By Matt Chaban 3/13/12 6:00am

Manhattan Transfers

549645-the-laureate

The Laureates Lands Another Record Sale, Three-Unit Combo for $17 M.

The Laureate has been one of the quietest successes of the real estate boom, in no small part because everyone buys anonymously and no one will talk about them. Unlike more heralded homes–15 Central Park West, the Rushmore, 100 11th Avenue–the most famous resident of the faux prewar beauty is the creator of Dora the Explorer.

That has not stopped the project from notching one blockbuster sale after another. It does not hurt that most units start at 3 bedrooms and six is not uncommon and the average price is $6 million. The building has just picked up its biggest sale yet, a double combo of the three apartments on the 11th floor. The price was $17.07 million, besting the previous record of only two weeks ago , when penthouse 1A sold for $15.59 million. Read More

By Elise Knutsen 1/04/12 12:25pm

Machers

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Merritt House

The Domain of Shlomi Reuveni: Inside the Mysterious Broker’s Big Developments

With over $200 million in sales at the Laureate alone last year, Shlomi Reuveni is riding high. But unlike so many of New York’s top-tier brokers who set their eyes exclusively toward Park and Fifth, Mr. Reuveni has worked on an impressively diverse array of new developments around the city.

From the former Tiffany’s building 15USW to Tribeca’s Reade57, Mr. Reuveni and his team at BHS Select are involved in some of the hottest new developments in town. Mr. Reuveni took us on a tour, and now it is your turn. Read More

By Elise Knutsen 1/03/12 7:39pm

Machers

Shlomi Reuveni

Shlomi the Money: How Shlomi Reuveni, International Man of Mystery, Became Manhattan’s Best Selling Broker

It was a clear fall day on the Upper West Side as Shlomi Reuveni walked briskly down Broadway. Rising on either side were the Art Deco and Gothic buildings with their enduring cornices and hand-laid bricks, the quintessence of Uptown living.

Mr. Reuveni was headed for the Laureate, a recently completed condo building that has been quietly commanding some of the top prices in the neighborhood, thanks largely to his efforts as the building’s broker. High profile notwithstanding, The Observer almost walked right past the place. It may have been Mr. Reuveni’s broad stride that distracted us from the entrance on 76th Street. Or perhaps it was the luxury building’s understated glory. The Laureate is camouflaged, almost theatrically so, to match its surroundings. The faux prewar detail is impressively comprehensive, from the painted iron balconies to the granite and limestone facade.

“Hey Shlomi!” the man at the front desk called out. “Hello!” Mr. Reuveni responded, beaming brighter than the lights of the lobby’s artificial Christmas tree. Read More