Miller Samuel | Recent Articles

Buy The Numbers: Penthouse Living Provides A Clear View

Mon, 18 Dec 2006 12:00:00 EST

...Potential buyers tend to focus on penthouse units as a purchase option from the beginning. They are more interested in the concept and amenities associated with them, over the emphasis on purchasing a unit because it happens to be located within a particular building. In other words, the buyers association is more strongly tied with the unit, first and the building, second. This is not to say the amenity palette of a particular building is not a significant consideration. It simply means that the actual unit is what draws these buyers to the building in the first place......

Buy The Numbers: Luxury Defined By A Bundle Of Amenities

Sun, 01 Oct 2006 12:00:00 EDT

I have always been intrigued by the idea of a bundle of amenities that define a luxury property. When I think of the term bundle, I think of the bundle of rights as it relates to the rights of owners to their property. But in the context of this discussion, the term bundle is quite different. Bundling means viewing amenities as a package rather than a la carte. It is the concept that a collection of amenities, rather than a specific item, define a luxury property. Bundling applies to both new development and re-sales and despite the fact that it is the key to the value of a luxury property, it is often overlooked. As the saying goes, the whole is greater than the sum of the parts......

On Top Of The World: Penthouse Living

Sat, 01 Jul 2006 12:00:00 EDT

For urbanites, its safe to say that many aspire to be on top of things, and that goes for their apartments. Penthouses seem to fit the bill, but also, how is a penthouse apartment defined? The term âÄpenthouseâÄ as a marketing label, implies exclusivity, cache and uniqueness, yet as an apartment type, its definition remains elusive. Besides their âÄelevatedâÄ status at or near the top of a building, penthouses tend to be uniquely configured, have open views, outdoor space and other unique amenities which may include above-average ceiling height, multi-level configurations and fireplaces......

Family-Sized Apartments

Mon, 27 Mar 2006 12:00:00 EST

The idea of a having a larger apartment than the one you reside in is the dream of many New Yorkers. Whether or not they have children or are planning to have children in the future, there is a premium on more space. That additional bedroom for guests, an extra room for an office, larger living areas, or more storage capacity are driving those who wish to trade up.

A new real estate term entered the cluttered landscape of real estate speak in the new millennium: family-sized apartments. To me, that means family-style dining: casual, shared, roomy. However, in prior incarnations of making larger apartments, developers simply added additional bedrooms and bathrooms to an apartment but did not change the sizes of the living areas such as the kitchen, living and dining rooms......

The Architect As A Brand Name

Wed, 08 Mar 2006 12:00:00 EST

The current Manhattan real estate new development scene is all about who instead of what. Branding has reached the housing market as a necessary and effective marketing tool to differentiate development projects as they enter the market. The housing boom prompted the explosive growth in creativity with condominium design as capital became more readily available to developers. This shift has been seen as a big step in a market that historically paid more attention to the exterior, rather than the interior of a building. Marketing has now morphed into the whole package, both inside and outside, including common areas and ancillary services. This creative packaging now includes bringing in a brand-name architect or other professional to leverage their reputation as an enhancement to the development.......