Sniffing out UWS prewar 2BR

There's a bunch of new construction condos popping up but at a premium. Not prewar, but 2 BR's at least.

Actually talking to doormen is never a bad idea.

I am finding the same thing on the UES for a 3 BR. I have been looking since January and just can't seem to find the right fit. Very frustrating - seems like there is very low inventory and the good stuff seems to go into contract before the listings/pictures are up on the brokerage sites. I would think NY sellers would be smarter than that - they can't be getting the highest price if they are not getting full market exposure.

It's the time of year. NYC is the opposite of the burbs - everyone puts their places on the market in Jan/Feb/March when big Wall St. bonuses come out.

#4--if you really want to be proactive, send letters to the owners of similar lines to the "good stuff" that went into contract. Assuming that it is not the prices to which you are objecting, but that you just keep missing out, and assuming you are loyal to your broker, than your broker should be more proactive on your behalf.

I would think that sending letters to owners would significantly reduce your ability to negotiate. That might work in the burbs where you have a slow market but would not reccomend that approach in NY.

Well, that depends. If you are looking for a "great deal" or are finding apts to be too expensive, then no that would not be the route. However if it is simply that there are very few units out there that match your criteria, but that you are fine with the pricing, just that there are not many out there then it is a strategy that I have used quite often. And perhaps I did not make myself clear--I did not mean sending a letter with an offer the owners could not refuse. I meant sending a letter letting such owners know that should they be considering selling their unit, this would be an expeditious way of going about it. You could pay market value, it is not about getting a discount, but about being the 1st in line for an apartment you want. Another thing to do is to note which brokers seem to have handled units you liked that flew off the market--see if they have sold in that building before. If so, contact them and let them know that you are very interested in the next apt like that that opens up. That has worked in the past as well.

I agree wit the last comment. We found that there were a few broker-specialists of the buildings/streets/neighborhoods we were interested in. We called them up, put our names on their email lists and asked them to get in touch if they learned of something opening up in those buildings. We heard back a number of times with interesting possibilities. Another strategy is to call the broker as soon as something is posted on the various broker agency sites...before the open house. Try to ask to view the place before the open house. Ultimately that is how we got our place. I viewed it, my spouse came two days later (during the open house) and by the next day we put in a bid (as did 3 others). Eventually we got the place. You need to be pro-active to get the good stuff.

Hi, original poster here. My broker works for one of the big firms and hears about stuff early if it is listed with her firm. I'm tempted to also work with someone at another big firm to increase my chances, but I'm concerned about working with too many brokers - battles over commissions. Should I just get over it?

I personally think that any broker will work harder for you if you are loyal.

Don't work with brokers. Ever.

I tried working with a broker for a while. I also thought she'd be able to get me access to other apartments I wasn't finding on my own. She took some initiative at first, but then it just turned into me sending her listings I saw from streeteasy and she wasn't finding anything extra. So, it was hard to see the point of continuing with her.

Not prewar, but also not new construction. 2BR on UWS. Been on the market for a little while, so you could probably bid low.

http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/sale/88357-coop-200-west-79th-street-upper-west-side-new-york