“The true New Yorker secretly believes that people living anywhere else have to be, in some sense, kidding.”
- John Updike, American novelist, poet
Why Alta?
Alta Real Estate is a boutique luxury real estate firm based in the greatest city in the world - New York City.
Founded by top veteran broker Rick Kelly, Alta’s premier agents offer buyers and sellers unparalleled expertise in the sale and rental of condominiums, townhouses, and co-ops.
Specializing in luxury & new development sales, we can guide clients through every stage of searching, acquiring, marketing, selling and renting their New York City homes and investment properties.
The of
POWER BOUTIQUE
As a luxury boutique firm, Alta Real Estate offers clients the unparalleled attention, focus and resources not available with big box retail firms.
We have closed $40 Million Dollars in the first half of ’24 alone and offer many advantages over the generic Big Box Firms
• Two Decades of Excellence in NYC Luxury Sales & Leasing by Founder Rick Kelly
• Unparalleled luxury market and building knowledge acquired over 2,000+ sales/ 20 years in the business
• More individualized attention to client needs
• Accountable leadership and results-driven representation
• Better trained agents
• Quicker response time in fast moving markets
• Best in class luxury website and marketing solutions for Alta properties
Rick Kelly
ASSOCIATE BROKER
PRIMARY PHONE
(917) 204-6577 EMAIL RICK@ALTANEWYORK.COM
Aided by his Southern charm and adopted New York grit, Rick Kelly is a veteran broker associate who has achieved more than 600 sales while leaving an indelible mark on the ultra competitive New York real estate market. A top producer of residential and building sales, Rick has facilitated transactions throughout the city, from established neighborhoods like Central Park West to emerging markets, such as West Chelsea and Long Island City. His deal-making expertise is helpful for all price points, understanding the perspectives of both buyers and sellers and translating them into winning results.
Rick’s solid mix of luxury home buyers and first-time and commercial clients includes those from the worlds of finance, entertainment, fashion, and more. He’s earned the respect of clients and peers alike with his expert insights into each neighborhood and the overall market and his trustworthiness, responsiveness, humor, frankness, and top-tier representation. Beyond the boroughs exists a global clientele with which Rick has rubbed elbows and traveled on behalf of to Spain, France, Portugal, Lithuania, Belarus, and China. His exceptional team is equally international, with fluency in Italian, Spanish, and Chinese.
Expertise aside, the ingredients for Rick’s real estate success boil down to pure hustle and a wealth of personal experience buying and selling multiple homes and apartment buildings. Rick enjoys the rewards of the sizzling NYC market, where dozens of multi-million-dollar properties sell weekly.
Rick lives in Manhattan with his wife, Irina, young daughter, and son. A man of great range, he’s as comfortable telling jokes as he is speaking about global affairs. He’s also a cook, an innovative marketer, and an accomplished songwriter who has written hit songs for other artists, in addition to releasing a professional album as an artist himself. Additionally, he loves theater, film, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Rick and his family are members of Lincoln Square Redeemer Church.
Our Team
We’re well acquainted with luxury living and discern the subtleties between high-quality and truly remarkable properties.
Alta Real Estate was founded by Rick Kelly, a veteran agent who has built a top-producing team, personally closed over 600 sales, and achieved more than $1 billion in sales volume to date over the past 20 years. Alta agents represent the best of New York, with experts in every neighborhood across a broad spectrum of experiences, personalities and styles. We speak not only “New York”, but also Cantonese Mandarin,Spanish, Hindi, & Italian. As a team, we pound an exceptional amount of this city’s pavement, and possess the street smarts and negotiating savvy that’s needed to get our clients the best deal the market can provide.
Local Expertise
CANADA
As New York City residents, Alta agents have the winning combination of local expertise combined with national and international partnerships that help to expose your property to the widest array of qualified buyers from around the globe
Whether you’re looking for a beach house in Miami, a second home in Utah or an apartment building in Atlanta, we can connect you to experts across the country in all major real estate markets.
UNITED STATES
Global Reach
Internationally, we have partnerships across Europe, Asia and Dubai and can reach the most affluent luxury buyers through advertising channels such as The Wall Street Journal, The Robb Report, Mansion Global, Barrons and Architectural Digest
Anatomy of a Successful Sale 1. Pricing
Pricing a property in the beginning is crucial as the traffic is typically the highest and your chances of getting ask or close to it dissipates after the first 30 - 45 days.
