Twenty-nine contracts were signed last week in Manhattan at $4 million and above, three fewer than the previous week. and snapping a 5-week streak of 30+ contracts. Condos outsold co-ops, 13-9, with 7 townhouses in the mix.
Stat Geek Alert: Despite last week’s busted streak, June 2023 will go down in the record books as the 2nd best June in the luxury market since we started keeping data in 2006. The strongest June was in the record-breaking year of 2021. The surge in luxury sales was fueled by the outstanding year-to-date performance of the stock market, thanks to the Nasdaq’s almost 32% increase—its best first half in 40 years---and a 16.4% rise in the S&P500.
The No. 1 contract was PH at 180 East 88th Street, asking $29 million, raised from the original asking price of $28 million when the unit was offered off of floorplans in 2017. In 2022, the sponsor raised the price to $33 million, and then in January 2023 lowered it to $29 million. This dramatic condo triplex penthouse has 5,508 square feet including 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, and 2 powder rooms. It has terraces on 3 levels totaling 3,501 square feet. Ceiling heights range from 13.5 feet to 28 feet, highlighting spectacular Central Park, river, and city views in all directions. Other features: a sculptural staircase, loggias with tall archways, and an internal elevator. Amenities in this 47-unit condo include doormen, a fitness center, a basketball court, playroom, game room, a residents'' lounge with catering kitchen, and storage.
The No. 2 contract was 60E at 217 West 57th Street, a sponsor unit asking $22.1 million. The unit refers to the 60th floor but is really the 35h floor. The building has 98 stories, but the sponsor inflated the floor numbers for marketing purposes. The apartment has almost 11-foot high ceilings and 3,364 square feet that includes 3 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms; it has views of Central Park from the corner living room. The unit is in Central Park Tower, a 1,550-foot-tall skyscraper with 179 units that started marketing in 2018 as the world’s tallest residential building. Over 50,000 square feet of amenities include indoor and outdoor pools, a fitness center, a children’s playroom, and a club room on the 100th floor (which is actually the 68th floor) that includes a ballroom, bar, dining facilities, and a cigar lounge.