Running On Real Estate for July 31

July 31, 2013 By Karen Monroe For Brooklyn Daily Eagle

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From Montague Street to the Promenade, Vinegar Hill to DUMBO, to the Eagle Warehouse, Plymouth Church, and back; this is one scenic Brooklyn tour. We’re doing it on foot – we’re running, to be exact. Cruising by brownstones, historic stones and negotiating cobblestones while taking in the sights and sounds of all that Brooklyn Heights real estate has to offer.

I’m the guide leading this tour. Running historic Brooklyn Heights tours is a fun thing I do on some Sunday mornings. I have the privilege of sharing my neighborhood with others. The participating runners are from all over; visitors from abroad and across the country. They stay in Brooklyn hotels, or with friends and family in the neighborhood. Often they take the subway from their hotels in Manhattan to spend an hour or so with me running the streets of Brooklyn Heights. Sometimes a local joins the tour just to learn some interesting facts about this historic neighborhood.

Along the way, we stop at significant landmarks, talk about the remarkable history of this area and take lots of pictures with big bridge views. As always, it gets back to the real estate. Brooklyn Heights boasts some of New York’s most beautiful homes, buildings and tree-lined streets. And I get to show these visiting runners exactly why we call this our home.

Sound fun? Everyone is welcome to sign up and join in the approximately four-and-a-half mile conversational tour. All fitness levels encouraged. It’s called City Running Tours, available in cities throughout the country. Before moving east, I did this in San Francisco for about a year. Same drill, different bridge. I’ve got to say, for those who enjoy running, this is without a doubt the best way to see, explore and learn about a new city – wherever you go.

In addition to sightseeing, running the streets of Brooklyn is a great way to check out real estate in different neighborhoods. It’s how I investigate inventory and the changes happening throughout town. Running new routes is the way I educate myself on new housing developments and potential opportunities from hipster Williamsburg to industrial Red Hook. It’s also an ideal way to dig in and see a neighborhood the way the neighbors do. This exercise helps me best determine the right match for my clients’ wants and needs in a home and location.

Perhaps someday, running will be how I go out with clients to show properties and visit open houses. Who knows? There are a lot of us runners out there looking to buy, sell and rent real estate. Why not put your trust in the running realtor? Maybe I’m on to something. But it is a fine line that divides a great idea and insane multi-tasking by a marathon runner.

On the Run
While you’re out putting in the miles on Brooklyn’s streets, it’s easy to stumble upon interesting and new restaurants. The possibilities of menus are vast – sushi on Flatbush, barbecue on Union Street, burgers on Court Street, and on and on it goes. As it’s been said, there truly is something for everyone. In Brooklyn, we are lucky to have so many unique and delicious local restaurants that are accessible by foot, subway, cab, even on a citibike. No need to get the car from the garage. These convenient culinary options are an important bonus when showing properties and neighborhoods to clients. It’s all about location and lifestyle. After all, everyone’s gotta eat.

Karen Monroe practices real estate at Douglas Elliman Real Estate, 156 Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights. She lives in the neighborhood and represents buyers, sellers and renters in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Karen can be found walking her dogs and running the parks, paths, streets and bridges of Brooklyn and beyond. For feedback and all of your real estate needs, contact Karen at [email protected].