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Top 50 Priciest New York Neighborhoods in Q3 2023: Brooklyn Breaks into the Top 3 for the Second Time This Year

By Columbus International,8 November 2023

In the third quarter of 2023, residential property sales in New York City continued to experience a gradual decline, with both sales numbers and median prices dropping compared to the same period the previous year. By the end of September, the median sale price in NYC stood at $750,000, which was a 1% decrease from the third quarter of 2022. However, the most significant decline was seen in the number of sales, as there were 24% fewer residential transactions in the city compared to the previous year, resulting in approximately 2,400 fewer closed deals in the third quarter of this year.

On a positive note, quarter-over-quarter sales numbers showed an increase of 418 transactions, indicating a seasonal trend similar to 2022 and 2021, where third-quarter sales surpassed those of the second quarter. During the same period, the median sale price remained relatively stable. Nevertheless, the year-to-date data through September revealed a 28% decrease in the number of closed residential deals in NYC compared to the same timeframe in the previous year, with a total of 20,833 sales recorded. Notably, among the top 50 neighborhoods (which included 56 neighborhoods due to some ties), 24 were from Manhattan, 23 from Brooklyn, and nine from Queens. Notably, none of the Bronx neighborhoods made it to the list this quarter, despite the Bronx’s historic appearance in the top 50 during the first quarter of the year. The median sale price in the Bronx was $362,000, marking a 6% decrease from the previous year, which was the most significant year-over-year decline in median sale price among the four boroughs. Across all four boroughs, median sale prices experienced slight declines compared to the previous year, with Queens following the Bronx with a 2% drop, and Brooklyn and Manhattan both seeing 1% decreases. Similarly, overall sales activity decreased in each borough, with Brooklyn experiencing a 26% drop, Manhattan and Queens both recording 24% decreases, and the Bronx seeing a 22% decrease compared to the third quarter of 2022.

Unsurprisingly, Manhattan continued to host some of the most expensive neighborhoods in New York City, with seven out of the top 10 spots. Brooklyn also made its presence felt in the top three, securing two spots. Among the top 10 neighborhoods, seven saw an increase in the median sale price, while sales activity decreased in seven of them. Hudson Yards remained the most expensive neighborhood in NYC with a median sale price of $8,150,000, marking a substantial 39% increase from the previous year. This increase can be attributed to the larger average square footage of properties sold in the third quarter of 2023 compared to the previous year. However, Hudson Yards saw an 8% year-over-year decline in the number of residential deals during the quarter. SoHo secured the second spot with a median sale price of $4.2 million, surpassing TriBeCa in the second quarter of 2023. The median sale price in SoHo was 77% higher than in the third quarter of 2022, although the number of sales decreased significantly by 48% during the same period. Brooklyn’s DUMBO took the third position, with a 60% year-over-year increase in its median sale price, rising from $1,775,000 in the third quarter of 2022 to $2,833,000 in the third quarter of 2023. Hudson Square, TriBeCa, Flatiron District, Red Hook, Little Italy, Theatre District-Times Square, and Greenwood Heights completed the top 10. Manhattan’s median sale price was $1,125,000, while Brooklyn’s median reached $805,000 by the end of the third quarter, with more than half of Brooklyn’s neighborhoods experiencing a drop in median sale prices compared to the previous year.

Notably, DUMBO’s 60% increase in median sale price made it one of the top three neighborhoods, marking the second time a Brooklyn neighborhood achieved this since the first quarter of 2023 when Vinegar Hill held the position. DUMBO’s success can be attributed to 15 of its 33 sales taking place at Olympia, a condo building that significantly influenced the median sale price, with condos at Olympia selling for a median price of $4.95 million. Red Hook returned to the rankings after a year, recording nine residential sales above the $2 million median price threshold. Its median sale price also increased by 30% on a quarter-over-quarter basis. Greenwood Heights, previously ranked #23, climbed to the 10th position this year, experiencing the fourth-highest increase in median sale price year-over-year in the third quarter among the top 50 neighborhoods.

