Life per Square Foot

New legislation passed that requires a green roof and/or solar panels on all new roofs constructed in NYC beginning this week (November 2019) as a part Local Law 92 & 94. This sweeping legislation is a part of the Climate Mobilization Act (CMA) which sets new energy standards in an effort to reduce the heat created by buildings, which are responsible for 2/3 of the city's greenhouse gas emissions.

In this episode we interview Marni Majorelle, the founder of Alive Structures, a company that builds and designs green roofs and the creator of Kingsland Wildflowers at Broadway Stages in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Learn about green roof construction, tax incentives and how it can improve your property value. Moreover we delve into deeper issues involving climate change, personal and civic responsibilities and how the real estate community can make an impact. Do well, do good (and comply with the law!) with a green roof.

Marni was interviewed by the NYTimes this past weekend, more on that here: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/26/nyregion/green-roofs-nyc.html.

Her website is: http://www.alivestructures.com/

More on local law 92 & 94 can be found here: https://be-exchange.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/20190930-LL9294_Sustainable-Roofs-Brief.pdf

And, if you'd like to contact us at Lifepsf, you can reach us at [email protected] or [email protected]!

The decision of buying a home in New York is as much about the neighborhood as it is about the development. But as neighborhoods undergo rapid transformations with a revolving door of businesses, what happens when where you live isn’t where you remember buying? Join us and local restaurateur Dija Amer, of Taco Chulo, as we dive into the fascinating and occasionally wild experiences she has accumulated over her 10+ years of running a local business in ever-evolving Williamsburg. Together, we discuss what makes a good retail space, why landlords choose to leave storefronts vacant, and even talk about Dija’s theory of a “cursed space.”

If you'd like to get in touch you can find us at [email protected]. Find Dija at TacoChulo.com (they deliver!) or 318 Grand St., Brooklyn NY 11211.

Earlier in our career we had the experience of selling two apartments in the same line (same layout, same square footage, same view) in the same season; one was well staged and the other... was not. The well staged apartment traded for $175,000 more (!), and this began our fascination with staging. In this podcast we analyze the psychology behind home staging with Dr. Paula Madrid, interior designer, stager and clinical psychologist. Why does furniture matter when the apartment is delivered vacant? How large or small, what colors should you use, what is the difference between staging and interior design and how proper staging can help someone self actualize their dreams.

If you'd like to get in touch you can find Paula here: [email protected] and you can reach us at [email protected].

When it comes to buying or renting an apartment in NYC, data is king, and easy access to it is key. StreetEasy, the dominant NYC listing aggregator site, began as a startup in 2006 and was bought by the real estate listing conglomerate Zillow in 2013. In recent years as the company has grown more powerful, its business practices have shifted and as a result, the site has become less transparent and reliable as it attempts to find ways to disrupt the industry it initially sought to unify. We interview real estate expert, Phil Horigan, the owner of Leasebreak.com, Frele.com & GetFirstPeek.com as we discuss the history and industry drama around a battle between rental brokers and StreetEasy over a new daily fee-per-listing, as well as the practice of selling screen real estate and your contact info to the highest bidder, all in an attempt to capture you and become your broker--without you even realizing it.

If you'd like to learn more, visit Phil's site at Flowfreely.com. And if you’d like to connect you can find us at [email protected].

Interview with co-host Maurice Singer about his purchase and current

renovation of a Brooklyn townhouse. How to find, finance the

construction, choose a GC, architect and Maurice’s daily struggle to

be design savvy while staying within budget.

Want to learn more? Contact Maurice or Cory at

[email protected] or Cory.Kantin@corcoran

Introduction to the metric that New Yorkers are obsessed with: Price

per square foot. How one should use this barometer while searching

and selling, and an intro to our namesake, Life per Square Foot.

Sources: Corcoran Report 2nd Quarter 2017 and Zillow, 8/21/17

Questions or comments-- feel free to contact us at:

[email protected] / [email protected]

A reply to the Freakonomics Radio proposition that brokers are

incentivized to get the quickest deal, not necessarily the highest

price along with useful tips on how to know if you can trust your

broker and general industry perception.

The L-train is synonymous with Williamsburg, Brooklyn. How the impending L-train shut-down has influenced real estate values in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and our best predictions for the future.

[email protected]

Life per Square Foot: A podcast about the human element of NYC real estate.

NYC has an energy unlike any other place in the world. It is the crossroads of the universe. People are drawn here to pursue their passions and while they’re here, they need a place to sleep. Finding home in NYC is as glamorous as it is difficult... and expensive.

We’re Maurice and Cory, Brooklyn based real estate agents and writers. After 14 years of unique, difficult and often ridiculous situations in NYC real estate we are pooling our experiences into tutorials and advice on how to live better in NYC.

Price per Square foot is the cost of living in this city. We are Life per Square Foot: a podcast about the human element of real estate.