Sue's News and Views

December 2025

Dear All,

Do you need more reasons to love rain? Rain reduces air pollution by washing pollutants like dust, pollen, and soot out of the atmosphere through a process called wet deposition. While rain helps, its effect on smaller, more dangerous particles like PM2.5 is less significant, and any improvement is often temporary as long as pollution sources continue to emit. Without rain, ecosystems would collapse, freshwater would become scarce, and biodiversity would decline, as it is a fundamental part of the global water cycle that sustains life on Earth.

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In case you thought real estate was not that important, think again: real estate impacts almost EVERYTHING:

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The affordability issue that so many in the US are experiencing, not just the poor or middle class, is driven mostly by the cost of.....housing.

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Surges in inflation have been driven largely by the cost of.....housing. Both sales prices and rental prices.

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Surges in the cost and availability of electricity and power have been driven by the cost of .......real estate related to data centers: For example:  Power used by data centers in advanced stages of planning in Pennsylvania jumped more than 40% to 20.5 gigawatts in the third quarter, up from 14.4 gigawatts previously.

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Taxation related to real estate is a big component of tax disputes and concerns.

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Homeowners in over half the USA saw their home equity increase by more than 100% since 2020. West Virginia saw the most dramatic uptick, a 450% increase in home equity over the last 5 years, from an average of $6,529 in 2020 to $35,831 in 2025. Lowest home prices fueled this. Average home equity in Oklahoma also more than quadrupled, from $8,766 in 2020 to $46,562 in 2025, a 431% boost. Rounding out the top 5 were Connecticut (+297%), Kansas (+234%) and Illinois (+217%). All of this happened during elevated inflationary times....which showcases how often real estate is an outstanding hedge against inflation.

For those of you still hoping to find a "holly jolly" closing before the ball drops, this isn't the time to put your search on ice! Highly motivated buyers and sellers are taking advantage of this

low-inventory, high-seriousness season.

Here's wishing you and yours magical Holidays!

Love,

sue

Real Estate in the News

Why Some Homes Sell Quickly - And Others Don't Sell At All

There are more homes for sale today, but that doesn't have to work against you...

Courtesy of Keeping Current Matters

NYC Compass Weekly Luxury Market Reports, November 23

Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens

(click into the image to open the respective report)

NYC December Events

curated for you by me

DECEMBER 2, 6:30-8:30PM

Black on Screen:

SUPER FLY

Screening of Gordon Park Jr's 1972 classic, Super Fly, with talkback featuring Wyatt Cenac and Angélika Beener.

Schomburg Center for research in Black Culture

515 Malcolm X Blvd, Harlem

SOLD OUT, try the wait list

December 3, 2025 -

MID January, 2026

Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

Experience New York’s most iconic holiday moment with the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. The lighting ceremony kicks off the season on December 3rd, but the magic continues all month long as the 80-foot tree glows with over 50,000 LED lights and a Swarovski star. Whether you're skating at the rink below or strolling through Fifth Avenue, this is the city at its most festive.

Click HERE to learn more!

THROUGH DECEMBER 21

ART on Broadway

In ART, written by Yasmina Reza and directed by Scott Ellis, Bobby Cannavale, James Corden and Neil-Patrick Harris chew up the scenery, in this hilarious, and slightly absurdist play.... Catch it before it closes!

Music Box Theatre, 239 W45th St.

To learn more and for tickets click HERE

DECEMBER 3 - 14

Urban Stages:

Winter Rhythms

Urban Stages is thrilled to present the 17th annual Winter Rhythms music festival. This year, over 150 artists will cross our stage in 21 shows, performing cabaret, musical theatre, jazz, classical, the Great American Songbook, pop, rock, and more.

All Tickets $ 35

More info and tickets: HERE

THROUGH JANUARY 4, 2026

Big Apple Circus

The Big Apple Circus is back in town! Get ready for jaw-dropping acrobatics, hilarious clowns, and nonstop thrills under the Big Top at the Lincoln Center in New York City from Nov 7th - Jan 4th.

Lincoln Center, 155 W 62nd St.

