Every day, The Real Deal rounds up New York’s biggest real estate news, from breaking news and scoops to announcements and deals. We update this page at 9 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 4 p.m. ET. Please send any tips or deals to tips@therealdeal.com
This page was last updated at 4 p.m.
Yass Queens: Corcoran opens first borough outpost
The Corcoran Group opened a new office in Long Island City — a “strategic decision” based on growing buyer demand for homes in the neighborhood, said CEO Pamela Liebman. [TRD]
Acier Holdings seeks $40 million for Opportunity Zone site in Newark
Acier Holdings tapped Meridian Capital Group to market a development site in downtown Newark as a multifamily project. [TRD]
WeWork’s Adam Neumann solicits offers for building he leases to WeWork
WeWork CEO Adam Nuemann is looking to sell a Greenwich Village property he owns as a personal investment ahead of the WeCompany’s debut on Wall Street, sources told The Real Deal. [TRD]
Saudis backed Colony Capital’s digital infrastructure deal, according to a new report. Colony Capital, led by Trump-ally Thomas Barrack, reportedly partnered up with a sovereign wealth fund from Saudi Arabia as it sought to invest in digital infrastructure after the 2016 presidential election, according to Bloomberg. [TRD]
Amazon’s New York footprint — mapped. Amazon has been eyeing multiple properties in New York in recent months, including prominent office buildings in Manhattan and two new industrial sites in Brooklyn and Queens. TRD created a map showing how these opportunities fit into the tech giant’s existing New York footprint. [TRD]
BHS’ top Downtown agent jumps to Compass. Rachel Glazer, Brown Harris Stevens’ top downtown broker for several years running, is jumping to Compass after 12 years. She told TRD that she was won over by the brokerage’s resources and opportunities to work on new developments. [TRD]
Jeffrey Epstein allegedly wanted to use his New Mexico ranch as place to seed his DNA. The financier, who is facing charges of sex trafficking, reportedly consulted with multiple people about a plan to spread his DNA by impregnating multiple women at his New Mexico ranch, which stemmed from an interest in transhumanism. Epstein reportedly even told one acquaintance that after he died, he wanted his head and penis to be frozen. [NYT]
Fredrik Eklund and John Gomes dish on their plans for L.A. — and New York City. Ahead of tonight’s debut of Season 8 of “Million Dollar Listing New York,” star brokers Fredrik Eklund and John Gomes sat down with The Real Deal for an exclusive interview about what Eklund’s move to Los Angeles means for them, their team and their business. [TRD]
Lower mortgage rates may not be helping housing market as anticipated. A drop in mortgage rates this year did not trigger a boom in homebuying and refinancing, raising questions about what impact yesterday’s interest rate announcement will have. [NYT]
Nestio wants to bring a “TurboTax” approach to leasing. The venture capital-backed residential listings startup is rolling out a new tool, “Funnel by Nestio,” which will automate the rental application process by giving applicants a link that they can use to plug in their bank information — in turn giving landlords access to pay stubs, tax forms and other required details. [TRD]
Union protest icon “Scabby” the rat may face termination. The fate of the large balloon rat is in question after multiple legal challenges have argued the inflatable rodent is unlawful. [NYT]
The famed pink townhouse in the Greenwich Village sold to L.A. designers. Robert and Cortney Novogratz have purchased the dilapidated, four-story home for $8.5 million, well below the $11 asking price. It was part of the $25 million real estate empire of the late Celeste Martin. [NYP]
New York City’s most important construction lender may be on shaky ground. Bank OZK has handed out money to the city’s top developers for years. But there’s drama behind the scenes, including infighting and allegations of sexual misconduct and age discrimination.
[TRD]
It’s been a good year for real estate stocks. Real estate firms saw highs on the stock market in June and July — in anticipation of the Federal Reserve’s interest rate cut. TRD analyzed how some of the top public landlords, brokerages and more performed on the market so far this year. [TRD]
Bank of America lent $1.6 billion on its New York headquarters. Landlord Durst Organization is getting financing from the bank for the Bryant Park office tower. The new loan consolidates a $950 million commercial mortgage-backed securities loan from Bank of America and $650 million of prior public-assisted financing from 2009. [TRD]
Brokerage boss David Schlamm talks six-figure losses. One of the city’s first adopters of the “100 percent commission,” Schlamm, the head City Connections Realty, opens up about business mistakes, meditation and being a Dead Head. [TRD]
Compiled by Sylvia Varnham O’Regan
FROM THE CITY’S RECORDS:
Commercial sales:
Hotelier Sam Chang bought a building at 62 Mulberry Street in Chinatown for $18.75 million. [ACRIS]
Compiled by Mary Diduch