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The Sky's the Limit: Passion and Property in Manhattan
From the author of the bestselling Philistines at the Hedgerow, a mesmerizing inside account of the high-stakes world of Manhattan residential real estate Steven Gaines takes us from New York's most expensive condominiums and co-ops to the offices of its most powerful real estate brokers to reveal the outlandish displays of ego, bad behavior, and status hunger that come into play when the best addresses in the city are on the line. With his signature elan, Gaines weaves a gossipy tapestry of brokers, buyers, co-op boards, and eccentric landlords and tells of the apartment hunting and renovating adventures of many celebrities-from Tommy Hilfiger to Donna Karan, from Jerry Seinfeld to Steven Spielberg, from Barbra Streisand to Madonna. Gaines uncovers the secretive, unwritten rules of co-op boards: why diplomats and pretty divorcees are frowned upon, what not to wear to a board interview, and which of the biggest celebrities and CEOs have been turned away from the elite buildings of Fifth and Park Avenues. He introduces the carriage-trade brokers who never have to advertise for clients and gives us finely etched portraits of a few of the discreet, elderly society ladies who decide who gets into the so-called Good Buildings. Here, too, is a fascinating chronicle of the changes in Manhattan's residential skyline, from the slums of the nineteenth century to the advent of the luxury building. Gaines describes how living in boxes stacked on boxes came to be seen as the ultimate in status, and how the co-operative apartment, originally conceived as a form of housing for the poor, came to be used as a legal means of black-balling undesirable neighbors. A social history told through brick and mortar, The Sky's the Limit is the ultimate look inside one of the most exclusive and expensive enclaves in the world, and at the lengths to which people will go to get in.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
March 27, 2010
A fictional portrait of author Steven Gaines as a teenager:
The group of cool kids hang out by the Flatbush Avenue entrance of Erasmus Hall High School, smoking cigarettes and bitching about the noticeable absence of girls at the party on Friday night.
With no fanfare (and certainly no invitation), Gaines rushes up the group, breathless and flushed, clutching notebooks tightly to his chest, papers jutting wildly from their corners. His eyes are crazed with excitement. "Ohmigod, you guys! Have you heard?!"
The cool kids pause and glare at him, eyes slit like serpents.
"Gloria Vanderbilt got turned away by the co-op at River House!"
Spencer, head of the cool kids, flicks his cigarette to the curb, and faces Gaines. "Who the hell cares? Get lost, loser!"
Gaines is unfazed and oblivious. "Ohmigod! There's CiCi and the rest of the cheerleading squad! I wonder if they know? See you guys later!"
So it goes with The Sky's the Limit, Gaines' starry-eyed, gossipy history about real estate in Manhattan, a book that somehow manages to be equal parts US Weekly, Architectural Digest, Flip That House, Celebrity Death Match, and Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous... often in a single chapter.
It's exhausting. It's exasperating. It's a hell of a lot of fun.
The group of cool kids hang out by the Flatbush Avenue entrance of Erasmus Hall High School, smoking cigarettes and bitching about the noticeable absence of girls at the party on Friday night.
With no fanfare (and certainly no invitation), Gaines rushes up the group, breathless and flushed, clutching notebooks tightly to his chest, papers jutting wildly from their corners. His eyes are crazed with excitement. "Ohmigod, you guys! Have you heard?!"
The cool kids pause and glare at him, eyes slit like serpents.
"Gloria Vanderbilt got turned away by the co-op at River House!"
Spencer, head of the cool kids, flicks his cigarette to the curb, and faces Gaines. "Who the hell cares? Get lost, loser!"
Gaines is unfazed and oblivious. "Ohmigod! There's CiCi and the rest of the cheerleading squad! I wonder if they know? See you guys later!"
So it goes with The Sky's the Limit, Gaines' starry-eyed, gossipy history about real estate in Manhattan, a book that somehow manages to be equal parts US Weekly, Architectural Digest, Flip That House, Celebrity Death Match, and Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous... often in a single chapter.
It's exhausting. It's exasperating. It's a hell of a lot of fun.
