Shuwanda also said that if the bank won't cash the check, while in the bank ask the bank to contact the branch in Manhattan, NY where the account the checks are drawn against is located.

They just aren't basing their buying decision on the chance of appreciation.Then of course there are the wealthy landlords who can afford to buy rentals in places like Manhattan, or affluent suburbs, and wait a few years for appreciation even if they come up negative while it's a rental.

Yes I have checked out Meetup.com and see they have a fresh meadows (queens) REIA that's meets up in MANHATTAN.

During the hurricane Sandy electricity by the Manhattan beach in Brooklyn (right by the ocean) was restored in 7 days (I believe its one of the longest repairs in Brooklyn.

San Francisco or Manhattan; class A?)

The data is not 100% accurate so I then look up the property on zillow/google and see what I can find (i.e. if its listed for sale on MLS, as a PF or just off market, and other basic info) but I don't know where to verify the IMPORTANT info, like the equity, mortgage info, etc.

As a dirt poor NY Immigrant that grew up from a 2 year old in the late 60s, living in the Alphabet City neighborhood in Manhattan, my experience by being beat up by virtually every kind of Gang, Hispanic, African Americans, Whites ( Irish and Italian gangs basically), etc.... embedded into me that Race plays both an obvious and subtle role in our City and I'm sure that extends throughout our Nation.

I go to see these properties (virtually as i live in manhattan) and its a different story, there are vacant units that were listed that were listed as turn key.

Im a little knee but I guess it’s supply and demand but in real estate things move slow.One thing that happened in my market which is outside Manhattan, is the prices rocketed up because people left the city and took on a commute and to them the prices were no problem (more money in the city) This definitely hit single family homes hard but seems to have hit everything.

Is that just my newbie instinct talking or NYC (Brooklyn/Manhattan) market is indeed tough to crack?