Lauren Kende - Associate Real Estate Broker

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 alway

s 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.

09/02/2026

🎾 Going to the US Open? Don’t go hungry.

The US Open is back in Queens, and honestly, the tennis is only part of the experience. From August 30 through September 13, the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center turns into its own little food destination — with NYC favorites, acclaimed chefs, cocktails, desserts, and plenty of reasons to plan your meals between matches. 🍴

Here are a few spots I’d have on my list:

🍗 Coqodaq — famous crispy chicken nuggets, with the option to add caviar. There’s also a fried chicken sandwich at CQDQ.

🥪 Salt Hank — the West Village favorite is bringing its French dip to the Open, with dry-aged prime rib, Provolone, caramelized onions, horseradish aioli, and au jus.

🌮 Cosme — chef Enrique Olvera’s Mexican restaurant is making its US Open debut with duck carnitas flautas and mole.

🍝 Pasta Ramen — Japanese-Italian comfort food from Montclair, including spicy tuna crispy rice.

🥙 Miznon — pitas with rib-eye or chicken schnitzel, plus hummus, falafel, and more.

🍣 Morimoto — hand rolls and nigiri from Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto.

🍕 San Matteo — Upper East Side favorite serving Neapolitan-style pizza.

🥯 Kimbop — Korean-style gimbap with options including prime beef bulgogi.

And for something sweet, there’s Van Leeuwen, Carnegie Deli’s famous black-and-white cookies, and Via Roma Gelateria.

Of course, no US Open food guide would be complete without the Honey Deuce 🍹 — the iconic Grey Goose cocktail is back, along with plenty of bars serving wine, champagne, beer, and cocktails throughout the grounds.

A few things to know before you go: day-session gates open at 9:30 am through September 9, and at 11 am from September 10–13. Matches can run until around 11 pm, so comfortable shoes and a second layer for cooler evenings is a must. 👟

I’m a real estate agent, but I’m also a…There’s obviously a lot more to me than real estate. From where I’ve lived and h...
09/01/2026

I’m a real estate agent, but I’m also a…

There’s obviously a lot more to me than real estate. From where I’ve lived and how I spend my free time to the little things I love (and the things I definitely don’t 😉), these are some of the things that make me, well… me.

I thought it would be fun to share a little more about the person behind the real estate agent — because getting to know each other is part of what makes working together so much more than merely a business transaction.

What Buyers Actually Want in 2026?Homebuyers are getting more specific about what makes a home work for everyday life — ...
08/25/2026

What Buyers Actually Want in 2026?

Homebuyers are getting more specific about what makes a home work for everyday life — and it’s not just about square footage anymore.

Here are six features I’m seeing at the top of the wish list:

💻 A Dedicated Home Office
Not a desk squeezed into the corner of the living room, but a space where you can actually close the door and focus.

🥫 A Walk-In Pantry
Because beautiful kitchens are great. Having somewhere to hide the appliances, groceries, and everything else? Even better.

🌿 Private Outdoor Living
A terrace, balcony, backyard, or even a thoughtfully designed outdoor nook can make a huge difference — especially in NYC.

🍳 A Kitchen That Feels Custom
Smart storage, quality finishes, great lighting, and a layout designed around how people actually cook and gather.

🧥 A Functional Mudroom
A place for shoes, coats, bags, and all the things that tend to pile up by the door.

👗 A True Walk-In Closet
Because good storage isn’t a luxury — it’s one of those things you appreciate every single day.

What I find interesting is that these features all have something in common: they make a home feel easier to live in.

And ultimately, that’s what buyers are looking for — not just a beautiful space, but one that works beautifully for their lives.

Which one would be at the top of your list? 👇

08/20/2026

🌊 Forget the Boardwalk. These Are the Beaches Worth the Trip.

A new ranking looked at the number of natural beaches across the U.S. and paired that with traveler reviews to find the states with some of the best spots for a more peaceful kind of beach escape.

And here’s the part that caught my attention: New York came in at #3. 🗽

🏖 1. Massachusetts — Coast Guard Beach
Cape Cod National Seashore, expansive dunes, pristine scenery and a 4.7 rating.

🌴 2. Florida — Playalinda Beach
A protected, undeveloped stretch of coastline at Canaveral National Seashore, known for wildlife, dunes and tranquility.

🗽 3. New York — Cooper’s Beach
One of the Hamptons’ classics, with a wide Atlantic shoreline and beautiful grass-covered dunes.

🌊 4. California — Limantour Beach
Windswept scenery, wildlife and that unmistakable Northern California coastline.

🏄 5. Michigan — Oval Beach
A freshwater beach on Lake Michigan widely recognized for its clean sugar-sand, rolling sand dunes.

🌲 6. Washington — Shi Shi Beach
A hike through the forest leads to a dramatic, driftwood-filled coastline.

🌊 7. Maine — Sand Beach
A unique 290-yard-long stretch of pale sand made of crushed shell fragments, nestled between mountains and rocky shores in Acadia National Park.

🪨 8. Wisconsin — Schoolhouse Beach
Known for its distinctive smooth stones and beautiful Lake Michigan setting.

🏖 9. Ohio — Headlands Beach
A mile-long natural sandy beach on Lake Erie where you can find unique rocks and lake glass along the shoreline.

💗 10. Minnesota — Iona’s Beach
Famous for its pink rhyolite cobblestones that are said to “sing” as the waves move over them.

What do I love about this list? It’s a reminder that some of the most memorable beaches aren’t necessarily the easiest to get to. Sometimes the extra hike, the quieter shoreline, or the lack of a boardwalk is exactly what makes the experience special.

