, the Manhattan real estate market has been booming from the number of condominium sales in the past month despite the struggles of the national and global economy. Enthusiastic buyers, spurred by a 3% decrease in market-wide inventory since last year, have diligently pursued apartments for sale in Manhattan, and this trend has greatly benefited brokers, many of whom now find themselves selling condominiums above their asking prices.

The debate over landmarking has finally come to a head. The Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) composed a three page signatory letter confronting landmarking policies developed by the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) which allow for any building erected more than thirty years ago to be conserved as a landmark. Today will mark REBNY’s first public announcement to speak out regarding transparency in the landmark process, lack of public input for what buildings should become landmarks, and that the increasing number of landmarks have weakened Manhattan’s economic growth. In response to the historic districts created by the LPC on West End Avenue in Manhattan and in the Downtown Brooklyn Skyscraper District in particular, REBNY has formed the Responsible Landmark Coalition.

It’s a good time to be a part of Manhattan’s residential brokerages. With a recovering market, several real estate offices in Manhattan have been able to maintain or even expand their ranks and value. While the number of overall condo listings on the market may have declined, the value of these Manhattan condos has dramatically increased by 12%. This trend is still led out on top by the Corcoran group, boasting both the highest current number of agents and 3.5 billion dollars worth of sales. Other firms such as Prudential Douglas Elliman and Halstead Property are also doing quite well for themselves, showing double-digit percent increases in listings. While the real estate market in Manhattan continues to be dominated by a few big names, these trends of increase seem to predict growing opportunity for real estate agencies in New York.

From videogames to live performances from long deceased rappers, the media’s coverage of augmented reality in the recent months has been comprehensive to say the least. First introduced as the future of interactive media, augmented reality has become a frontrunning and must-have technological tool for industries from fashion merchandizing to Manhattan real estate. Never one to shy away from the next great breakthrough in real estate and technology, the wants to give you an exclusive first look at our dabble in augmented reality with the New Construction Manhattan mobile application.

Luxury condo sales on Manhattan’s Upper East Side certainly tend to lean on the side of the grandiose. The latest addition to this trend is a co-op turned partial mansion at 828 Fifth Avenue.  Of the 9 total apartments that exist within the property, 4 are now on sale for the grand total of 72 million dollars. As a whole, the property would include 2 floors of the co-op, a maisonette duplex, and a penthouse complete with terrace and rooftop. The mansion is billed as potentially one of the greatest pieces of real estate that exists in Manhattan, a title that would live up to the price that this Upper East Side mansion carries.

Another wave of Manhattan luxury condos are about to become pieds-a-terres, as the recent election in France is prompting the country's wealthiest members to invest in property overseas. New Construction Manhattan has extensively covered international sweeps through the , detailing everything from , to the high number of . France is now expected to join the ranks, and these serious, driven buyers are sure to make an impression on the market.

What size apartment sells best? In Manhattan’s real estate market, the size and resources of an apartment can be paramount. Difficult economic times means that buildings need to be marketable in order for any developers to make a true profit. Naturally, the issue rests in whether New York apartmentsshould be large in size to suit serious homebuyers hoping to start families or reduced in size to suit out-of-town buyers seeking to live in small Manhattan condosthat have just enough space to fit their needs. Interestingly, according to reports from Prudential Douglas Elliman, both of these extremes of apartments are showing marked increases in sales in recent years. It appears that varying customers truly do have varying tastes as they flock to both large Manhattan condos as well as smaller one-bedroom apartment listings.

May continues to be a record-breaking month for Manhattan real estate, as the sale of a Park Avenue apartment proved to be the most paid for a co-op in city history. The 30-room unit is spread out over two of 740 Park Avenue's floors, one ofNew York City's oldest, highest-profile residences. Although the childhood home of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis was initially listed at $60 million, it was purchased for $52.5 million by investor Howard Marks.

Promising renovations on the Upper West Side has hedge funders and Manhattan fashionistas suggesting that the prospering area is the “cool” new place for luxury apartment renters to call home. The Upper West Side, which used to house unkempt, pre-war buildings, has seen a refreshing change of pace as real estate brokers and management companies have considered the area more affluent, therefore becoming eager to rent out the apartments.