Hey, That's My 3-Story Gut Renovated Townhouse
Wednesday, May 31, 2006, by Jeremy
See a business card, pick it up, accidentally happen upon a backstory seasoned with foul play. We had no way of knowing that highlighting Bond New York's Nelson Cabassa and his bit of guerilla marketing would draw the ire of the folks down at Tungsten Properties, but draw it did:
Your article ... left out three things: A) He is listing our exclusive without permission. It's ours, not Bond's ... he's not supposed to do that. B) He listed it on Grand to throw people off, it's actually on Broome and Centre, right across from the police building (with a nice view). C) He also is listing it for $1,000 too much. It's $15,000 per month.
Looks like the listing's down from the Bond site, and Tungsten's stamped their name
(above) on the album of photos for the live/work space on offer, just so there's no more confusion. As for us, we feel a little more of our innocence draining away upon this latest revelation.
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Listing: 3-Story Gut Renovated Townhouse, Centre St. in Nolita [Tungsten]
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Signs of Brokers in the Wild [Curbed]
UPDATE: The plot thickens, thanks to a reader who recognized this property: "The place used to be an underground poker house called Aquarium. It was busted a few times, and has not been in business for a few months. Each floor was used for poker games, with the higher floors reserved for big games. An enormous Russian a la Rounders guarded the door. The owner, who regularly served as a dealer, liked to drop hints that Leo Dicaprio and Tobey Maguire frequented the spot when they were in town. The place was shut down with about every other card house in the city when Bloomberg saw the big spread on card houses in the Post a few months ago."
Cabassa is just another sad agent at who has to list other agents' exclusives as his, owing to his not having any or enough of his own. A major brokerage recently discovered the same was true of one David Hsu,(Nest Seekers) who was putting listings up on his page that were in fact Douglas Elliman exclusives.As of this writing they appear to still be up, which will make it hard for Mr. Hsu to get into those exclusives. (Note absence of "Chinaman's chance" reference)
I hate this practice. Not only it is highly against NY Dept of State rules regulating Real Estate Licenses, but its just wrong. Advertising someone else's exclusives and misrepresenting them as your own is illegal. All the exclusive agent has to do is print that misrep agent's ad, make a photocopy of a signed exclusive agreement and send this to the Dept of State for investigation. The agency (in this case Bond) will get a fine or worse. I strongly suggest that any RE agent does this. Oh and by the way, this particular agent doesn't even have a license. Any agency that allows an agent to operate without a license, esp. hold listings is a disgrace to the industry. I bet if you did a search on Bond's website and testing each agent here: http://appsext5.dos.state.ny.us/lcns_public/lic_name_search_frm
At least 1/3 of them wouldnt have a license. Craziness!
there are quite a few smaller houses advertising other people's exclusives.... Kurland, Nest Seekers, to name a few... They seem to be the worst at it. It's blatant, it ruins the purpose of co-broking, and against REBNY code..
Does anyone know of any penalty or suspension due to this type of fradulent advert schemes..??
Wow, after reading that Brownstoner link, its obvious that Bond needs to get slapped. It would be amazing if Curbed reader unite and all make separate complains to the Department of State, shutting down Bond. Alas, only a dream...
Yes - they are so shady ... posting fake listings on Craigs List, picking up other people's exclusives, etc. Its shocking that they can stay in business in such a competitive market.
Preach it! Real estate agencies are all pretty shady, but Bond is the Elm Tree of shade. Or shame. Not only do they post fake listings on Craigslist, they keep updating expired listings on the NY Times website to give off the impression that they are new. Shame, shame, shame on Bond.
Wow, true shadiness which unfortunately is so common in this business that ethical agents have to climb to the top by word of mouth by their past customers who appreciate the honesty; as opposed to publicicty from another agents exclusive listing.
REBNY should do more than just a fine as that will not stop anything? Or better yet, renters/buyers/sellers should just AVOID working with agents of these company's that prove time and again to work unethically!
Bring it to the streets baby!
