New York City has one of the most complex, competitive and expensive real estate markets in the U.S. Unlike most places in the country, 70 percent of New Yorkers rent versus buy. With so many options, you need a tool to easily sort through rentals. Enter, StreetEasy.
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What Is StreetEasy?
There are a seemingly endless number of online platforms for searching rental listings, but finding a condo, co-op, or brownstone to buy is much more difficult.
StreetEasy is one of the few home listing platforms out there that is NYC specific and allows home buyers to search the real estate marketplace online.
StreetEasy listings come directly from real estate brokerages. That includes syndications like RealtyX and Nestio and from brokers and sellers themselves. Since the site is NYC specific, it offers a ton of search options.
Create Filters
Easily refine your search by property type: co-op, condo, or townhouse. Then, you can choose more specific variables like dishwashers, new developments, swimming pools, and price per square foot. You can also refine by location and the length of your desired commute.
Search By Neighborhood
You can also select a neighborhood (like Chelsea or Tribeca) or instead create a boundary that may incorporate multiple neighborhoods. Of course, you can also search NYC rentals on the platform as well.
See Nearby Subway Lines
Once you’re on an individual listing, you’ll find asking price, price history, days on market, monthly maintenance costs, and proximity to transit. Being near a subway line is crucial in NYC.
You can also see how many users have saved the property and if a Flip Tax is owed by the purchaser. The listing will also include school districts zoned for the address, include if there is a doorman, elevator, if the building is pet-friendly, and other features like first availability.
Connect with Agents
You can also find information about the listing agent for the property. If you’re interested, send a message through StreetEasy and the platform will connect you with a buyer’s agent within an hour.
The buyer’s agent will represent you, negotiate the deal, and support the closing process. Put simply, streeteasy.com is a listing service that allows potential buyers to search real estate listings in the city.
What Makes StreetEasy Different?
StreetEasy is owned by Zillow Group, so it uses much of the same technology to navigate listings. What sets it apart from sister sites Zillow and Trulia and other platforms like New York Times and Realtor.com is that it is extremely NYC specific. That means you can search by things like transit line.
New York Times and Realtor.com use the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) to filter listings. Virtually every reputable broker in the city is a member of REBNY. But, brokers have 48 hours to report their listings to the REBNY.
That means, potentially, you can see a listing on StreetEasy up to two days before it goes live across REBNY and other sites. Anyone familiar with the New York market knows two days can be a crucial time period on a hot property.
It’s Also a Great Resource for Buyers
StreetEasy is great for browsing the market, but even experienced buyers will need help purchasing in New York City—arguably the most competitive and complicated real estate market in the world.
Whether you use your own buyer agent or one linked with StreetEasy, it is smart to use the site to browse properties. Previously, Real Estate agents were the only ones able to see the listings, but StreetEasy puts a lot of buying power back into the hands of individuals.
So, yes, regardless you will need to work with a skilled advocate to negotiate tough deals in the complex NYC market. But, by browsing for yourself first on StreetEasy, buyers can have a better feel for what their options are.
Then, you can use the information found in the listing as leverage when you’re ready to make an offer.
How to Use StreetEasy
Using StreetEasy is simple, easy, and intuitive. Just follow a few steps to search home.
To use StreetEasy, simply:
- Choose “Sales” and select your borough (Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, Staten Island) or “All NYC.”
- Select “Refine This Search,” and enter your price range and desired bedrooms and baths. Choose +Advanced Options to create a boundary and add selected building amenities, nearby transit lines and property types.
- Gain valuable information from the listing, like price history and proximity to transit.
- If you’re interested, send a message. A buyer’s agent will contact you within 24 hours and you can schedule a showing or attend an open house.
- Download the StreetEasy app and sign up for email updates to reflect new listings that satisfy your search perimeters.
Should You Use StreetEasy.com?
StreetEasy is an online listing platform for sale and rental properties specifically in New York City. Potential buyers can use the site to search with very specific parameters and gain crucial information about properties.
Yes, you’ll want to work with a professional, but incorporating StreetEasy into your real estate search can help buyers understand the current market and their options. That edge is crucial when standing out in an overly crowded and competitive market.
