The Sky's the Limit

The Sky's the Limit
Author: Steven Gaines
Publisher: Little, Brown
Total Pages: 312
Release: 2005-06-01
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 0759513880

With his signature elan, Gaines weaves a gossipy tapestry of brokers, buyers, co-op boards, and eccentric landlords and tells of the apartment hunting and renovating adventures of many celebrities -- from Tommy Hilfiger to Donna Karan, from Jerry Seinfeld to Steven Spielberg, from Barbra Streisand to Madonna. Gaines uncovers the secretive, unwritten rules of co-op boards: why diplomats and pretty divorcees are frowned upon, what not to wear to a board interview, and which of the biggest celebrities and CEOs have been turned away from the elite buildings of Fifth and Park Avenues. He introduces the carriage-trade brokers who never have to advertise for clients and gives us finely etched portraits of a few of the discreet, elderly society ladies who decide who gets into the so-called Good Buildings. Here, too, is a fascinating chronicle of the changes in Manhattan's residential skyline, from the slums of the nineteenth century to the advent of the luxury building. Gaines describes how living in boxes stacked on boxes came to be seen as the ultimate in status, and how the co-operative apartment, originally conceived as a form of housing for the poor, came to be used as a legal means of black-balling undesirable neighbors. A social history told through brick and mortar, The Sky's the Limit is the ultimate look inside one of the most exclusive and expensive enclaves in the world, and at the lengths to which people will go to get in.

Back on the Market

Back on the Market
Author: Holly Parker
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 256
Release: 2020-12-29
Genre: Family & Relationships
ISBN: 1948677474

A hilarious view of life after divorce; you’ll never look at properties again without thinking of your dating life. Back on the Market is a Realtor’s guide to life, love, and dating and the multitude of challenges that come with it all. Holly Parker has sold 8 billion dollars of luxury real estate throughout her career as one of Manhattan’s most successful brokers. Through her humor and quick wit, she connects common real estate terms to everyday life, making Back on the Market a fun and unforgettable read. After seven years of marriage, Holly found herself “falling out of contract,” as a newly divorced woman reluctantly facing the prospect of being “back on the market.” She understands that life is transactional, whether it’s a business decision or those we spend our time with, so she took her skills as a master real estate agent and applied everything she knew to getting her life back. Cleverly told through the eyes of a Realtor, Holly depicts the perils of life, love, and dating—whether it’s dealing with first-time buyers (those who have a romanticized version of what they think they want and what they can actually have), the value of curb appeal, fixing the foundation of a damaged home, not listing before you’re ready to sell, staging, and so much more. Hilarious and emotional, Holly shares her dating experiences with “fixer uppers,” the guys with “good bones,” and the “forever renters.” Back on the Market is a story of hope and the pursuit of happiness. Full of memorable takeaways, lessons, and anecdotes, Holly will help you find your perfect “home” and fall in love with life all over again.

Manhattan for Rent, 1785-1850

Manhattan for Rent, 1785-1850
Author: Elizabeth Blackmar
Publisher: Cornell University Press
Total Pages: 370
Release: 1989
Genre: Architecture
ISBN: 9780801499739

On the social forces behind the formation of the city's housing market and its relations to the development of a capitalist economy. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR