60% of businesses in America are family businesses. What happens when family members join the business? The first generation works hard, growing the business; 2nd generation may want to join the company, but only 1/3rd of 2nd generation companies survive.

Seven minutes to Manhattan; eight subway lines and buses; museums, great restaurants; affordable rentals, co-ops; retail - Long Island City - truly, a mecca, a place that has everything, a place where you can live and work.

There's no place like New York and everyone wants to be here, say bank executives. New entrants into the banking business result in competition, and banks must focus on good management, never compromise underwriting standards, provide flawless service.

Prices are high as a kite; money is cheap and measured against London and Hong Kong, New York is a bargain; it's less expensive to do business in New York! BUT land prices are "sky-high." Can prices keep going up and for how long before another downturn?

Four million people live there; if it were a city-it would be the 4th largest city in the country! The young, creative, technically focused, urban professionals are all going to Brooklyn, along with restaurants, retail, bars - places to "hang out."

Family members of 2 critically acclaimed North Fork wineries talk about the area's transformation from potato farms in the 1970s to today's commercial vineyards. The question for the future is are young people attracted to the wine industry?

Four "emerging leaders" all under 31 years old, who entered the real estate market at its absolute bottom-are now experiencing the rise of, as they see it, great opportunities in incredible markets: downtown, the Lower East Side, the Bowery, LIC!

Opening a restaurant is like opening a Broadway play! Exhausting, expensive, and very exciting. Chefs and restaurateurs know that diners will travel for good food, served in pleasing surroundings, and that food is a vibrant part of New York's culture.

Growth in New Jersey is propelled by transit oriented development, grow green projects and urban tax credits. State, cities and private sector partnerships lead to successful projects: reconstruction of old, abandoned buildings and rebirth of cities.

Like Crazy Eddie, Michael Stoler declares, "these prices are insane!" From a brokers' perspective, there's never been a better time to be in real estate. For the foreign investor, it's all about New York - primarily Manhattan.