The most relevant comps for most properties are similar sales within the same apartment building or neighborhood.
For one-of-a-kind apartments and townhouses, we expand our search as necessary to get the best comparables.
A properly priced property should receive continuous traffic once on the market. Overpriced apartments typically reach their correct pricing after one or a series of reductions. Just as in the options market however, time factors as a crucial component in the sale and those properties that trade in the first 30-45 days realize substantially stronger bids than those that trade after 3, 6,
or 12 months. Considering the penalty for not pricing right out of the gate, we always advocate realistic pricing from day 1 to turn new listing traffic into multiple offers.
Properties that trade in the first 30-45 days realize substantially stronger bids
Currently, 18% of all listings that sell are above the asking price in New York, reflecting a very healthy and efficient NYC sales market that recognizes and rewards well priced properties.
Proper Pricing
Sell in the shortest possible time
MARKET ACTIVITY VS. TIME
Activity refers to the average number of showings.
Weeks refers to the average length of time a property is on the market.
Anatomy of a Successful Sale 2. Exposure
These days, most agents simply throw up a listing on the MLS or StreetEasy and think it will sell itself.
In a hot market that may very well work, but in a neutral or buyer’s market, their odds are less than 50% at trading with that limited mindset.
At Alta, we employ a variety of high value strategies and actions to ensure our clients’ properties receive maximum exposure and every chance of selling. We reach your potential buyers worldwide on the following channels:
MLS Distribution - REBNY members and active members of New York City MLS - 14,000 + active brokers and their clients / sphere of influence
MLS Syndication -Zillow, Redfin, Trulia, Homes.com, Realtor.com and hundreds of smaller known feeds
International Partners – We are connected to and engaged with international buyers through our partners in Asia (Juwai), the Middle East (DAMAC) and the UK (Knight Frank)
National Partners – As a Side partnered firm, we enjoy continual referrals from and exposure to 600+ partners throughout the USA in top markets such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Austin, Palm Beach & Miami
Streeteasy – Featured advertising on top 3rd party site for New York Real Estate.
Printed Brochures – Takeaway items for lasting impression with buyers
Mailed postcards – Engaging pieces meant to capture the attention and curiosity of potential buyers
Mailed Newsletters - Alta Insider distributed Quarterly to Sphere of Influence of 30,000 + distribution list and top buildings
Social Media – We employ both posting and advertising on multiple social media platforms including Instagram, Facebook, Youtube, & Tiktok
3. Presentation
Having quality pictures and video is a great start, but effective personal representation of a property is still essential to induce offers and conversations that lead to deals. The power to personally effect a buyer’s disposition towards a property is one of the greatest resources we possess. Presentation can be broken down into a few components
Media / Copy – Excellent photography videos and interesting / compelling copy are a must as well as professionally printed show sheets and brochures
Showing Agent – We value being on time or early, dressed professionally, showing with enthusiasm and having knowledge about the particular property and building for any / all questions
Comparisons – knowledge of relevant comps and historical sales / general market conditions is essential in being able to articulate value to a buyer. Knowing what’s most special and unique about a property helps the listing to stand out in the mind of buyers.
Summary
A well-priced, widely seen property presented in person and online with enthusiasm, passionate advocacy and persuasion will always generate offers and in most cases close quicker and at a higher dollar value than the competition.
For the most accurate real-time closing costs on your property visit
Seller-Closing-Cost-Estimator
Buyer-Closing-Cost-Estimator
Closing Costs
FOR THE SELLER
TYPICAL ESTIMATED CLOSING COSTS:
CONDO APARTMENTS, TOWNHOUSES AND 1-3 FAMILY DWELLINGS
Own Attorney Consult your attorney
NY
NYC
Residential
Pick-up/Pay-off Fee To Title Closer
MANSION TAX
$250 - $500 Consult your attorney
Sale price over $1M but less than $2M = 1%****
Sale price from $2M to less than $3M** = 1.25%***
Sale price from $3M to less than $5M** = 1.5%****
Sale price from $5M to less than $10M = 2.25%***
Sale price from $10M to less than $15M = 3.25%***
Sale price from $15M to less than $20M = 3.5%***
Sale price from $20M to less than $25M = 3.75%***
Sale price from $25M and up = 3.9%***
*** This shall take effect July 1, 2019, and shall apply to conveyances occurring on or after such date other than conveyances which are made pursuant to binding written contracts entered into on or before April 1, 2019, provided that the date of execution of such contract is confirmed by independent evidence, such as the recording of the contract, payment of a deposit or other facts and circumstances as determined by the commissioner of taxation and finance.
