The days of racing with the clock are over in NYC’s residential market (no duh), and the Times’ real estate cover story this week examines what the dynamics of a less frenzied market look like. While prices haven’t dropped much, buyers and sellers are taking their time nowadays, and a lot of people are considering how much rehab their properties need, or undertaking lengthy/expensive fix-ups, before listing them. Case in point:

Carolyn Walkin and her husband, Jim, wanted to move to the Long Island suburbs to find better schools for their daughters, Ava, 4, and Veronica, 2. But they were so worried about a potential recession that they did extensive research to ensure they could sell their three-family brownstone on Henry Street in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, for the price they wanted. Ms. Walkin spent about five months and had conversations with at least seven brokers before choosing Terry Naini of Prudential Douglas Elliman. Before that, she had also researched auction houses and considered selling the brownstone without a broker. Even though they finished an extensive renovation two years ago, they added details like art on the walls to attract sellers. Within one hour of their first open house, they received an offer for their asking price of $2.5 million. But Ms. Walkin didn’t relax until the paperwork was signed.

Not a bad outcome, but perhaps indicative of the high anxiety in the air these days.
Responding to a Less Heated Market [NY Times]
Photo by TrespassersWill.