Built for the Wait 🏋️

June 25, 2025

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What Up Family?!

Welcome to The Edit with Aaron Seawood, a lifestyle letter serving a weekly dose of real estate, culture, and wisdom—all in three minutes or less. Let’s dive in. 

 

Real Estate Remix

The Compass vs. Zillow Showdown: A Bigger Fight Than It Looks

Compass just filed a federal lawsuit against Zillow, calling out anticompetitive tactics aimed at cornering the digital listing market. At the center of it? A policy that bans any home from being featured on Zillow if it’s been marketed off-market—privately—for more than a day.

Let’s be real: this isn’t just about listings. It’s about leverage. Zillow’s model depends on controlling the eyeballs, then monetizing the access. Compass is arguing that this policy forces all sellers into Zillow’s funnel, whether it aligns with the seller’s strategy or not. And in a market where private placements, whisper listings, and pre-MLS exposure can serve a real purpose, especially at the high end, that’s a problem.

This lawsuit matters because it speaks to something deeper: who really owns the listing narrative? The platforms or the professionals? As a broker, who has worked diligently to earn the trust of my sellers, it’s concerning that a platform can legally funnel my seller’s leads to agents who typically have no intimate knowledge of the listing thereby hurting my seller having the best possible outcome. 

It’s early, but this case could redefine how, and where, your next listing shows up. Stay tuned.

 

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In case you missed it, I just created one of the most comprehensive guides to buying a Townhouse in NYC. This is the same guide I give to my private clients, and now you can download it for free. 

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NYC Insider: What’s Happening This Week

Brooklyn Bounce: Massive Trampoline Playground to open 

Sky Zone, the nationwide bounce empire, just signed a lease to bring their high-flying indoor experience to a 52,000+ sq ft warehouse in Bergen Beach.

Set to take over the old Match Point NYC spot on East 69th Street, this new Sky Zone will be packed with trampolines, dodgeball arenas, obstacle courses, and more. It’s a full-blown adventure zone for Brooklyn kids (and let’s be honest, probably a few grown-ups too).

Worth keeping on the radar for any upcoming birthdays, rainy days, and energy-burning Saturdays. 

 

 

Weekly Gem 💎 

Built for the Wait 

It’s easy to be positive when everything’s poppin’…The real test? Staying charged when it’s not your turn.

This weekend, I watched my son, Ryder not be in the starting line up for a tournament (weird for him) and although initially upset, he gathered himself, stayed engaged, and was a good teammate.

When he finally got his opportunity, he made the most of it and had a timely hit that set the team up for a win that ultimately propelled them to the championship.

Resilience isn’t about fake smiles or pretending you’re unbothered. It’s about staying available—mentally, emotionally, spiritually—for when the tide turns.

This week, stay rooted. Stay ready. You’re not behind, you’re being built.

And when it is your turn? You won’t need to scramble.

You’ll be ready to receive.

 

The Best Home on the Market This Week  

Here’s a special listing that caught my eye that I think you should consider if you’re in the market. I’m prioritizing quality, soul, and a space that truly speaks.

 

Listed by Elizabeth Sahlman

988 5th Avenue, Unit 6

$18,500,000   5 Beds / 5 Baths   UES

Exceptionally Rare, Fully Renovated Pre-War Condo with Iconic Central Park & Met Views. Here are the highlights:

• Designed by renowned pre-war architect J.E.R. Carpenter

• Direct elevator access to a gracious foyer

• 50 ft of Central Park frontage with direct sightlines to the Met and skyline!

• Grand Corner living room and oversized dining room, each with custom limestone fireplaces

• Chef’s Kitchen with Custom cabinetry, two SubZero fridges, Miele appliances, two sinks, two dishwashers

• 4 large bedrooms + flexible 5th (ideal as office or library)

• Central A/C, Control4 smart system plus built-in speakers

 

 Who wants a tour?

 

Before you go…

🐾 Lela Rose is listing her NYC loft—complete with a tequila tasting room and a dog elevator.

🐟 Now through June 30, enjoy Norway’s best seafood at top NYC spots during this Nordic dining pop-up.

🕯️ Hear your favorite songs by string quartet, surrounded by candlelight in some of NYC’s most stunning venues.

🎷 The 14th annual Blue Note Jazz Festival is live now, catch legends and rising stars at venues across the city through July 2.

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Looking to Buy, Sell, or Rent? Let’s talk.

 

Like I ask GOD every day, who can we help next?