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Buying, selling and renting in the dog days of summer: Expect seasonal changes

By Lucy Cohen Blatter  | July 10, 2014 - 1:59PM
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In Case You Missed It: Every so often, BrickUnderground digs through the archives to find the best advice our experts have shared through the years.

That familiar humidity has finally settled over the city, and supposedly that means an abrupt slowdown in the world of New York real estate. But we've discovered that's only half trueHere's what you need to know if you're in the market this summer:

Buyers: Typically, many sellers hold off listing their apartments until the comparatively busier fall season, especially since many high-end buyers are off vacationing somewhere fabulous. In the last few years, that's meant finding sellers willing to negotiate. But this year, the number of listings available are at near historic lows, so you may not find much of a reprieve--even during these lazy days. 

Sellers: The conventional wisdom is that a lack of new properties on the market in the summer means that your apartment will be more likely to stand out in the (significantly smaller) crowd. But with inventory so scarce already, if your place is in decent shape and priced right, you may wind up getting more attention than you bargained for.

Renters: The rental market is competitive all summer long. The only advantage to looking for a new rental during the summer, according to experts, is that there will be more places available. Many landlords work to ensure that their leases turn over during busy summer months, when demand is highest and they can charge top rents. 

Indeed, prices are high, competition is fierce and landlords--inundated with interested renters--aren't likely to offer concessions.

For more tips, read the full story: "Here's some expert advice for buying and renting in the dog days of summer"

Related:

How to buy a NYC apartment

How to sell a NYC apartment

How to rent a NYC apartment

Moving to NYC? Here's a crash course in finding an apartment here

The 8 best websites for finding a no-fee apartment in NYC

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