Home
Home can be a place to ground us, offer consistency and a sense of security. In the midst of what currently may feel like a chaotic and even threatening social, political or cultural environment for many, the importance of Home becomes even greater.
Of course, sadly we recognize that there are many people in dire situations who face the challenges and vulnerabilities of not having a consistent place to go to much less call home. But for those who do, that stability of a self-structured and controlled private space provides recharge, the chance to close a door and censor the noises of the outside world for a bit, before going back to life of work and play.
Five years ago, amid COVID isolation, we were entrenched in discussions of Home – the importance, the uses and re-invention of how we use our spaces. We sought new ways to leverage small rooms, roll out of bed and work from home, design for comfort and function and organize better. Collectively, we were faced with why we shouldn’t take home for granted.
Currently, the sense of control and stability of home is being challenged by outside factors for many in our city – the uncertainties [or certainty] of upcoming rising and potentially unrealistic rent costs, lack of rental inventory driving further uncertainty with aggressive competition or being boxed out of the neighborhood they prefer the most. That vulnerability can make finding a sense of stability challenging, like the walls of home are closing in.
Likewise, as we’ve been discussing since COVID, property sales inventory remains consistently low in many neighborhoods and property sectors across the city. For many New Yorkers looking to buy property, the challenges can seem daunting. But options do exist and the number of properties getting accepted offers and moving into contract has increased across Manhattan and Brooklyn these past few months. There are no signs of rental costs dampening, with most signs pointing to continued increases.
For many renters who are looking for the stability that property ownership can provide, now is proving an opportune time to hunt. There is fairness in the market. Certainly, there are some neighborhoods across Manhattan and Brooklyn that continue to be extremely competitive; but many sellers are also open to negotiations on pricing, contingencies and terms that we don’t always see in tight, seller-leaning markets.
For that New Yorker, now might be the right time to begin the conversation with an experienced real estate advisor – to see what options may or may not exist, lending terms that may actually seem appealing, and how to get the process rolling – so when the next rent increase comes and renewal is the only option, at least there could be the sense of control in knowing another option for Home is in the works.
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The Numbers
Manhattan Market Activity
Highlighting our market's past 30 days.
Brooklyn Market Activity
Highlighting our market's past 30 days.
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The Properties
Our month's featured listings on the market.
Hudson Yards / Manhattan
Condo
2 Beds / 3 Baths
$4,300,000
Boerum Hill / Brooklyn
Condo
3 Beds / 2 Baths
$2,595,000
Chelsea / Manhattan
Condo
2 Beds / 2 Baths
$2,850,000
Upper East Side / Manhattan
Co-op
1 Bed / 1 Bath
$650,000
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The Pick
From the cool and eccentric to reserved and irreverent - Our month’s pick of what's happening in New York City.
If you haven't already, you should:
Superfine: Tailoring Black Style
The Met's Costume Institute’s spring 2025 exhibition presents a cultural and historical examination of Black style over three hundred years.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
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