FINDING HOME
Gatsby Needs a Game Room

25-year-old Robby sees himself as a modern day Jay Gatsby. He just landed a new job at Citadel, and he’s already planning an elaborate house party to woo a gal he’s got his eye on.

He’s got the record player, the F1 racing simulator, the commissioned artwork to line his walls, and a detailed plan to get the girl. 

Only one thing is missing: the home to host in.

The goal? Find a place that offered epic views, walk-to-work convenience, space to host, and — crucially — a second bedroom to house his F1 racing simulator. And of course, the home we chose had to impress.

Here were his priorities:

• Walking distance to his office

• Big views—ideally from high up

• A layout with good flow for entertaining

• Two bedrooms (one for sleeping, one for racing)

• In the middle of everyone’s favorite neighborhood, Midtown Manhattan 😅

Here were his options:

No. 1:
The Schoolhouse Loft

This 2 bed / 2 bath penthouse at Inkwell is a prewar dream reimagined. Once a 1905 schoolhouse, it now boasts 13-foot ceilings, towering casement windows, and black walnut floors. Robby loved the dramatic ceilings and windows, but felt that the renovation was a bit outdated.

No. 2:
The Sorting House

This 2 bed / 2 bath duplex at The Sorting House came with a serene private terrace - a rarity in Midtown. The layout was split between living and sleeping levels, with the bedrooms upstairs and a bright, open living space below. The finishes were sleek and minimal, and the home got beautiful southern light. Robby liked the indoor-outdoor potential, but felt the separation between floors made the space feel disjointed — and knew he wanted the F1 room on the same floor as the rest of the party.

No. 3:
The Olympic Overachiever

This corner unit at Olympic Tower hit a lot of the right notes: 2 bedrooms, a generous layout, and sweeping Midtown views. Just one block from his new office, it offered the kind of convenience that’s hard to beat. The living space had a natural flow for hosting friends, and the second bedroom could easily transform into a full-blown gaming suite. The bedroom faced a tall construction site, obstructing his views of the park — so his hopes of a jaw dropping view fell a bit flat.

*names have been changed

Which Home Do You Think They Chose?

ROBBY’S HOME:
THE OLYMPIC OVERACHIEVER
And the winner is… the glass box smack dab in the middle of Midtown.
The winning factor here was the home’s positioning - only a 3 minute walk away from Robby’s office.

The Schoolhouse Loft was a close second - ideally placed right by Restaurant Row, while the Olympic is in essentially a restaurant and culture desert. But when you’re working 16hr days in the office, having a short commute can mean the world.

While it wasn’t his ideal view, the Olympic rivaled the rest, and the home was perfectly laid out for his visions of game nights and house parties to come.

All that was left was to throw his impressive housewarming party and cross his fingers that it would be enough to woo the gal he had his eye on.

So, did Robby get the girl? Stay tuned…

MARKET INDICATOR
Manhattan

Manhattan seemed to be in a buyers’ market for a while there across the board. While the data reflects a wide gap between new listings and contract signings, some neighborhoods are showing a shift toward sellers’ favor. I’ve seen a few bidding “battles” on the UWS these past few weeks - smaller than the full on bidding wars I’m seeing in Brooklyn, but still competitive. What’s contributing to this tide change? My bet: Tariffs. As the stock market gets shaky, people are turning to real estate as a stable hedge against their stock holdings.

Every offer my clients have submitted or considered in Brooklyn this past month has been part of a bidding war. The sellers’ market is strong, with well marketed homes commanding 10-15% over asking price.

A HOME FILLED WITH WHIMSY
I Love 234 Clinton Street

234 Clinton
6 beds / 5.5 baths
$11,750,000
Cobble Hill

I love a home with whimsy and personality, and 234 Clinton certainly delivers.

Designed by MADE, this 25 foot wide townhouse is filled with bold tiling, original stained glass, and drool-worthy moulding throughout. Scroll through the photos in the listing, then let me know your take on these design choices.