V. L. Hendrickson

• If short-term rentals are illegal in NYC, why is everyone still doing it?

• Downsizing for the sake of a check: New Yorkers sublet their homes to reap rent benefits (NY Times)
• Tips for new landlords: Get personal...

Broker-blogger Malcom Carter has seen and blogged about more than his fair share of real estate auctions in New York City. He frequents (and is frequently underwhelmed by) public and private auctions in Manhattan and Brooklyn and closely follows those in Queens. He shared some insights with BrickUnderground in a recent interview.

How long have you been attending these auctions?

• Think you can't afford to buy in NYC?

In the past three years, two new restaurants catering to the cabbie crowd have opened on my block near the northern end of Columbus Avenue, right downstairs from my street-facing studio on the third floor of a five-floor building.

When I moved in eight years ago, the block had a tiny Jamaican bar, a very cool restaurant, and a thrift store downstairs. There was often a three piece jazz ensemble playing on summer nights or a folks spilling out from the bar. But the restaurant moved to a bigger space down the street, and the shop and bar have long since closed.