I walked by the townhouse on Centre Street and saw the Tungsten sign on the building. Which by the way is a pretty nice looking sign for a brokerage.
It's a damn shame that Bond condones this type of activity.
Bond New York's owner according to the Entity Registration with New York State is:
NOAH FREEDMAN
304 MULBERRY LANE
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, 10012
noah@bondnewyork.com
Enjoy.
Sleazy, but not unheard of, right? Both in NYC and here, in Boston. It shows lack of character on the part of the agent. The broker should fear losing their license, so they shouldn't let their agents do such things. Losers.
On a related note, I've listed the Empire State Building. Check out my website for more information. $1.2b.
Ed,
Real Estate agencies are not all 'pretty shady'. Some are, most are not. Many brokers I know who frequent this site, have been in business for years and years. You don't stay in this game long by ripping people off / being dishonest.
- Realstar
I have dealt with two seriously ethics-lacking brokers from Mahattan Apartments... is there a website for broker comments? I seem to remember one being posted a while back...
I am Nelson M Cabassa. I am responding to what is being blown way out of proportion. In the first this was an expired listing if you check the website it was rented some time ago. If it is back on the market fantastic for Tungsten, but for anyone to point fingers is outrageous. At that time no one had this listing exclusively. If anyone claims that they did I would ask to produce the signed exclussive agreement that shows the date in which it was signed. As for Bond New York, we are recognized as having access to some of NYC most desireable listings, the ability to work dilligently in producing what evryone is after deals closed, and satisfied customers. I do not list other peoples exclusive's, as I really have no need. I am however an active member of REBNY and therefore am aware of who has what. The buisness card on the street bit was completely random in nature, not a gimick. I operate at the highest level of ethics, as I am also an artist who is concerned with the Human condition.
Hi Nelson,
My name is Nancy Nguyen and this is my exclusive since May 20th. Previously an open listing, it has been a burden for me/Tungsten to find all the brokerage firms advertising it and informing them. Now you know, please do not advertise this listing hereon. Should you for some reason not believe me, I encourage you to call the Landlord directly and ask him yourself. He has never given an exclusive to anyone, but me. I have rented a lot of this properties, my clients include: ALIFE, Morgan Spurlock (director of "Supersize Me")to name a few. I plan to rent this one, too, and have come very close. Thanks for all the advertising via Curbed. You can find this listing on BNYC, OLR, Costar, and CL under my name with the exact address.
I meant, "I have rented a lot of his properties"
Nancy,
Congrats on your May 20, 2006 signed exclusive. The apartment however was initialy rented in January earlier this year. Please refrain from the use of slanderous propaganda posting. I can prove that this was an open listing available to many firms throughout Manhattan. Ask your owner and I am sure he will corroborate. So you had a lease break, and managed to get the exclusive. Kudos to you, but the fact is that Curbed.com accidentaly posted what is listed as an expired lisitng. Check the Web Site www.bondnewyork.com So again just so we are clear, the apartment listed on our website is and has been an expired listing for some time. You just got that exclussive on May 20, 2006. Facts can do amazing things for ones intelligence.
Good luck with your endeavors as your interests do not conflict with my own or that of Bond New York.
In your service,
Nelson M Cabassa
Bond New York
I saw a great tee shirt yesterday: "When the facts don't prove the theory, change the facts!"
I'm having a hell of a time finding rentals that accepts pets! I've got customers that have dogs of all sizes and no apartments to show them! Damn! Why do renters have to have dogs??!! I mean is New York City apartment living really fair for these God's creatures/critters?? I wish all of my clients/customers didn't have a Noah's Ark thing going on. I could close on more deals and not get such a migraine.
Why is it that realtors can't spell? The best part is that they spell badly while insulting each other's intelligence.
Hey Nelson and Nancy - Blah blah blah
i suggest nancy and nelson make love not war.
What I'm getting from Curbed writers and readers is that they have no idea what "OPEN" listings are. Pathetic. Why does anyone read any of this blather?
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