Halstead Property

Mentioned in this Article:

Mallory Neuberger
Sr. Vice President
SoHo Office

Neal Young
Sr. Vice President
Village Office

Meet The Brokers And Their Triple Mint Families

Halstead Property

Lauren Cangiano, Executive Vice President,
Eastside Office, with Louie (17), Stefano (13), and
Giorgia (10)

What are your favorite things about where you live?

Carnegie Hill is a quiet, clean, safe, family-oriented neighborhood.
I love being across the street from Central Park.My
husband and I jog often, and the kids ride their bikes around
the park drive. The boys play pickup baseball and football
games with their friends in the park.

What is one of your favorite things to do in the city?

We love to explore restaurants together in all neighborhoods,
especially downtown and in Brooklyn. We are a food family!

What are the most important tips you’d offer families
looking to buy a home in the city?

Tip 1: If your kids are
young, buy a home as close to their schools as possible, or you
will end up spending the day in a car as their chauffeur!
Tip 2: If you have to choose between more space or a better
view, go for the space!

Louise Phillips Forbes, Executive Vice President,
with Douglas (4) and Kenneth (2)

What are your favorite things about where you live?

We live in the West 70’s. Our home has a huge oversized “hangout”
kitchen with a fantastic island and amazing light! There
are grocery stores like Fairway and Citarella, plenty of kids’
activities, like baseball and swimming at the JCC, and parks
everywhere!

What is one of your favorite things to do in the city as a
family?

We love children’s theatre, and baking on Saturdays.
Lately, it’s been ice skating at Wollman Rink or Lasker Rink and
inviting three other couples over for dinner with their kids.

What is your favorite aspect of being a real estate broker?

And what do you find the most challenging? I enjoy
helping buyers find a home in which they can base the rest of
their lives, and helping them through the process. Separating
work from my personal life can be a challenge, especially since
I love every aspect of real estate—the architecture, design,
dealing with people, and making lifelong friendships.

John Frenzer, Associate Broker, Westside Office,
with Sydney (3)

What are your favorite things about where you live?

I live near Columbia University. I’ve always enjoyed being in a
neighborhood of brainiacs. I love that my daughter gets to
overhear passionate political debates by young policy wonks
on the subway or in restaurants.

What is your favorite aspect of being a real estate broker?

When my daughter was born and I became the stay-athome
dad, I still continued to work, but with an overhauled
business plan. I don’t strive to be the broker doing the
greatest volume, because that’s impossible, and I would just
feel bad about myself. Instead, I really focus on higher-end
projects that I enjoy and are worth the time I take away
from home. The result has been that my clients feel they
have my undivided attention, and I’m not running all over
town like a nut!

Amelia S. Gewirtz, Executive Vice
President/Associate Broker, Westside Office, with
Adam (10 months)

What are the most important tips you’d offer families
looking to buy a home in the city?

Zoom in on your number one priority. Yes, it’s frustrating, and even a $10 million
buyer has to compromise, but always remember that you live
in an amusement park. You are not paying for the interior
square footage. You are paying to walk out your door and have
a blast. Kids that grow up here can survive anywhere.

What is your favorite aspect of being a real estate broker?

I love the feedback. I feel like I am in the movie “It’s a
Wonderful Life.” I truly believe I dramatically alter people’s
destinies and lives, and they tell me that.

Mallory Weil, Vice President,
SoHo Office, with Morgan (13)
and Jack (11)

If you could live with your family
in any part of the city, in any type of housing situation
what would you choose?

We are definitely a downtown
family.We would live in a big, modern loft with high ceilings,
lots of light, and a big private outdoor space.

If a family comes to you and is looking for something
new and different to buy what would you recommend?

I am very into Brooklyn right now, especially Williamsburg.
It really reminds me of Tribeca years ago. You can see the sky
on every block. There are good restaurants, and more and
more services are starting up.

Neal Young, Vice President, Village Office, with
Clara (4) and Violet (3)

Where do you live, and what are your favorite things
about your neighborhood?

Lower East Side. It’s family friendly, with parks, playgrounds, open views from many of the buildings, and a great nightlife scene. It’s a community
retaining some of its old-world charm while teeming with new
activity.

What are some tips you’d offer families looking to buy
a home in the city?

Maximize your space, don’t be afraid of
a fixer upper—it lets you craft it the way you want it. Pick a
neighborhood with nearby parks and activities so you can
actually relax on weekends.

Saturday, March 01, 2008