From left: Zhann Jochinke, Klara Madlin, Adina Azarian, Jeff Krantz, Leonard Steinberg, and Lisa Lippman

The Real Deal asked some agents the greatest compliment and greatest insult they have received in connection with their job. Many agents said winning a client or deal was the source of both. Beyond that, agents have received compliments ranging from sentimental messages to a bobblehead doll made in a broker’s likeness, and insults including being called less than a used carpet salesperson. Click here to see some of the compliments and insults brokers have received. [more]

From the October issue: Zhann Jochinke, an associate broker at Argo Residential, put an alcove
studio on the market last year for $525,000. But the offers that came
in were as low as $390,000. “People were putting bids out there just to
see if the person had to sell,” he recalled. More recently, however, he
convinced the seller to drop the price to around $490,000. Offers began
coming in at “5 percent or less off the asking price,” he
said. Now, the listing is in contract, and expected to close in the
next month. After months of uncertainty, Manhattan buyers and sellers
are finally
making a market.

Manhattan Association of Realtors launches trend group: The
Manhattan Association of Realtors has created a market trends committee
that will discuss and compile trends that association members are
seeing in the market. The group will meet monthly to discuss the market
and create a report on current trends. The founding members of the
committee include Zhann Jochinke of Argo Residential, Kathryn Higgins
of DJK Residential and David Thompson of Klara Madlin Real Estate. TRD [more]