Lauren Kende - Associate Real Estate Broker

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Lauren Kende - Associate Real Estate Broker

When not working, Lauren can often be found playing tennis. Lauren took up tennis in 2006 and it quickly became a favorite activity.

As a former practicing attorney and public relations professional, Lauren has a proven history of helping people navigate through complex and challenging situations, and she brings that experience to bear when helping her real estate clients. Passionate about customer service, she firmly believes that attention to detail, the ability to listen, strong negotiation skills, and a willingness to always go above and beyond are keys to her continued success. Lauren has purchased and sold several properties herself and thoroughly understands the complicated process of selling, buying, and renovating an apartment in New York City. Having served on her Upper West Side cooperative’s board of directors – she has lived on 91st Street since 2002 – she possesses significant insight into the behind-the-scenes nuances that home ownership in the Big Apple involves. Whether working with sellers or buyers, she offers reasoned and insightful perspectives to guide them through the often emotional, stressful, and difficult decisions that a real estate transaction requires. She has been a long-time supporter of the Riverside Clay Tennis Association, the non-profit organization charged with maintaining and operating the only public red clay tennis courts in NYC. She is proud to be a gate volunteer and the sponsor of the ladders/tournaments, as well as of her prior involvement as a board member and sponsor of the summer concert series. She also continues to donate a portion of any commissions she earns from RCTA-sourced business back to this community organization via her Give-Back donation program. Lauren also helped run the U.S. Tennis Association's local Manhattan leagues as a volunteer coordinator for many years and remains active in the USTA as a team captain and player. She has recently added pickleball to her list of favored sports, is an avid snowboarder, and enjoys traveling, going to the theater, and spending time with friends and family.

10/12/2026

A little Manhattan design inspiration…

I had a chance to visit the 2026 Kips Bay Decorator Show House, an annual takeover of a Manhattan house by top interior designers to showcase their vision. This year’s was in 80 Washington Place, a 6-level townhouse building in 1839 currently asking $23.5M. And honestly… just look at this place. 🤍

Every room felt completely different, yet somehow, incredibly cohesive as a whole. From the furniture and lighting to the art, textures, colors, and unexpected details — there was a lot to take in.

As someone who spends so much time looking at Manhattan properties, it’s fascinating to see how the ways we experience a home can be changed through design. Here, historic architecture has been totally transformed with a bold and contemporary aesthetic.

The best part? This event also supports the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club and its programs for New York City youth.

I really love going to this annual event, and the dinner afterwards with friends at a nearby restaurant – thanks Le Petit Village

10/09/2026

Manhattan Market Stats | Q3 and September 2026

The Manhattan market continued to show stability, despite constrained inventory levels.

While seasonal inventory in September was higher than in August, reflecting a typical seasonal shift from summer’s end to the start of the fall market, total inventory for the quarter was lower than it was in Q3 3025. And the influx of new listings were down 28.4%, the lowest Q3 level in almost a decade. Nonetheless, closed sales still increased in comparison to the same time last year.

To me, that tells an important story: buyers were still in the market despite higher borrowing costs and economic uncertainty. They’re just being more selective.

Homes that were well-priced, well-presented, and move-in ready continued to attract the most attention, while properties that needed significant work or were priced too aggressively took longer to sell.

The higher end of the market was especially strong:
✨ Sales in the $3M–$5M range increased more than 30% for both condos and co-ops.
✨ Condo sales between $5M–$10M also posted double-digit growth.
✨ At the very top, 14 contracts above $20M represented a 75% increase from last year.

And while contract activity for the quarter was below an unusually strong Q3 2025, contracts signed through Sept. 2026 are up 3.1%.

As we head into the final quarter of the year, I think the takeaway is pretty clear:
✨ Manhattan remains a resilient market with demand intact, especially in some segments.
✨ For sellers, desirable inventory has an opportunity to stand out.
✨ For buyers, meaningful opportunities exist, especially for those who are prepared and
know what they’re looking for.

The Manhattan market isn’t slowing down. It’s just more discerning – quality and pricing matter more than ever. 🗽

10/07/2026

If you’ve been thinking seriously about buying a home this year, fall may be worth a closer look.