For tickets click HERE

DECEMBER 7, 14,21,28; 11:30AM-2:30PM

Jazz Brunch with

Marcus Goldhaber

New York–based jazz singer and songwriter Marcus Goldhaber will tell his stories and sing his songs, and the American Songbook, with soul, heart, wit and incandescent musicality. Join brunch to have a fabulous time and to hear his newly released single "I Can't Wait For Christmas"!

Reservations click HERE.

Tanner Smith's

204 W 55th St.

Sundays 11:30am-2:30pm

The Beatles Anthology

‘The Beatles Anthology’ gets a New Ending: Director Oliver Murray on How Episode 9 Finally Put a Sweeter Cap on the Group’s Historic Docuseries

The additional hour that was newly commissioned as a fresh finale for the 1995 series has just premiered on Friday on Disney+

The Fab Four are a neverending source of food for soul, ears, mind and heart!

Hamilton

For a short time it was showing in movie theatres - now you are lucky if you're a subscriber of Disney+, the only streaming platform that shows the recording.

If you want to see Hamilton LIVE, you still can, and tickets are as much in demand as 10 years ago, when it started. Hamilton is a phenomenon!

Click HERE to learn more.

November 21, 2025 –

January 4, 2026

Lightscape at Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Lightscape returns to the Brooklyn Botanic Garden with over one million dazzling lights transforming the garden into an immersive, after-dark wonderland. Wander glowing pathways, walk through illuminated installations, and enjoy seasonal treats like hot cocoa and mulled wine. It’s one of NYC’s most magical winter experiences — perfect for date nights, families, and anyone who loves holiday lights.

Click HERE to learn more!

November 2025 – January 2026 (exact showtimes vary)

The Radio City Rockettes

A timeless holiday tradition, the Christmas Spectacular brings the world-famous Rockettes to Radio City Music Hall for a show filled with precision dance, lavish costumes, and classic New York nostalgia. From the Parade of the Wooden Soldiers to the dazzling finale, it’s a must-see December event that captures the spirit of the season.

Click HERE to learn more!

The Re-opened

Studio Museum Harlem

Harlem’s Remarkable New Studio Museum Redefines 125th Street!

After seven years and $160 million, the museum has an uplifting home on a street that has always been a barometer of Harlem’s fortunes and aspirations. It’s a remarkable accomplishment and an uplifting, uncompromising addition to the city’s civic landscape.

The Studio Museum in Harlem is located at 144 West 125th Street, between Malcolm X Boulevard (Lenox Avenue) and Adam Clayton Powell Boulevard (Seventh Avenue). For opening hours and to learn more, click HERE

DECEMBER 28, 6 AND 7:30PM

Jim Ridl Quartet

Jim Ridl, a New York City-based jazz pianist, composer and teacher, performs and records worldwide with a variety of jazz artists, including Joe Locke, Tim Armacost, Paul Jost, Carolyn Leonhart and JD Walter. He is well-known as a “musician's musician” and his LIVE performances always enchant!

The Django, 2 Avenue of the Americas, in TriBeCa

To learn more and for reservations, click HERE

Lifestyle Tips and Tricks

Home Exterior Mistakes That Designers Want You To Quit Making

Avoid these common design mishaps to help your home look its best.

Courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens

How to Make Sure Your Sale Crosses the Finish Line

If there was one simple step that could help you make your home sale a seamless process, wouldn't you want to know about it?

Courtesy of Keeping Current Matters

Best Places to Retire in the U.S. 2026

The best places to retire ranking can help you decide where to spend your golden years.

Courtesy of U.S. News

Take a Look Back at 25 Years of Design Trends

These were the hottest trends each year since 2000. How many did you try?

Courtesy of HGTV

Featured Listings of the R-Team

Central Harlem

171 West 131st Street,

Unit 603

1 BD 1 BA 650 SF $550,000

Hamilton Heights

100 Hamilton Place,

Unit 2F

2 BD 1 BA $498,500

land IN PLEASANT VALLEY, NY

tbd Creek Rd,

Pleasant Valley, NY 12569

Site 5.04 acres, $ 215,000

Please note: Several Upper Manhattan condos are in the pipeline;

if interested, please reach out.

Thanks for reading and subscribing!

Ready to achieve your next real estate goal?

Sue Mathys

Licensed as

Susanne Mathys-Huerzeler

Licensed R.E. Salesperson

The R-Team

M: 917.667.9407

sue.mathys@compass.com