The most common real estate buyers traps

Buying a home is a major investment which requires serious legal maneuvering in order to seal a deal. However, every year, hundreds of homebuyers end up paying more than they should because they fall prey to several common mistakes that trap them into either losing their dream home to another buyer, paying too much for the home they want or, worse, buying the wrong home for their needs. Luckily, Solly Assa, founder, and developer of Assa Properties, a New York City-based real estate company has a systematized approach that can help you steer clear of these common traps, allowing you to not only cut costs but also buy the home that suits you best. In this article, Solly discusses some of the most common and costly home-buyer traps, points out how to identify them, and what you can do to avoid them.

Cassa’s strategy was to tap the talents of top architects to create a first-class residential presence in two centralized and exciting Manhattan locations. And the team agreed that few urban settings could match Times Square and Midtown for excitement and unmatched amenities.

To ensure residents truly feel at “home,” Cassa offers a full palette of hotel amenities, a la carte, to owners and renters, thereby avoiding the inconveniences of apartment maintenance. Another plus, according to an article in The New York Times, is that owners don’t have to worry about paying a fee for amenities they might not otherwise take advantage of, therefore allowing them to only pay for what they want, when they want.

“When we first envisioned the Cassa brand, we wanted it to be different than most places in New York,” said Solly (Salim) Assa, president and CEO of Assa Properties. “Being that a lot of our guests and residents are international, we wanted it to still feel like a place they could call home, no matter how long their stay. They have access to whichever hotel amenities they want – maid service, child and pet care, fitness centers, etc. – as well as the amenities of the bustling neighborhood locations.”

Bar Gonzo Opens up in Cassa Times Square

On Nov. 9, 2017, Bar Gonzo, a 4,000-square-foot, 70’s-inspired restaurant and lounge, opened at the prestigious Cassa Times Square Hotel and Residences in Manhattan’s Midtown neighborhood.

“Bar Gonzo perfectly complements the Cassa brand, offering guests and residents an urban escape,” said Solly Assa, president and CEO of Assa Properties, the hotel’s owner.

NYTimes announces Bar Gonzo Opening

Bar Gonzo opened last night (November 9th)

If the ‘70s don’t feel like ancient history, you’ll be right at home at this two-story restaurant, bar and lounge that takes its inspiration from that era. Named for the journalism style created by the writer Hunter S. Thompson, it has vibrant nightclub décor, and a French-bread pizza like the supermarket staple that was popular at the time. The dining room and a bar are on the ground floor. Upstairs, there is a raw bar, charcuterie station and an all-weather veranda with cabanas and a tiki bar.

Original Article

History of Hotels: How they became part of real estate

This is an interesting article, originally published on houzz.com

The first new types of hotels emerged in London in the mid-eighteenth century, back in 1760. Paris followed shortly after, opening accommodations under the name “Hotel Garni”. At the end of the same century, the hotel expanded throughout all cities in Europe. In North America, the hotel came in the early nineteenth century, spreading throughout the whole continent from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The evolutionary step from the tavern (“inn”) commodities to hotel commodities was instant, happening simultaneously on the old and the new continent. In the nineteenth century hotels become the social centers in the community. In the period from 1850 to 1950 there was a considerable growth in the number of passengers, who did not stay in hotels because of business reasons, but because of personal reasons like leisure and tourism. With the development of traffic and accompanying infrastructure, the need for hotels only grew.

Solly Assa Guide On Finding a great agent

Many home sellers make a huge mistake at the very start of this process by selecting agents that offer them the highest listing price for and the lowest commission. However, there are plenty of other factors to consider when you’re choosing an agent such as experience, skill, and reputation.

It takes time and effort to come up with an agent prepared to sell your home and get you the best deal possible while charging a fair commission rate.  Make sure to choose an agent you like and who can relate to you because you’ll be seeing a lot of your real estate agent in the following months. Solly Assa suggests doing research before beginning the process. By doing so, you can discover which agents are working in your area and look through their websites, blogs, profiles, reviews or recommendations from previous clients. You can also ask friends and family for referrals in your targeted neighborhood.

Pro Tips from Solly

Original Article

Paint is one of the simplest, most cost-effective home improvements. Freshly painted rooms look clean, modern and up-to-date. Overly bold shades should be avoided if you don’t want to risk having your house stand out for all the wrong reasons. Before you get started, it’s best to consult with a designer. Nowadays there are also virtual painting programs that can give you a preview. Home Depot and hardware stores often have professionals who can recommend shades and colors based on what you’re looking for.

Lastly, you should certainly consider having a professional come in to check out your home. He/she can offer advice on home improvements and may even discover hidden problems that could negatively impact your house’s value.

Skills and Qualities are like Sticks and Stones

It goes without saying that agents should always be transparent with clients and work for their best interest. Another extremely important and rather obvious skill is knowledge and experience. Being a real estate agent requires a lot of skills, but knowing how the purchasing and selling processes work is the first and foremost. Real estate agents are experts, which means they are trained, licensed and have the experience to work through the sale process efficiently. A good real estate agent needs to be aware of how things go in the real estate market at all times. Having a handle on all aspects of the job requires an agent to be up-to-date on new laws and regulations, contracts, and all other legal means.

Having solid negotiating skills is another quality that is required by real estate agents. A good agent must have an unquestionable talent for negotiation because unlike buyers and sellers, the agent can overlook the emotional aspect of the ongoing transaction, which Mr. Assa says leads to successful negotiation. Regardless whether you are buying or selling a property, you will most definitely need to negotiate since it is an undeniable part of the real estate market. An experienced agent should know the average price of the area at any given time, which translates into knowing when to push for a better price and when to stop the negotiating process and close a good deal.

Continue reading on http://realtytimes.com/advicefromagents/item/1004855-skills-and-qualities-that-make-a-good-real-estate-agent

Assa is now Houzz, the leader in house and homes design

https://www.houzz.com/pro/assasolly

Real Estate Selling Tricks

Some homes get listed and sold within a few days, while other end up stuck in the market for years. According to real estate developer Solly Assa, the secret of successful home selling lies in adopting highly effective habits. Effective, successful people are in the habit of taking the first step. It is never too early to start preparing for a house sale. Proactive people are known for taking ownership. Maintaining and improving your property is a smart decision.

Investing in your property doesn't always have to be pricey. In fact, every time you repair something or have some home renovation, you're adding value to your most valuable asset, your home. Even if you’re not completely aware of it now, once you decide to sell, it will all pay off. An impactful homeowner cares about the state of his property from the day he moves in.

Click here to read more...

Solly Assa : How to Find Real Estate Investments that Works Best for You

If you are looking for a way to build up your finance, investing in real estate with commercial, residential or retail properties might be the thing for you. Although these real estate investments are very different and learning their business models and practices requires a lot of time, Solly Assa, developer and founder of Assa Properties managed to find a way and capitalize on these global development opportunities. His company has developed and invested in residential, retail and commercial properties for more than a decade, acquiring more than 3 million square feet of assets in the United States and Mexico. Starting from 2002, Assa began to acquire buildings in New York City and sourced new development projects in some of NYC’s most distinctive neighborhoods.