John H. Thyen

11/08/2017

Anyone looking for a totally renovated brownstone 2 bedroom in Harlem for under $2,400? No fee. Central A/C. Fireplace. Dishwasher.
1 block from Whole Foods and the 2/3.

07/19/2017

This week, for the first time ever, StreetEasy began charging real estate agents to post listings on its site. The bad news- For NYC renters, this means StreetEasy no longer reflects an accurate snapshot of the real estate market, due to brokerages pulling a large portion of their listings. The good news- Bohemia Realty Group has the most exclusives of any firm above 96th street, and we want to help you find your dream home!

Contact me if you're looking to rent, buy or sell!

Washington Heights runs from 155th Street to 181st Street from river to river. Washington Heights got its name from the military fort, Fort Washington, which was stationed in modern day Hudson Heights, during the American Revolutionary War.

04/21/2017

Something that always comes up...the conversation on fee vs. no fee. Here is a blog written by my wonderful trainer, Brian Letendre!

Bohemia Blog by Agent Brian Letendre


Being that I’ve worked in real estate for several years now, the fee discussion has become very native to me. It’s rare that a client of mine actually has all the information and only when they do, can they really make the most informed decision.


So why pay a broker a fee? Aren’t there tons of no fee apartments out there?

Great questions!!!!! You do not always need to pay a fee and you’re not hurting your agent when you don’t.

There are no fee options out there. If you’re not paying the brokerage directly, the landlord is paying the brokerage. I say brokerage here because remember the commission is paid to the company and the agent only gets part of it depending on their agreement. They are not taking home the entire check you’re cutting at the lease signing.


So, why would a landlord do this? The landlord is not finding it in his heart to spare you the expense, that’s for sure. The landlord is either charging (about) $200 or more a month in rent or needs to move the apartment and has to add extra incentives to do so.


So the choice is up to you. After all, it’s your money…
Do you want to avoid the fee and have a higher rent or pay the fee and start your lease off with lower rent on the same unit. In the case that the rent seems at the floor and it’s still a no fee apartment, you owe it to yourself to ask your agent why.


My nerdy tip would be this:

If you are only staying in the apartment you are about to lease for one year, you should explore the no fee options. Maybe you are looking start the hunt to own a home (please contact me if this is the case) and you need a place to be for a short period of time. The no fee might be the way to go. I feel that might be in your best financial interests dependent on the deal. If you are staying in an apartment for longer than a year, and especially if you found a rent-stabilized unit, it will always serve you to pay the fee up front. You will save money in the long run.
The thing is: You’re paying a fee either way. It’s up to you how you want to pay it and the more you know, the better your decision.

04/12/2017

Ever wondered if it's possible to win a housing lottery? It is!

Who says you can't win a NYC housing lottery? I did! Here is my story of the process from start to finish, as told to StreetEasy Blog.

04/12/2017

A really interesting article on different affordable neighborhoods in NYC! Glad to see Washington Heights on the list!

Trust us, it's not just Williamsburg.

03/31/2017

It's about time that I start posting on here! Welcome to my professional page! I will be featuring articles, apartments and much more!