June 18, 2025
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
NYC Broker Fee Shake-Up: Here’s What You Need to Know
As of this past week, the game has officially changed. The FARE Act is now in effect, and it flips the old broker fee system on its head.
What does that mean in plain English? Simple: whoever hires the broker, pays the broker.
No more renters getting hit with a five-figure fee for a broker they never asked for. If a landlord hires the broker, the landlord pays. If a tenant hires a broker to help them, they pay. Straightforward. Transparent. Fair.
Are there grey areas that need to be fleshed out? Sure. But on the whole, this does what it needs to do. And the requirement that landlords explicitly disclose all fees that tenants must pay before signing a lease is the transparency we all need.
Most of the brokerage community has been groaning,“this law isn’t good, rents will just go up.” Most certainly. But let’s be real: spreading costs across monthly rent is a lot more manageable than dropping thousands upfront before you even unpack a box. Particularly for someone you didn’t hire. That’s not a loss. That’s access.
And while I may be in the minority here, I think it puts value where it belongs—on who’s actually benefiting.
Shoutout to Council Member Chi Ossé for pushing it through, special shout out to Anna Klenkar for shaping it, and to the courts for letting it stand.
Broker fees aren’t gone. They just got reassigned.
Know who you hired. Know who you’re paying. Welcome to the new rules of the game.
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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
It’s that time again, when Surf Avenue turns into a technicolor tide of mermaids, mermen, pirates, sea monsters, and everything in between. The Coney Island Mermaid Parade isn’t just a parade—it’s NYC’s wildest warm-weather ritual and the unofficial launch party for summer.
What started as a nod to the old Coney Island Mardi Gras has evolved into pure magic: glitter, creativity, and community—all with a salty breeze and zero judgment. Since the late ‘80s, it’s been the moment where New York lets its hair down (seaweed wigs encouraged).
Whether you’re marching, judging, or just vibing from the sidelines, it’s an only-in-Brooklyn experience you won’t want to miss. Swim weird. Shine loud. Coney season has officially arrived.
Weekly Gem 💎
Don’t just dream big—stretch big.
Everybody wants to go bigger…But nobody’s asking: Can I hold it?
This week I watched a seller pass on a strong offer because it didn’t “feel big enough.” But they weren’t actually ready for the number they had in their head.
Not emotionally. Not energetically. They wanted the win, but couldn’t hold the weight.
We talk a lot about manifestation. Rarely about maintenance.
Here’s the truth: expansion doesn’t start with what you get. It starts with what you’re built to carry.
This week, check your container.
Strengthen your yes. Fortify your follow-through.
And become the version of you that’s ready for the next level before it arrives.
Because blessings show up in proportion to your ability to steward them.
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 Mallory Bogard (hey fam!)
$6,395,000 5 Beds / 7 Baths Park Slope
This ain’t your average townhouse—where Park Slope charm meets next-level living. Designed with precision, flow, and quiet flex energy, this is Brooklyn sophistication at scale. Highlights include:
- Over 6,000 SF of interior space + multiple rooftop terraces with panoramic skyline views
- 5 bedrooms, 4 full baths, 3 half baths across 7 meticulously crafted levels
- Private elevator and indoor garage with EV charging—rare finds in brownstone Brooklyn
- Seamless blend of contemporary architecture and curated design throughout
- Set on a quiet block in prime Park Slope, surrounded by the best of the neighborhood
Before you go…
✊🏽 Celebrate Juneteenth with Brandon Collins’ critically acclaimed show Drunk Black History at The Bell House in Brooklyn. This booze-fueled, history-packed night kicks off Thursday, June 19th at 7:30 PM.
🎤 HOT 97’s Summer Jam is this Friday, June 20th at the Prudential Center in Newark. I haven’t been since my music industry heyday, but if you’re game, get your tickets here
🧨 Set off your summer weekend with Friday Night Fireworks in Coney Island starting this Friday, June 20th and lasting through Labor Day.
😵💫 Step into the haunting world of Viola’s Room at The Shed, an immersive gothic tale that leads you barefoot and headphone-clad through a dreamlike maze.
🍸One of NYC’s hottest bars right now is Superbueno—a red-lit Mexican-American cocktail spot featuring a Green Mango Martini—easily one of the best in the city.
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Looking to Buy, Sell, or Rent? Let’s talk.
Like I ask GOD every day, who can we help next?