And honestly… New York at #3? I’ll take it. 😉

There’s always more to the story than the headline.“Just Listed.”“Under Contract.”“Just Sold.”They may look like simple ...
08/18/2026

There’s always more to the story than the headline.

“Just Listed.”
“Under Contract.”
“Just Sold.”

They may look like simple updates on a screen, but behind each one are weeks of preparation, countless conversations, market research, negotiations, unexpected challenges, and a whole lot of work happening behind the scenes.

For me, real estate has never been just about getting from listed to sold.

It’s about knowing the neighborhood, understanding the numbers, recognizing an opportunity, knowing when to push and when to pause — and most importantly, listening to what my client actually needs.

Because every transaction is different. Every apartment has a different story. And every client deserves a strategy built around their goals.

So the next time you see “Just Listed,” “Under Contract,” or “Just Sold,” know that there’s a lot of detailed steps that have had to take place to get to that headline.🗽

✨ IN CONTRACT | Upper East SideAnother Upper East Side success story! 📍 415 East 85th Street, Unit 5J💰 $515,000 | 1 Bed ...
08/17/2026

✨ IN CONTRACT | Upper East Side

Another Upper East Side success story!

📍 415 East 85th Street, Unit 5J
💰 $515,000 | 1 Bed | 1 Bath

This beautifully renovated one-bedroom is officially in contract — and it’s easy to see why.

With bright northern light, a spacious living and dining area, gorgeous European oak floors, custom built-ins, and an open kitchen with a breakfast bar, this home offered the perfect combination of style and functionality.

The king-sized bedroom, custom walk-in closet, spa-like marble bath, and incredible amount of storage made this apartment feel both polished and genuinely livable.

And the full-service boutique co-op doesn’t hurt either — with a 24-hour doorman, live-in superintendent, furnished roof deck, laundry room, and new elevators on the way.

Another reminder that when a home is well renovated, well presented, and priced thoughtfully, buyers notice.

So happy to see this one moving toward the finish line! 🔑✨

Manhattan Market Update | July 2026July brought an interesting mix of signals to the Manhattan market — fewer listings a...
08/14/2026

Manhattan Market Update | July 2026

July brought an interesting mix of signals to the Manhattan market — fewer listings and signed contracts, but the homes that are selling are moving a little faster.

Here’s what the numbers are telling us:

🏙 Manhattan Overall
• Average sale price: $2,255,118 ↑ 0.4%
• Median sale price: $1,285,000 ↓ 3.0%
• Active listings: 5,714 ↓ 15.1%
• Contracts signed: 926 ↓ 15.9%
• Average days on market: 103 ↓ 10.4%

🏢 Condominiums
• Average sale price: $2,932,252 ↓ 1.3%
• Median sale price: $1,831,216 ↑ 0.3%
• Average PPSF: $1,784 ↑ 1.3%
• Average days on market: 102 ↓ 19.7%
• Average discount: 6%, compared with 7% in June

🏠 Cooperatives
• Average sale price: $1,418,502 ↓ 10.8%
• Median sale price: $895,000 ↓ 9.4%
• Average PPSF: $1,178 ↑ 0.1%
• Average days on market: 102 ↓ 3.8%
• Average discount: 5%, compared with 6% in June

The biggest takeaway? Inventory and contract signed are down significantly compared with June, while the average time on market and average discount also fell. This tells me there are fewer sellers and buyers active in the overall market (not atypical for the the summertime), but that those who are serious about transacting are focused and realistic about making their sale or purchase happen.

The numbers give us the big picture. The strategy comes from understanding what’s happening property by property. Reach out to talk more about your particulars.

08/13/2026

My July Fun

July was a pretty good reminder that summer is best enjoyed with a little bit of NYC and other places.

🏖 A long weekend at the Jersey Shore — beach time, our annual bocce competition, a very dramatic storm, and a Fourth of July celebration with BBQ, fireworks, tall ships.

🥂 Summer catch-ups, including a ski club rooftop happy hour and a house party to celebrate Paddi’s birthday – surrounded by friends and her very opinionated cats. 🐈

🛶 A rafting day near Jim Thorpe, PA — because apparently sitting still wasn’t enough.

🏙 Re-exploring the neighborhood around Columbia University with a client — one of the best parts of my job is getting to rediscover different corners of NYC along the way.

❤️ And, of course, two trips to Delaware to spend some quality time with Mom and Dad.

🌲 Then my big vacation to Vancouver Island. More details on that in a separate post, but suffice it to say, it was a beautiful trip filled with forest hikes, animal watching via kayak and boats, exploring rocky coastlines and little towns, and appreciating the outdoors with a fun group of friends.

Grateful for a full month with family, friends, and clients 😉

Five Addresses. Three Successful Moves. Two Hoping To Do SoA little real estate roundup and a very good one!🏡 20 W 72nd ...
08/12/2026

Five Addresses. Three Successful Moves. Two Hoping To Do So

A little real estate roundup and a very good one!

🏡 20 W 72nd St, Apt. 704 — SOLD AND CLOSED
A successful Upper West Side closing near Central Park.

🏡 357 E 57th St, Apt. 2D — SOLD AND CLOSED
Another Midtown East transaction officially wrapped.

🏡 74 W 68th St, Apt. 5A — SOLD AND CLOSED
One more Upper West Side home across the finish line.

🏙 415 E 85th St, Apt. 5J – CONTRACT SIGNED
This Upper East Side beauty finally found its buyer.

Different neighborhoods. Different properties. Different strategies.

But the goal is always the same: helping my clients navigate the process with the right pricing, positioning, timing, and attention to every detail – from start to finish.

Grateful for every client who trusts me with the process. And yes, I’m always ready for the next one!

Address

2150 Broadway, 2nd Floor
New York, NY
10023

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