Jackson Heights Life

I write with facts and not with something that is in the news and on the net and now "I'm an expert on the subject".   

Well, I guess since you are using the "I'm an expert on the subject" form of argument...the rest of us no longer need to use our brains to reason for ourselves.  Its the form of argument that pretty much shuts down any meaningful discussion.

And for an Internet discussion site where you seem to be schooling us on the "facts"...its a little silly to critique other people based on what they allegedly glean from "the net".

I think I'll just bow out gracefully from this thread and defer to "the expert" who can school us all on "the facts".  I guess he can also school us on constitutional law while he's at it. 

NYC Native, I tried to follow your discussion and rebuttal to jmp99’s post. 

From my reading, jmp99’s overall suggestion to sellers is to maximize their sale price AND decrease time on the market by exposing the property to the most number of potential buyers.  To achieve this goal, jmp99 suggested utilizing the service of larger real estate agencies that are willing to share the commission with any broker.

With all due respect to you, jmp99’s post did not state that only realtors from the larger agencies can become a member of the multiple listing service (MLS).  In fact, unless I’m mistaken, jmp99’s post did not discuss the MLS at all.  Therefore, your lengthy critique of the MLS is probably not that relevant (perhaps even irrelevant) to your rebuttal to jmp99’s post.

However, since you did post some of your opinions regarding the MLS, I will also jump in with my thoughts on the subject.  You stated that you were against “the falsehood and attempt to mystify membership to the MLS”.  While I can certainly see that MLS realtors may not be any more professional than those not on the MLS, I believe (and correct me if I’m wrong), the chief criticism of the MLS from the consumer standpoint is the very anticompetitive nature in which they are set up.  More than a few MLS systems have been targets of federal antitrust law suits because of their anticompetitive nature that renders a great disservice to consumers.  Agents willing to take smaller commissions have been barred from the MLS, along with agents willing to provide less than the full range of service typically provided by realtors.  Internet-based real estate agencies have also been barred from joining the MLS.  All this seems to be missing from your critique of the MLS. 

In addition, I don’t really see your point about jmp99 being “dead wrong” about local realtor’s unwillingness to work with other real estate agents and their desire to keep the full commission.  You stated yourself that local realtors co-broker properties but only with other local brokers.  This seems to the PERFECT example of the anti-competitive nature of local real estate agents that jmp99 is complaining about! 

In fact, I wonder how many local real estate agents go to the trouble of explaining to their client (the seller) that the agent will go ahead and screen out any offers (regardless of the quality of the offer) or interests from potential buyers that are not represented by the few local agencies in JH.  That hardly seems in line with a real estate agent’s fiduciary duty to a client-seller, unless it is fully disclosed up front.  HOW MANY SELLERS WOULD BE WILLING TO IGNORE AN OFFER SIMPLY BECAUSE IT WASN’T BROUGHT TO THEM BY A LOCAL REALTOR?  I CERTAINLY WOULDN’T!

I also disagree with your defense of local real estate agents over agents from larger city-wide agencies.  There are certainly some agents from larger agencies that are simply clueless, but I just don’t see the supposed advantage that local brokers can provide.  You seem to suggest that local brokers have the inside scoop on buildings and will somehow make the sale go smoothly.  Speaking as a co-op board member myself, I think that is a much too generous advantage you seem to award yourself.  A prospective buyer’s financials comes first and will always be paramount in my building.  No real estate agent can miraculously help the process in my opinion when it comes to a prospective buyer’s financials…no matter what kind of inside scoop they think they might be in possession of.  Also, being pre-qualified means nothing to a co-op board.  It may indicate to an agent that a prospective buyer is serious, but a year ago, even a door-knob can get pre-qualified…that has no bearing on a buyer’s ability to pay his/her mortgage!  Therefore, the advantages that a local real estate agent may provide in terms of his ability to get the inside scoop is minimal at best!  A hard-working agent from the larger agencies can get a hold of such information too!

Your arguments seem largely based on what is good for you and other local brokers.  As jmp99 points out, YOUR INTERESTS AS A LOCAL REAL ESTATE AGENT MAY NOT BE ALIGNED WITH A SELLER’S INTEREST!  It might be a terrible waste of your time and resources to show an apartment to someone who is only window shopping or not pre-qualified, but a seller really cares primarily about getting the highest price in the least amount of time!       

I picked up half a chicken yesterday, with two sides.

Original American Chicken may have to rethink the ventilation system they've installed...it was very smoky (from the grilling) inside the restaurant.  Maybe it was just the first day and the ventilation system just wan't up and running yet.

The chicken was moist, and overall good, but not great.  The sauces (tomato and bbq) weren't very good at all.  The sides weren't very good either.  A great sauce and some good sides may have made all the difference...it didn't look like the restaurant cared about these things.  Oh well, I'll go back and revisit them in a few weeks and see if things have improved.

You are right 80st

As per the market today, I don't know why reports are so vague about the prices of coops vs houses. 

NYC Native...may I ask what you mean by the above quote?  I thought all sale prices are published...coop, houses, condos, etc. 

I wonder how the new e77 computer policy is working out? 

If the place is still packed with laptops...is it because (1) the barristas are not or are unwilling to enforce their new policy, OR (2) laptop users are indeed getting up every so ofter to purchase more drinks OR (3) both?  If so, then how does this improve the situation?!? 

I can totally understand why the management/barristas don't want to get involved in throwing people out of the shop...I read the "third place" article too, and it does seem like e77 is set up to be that kind of place. 

I still kind of like the idea of only allowing 3 laptops in the shop at any given time.  That way, laptop users will police themselves...incoming laptop customers will naturally "push" out the sitting laptop users...its a simple self-policing method that doesn't involve the shop proprietors being stern with any particular customer!  Other customers without laptops and looking for a place to sit won't have to compete with laptop users either...well, because there can be only 3 laptops in the shop at any given time...simple as ONE, TWO, and THREE.  Oh well, what do I know about running a coffee shop...clearly e77 did their research on the subject.

oh no, i don't deserve the credit.  my neighbor took the poor cat in overnight and posted flyers around the block.  luckily the cat's owner saw the flyers.  a good ending nonetheless.

Cat found on 80th Street between 34th and 35th Ave on May 5, 2008.

Appears to be tame, house cat.  Very friendly.
Dark gray with white paws and nose, with flea collar. 
To claim, call 718-651-1766