September 9, 2010
It's not my world, but what a world it is! There is obviously never a dull moment in the New York City real estate market, and this book deftly manages to simultaneously inform, repel and delight any reader who'd like an E ticket view of the lifestyles of the old and new money of Manhattan (and the real estate machinations that hold it all in place). I learned a tremendous amount about several iconic buildings, and the continually shifting social strata of New York during the 20th century -- the book covers much more cultural territory than one might think. Fascinating.
October 17, 2022
This book was a mix of the author following random successful real estate brokers around, and some history of the way the Manhattan real estate market developed. The profiles of real estate brokers were pretty boring (though the ending had some fun moments, like where Donald Trump made an on-brand/sexual harrassment-y appearance and a broker talked about how great it was that people were able to use their homes as a financial product rather than just a place to live in 2005). The discussion of how the real estate market in Manhattan developed was much more interesting -- e.g., why so many buildings are co-ops, how apartment buildings got started in NYC, the story of the Ansonia, and how Sutton Place came to be a fancier neighborhood.
February 19, 2008
Ah, Manhattan. Where real estate porn appears in all levels of newspaper and where it's perfectly fine to visit someone's home and immediately ask how much rent they pay/how much they spent on the apartment. This book provided a nice gossip-filled look into the market for high end apartments, a bit of history of the development of co-ops and their boards, and some descriptions of neat buildings. In particular, the description of the Ansonia Hotel provides an interesting backdrop for the hotel described in Martin Dressler by Steven Millhauser.
November 17, 2016
the only reason i gave it 3 stars is due to it being out of date re: NY real Estate. but interesting in regards to "good buildings".
May 16, 2017
Probably a bit dated now, but provides insight into how the very wealthy live in NYC. Details about the history and architecture of famous New York residential buildings. Good buildings verses average buildings. The difficultly of getting past a coop board even for the very wealthy and famous. A view into the competitive life of brokers. Interestingly women seem to be at the top of this field.
You can't talk about NYC real estate without talking about Donald Trump. Pre-presidential Trump was just as big an ass as President Trump. "Wow your boobs look great!"
You can't talk about NYC real estate without talking about Donald Trump. Pre-presidential Trump was just as big an ass as President Trump. "Wow your boobs look great!"
October 8, 2022
Loved it! Finished it on a short beach vacation. Interesting read about the historical facts on old New York real estate evolved into what it has become. Thrown in with some high society, and dream chasers. Really great historical page turner. Probably because it can still be relatable to readers now - and who doesn’t love a good big apple theme?!
November 15, 2021
I had no idea the world of co-ops in Manhattan was so intense! This was a truly fascinating look at the behind the scenes goings-on of this world. Oh, what I would give to own an apartment on Fifth Ave.....
This book is old, so obviously some of the information is outdated, but incredibly interesting, nonetheless.
This book is old, so obviously some of the information is outdated, but incredibly interesting, nonetheless.
October 30, 2021
An interesting = if somewhat dated - look at the highly competitive world of high end residential real estate in New York City. Far too much name dropping to suit me.
Read
December 1, 2021Fun read... interesting too
April 19, 2022
Oddly fascinating and a bit scary. $45 million for an apartment in NYC? That is stupid rich.
July 28, 2024
Gave me a better understanding of the Upper East Side
October 25, 2015
The whole thing like a really long Vanity Fair article, full of a interesting facts regarding a few of the so-called ”Good Buildings” occupied by the upper crust of Manhattan, but lacking in character and narrative thread. While a few of the stories are somewhat interesting, for the most part the book is tedious, lacks focus, nor does the writer seem to know exactly what he is saying. Perhaps a better description of this material is that the whole thing feels like an overly-long term paper that is packed with filler and low on substance. Little attention is paid to the real-life characters herein, which are (in some cases) interesting and could have been given more room for their stories to breathe in relation to the real estate focal point. But people are dropped in favor of reciting statistics that do not serve the material. Again: it reads like a term paper that is too short and suffered from last minute bloating to meet a required page count. Don't get me wrong: such numbers and statistics are helpful when they help flesh out the world or create a measure of understanding when they serve the point of the story. But this has no real thread combining all of the anecdotes other than "hey! look! expense real estate in Manhattan! WOW!". This COULD have been interesting material with a unique way into viewing this swath of Manhattan's social elite. But the book doesn't seem to know what the focus is, nor what it is saying in the first place. The historical bits, especially towards the beginning are the most interesting and give you insight into how Manhattan came to be built into the city it is today. But the author drops that quickly and moves on to something else, as if the goal was to talk about EVERYTHING rather than something. Once again: bad term paper with no focus or point of view. As a result, you stop caring about the people and the place and that is death in a book - be it fiction or non-fiction.