Spring and summer get all the attention, but historically, the season that follows Labor Day can create a very different buying environment.

The numbers are interesting:

• More homes to choose from
• Prices roughly $14,000 below the spring/summer peak
• About 30% less competition from other buyers
• Homes spending roughly 13 more days on the market, giving buyers a little more breathing room

And you don’t have to hit one particular week. In fact, Realtor.com says 42 of the 50 largest U.S. metros are expected to see their best buying week sometime in October.

The takeaway is this: timing isn’t only about mortgage rates. It’s also about inventory, competition, pricing, negotiating power (as well as what’s happening in the specific market/sub-market of interest).

So if you’ve been gearing up for buying or are in a position to make a quick decision, you might want to pay attention to what’s actually coming onto the market.

The best opportunity is rarely about chasing a perfect date. It’s about being ready when the right home comes along. And a fall purchase could be that move.

Let’s talk about what the current market could mean for you. 🍂

10/05/2026

Pumpkin season is here. 🎃

There’s something about fall in New York that makes getting out of the city feel especially tempting — crisp air, changing leaves, apple c***r, and a day spent wandering through a pumpkin patch.

Pumpkin farms across New York typically start opening around mid-September, with October being the heart of the season. And there are plenty of places to turn pumpkin picking into a full fall day.

A few to put on your list:

🎃 The Great Pumpkin Farm The Great Pumpkin Farm — Clarence
🌾 Tim’s Pumpkin Patch Tims Pumpkin Patch — Marietta
🍂 Ellms Family Farms Ellms Family Farm — Ballston Spa
🎃 Barton Orchards Barton Orchards — Poughquag
🌻 Albert H. Schmitt Family Farms Schmitts On Bagatelle — Dix Hills
🍎 Wickham Farms Wickham Farms — Penfield
🎃 Coyle’s Pumpkin Ranch & Farm — Le Roy
🌽 The Pumpkin Hollow The Pumpkin Hollow | Syracuse Pumpkin Patch — Syracuse
🍂 Outhouse Orchards www.outhouseorchardsny.com — North Salem
🎃 Hahn Farm — Salt Point
🌾 Pick’n Patch & Corn Maze Pick'n Patch — Stanley
🍎 Blue Barn Acres — Victor
🎃 Awald Farms — North Collins
🌻 Smithome Farms Smithome Farms — Elmira
🍂 Iron Kettle Farm Iron Kettle Farm, LLC — Candor

Whether you’re looking for the perfect pumpkin, a corn maze, a fun day out, or simply an excuse to enjoy a beautiful fall afternoon, these farms are a great reminder that you don’t have to go far to get into the spirit of the season.

One note: opening dates can vary depending on weather and crop conditions, so it’s always worth checking with the farm before making the drive.

10/01/2026

Real estate has enough jargon without making it harder than it needs to be. 😄

Pre-approval. Inspection. Contingency. Appraisal. As-is.

There are a lot of terms you’ll hear when buying a home, but knowing what they actually mean can make the process feel a lot less overwhelming.

I’m a big believer that you should never be afraid to ask, “Wait… what does that mean?” Because buying a home is a big decision. The language around it shouldn’t make it more complicated.

Swipe through for some (very) simplified explanations of common real estate terms.😉

And send along any others you’d like to know about.

09/29/2026

☕️ National Coffee Day – Now this is a holiday I can relate to! ☺️ Feels like a pretty good excuse to talk about one of my favorite NYC rituals – enjoying a cup at a neighborhood coffee shop.

I’m always happy to try a new spot, but there are a few places I keep coming back to, each with a slightly different feel.

