do--so I am going to help you decide now (and you should decide quickly before interest rates rise) with a short list of good and bad reasons to hold on to your apartment or house. It should make it simple. And then you should call me if you decide you want to sell. 646-269-1072. And within a week you'll have a bank account full of money beyond your wildest dreams. (ok-that's slightly simplistic, but if you call I'll explain it--and it's not all THAT far off the mark).

Good reasons NOT to sell:

1.The apartment you currently live in is the perfect apartment for you and you have no plans in the future (or distant future) to ever move anywhere but that apartment. You never considering downsizing (or UPsizing to a less fancy neighborhood in Brooklyn for that matter ((bigger place, less money, slightly lower neighorhood household income)) and the interest rate on your place is fantastically low.

2.You are in one of the primo school districts (you know who you are) you absolutely HAVE to stay there--meaning that your child has not started school yet or they have a sibling who has not-- and you are concerned they might not get a variance.

Good reasons to sell:

1. You have EVER considered leaving the city. Now is the time. I love New York--but if I had even a slight crush on someone on the West Coast, or a job that made sense anywhere else--and a NYC apartment to sell...I'd be selling it.

2. You need money more than you need every single square foot of your apartment or house. Willing to give up a few feet? You will not end up homeless. Each of those feet is worth about a thousand dollars. Look around your house-count the feet you can live without and decide if you feel like selling.

3. You want to. Sometimes you just want to get out...if you are feeling restless..right now, that's a good enough reason given the profit you stand to make. Houses and apartments aren't people. They are objects. You won't hurt your apartment's feelings.

4. You believe the only neighborhood in Brooklyn that you will enjoy living in is the one you are in now. Newsflash: Brooklyn is all awesome. Yes, yes, I know at one time awhile back Brooklyn was famous as being ridiculously dangerous. And then the parts that weren't dangerous were ridiculously insular and boring...that has all changed! (and very quickly too I might add), get out there (or come with me) explore the rest of Brooklyn..just one or two more subway stops can get you into a place that costs far less, can give you bigger space, more diversity, often better food, and an investment that is more likely to increase in value, and yes, in all of them you can still get a fancy drink, buy groceries, and order sushi.

5. You are emotionally attached to your house or apartment. Now this may sound very cold, but I promise you, for people who know me, I am quite the opposite of cold. But see-here's the thing--If you are in love with your house--what you are in love with is an inanimate object that does not love you back. That love is within you and so are all those memories-so if there are practical reasons to sell that might improve your real life (the one with people in it) and the thing holding you back is just sentimental apartment-love, buy a puppy, volunteer in a maternity ward, help a kid learn to read, and sell your place. You will love again. Does that sound terrible? I hope not. A lot of people are scared of moving, and after it's over, every single one of them is ok.

So there it is..once you figure out which side of that fence you are on-if you come up on the side of selling--give me a call and we'll talk about any concerns or questions you may have. Then we'll sell your place. For a whole lot of money.

Thanks for reading,

Alexandra Florio

The Corcoran Group

646-269-1072