November 12, 2011
It's my own fault, really. I should have seen this going in, but The Sky's the Limit really reads more like an aggregation of real estate gossip on Page Six than a book about real estate's history and place in New York.
Content is scattered and a bit unorganized in its layout, taking us between the 19th century and present-day, money-hungry agents with no clearly plotted course. I found myself skimming through much of the book, although I admit to reading every line about the apartments famous people bought, like I'm some kind of Us Weekly junkie. I can see how said junkies get hooked: gossip is like crack, or Pringles. You know, once you pop....
What really would have made this book better is visuals. When you live in a 1BR, 1BA in New York, you spend a lot of time fantasizing about what it'd be like to, you know, have another room to go to. Just think of all the things I could do with another room! I could sit in it, I could read it in, I could paint in it, I could eat in it, I could be in it when I'm not in my other room...it would really be an exciting addition to my life.
Problem is, to move into a 2BR in my current building, I'd be paying about $4,500/month in rent, so that's probably not a wise way to spend money at this time. At that rate, why not just buy? Now there's an investment that (sometimes, less so recently) makes cents (ha, cents, see what I did there?). Maybe I did learn something from this book after all!
Or maybe I learned that I should just buy a coffee-table book of pretty NYC apartment interiors. That would probably do the trick.
Content is scattered and a bit unorganized in its layout, taking us between the 19th century and present-day, money-hungry agents with no clearly plotted course. I found myself skimming through much of the book, although I admit to reading every line about the apartments famous people bought, like I'm some kind of Us Weekly junkie. I can see how said junkies get hooked: gossip is like crack, or Pringles. You know, once you pop....
What really would have made this book better is visuals. When you live in a 1BR, 1BA in New York, you spend a lot of time fantasizing about what it'd be like to, you know, have another room to go to. Just think of all the things I could do with another room! I could sit in it, I could read it in, I could paint in it, I could eat in it, I could be in it when I'm not in my other room...it would really be an exciting addition to my life.
Problem is, to move into a 2BR in my current building, I'd be paying about $4,500/month in rent, so that's probably not a wise way to spend money at this time. At that rate, why not just buy? Now there's an investment that (sometimes, less so recently) makes cents (ha, cents, see what I did there?). Maybe I did learn something from this book after all!
Or maybe I learned that I should just buy a coffee-table book of pretty NYC apartment interiors. That would probably do the trick.
January 7, 2013
From the author of the bestselling Philistines at the Hedgerow, a mesmerizing inside account of the high-stakes world of Manhattan residential real estate Steven Gaines takes us from New York's most expensive condominiums and co-ops to the offices of its most powerful real estate brokers to reveal the outlandish displays of ego, bad behavior, and status hunger that come into play when the best addresses in the city are on the line.
With his signature elan, Gaines weaves a gossipy tapestry of brokers, buyers, co-op boards, and eccentric landlords and tells of the apartment hunting and renovating adventures of many celebrities-from Tommy Hilfiger to Donna Karan, from Jerry Seinfeld to Steven Spielberg, from Barbra Streisand to Madonna. Gaines uncovers the secretive, unwritten rules of co-op boards: why diplomats and pretty divorcees are frowned upon, what not to wear to a board interview, and which of the biggest celebrities and CEOs have been turned away from the elite buildings of Fifth and Park Avenues. He introduces the carriage-trade brokers who never have to advertise for clients and gives us finely etched portraits of a few of the discreet, elderly society ladies who decide who gets into the so-called Good Buildings.
Here, too, is a fascinating chronicle of the changes in Manhattan's residential skyline, from the slums of the nineteenth century to the advent of the luxury building. Gaines describes how living in boxes stacked on boxes came to be seen as the ultimate in status, and how the co-operative apartment, originally conceived as a form of housing for the poor, came to be used as a legal means of black-balling undesirable neighbors.
