The best hope is for a mini-bargain, building on a sequestration deal that itself may not occur.
The next round of share price gains, he says, will come as well-capitalized REITs buy buildings at bargain prices from other owners.
It is the elephant in the room of White House grand bargains: after building a reputation and Rolodex in politics, the wise man moves on - or in many cases, back - to the financial industry to make a killing.
Nor did his dream of building bargain-basement spaceships materialize, despite decades of effort.
Just remember that bargaining is about building a rapport with the seller, so be pleasant and patient.
"I campaigned on the promise that I'd do everything in my power to strengthen our position at the bargaining table by building a greater unity with Aftra and the other entertainment unions, and that's exactly what I intend to do," Mr. Howard said in a statement.
"But I think buildings like this are still considered a bargain because the same building would be twice as much in Greenwich or $50 more per square foot in Stamford than in Westchester.
On the other side, there were a number of aluminum-sided residential buildings mixed in with the commercial stuff, including the $750,000 "bargain," a brick-faced building with Chinese-style concrete bas-reliefs.
She said her apartments were selling because they had the "bargain prices" in the building.
Among the bargains was the Dime Building, a 23-story neo-Classical gem of glazed brick and terra cotta trim, designed by Daniel Burnham — of Flatiron Building fame — and completed in 1912.
Also on the upside, Ms. Dey estimated that the deflating economy enabled her to negotiate a lower sale price and lease, and to drive tough bargains with vendors and building contractors, "who are very hungry for business," she said.
