#RealHumanRealEstate:

The March Edition

Dear clients + community,

Now this is more like it! With the vernal equinox just a week away (and that lost hour not feeling so heavy when it's still light at 6PM), NYC weather is suddenly no different than the San Diego sunshine I was soaking up two weeks ago and I, for one, am thrilled. Also thrilling: the wonderful clients who are taking advantage of these bright days to find homes and celebrate them. These are the joys — so please don't hesitate to reach out to me if I can make your search or sale a sweeter, savvier, and more human experience.

With love,

Michaela

Buyers' Corner

With interest rates kissing 5% at the end of 2018, buyers justifiably hung back. But recently my clients have been getting rate locks below 4%, making for an active spring pre-season. I'm particularly thrilled for the sweet folks who've just entered contract onthis equally sweet apartment. Congrats, L+D+A!

(And since March has been summit-topping so far, I can't neglect to mention the world's most neighborly closing with my fabulous South Harlem buyers — cheers to R+S! — nor this 3BR/2BA condo that's newly up for grabs nearby).

Friends & Neighbors

Speaking of neighborhood finds! The Urban Garden Center is one of my favorite third places (terminology : Jane Jacobs; love affair : mine), a late blooming delight after a childhood spent following my mom around plant centers asking "Where are the snow globes?" and "When can we go?". But then again, I wasn't a city kid, and I imagine city kids might feel the magic of the UGC as keenly as I do.

An East Harlem family-owned garden center in its fourth generation, the UGC is located under the trestle of the Metro North train. Glorious on a sunny day and an herbaceous oasis on a rainy one, it's the perfect place to buy houseplants or plot landscaping (they deliver plants and education city-wide — see tonight's event below!), and a year-round repository of natural beauty and human kindness. Swing by this spring!

Out & About

Preparing for Spring with UGC

March 14th, 6-8PM

@ 163 Lenox

Homeowners and hosta enthusiasts, join your fellow plant people TONIGHT at Harlem Properties for a co-led event with Urban Garden Center. We'll have tips on preparing your urban garden for spring, whether you're dreaming of a bounty of vegetables, a balcony of colorful flowers, or some other sort of outdoor oasis. RSVP here, and while you're at it, check out the full lineup of our spring community classes!

I Am Woman

March 22nd, 6:30-9PM

Amongst the myriad events that mark Women's History month, I'm particularly looking forward to this art and performance party featuring some of the best emerging female artists in NYC, including my dear friend and longtime inspiration, Kerri Lowe. There'll be singing and storytelling, a panel, pop-ups, and peeks into the creative process — plus drinks, snacks and plenty of mingling with fellow art-lovers. Tickets here (earlybird sale ends tomorrow, so click quick)!

Citizen Jane

March 26th, 6:30PM

And, speaking of Jane Jacobs, urban activist, author, and lauder of "third places" of connection and community: this 2016 documentary traces her fight to preserve the "intricate sidewalk ballet" of historic New York City neighborhoods — a legacy that has shaped the city we live in today. Presented at the Brooklyn Historical Society as part of their "The Feature is Female" documentary series.

This Month's Tip

This may be a less lighthearted tip than those you've come to expect from me, but I'm as committed to the joy of a mindful tax season as I am to a minimalist kitchen, and with just a month to go, now's the time to get in gear — especially in the wake of the government shutdown and passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which is making filing messier for many this year. If you're not sure about the compliance of your usual deductions, or just want a reliable rundown on the changes, here's a good overviewof the new tax law. And for business owners and entrepreneurs, make sure to talk to your accountant about Section 199A, i.e. the Qualified Business Income deduction, which could make a substantive difference in your tax burden. (Given that final federal regulations on Section 199A weren't issued til end of January, and most articles on the topic are Extremely Dense Reading, I'd advise making this one the first point of conversation with your CPA!)

+ Happy spring, everybody! +

Michaela Morton

Licensed Real Estate Salesperson
336.577.1379
michaela.morton@compass.com

Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. No statement is made as to the accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of real estate brokerage. All Coming Soon listings in NYC are simultaneously syndicated to the REBNY RLS. Compass makes no representation or guarantee that Coming Soons are available in your region, or that its use will result in the benefits described herein.