FOR THE PURCHASER
of entire purchase price where price is $1,000,000 or more
Tax – Real Property Only (Co-Ops Excluded) Mortgage Tax - NYC (Paid By Borrower) 1-3 Family Home
• If mortgage is less than $500,000: 2.05% of loan amount
• If mortgage is $500,000 or more: 2.175% of loan amount
• If mortgage is less than $500,000: 2.05% of loan amount
Other Property Types
PECONIC BAY
TAX
• If mortgage is $500,000 or more: 2.80% of loan amount
(Towns Of Southampton, East Hampton, Riverhead, Southold and Shelter Island Only)
A. Improved land: 2% of purchase price less $250,000
South Fork
North Fork
B. Unimproved land: 2% of purchase price less $100,000
A. Improved land: 2% of purchase price less $150,000
B. Unimproved land: 2% of purchase price less $75,000
THIS CLOSING COST GUIDE IS DESIGNED TO GIVE YOU THE GENERAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PURCHASE OR SALE OF A TOWNHOUSE PROPERTY. PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE ARE ESTIMATES AND THAT POTENTIAL BUYERS AND SELLERS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR REAL ESTATE ATTORNEY OR FINANCIAL ADVISOR FOR SPECIFICS. PLEASE TAKE NOTE WE DO NOT REPRESENT THAT THESE ARE THE ENTIRETY OF POTENTIAL COSTS, BUT ARE ONLY TO BE USED AS A GUIDE.
Closing Costs
FOR THE SELLER
Broker
Own Attorney
Co-op Attorney
Flip Tax
Stock Transfer Rate*
Move-out Deposit/Fee
NYC Transfer Tax*
TYPICAL ESTIMATED CLOSING COSTS: CO-OPERATIVE APARTMENTS
Typically 6%
Consult your attorney
$600+
Varies depending on building
$0.05 per share
Varies depending on building
Only for properties in the 5 boroughs
Residential Up to $500,000 = 1%
Over $500,000 = 1.425%
Commercial Up to $500,000 = 1.425%
Administrative Fees:
Non-Deed Transfers (ie. co-ops)
Residential Deed Transfers
Commercial Deed Transfers
NY State Transfer Tax*
NYS Equalization Fee
Miscellaneous Co-op Fees
Pick-up/Pay-off Fee
UCC-3 Filing Fee
Over $500,000 = 2.625%
$50
$75
$165
$4 per $1,000 of price
$75
Varies depending on building
$500 - $700
$100
*** This shall take effect July 1, 2019, and shall apply to conveyances occurring on or after such date other than conveyances which are made pursuant to binding written contracts entered into on or before April 1, 2019, provided that the date of execution of such contract is confirmed by independent evidence, such as the recording of the contract, payment of a deposit or other facts and circumstances as determined by the commissioner of taxation and finance.
THIS CLOSING COST GUIDE IS DESIGNED TO GIVE YOU THE GENERAL COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE PURCHASE OR SALE OF A TOWNHOUSE PROPERTY. PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE ARE ESTIMATES AND THAT POTENTIAL BUYERS AND SELLERS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR REAL ESTATE ATTORNEY OR FINANCIAL ADVISOR FOR SPECIFICS. PLEASE TAKE NOTE WE DO NOT REPRESENT THAT THESE ARE THE ENTIRETY OF POTENTIAL COSTS, BUT ARE ONLY TO BE USED AS A GUIDE.
FOR THE PURCHASER
MORTGAGE CLOSING COSTS
Buyers Attorney Consult your attorney
Bank Fees
Application Fee
Processing Fee
Appraisal Fee
Credit report Fee
Bank attorney
Lien Search
UCC-1 Filing Fee
MANSION TAX
$500 - $1,000
$350 - $650
$330 - $500
$500 - $2,000
$45 - $100+
$650 - $750
$250 - $350
$100
Sale price over $1M but less than $2M = 1%****
Sale price from $2M to less than $3M** = 1.25%***
Sale price from $3M to less than $5M** = 1.5%****
Sale price from $5M to less than $10M = 2.25%***
Sale price from $10M to less than $15M = 3.25%***
Sale price from $15M to less than $20M = 3.5%***
Sale price from $20M to less than $25M = 3.75%***
Sale price from $25M and up = 3.9%***
ADDITIONAL REAL ESTATE EXPENSES
Miscellaneous Co-op Charges Varies by building
Recognition Agreement Fee
$250+
Maintenance Adjustment Pro-rated for the month of closing
Short-Term Interest
Equal to interest for balance of month you close
* transfer taxes paid by seller, except in the case of sponsor sales, in which case the transfer tax is paid by the purchaser.