☕️ Frame
📍 Upper West Side | Upper East Side | SoHo
A great option when you’re looking for something a little more than your standard coffee stop. The different locations have different variations on the name and their own personality, which makes discovering them part of the fun.
Frame

☕️ Orange Moon Cafe
📍 Midtown | Sutton
An independent coffee shop that feels exactly like what I want from a local café — good coffee and sweets, totally neighborhood feel, and an easy place to take a break.
Orange Moon NY

☕️ Dear Coffee
📍 Upper East Side | Chelsea
Locally owned, Dear Coffee is another one I love having on my NYC coffee rotation. Two great neighborhoods, a welcoming atmosphere, and a perfect excuse to slow down for a few minutes.
Dear Coffee | NYC

The coffee craze is definitely here and one of the things I love about NYC is that it owns it – walk a few blocks and you’ll find a local coffee shop worth trying along the way.

09/28/2026

Just Listed in Sutton Place

📍 357 East 57th Street, Unit 2E
$550,000 | 1 Bed | 1 Bath

Some apartments just make everyday life feel easy and this is one of them.

This spacious, move-in-ready one-bedroom gets beautiful southern light throughout the day and offers something that’s surprisingly hard to find in Manhattan: five large closets and plenty of room to actually live.

The renovated kitchen and bath are bright and modern, while plank flooring creates a seamless flow throughout the home. Thru-wall AC keeps things comfortable year-round, and the building welcomes pets whether this is your full-time home or Manhattan pied-à-terre.

And then there’s the building itself: 24-hour doorman service, a live-in superintendent, furnished roof deck with beautiful views, laundry, and a garage available for an additional fee.

The location puts you close to waterfront parks, Trader Joe’s, multiple subway and bus lines, and convenient FDR access.

A comfortable home, a full-service building, and a location that makes getting around the city easy.

Available for $550,000. Reach out to see for yourself or to discuss your own selling or buying real estate needs.

09/25/2026

There’s a lot more that goes into selling a home than what you “see” in the listing.

There’s so much more than the visible parts of the process – the photos, the open houses, the offers, and eventually the “Sold” announcement.

What you don’t see are the countless conversations, decisions, vendor coordination, unexpected issues, and adjustments that happen along the way.

And honestly, those are the parts of my job that my clients end up valuing the most.

Because a good sale isn’t just about having a plan. It’s about knowing how to adapt when that plan changes — and staying focused on the end goal throughout the process.

Swipe through for a look behind the scenes. ➡️

09/24/2026

Pied-à-Terre Tax: What NYC Owners Should Know

There has been a lot of conversation – and some confusion – around NYC’s new non-primary residence surcharge. This is particularly the case as it relates to coop and condo units, as many owners think the law applies to apartments that are worth $1 million or more – which is not the case.

This summer, the Department of Finance mailed notices to owners that is believed qualified for the surcharge because (1) the property was not being used as a primary residences and (2) the property met the law’s threshold values.

If you received a notice and don’t believe the surcharge is applicable to your property, the most important thing right now is not to panic. If you think the determination about secondary residency is incorrect, the deadline to submit an exemption application challenging it is October 6, 2026. So there’s still time.

And if you want to challenge the valuation determination, you can do that with the Department of Taxation— the deadlines for this type of challenge are in March 2027.

This is one of those NYC real estate topics where the details really matter.

Swipe through this guide for more information on who may be affected, how the valuation works, the two-phase rollout, what to look for in your DOF records, and what to do if you believe your property has been classified or valued incorrectly.

This post is for general informational purposes only, and is not legal or tax advice. For questions about your individual situation, consult your tax advisor or attorney.

09/22/2026

My August was very conflicted – full of beautiful places and time with friends, along with a very sad moment for my family and I.

I started the month finishing my Vancouver Island adventure by exploring Victoria, Canada’s capital by bike and along the coast. With its historic buildings, Chinatown, marinas, lighthouses, towering trees, and water views, it was a gorgeous way to wrap up an amazing vacation.

And ended it with a slowdown in Fair Harbor, Fire Island. A week of beach days, sunsets, music, friends, and the kind of quiet that allows you to think and reflect.

But in between, moments of sadness. My mom, who had been sick for some time, passed away. I’m grateful for the long time I had her in my life, and that I was able to be with my dad and immediate family during this difficult period of time.

August gave me a lot to be grateful for, a lot to remember, and a reminder not to take the ordinary moments for granted. ❤️

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New York, NY
10023

Website

https://www.compass.com/agents/lauren-kende/

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