Along with tonight's episode of flashy fun-times show, Selling New York, Shaun Osher, CEO of slick real estate agency, CORE, will be joining us live right here on HGTV.ca!
I'm pretty happy with myself for having convinced the very dapper New York gent to give us some of his time, and frankly have no idea what to expect tonight -- exciting! I did manage to email him a few ice-breaking questions to help us all get to know Shaun a little better. Here's what he had to say...
Have you always been in Real Estate?
Shaun Osher: No. My first love is Jazz music. I play the saxophone and studied music in New York City.
How long have you been in the business?
SO: Almost 20 years.
What’s your take on the market in NYC these days? Is it a buyers' or a sellers' market?
SO: There are opportunities on both sides of a deal right now in NYC. It's one of the few times in recent history where the market is relatively neutral.
Is it a good time to invest in NYC property?
SO: Absolutely!
What do you predict for the market in the near future?
SO: I predict a return of consumer confidence. This is what drives our market, and in turn will lead to more stability and a higher volume of transactions.
What’s the most desirable area in the city?
SO: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What makes New York City unique is its vast appeal of many different neighbourhoods which each appeal to diverse groups of people. The neighbourhoods that will always remain desirable are the established areas that are close to parks and the waterfront.
What’s a great up-and-coming area?
SO: West Chelsea, The Bowery and The Lower East Side. On a much longer horizon, the Hudson Yards area has a bright future.
Do you do a lot of events such as the Fashion Week party to woo potential clients? Has this become the norm – throwing parties at the properties?
SO: We host targeted events when its appropriate for the property. These can be as simple as a weekend open house to a historic neighbourhood walking tour. We like to ensure that the event fits the property, and attracts the buyers and brokers who might help us complete a transaction.
How are New Yorkers different as clients, if at all, from clients in other North American cities?
SO: In essence, all clients are the same. As buyers, they are all looking for a home that resonates with their lifestyle and dreams within a certain budget. As sellers, they are all looking to maximize the value of their property. It is our goal to facilitate this for them at the highest level.
I’m going to go out on a limb and say that in Toronto, someone looking for an average of 1300 sq ft, two- to three-bedroom dwelling in a relatively desirable neighbourhood, will spend anywhere from $600,000 to sky's the limit. How does this compare to the same factors in NYC?
SO: Everything is relative. In New York City, the price range for this type of property would be above $2,000,000.
What's the best part of your job?
SO: The ability to be creative. No two buyers are ever the same and no two properties are ever the same. This ensures that no two transactions follow the exact same path -- because of this, in order to be successful, one has to be adaptive and nimble.
There you have it folks! I'm glad he doesn't give too much away because we can pose all our prying question tonight! Do join in our live blog, beginning at 9pm ET with tonight's episode. Simply click on "Make a Comment" in the
window below (which appears once the episode starts), OR, follow this link! Check out last week's live blog with the Kleiers, and keep an eye on our Live Blogs bulletin for up-coming events!
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