With his signature elan, Gaines weaves a gossipy tapestry of brokers, buyers, co-op boards, and eccentric landlords and tells of the apartment hunting and renovating adventures of many celebrities-from Tommy Hilfiger to Donna Karan, from Jerry Seinfeld to Steven Spielberg, from Barbra Streisand to Madonna. Gaines uncovers the secretive, unwritten rules of co-op boards: why diplomats and pretty divorcees are frowned upon, what not to wear to a board interview, and which of the biggest celebrities and CEOs have been turned away from the elite buildings of Fifth and Park Avenues. He introduces the carriage-trade brokers who never have to advertise for clients and gives us finely etched portraits of a few of the discreet, elderly society ladies who decide who gets into the so-called Good Buildings.
Here, too, is a fascinating chronicle of the changes in Manhattan's residential skyline, from the slums of the nineteenth century to the advent of the luxury building. Gaines describes how living in boxes stacked on boxes came to be seen as the ultimate in status, and how the co-operative apartment, originally conceived as a form of housing for the poor, came to be used as a legal means of black-balling undesirable neighbors.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 10, 2008
Gossipy non-fiction with a lot of good information on the history of New York housing and the current Real Estate practices there. I was shocked at the man with millions of dollars to buy a co-op who was denied entrance to a "Good Building" because he had applied for a low-brow JC Penney credit card - where apparently he liked to buy his underwear.
I really enjoyed this book for all the great Manhattan history - demonstrating that the truth is often stranger than fiction. Also, I appreciated the in-depth understanding it provides of the co-op boards, the intense (and often childish) broker rivalry, and the various neighborhoods, streets and buildings that were included.
I was glad Steven profiled the ground-breaking agents who broke out of the mold and tried new things to gain market share - by focusing on condo's when it wasn't cool, or focusing on diplomats when nobody else wanted them in their building. His in-depth profiles of the media-loving "agents of the stars", the "bitty brokers" catering to the Upper East siders, the client-stealing Shvo and other assorted characters was a great way to finish up.
I really enjoyed this book for all the great Manhattan history - demonstrating that the truth is often stranger than fiction. Also, I appreciated the in-depth understanding it provides of the co-op boards, the intense (and often childish) broker rivalry, and the various neighborhoods, streets and buildings that were included.
I was glad Steven profiled the ground-breaking agents who broke out of the mold and tried new things to gain market share - by focusing on condo's when it wasn't cool, or focusing on diplomats when nobody else wanted them in their building. His in-depth profiles of the media-loving "agents of the stars", the "bitty brokers" catering to the Upper East siders, the client-stealing Shvo and other assorted characters was a great way to finish up.
March 8, 2014
An utterly fascinating look at high-priced real estate in New York City and the people who buy and sell it. Tidbits include: what will cause a co-op board to reject a prospective tenant (and how people get into a co-op board's good graces); how rich people renovate their apartments and drive their secretive neighbors crazy; what constitutes a 'good building' in NYC as opposed to just a building filled with filthy rich people (you wouldn't think there's a difference, but there is - there are ultra-snobs among the snobs); and how people will make up building addresses to make their buildings seem more prestigious. It's a culture of wealth and privilege that's basically incomprehensible to the average person such as myself, and this book had me shaking my head many times, but it's so interesting to peek inside this world. (Interesting, and infuriating.)
August 16, 2016
Among the many excesses that New York City can claim is one of the most ridiculous real estate systems in the world. In a space of only a few square miles the rich (sometimes famous, sometimes not) have created a strange sub-culture that exists just like others around the city.
A good bit of the book is about the co-op board who has the right to accept or reject a new prospective purchaser. For instance no attractive divorced women need apply, the wives of the existing tennants don't want their husbands riding in the elevators with them. I was surprised to read a lot of this. I would have thought that the civil rights legislation would have prevented such actions. But perhaps that was only to be applied in the South. I wonder if there has been any changes in the laws and culture since the book was written in 2005?
I found this an interesting side of the housing market.
A good bit of the book is about the co-op board who has the right to accept or reject a new prospective purchaser. For instance no attractive divorced women need apply, the wives of the existing tennants don't want their husbands riding in the elevators with them. I was surprised to read a lot of this. I would have thought that the civil rights legislation would have prevented such actions. But perhaps that was only to be applied in the South. I wonder if there has been any changes in the laws and culture since the book was written in 2005?
I found this an interesting side of the housing market.
