In This Week's Observer...

A Russian billionaire bucks the buying trend and sells a Trump condo.

Tech biggie Peter Norton buys Village penthouse for $6.8 million.

A Port Authority commissioner may have a conflict of interest at Ground Zero.

The looming battle for the last bit of Trump's old Riverside South.

The number of $1 million-and-up Manhattan apartments drops in '08.

Why aren't more women in commercial real estate's top positions?

The Obama effect on New York property sellers.

Real estate law superstar Jonathan Mechanic on big deals, big egos.

Sales contracts don't mean what they used to in building trades.

Meet the star exterminators! They zap around your favorite restaurants.

Ex-TV newswoman Penny Crone grabs her son and gets into real estate.