NEW YORK (WABC) —
Hipsters have made Brooklyn hot, but they’re renting, not buying. The smart home-seekers are investing heavily and that’s really heating up some unique neighborhoods.
Young families like millennials, Anissa and Gordon McLaughlin with one child, one on the way, are the driving force heating up real estate outside Manhattan.
“It made a lot more sense both owning out here versus the cost of renting in New York City,” Anissa said.
The couple chose Pelham, for their fist home, landing a three-bedroom in a bidding war for just over half a million. Pelham’s zip code, 10803, just above the Bronx in Westchester is one of the hottest zip codes in our market.
“It’s always been popular but lately its been very popular. There’s so many buyers that want be here we don’t have enough houses,” said Marina Kolmer, from Houlihan-Lawrence Realtors.
Kolmer says Pelham’s proximity to the city, picturesque downtown and affordability all appeal to buyers. A five-bedroom colonial listing for $765,000 went into contract after just 72 hours.
“We put it on the market on a Thursday. We had a bidding war, (and) accepted offer on Sunday. It’s going for over asking,” Kolmar said.
The same demands is sizzling supply in zip codes, 11105 (Astoria) and 11379 in Middle Village. Queens homes are being bought and sold faster in these zip codes than anywhere else in the metro area, according to the nationwide study by Realtor.com.
“It’s been the best year for housing since 2006. Existing sales up over 10% over last year,” says Jonathan Smoke of Realtor.com.
The Upper West Side and Harlem are also hot neighborhoods, but Queens is moving property much quicker.
“Within New York City it’s probably the most small town feel you’re going to get withing an urban environment,” said Chris Tscherne, a Queens realtor.
Astoria’s diverse and vibrant cafes, and Middle Village’s parks, and public schools are drawing buyers to its sturdy affordable community. Buying a two-bedroom 1,500 square foot row-house would cost about $2,500 a month, and that’s a big draw for first time buyers prices out of other boroughs.
One tip, realtors stress buyers be aggressive when making offers in these hot areas.
“It was very stressful,” said Anissa. “Yeah there were four bids on the house within a week of it listing.”
The McLaughlins were pre-approved on their mortgage and added personal touch on their application and won the bid.
“They paid over asking and they also wrote a letter to the owners which is a tactic that works,” Kolmer said.
Other surprisingly hot zip codes, 02176, Melrose, MA. It’s close to Boston and Cambridge. Melrose has become a magnet for young professionals.
Number 2, 43085, Worthington Ohio. It’s a major market for re-locators. It’s close to headquarters of large companies like Nationwide Insurance.
Then comes, 80122, Centennial, Colorado. It’s just south of Denver. Houses there are spending two weeks on the market. That’s the shortest number of days than anywhere in the country.
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