January 20, 2013
I enjoyed it... It was, as many people have commented, gossipy. But, it was also quite badly written... It reminded me so much of a Vanity Fair article by someone like Dominick Dunne - but it wasn't as good as that. There were also a fair amount of research errors. Gaines talks of a famous British architect Paul Nash, whose influence on New York architects led to the design of the terraced brownstones. I think he means John Nash - which is a fairly amateur error if I can spot it.
Those are the negatives. The positives are that is a rip roaring good read about people in New York who have too much money and a very high opinion of themselves.
Those are the negatives. The positives are that is a rip roaring good read about people in New York who have too much money and a very high opinion of themselves.
February 5, 2009
Ok, I admit that I read at first with some trepidation. After all, this looked like an airport book, redundant and semi-developed with an overdeveloped narrative style and lots of interface with the author's ideas about the topic (but not a lot of face time with the topic). Turns out it was a fascinating read! Go figure. All right, you have to suspend the typical feigning reluctance and just get excited about all the history jam packed in here (and all the recent history and gossip too)... totally essential if you want to know a little bit about housing and power in nyc...
October 28, 2012
My friend Amy loaned this to me before our trip to NYC. She also nailed my thoughts on it in her review:
"Sort of gossipy and name-dropping, but a little fascinating glimpse into a world I will never see. It also makes me think stereotypes of the uber-rich are accurate; didn't like them at all."
It was fun to see the different buildings mentioned and know something about the coop board process. Interesting. Amy gave me her copy, and doesn't want it back, so if anyone wants it, let me know...
"Sort of gossipy and name-dropping, but a little fascinating glimpse into a world I will never see. It also makes me think stereotypes of the uber-rich are accurate; didn't like them at all."
It was fun to see the different buildings mentioned and know something about the coop board process. Interesting. Amy gave me her copy, and doesn't want it back, so if anyone wants it, let me know...
October 28, 2011
Between 1950 and 1955 250,000 Puerto Ricans moved to New York City, many settling on the Upper West Side, near to where Lincoln Center now stands. Coops were introduced to NYC by a Frenchman who modeled the way of apartment living on Parisian flats. And so much more. Loved the anecdotes and enjoyed that I can recognize many of the buildings and some of the famous and infamous New Yorkers mentioned. Diverting for those who like NYC and like to observe how the other half lives.
June 26, 2007
This book was about as interesting as a book about real estate can get. I happen to find real estate boring, but I came out enjoying this book very much. It's well written, and I particularly enjoyed the author's development of the "characters" behind the New York real estate scene: the co-op boards, the brokers, and the investors.
May 22, 2012
This was a good read and more substantive than the reviews would lead you to believe. The gossipy pieces are often used as a way to explain the real estate market. I found the history of housing in NYC very interesting. I would like to see an epilogue on what has happened since the housing market tanked.
July 20, 2015
- an interesting, behind-the-scenes look at the buying and selling of some of the world's most expensive real estate, and brokers who display bad behaviour and outlandish ego dealing with celebrities such as Hilfiger, Seinfeld, Spielberg, Streisand, and Madonna.
- "...there was this $46 Million Dollar Co-Op Apartment, with an $11 Thousand Dollar monthly maintenance fee..."
- "...there was this $46 Million Dollar Co-Op Apartment, with an $11 Thousand Dollar monthly maintenance fee..."
October 17, 2014
I had no real interest to read this book. But my kindle is on loan and I had few options for reading. I found it boring. I don't care how much people spend on homes in NYC or how competitive the market is. I'm sure some would find it interesting but it just wasn't my cup of tea. I don't know when I started it.
April 30, 2008
This book is a gossipy and exciting chronicle about NYC's ridiculously rich and their real estate. It is a perfect mix of city history and tabloid fun. If you like to stare into other people's windows like I do this book is a special treat!
September 3, 2008
Being in Real Estate and loving NYC I had to read it. For those who always look up while driving around NYC to see all the blue chip penthouses and the famous people who live in them. It also had a bit of the history of Manhattan from the beginning and how and why it developed the way it did.
January 29, 2013
I think I would have liked this more if I were from New York City, so I would know about the buildings the author was writing about. There was a lot about very specific addresses, which didn't terribly interest me.
September 30, 2007
A surprisingly interesting look at Manhattan history and real estate.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews