The Times examines what a Brooklyn homebuyer’s gotta do to catch a break in a market that’s a bundle of contradictions. On the one hand, tony nabes like the Slope and the Heights are pricier than ever before. On the other hand, developers in areas where a lot of new construction’s recently been completed, like Williamsburg, are cutting prices so that units don’t languish on the market. For example, the developer of 149 Conselyea Street recently decided to sell units for $425,000 to $799,000; a year ago, the condo’s projected asking prices were running between $599,000 and $995,000. Across the board, brokers say sellers are now more open to negotiations than they have been in quite some time. We’re definitely negotiating, said Christine Blackburn, a Prudential Douglas Elliman broker. It’s not a market in which anyone wants to lose deals. Every deal is precious because there’s a lot of uncertainty. Can house hunters out there vouch for an uptick in give-and-take?
Brooklyn: A Bargain Hunter’s Guide [NY Times]