Housing Slump? Not in Manhattan

Jan. 3, 2008— -- Across the country, home foreclosures are rising. It is taking longer to sell homes and when they do finally sell, they sell for less than they would have a year ago.

To put it simply: It is a bleak housing market.

But there are a few bright spots out there, the most dramatic being Manhattan.

In the last year, the median price for apartment sales on the island went up 14 percent, according to a report by one of the city's largest brokers, Halstead Property. Not everything is perfect in the heart of New York City, but for the most part, the high-priced Manhattan market appears to be faring well.

Manhattan's real estate market has been on fire and for now the nation's subprime woes don't seem to be bringing it down. Fueling the latest increase is a combination of limited supply, strict co-op board building rules about who can live there, Europeans buying property at a discount thanks to a weak dollar and a number of opulent new apartments on the market.

One of the buildings that pushed up the average prices for Manhattan is located on the edge of Central Park, steps away from Columbus Circle.

Dorothy Somekh is a real estate agent, investor and a builder. She owns part of two apartments in the building at 15 Central Park West.

One two-bedroom apartment is on the 25th floor and overlooks the park.

She bought it two years ago, when the building was under construction, for $4.15 million.

"That apartment now, I wouldn't sell for less than 8 [million dollars]," Somekh said.

But she has no plans to sell. Instead, she is renting it for $24,000 a month. Yes, that's right, $24,000 a month or nearly $300,000 a year for 1,745-square-feet of living space.

The building is designed in the classic prewar architecture but has all modern amenities. For instance, the floors in the master bathroom are heated and all the windows are wired for electric shades or curtains.

It also offers private dining services with an in-house chef and catering.

Somekh bought her other apartment on a lower floor without a park view for $2.5 million in the fall of 2005 and is now asking $4.75 million.