Welcome to Friday, readers. In this week's edition of Insider Life, we're bringing you our top reads from the intersection of luxury, culture, health, and travel. Today, we'll introduce you to the "Rolls-Royce" of matchmakers, show you one of the country's hottest real-estate markets, and tell you what it's like to be a college admissions coach for the world's wealthiest teenagers.

Let's get to it.

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Janis & Carly Spindel
Mike McGregor Photography

As professional matchmakers in NYC, Janis Spindel and her daughter Carly scout for the perfect wife for C-suite execs, Wall Street bankers, and politicians. Spindel searches everywhere for elites' superlative match – from a SoulCycle class to a vacation in Ibiza.

Meet the "Rolls-Royce" of matchmakers.


Presidio Terrace
Jim Heaphy/Wikimedia Commons

A couple bought a San Francisco street lined with mega-mansions for $90,000. Now, they're considering charging residents for parking - and homeowners are freaking out.

Here's what happened.


real estate market single family rental cerberus invitation homes
Getty Images

If you're trying to buy a home right now, you might have to outbid a $50 billion private-equity firm. Large-scale investors have been buying homes across the country to rent for a profit, and are beating out average Americans by offering cash and skipping due diligence.

How Wall Street firms are squeezing out homebuyers.


2 8A Rutland Gates
LEON NEAL/AFP via Getty Images

A Hong Kong billionaire dropped $276 million on London's most expensive home in January 2020. Now, he plans to spend roughly the same amount on an extensive renovation of the "heavily dilapidated" 45-room mansion.

See photos of the 62,000-square-foot home.


Manchester, NH
Denis Tangney Jr./Getty Images

Manchester, New Hampshire is currently the most competitive real-estate market in America. A recent report shows that the quiet city north of Boston is seeing bidding wars and homes selling faster than ever.

Here's what makes it such a hot spot.


steak filet mignon spinach gourmet food dinner
BURCU ATALAY TANKUT/Getty Images

You should be eating more filet mignon. In an opinion article, Josh Barro lays out why filet mignon outstrips all other kinds of steaks - and offers tips on how to make the dish at home.

More on the filet's merits.


NYC is alive and well
Roy Rochlin/Getty Images

It's starting to look like New York City will be just fine. A year after it became the coronavirus epicenter of the world, NYC is starting to shine once again, with real estate making a comeback and the economy rebounding.

A look at NYC's regrowth.


Hafeez Lakhani with his family
Hafeez Lakhani

Hafeez Lakhani, a college admissions coach, makes $1,000 an hour helping some of the world's wealthiest kids get into Ivy League schools. On average, Lakhani's clients pay $35,000 for his services, which involve test prep and application help.

This is what it's like to coach the world's wealthiest teenagers.


Plus…

Read the original article on Insider