New York real estate snapshot

The city got its start in 1609, when it was put on the map by Henry Hudson, after whom the Hudson River is named. New York today is comprised of five boroughs: Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island — each distinguished by its own charm and history. During the city's building boom in the early 1900s, multiple housing units such as brownstones, row houses and lofts were erected. It continues to experience rapid growth with new developments every year. The city's seasoned sports fans are notoriously loyal, rooting for teams such as the NFL Super Bowl Champion New York Giants, Jets (NFL), Knicks (NBA) Mets (MLB) and the Yankees (MLB).

An eclectic personality

Tourists regularly come in droves to see the numerous sites New York has to offer. In the milder months of spring and fall, Central Park comes alive. Its 843 acres of lawns, woodlands and water span six miles, measuring the distance from Eighth Avenue to Fifth Avenue and 59th Street to 110th Street. It was officially recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1965, and nearly 25 million visitors revel in its lush beauty every year.

For most visitors, the city's fast-paced beat and eclectic personality resonate most in Times Square in Midtown Manhattan. As a long standing tradition, thousands gather there every year to ring in the New Year and watch the Times Square Ball drop. Times Square has also famous for its cluster of music halls and theaters. But it's all the in-your-face, monster-size billboards that flicker with vibrantly lit LED lights that capture the vitality of Times Square.

The site of most of the city's skyscrapers, Manhattan is the most urban borough with SoHo ('South of Houston Street') as one of its trendiest neighborhoods. Some of the older buildings in SoHo are relics from the 1970s, with loft-style housing units predominating. Before the area became heavily commercialized, SoHo lofts were sought after by artists who cherished the open space, large windows and affordable rent. The influx of artists made SoHo the kitschy, trendsetting neighborhood it is today. Forbes.com ranked Manhattan zip code 10002 as fourth in greatest appreciation, with an average home price of $1.1 million.

'''Brooklyn housing is hot'''

For more affordable housing, residents choose Co-op City in the Baychester region of Northeast Bronx. Co-op City offers blocks of cooperative housing developments with more than 15,000 residential units in high-rises and townhouse clusters. It opened in 1969, built on land that was once the site of Freedomland Amusement Park. The average selling price ranges from $350,000 to $800,000, depending on the number of bedrooms.

For growing families and young professionals, Brooklyn has become the new hot spot for real estate. With a downtown business district, miles of beachfront and Coney Island amusement grounds, it is the site of historic residential neighborhoods like the prestigious Park Slope District, dating back to the late 1800s. Its Victorian architecture and antiquated townhouses are a stone's throw away from majestic Prospect Park. This jewel of a suburb offers refurbished apartments at $650,000 and multistory brownstones that start at $900,000. Like an ever-changing chameleon, New York offers a wealth of choices. So take a bite out of the Big Apple and invest in New York City real estate today!

'''Sources and more information:'''
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_york_city/
http://www.nyc.gov/html/thegates/html/central_park.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Times_Square
http://www.timessquare.com/history/history_101.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coney_Island
http://www.astroland.com/cyclone.html
http://history.amusement-parks.com/nathans.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SoHo
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Co-op_City,_Bronx
http://www.nyc-architecture.com/PS/PS.htm
http://www.millersamuel.com/research/gallery-view.php?ViewNode=1126990787Gzahi
http://www.forbes.com/realestate/2006/03/09/home-price-appreciation-cx_sc_0310home_ls.html
http://homegarden.move.com/Cities/newyork/newyork.asp?poe=homestore
http://www.villagevoice.com/nyclife/0619,pascoe,73104,15.html