For the most accurate real-time closing costs on your property visit
Seller-Closing-Cost-Estimator
Buyer-Closing-Cost-Estimator
Client Testimonials
Alta is an incredible real estate firm! They were extremely responsive and really put our needs first when finding a unit. Once we found the perfect home, Rick negotiated a great deal with the seller. Throughout the process, he answered our questions with sincerity and thoughtfulness. Rick not only raises the bar for realtors, but his work ethic and service went above and beyond anything I’ve experienced as a customer. You would be hard pressed to find a better professional than Rick.
– Raja R.
Rick was the agent who sold us our condo 18 years ago. I appreciated his straightforward honesty and caring to a rare degree among real estate agents. As the current president of our condo board, I’ve relied on Rick for advice and insight. He’s a true professional, knowledgeable and committed to his industry and to his firm.
– Eric G.
We have used Rick Kelly and his team for several significant real estate transactions in New York City, and he has over delivered each time. These transactions include purchases, sales, and leases of residential real estate, and Rick handled all aspects of the transaction, including services that were required post-closing and weren’t contemplated at the time Rick was retained.
– Richard S.
Alta Real Estate is fantastic to work with because they are “no-nonsense’ kind of people who will tell you exactly how things stand and can substantiate their assertions with real data. They are extraordinarily efficient and work at “New York speed”. In my case, we were in a situation of multiple offers and they were my ally in thinking strategically about which deal made the most sense.
– Filippo G.
We first met Rick in 2001. Since then he helped me buy and sell several apartments for myself as well as for friends and has become a trusted source of information over the last two decades. He is always available 24/7 for answering questions for me and my friends. Alta has a lot of information at their fingertips.
– David R.
We wasted 6 months with my first listing and broker then we found Alta Real Estate, or should we say Alta Real Estate found us. That’s the aggressive team they are, and who we wanted on my team. So we signed up. And, after they helped get it staged, they sold my $3,000,000 condo at my asking price, finding the buyer in just days. We are grateful that Alta Real Estate handled this for us.
- Jerry S.
Leveraging the power of 20 year Relationships Expert Network
Accountants / Apartment Cleaners / Architects / Certified Financial Planners / Drone Operators / Estate At to rn eys / General Contrac to rs / HVAC Repair /
Insurance Agents / Interior Designers /
Landlords / Tenant At to rn eys / Move rs /
Landscape Architects / Painters / Lenders / Marie Kondo Organizers / Photographers / Videographers / Propert y Inspectors / Stagers / Tax At to rn eys /
Recent Sales & Exclusives
551 West 21st Street #15B
3 Bed Condo | West Chelsea
$9,700,000 | Sold
214 Carroll Street
SF Townhouse | Brooklyn
$4,000,000 | Contract Signed
1965 Broadway #11A
3 bed Condo | Lincoln Square
$3,650,000 | Sold
The Powerhouse Condo #1110
3 bed Condo | LIC
$2,400,000 | Sold
225 5th Avenue Penthouse F
2 Bedroom Condo | Flatiron
$2,500,000 | Sold
111 West 67th Street #21N
1 Bedroom Condo | Lincoln Square
$1,000,000 | Sold
1965 Broadway #18A
3 Bedroom Condo | Lincoln Square
$4,750,000
257 West 46th Street Penthouse 2
4 Bedroom | Midtown
$8,500,000
780 West End Ave #5B
Classic Six Condo | UWS
$2,175,000
15 Central Park West / 29B / $6,950,000
160 Leroy / S4C / $4,200,000
360 East 89th / 30A / $6,595,000
15 Hudson Yards / 34A / $5,100,000
56 Leonard / 33BE / $4,400,000
29 West 85th / PH / $6,575,000
Virtual Staging PROPERTIES
BEFORE AFTER
BEFORE AFTER
