Manhattan-based real estate investment bank the Carlton Group is expanding into Europe in an effort to become a bigger player overseas, according to Crain’s. The expansion has already begun with the firm opening a London office in April. Howard Michaels, chairman and chief executive, says Russia will be next, potentially opening by the end of 2011. Michaels is attempting to cash in on changed attitudes amongst foreign investors. “Everyone always said overseas investors have an increased appetite in Manhattan. Today that has never been more true,” he said. [more]

The Nets and the team’s new home at Prudential Center in Newark

The New Jersey Nets have reached a long-anticipated deal to move to Newark’s Prudential Center for the next two years, as the team plans for the Barclays Arena to open two years from now at the Atlantic Yards project in Brooklyn.

Newark Mayor Cory Booker confirmed the deal following a special session of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority this morning and furious negotiations to finalize talks with the Prudential Center officials.

“It’s extraordinarily exciting,” Booker told The Real Deal in a telephone interview. “Not only will it bring economic opportunity, energy excitement to our downtown, for the Nets they are going to receive one of the most exciting fan bases they’ve had in years and years.”

The deal ends months of speculation about the Nets, who have struggled to draw fans to the East Rutherford arena after the New Jersey Devils ditched the former Continental Airlines arena for Newark. [more]

With Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov reportedly in talks to purchase the New Jersey Nets — and subsequently help finance Bruce Ratner’s massive Atlantic Yards development — the owners of high-end Brooklyn condos are vying for his attention. The managers of two properties, one the famous $25 million Clock Tower penthouse at One Main Street in Dumbo and the other a $7.5 million Brooklyn Heights penthouse at One Brooklyn Bridge Park, got in touch with Prokhorov’s representatives this week to pitch units to him for purchase, the New York Post reported. The developers of both properties referenced the Russian oligarch’s love of parties as a main selling point for their respective penthouses. “You don’t get any better than a 1,000-square-foot roof deck … to hold parties,” Ian Levine, COO of RAL Companies, which manages the 4,638-square-foot One Brooklyn Bridge Park spot, said. But David Walentas, developer for the Clock Tower spot, said that his place is unrivaled in its party appeal. “The second I heard Prokhorov was buying the Nets, I knew this space was made for him because he’s known for throwing some incredible parties,” Walentas said. There is no word yet on whether Prokhorov has picked a favorite, or if he’s even planning to move to Brooklyn.

More Russian property buyers are looking for New York City real estate, according to an analysis of Russian investment trends by the Moscow Times. High-profile investors, such as Mikhail Prokhorov, who has been pursuing a $200 million deal with Atlantic Yards developer Bruce Ratner, have reportedly ramped up interest among Russian real estate buyers. The trend has caught some brokers, like Wilbur Gonzalez of Brown Harris Stevens, by surprise. “I expected the Russians to sit out 2009 and 2010, licking their wounds,” Gonzalez said. While some expect real estate prices in New York City to fall further, industry experts say that Russians investors are drawn in by the weak dollar and are viewing New York real estate for its long-term value.

Russia’s richest man, metal tycoon and billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, took to his blog this week explaining his interest in financing the new Nets basketball arena. But high-profile Russian politicians are speaking out about Prokhorov’s potential involvement with Bruce Ratner’s Atlantic Yards development. Aslambek Aslakhanov, a Russian parliament member specializing in the nation’s sports programs, said that Prokhorov should be focusing his attention on Russian developments. “I can’t consider this action as anything other than unpatriotic,” Aslakhanov said. “We also have talented children here, but sports isn’t being developed. They’re not trying in order for us to return to our former sports ranking of best in the world.” Under Prokhorov’s agreement, which has been tentatively settled, his holding company, Onexim, would provide $200 million for construction financing, in exchange for the controlling shares for the soon-to-be-Brooklyn Nets.