*Looking for the most recent stats on how much it costs to own a 1 bedroom in NYC? Click here for updated numbers!* Welcome back to “How Much Does It Cost to Own”! Each month, we’ll be looking at different sized apartments to get a sense of what the “median” apartment in either Manhattan or Brooklyn currently costs. This series should give you an idea of whether or not you’re in the “ballpark” for the kind of apartment you might want!  Keep in mind that these figures represent the median for all building types. So coops, condos, walkups, elevators, doorman and non-doorman, ameni ..read more

Here’s a quick snapshot of the NYC rental market for May 2024, with a focus on Manhattan and Brooklyn. You can view stats from the previous month here. Note that the areas for “best deals” are determined by a combination of vacancy rates and/or areas with price declines (or lowest price increases, in the event of a rising market) across the most categories of apartment types. Keep in mind that “best deals” doesn’t necessarily mean “cheapest.” It just means places where you’re more likely to have some bargaining power and/or more options.   Summary Signed leases surged in Ma ..read more

It’s time for the NYC monthly sales market update! Here’s a look at some key numbers for May 2024 in Manhattan and Brooklyn.  To view the full NYC sales market monthly update for May 2024, click here. And to view stats for the previous month, click here.  Key Points Manhattan  May saw improved sales activity compared to April, with contracts signed up 10% month over month. But signed contracts were down 6% compared to May 2023 and were lower than historical levels for this time of year. The overall price per square foot declined on both an annual and monthly basis, pri ..read more

Getting a mortgage can be a relatively straightforward process when you have a set salary. But how do you get a mortgage if you’re self employed, especially in a place like NYC?  Contrary to popular belief (and fears), self employed folks get mortgages all the time. So if that’s your concern, you can set it aside and breathe a sigh of relief.  Instead, as a self employed person, you need to be focused on what you need to do to make getting a mortgage happen.  I spoke with mortgage professional Jason Prussian of Wells Fargo Bank (NMLSR ID 40035) to help you underst ..read more

Here’s a roundup of top NYC real estate stories from around the web for the month of May 2024. Click here to view the previous round up.  64 Office Buildings In Nyc Could Become New Housing (Gothamist)  Manhattan Return-To-Office Rates Drops To 56%: Partnership For Nyc Survey (Crain’s New York)  Hochul’s Housing Deal Will Help New York’s Affordable Housing Crisis, but Not Solve it (Manhattan Institute)  Nyc Buyers Piled Into The Rental Market In April, Fueling A Trend Toward Higher Rents (Brick Underground) NYC Events in June 2024: From Pride Events ..read more

Welcome back to “How Much Does It Cost to Own”! Each month, we’ll be looking at different sized apartments to get a sense of what the “median” apartment in either Manhattan or Brooklyn currently costs. This series should give you an idea of whether or not you’re in the “ballpark” for the kind of apartment you might want!  Keep in mind that these figures represent the median for all building types. So coops, condos, walkups, elevators, doorman and non-doorman, amenities, low amenities – they’re all looped in together.  So let’s loop back to studios! Now ..read more

Does it make more sense for you to buy a “starter home” or a “forever home” for your first home in NYC? First, let’s define what we mean by those terms.  Starter Home vs Forever Home  A starter home is exactly what it sounds like. It’s intended to get you “started” with home ownership. You don’t intend to stay in this particular home for a long period of time (e.g. less than 5 years).  Whereas a “forever” home is a place you’d like to stay in for as long as possible. You may even want to retire there! But at a minimum, you could see yourself staying there long term. Th ..read more

Here’s a quick snapshot of the NYC rental market for April 2024, with a focus on Manhattan and Brooklyn. You can view stats from the previous month here. Note that the areas for “best deals” are determined by a combination of vacancy rates and/or areas with price declines (or lowest price increases, in the event of a rising market) across the most categories of apartment types. Keep in mind that “best deals” doesn’t necessarily mean “cheapest.” It just means places where you’re more likely to have some bargaining power and/or more options.   Summary The rental markets in Ma ..read more

It’s time for the NYC monthly sales market update! Here’s a look at some key numbers for April 2024 in Manhattan and Brooklyn.  To view the full NYC sales market monthly update for April 2024, click here. And to view stats for the previous month, click here.  Key Points Manhattan  Things were looking up for sales in the month of April for Manhattan. Contracts signed were up 9% compared to April 2023 – the largest annual gain so far this year. Contracts were down slightly compared to March, but this is a month over month trend we’ve seen happen historically.  ..read more

In this edition of Shop Talk: Park Slope, we’re speaking with Anna and Adriana, owners of Evening Star Tattoo. They’re the first new tattoo shop in the neighborhood in a while, and they’re aiming to be a place where all bodies and skin tones are welcome. Go check them out in person at 197B Seventh Avenue in Brooklyn! And you can follow them on Instagram to see their latest works and find out about special events! https://www.instagram.com/eveningstartattoo/ The post Meet Anna and Adriana, Owners of Evening Star Tattoo appeared first on Nikki in NYC ..read more