The neighborhood also saw a 6% increase in sales activity. In addition to these three neighborhoods, nine more neighborhoods had medians above $1 million, including Cobble Hill and Gowanus, which ranked 11th and 12th, respectively. Both neighborhoods experienced declines in medians and sales activity. Cobble Hill recorded the second-largest decline in year-over-year sales activity, falling by 58%, while Gowanus saw a 35% decrease in sales compared to the previous year. The most significant increase in sales activity was recorded in Manhattan Beach, up 25% year-over-year. Despite the increase in the number of transactions, the median sale price in Manhattan Beach dropped by 5% from the third quarter of 2022 to the third quarter of 2023, standing just below $1 million. Queens saw the sharpest increase in median sale price, with Little Neck experiencing a remarkable 121% year-over-year surge in the third quarter. Little Neck’s median sale price rose from $370,000 in the third quarter of 2022 to $818,000 in the third quarter of 2023, securing its place among the top 50 priciest neighborhoods in NYC. This increase occurred despite a notable drop in sales activity. Among the 50 most expensive neighborhoods, Queens also recorded the most significant decline in sales activity, with Queensboro Hill seeing a 61% decrease in the number of transactions. The most expensive neighborhood in Queens was Hunters Point, with a median sale price of $1,205,000, which was a 14% increase compared to the previous year, although sales activity fell by 21%. Auburndale was the next-priciest neighborhood, with a median sale price of $958,000, marking a 9% year-over-year increase.

Source: Property Shark

Arts and Real Estate. Rediscover Florence’s Hidden Treasures: The Cultural Associations Festival Returns

By Columbus International,3 September 2023

From the Complesso di Sant’Orsola to the Teatro del Maggio, from the Certosa of Florence to Villa del Poggio Imperiale, and all the way to Villa Tornabuoni Lemmi: Florence boasts thirty enchanting places, often unjustly overlooked by more traditional tourists, chosen for the third edition of the Cultural Associations Festival. This itinerant celebration, bringing culture to thirty of the city’s most fascinating locations, is scheduled from September 4th to 21st. Get ready for a series of events spanning history, art, literature, and music: a packed calendar featuring exhibitions, lectures, concerts, and performances that will not only entertain the public but also introduce them to the lesser-known side of the cradle of the Renaissance.

The Florence festival will kick off with a concert and a theatrical performance on September 4th, taking place on the captivating stage of Teatro della Pergola. Special guests include Eleonora Bellocci (soprano) and Elisabetta Sepe (pianist), along with Alessio Boni and Marcello Prayer, who will recite the verses of Alda Merini. In addition to guided tours of the spaces within Teatro del Maggio Musicale, Palazzo Ridolfi, and Villa Brewster Garden, the festival will be enriched by conferences dedicated to science, art, and cultural heritage: from meetings at the Complesso di Sant’Orsola to symposiums held at Villa Medicea La Petraia, and celebrations of Margherita Hack, with a series of events dedicated to her at the Fortezza da Basso, as well as events honoring Italo Calvino on the occasion of his centenary, at Villa del Poggio Imperiale. Notable initiatives include “From Residence to Final Rest” and “From House to House,” which will allow the public to get closer to some artists’ residences, such as the studio of the painter Carlo Adolfo Schlattler and the Villa La Pietra New York University.

In addition to the festival’s activities, organized by the Centro Associazioni Culturali Fiorentine APS, led by Antonia Ida Fontana, further events related to music and literature will take place for an entire month, from September 23rd to October 20th, during the “post-festival” period. Among these are “Pinocchio: A Myth” at the National Central Library of Florence and workshops at the Casa Museo Sigfrido Bartolini in Pistoia. “The gathering of associations […] provides the public with a multitude of stimuli aimed at social cohesion and the cultural growth of citizens, thus realizing the purpose expressed in our motto: Together to support culture,” says President Antonia Ida Fontana.

Source: Sky Arte

NYC Roars Back: Recaptures 99% of Pandemic Jobs, Yet Economic Gains Dance to Different Beats

By Columbus International,4 August 2023

New York City‘s private sector job market has successfully rebounded to pre-COVID-19 levels, although the recovery varies significantly across different industries. The recent analysis was hailed as positive news for the city’s economic outlook by State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. He emphasized that while sectors like securities, transportation, warehousing, and offices have displayed resilience and growth, others such as retail, restaurants, construction, and tourism are still struggling to catch up with the national recovery pace.

This study sheds light on the ongoing challenges that New York City continues to grapple with following the economic disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis comes shortly after the conclusion of a three-year-long national emergency officially declared by the federal government.

As of March 2023, New York City has managed to restore 99.4% of its total private sector employment figures from March 2020, when the initial cases of coronavirus were reported in the state. Specifically, the analysis reveals a 6.41% surge in securities-related positions, totaling 192,700 jobs, between March 2019 and March 2023. Office jobs also experienced a 3.72% increase during the same period, amounting to a total of 1,513,100 positions, despite a 22% current vacancy rate in commercial office spaces. Transportation and warehousing sectors exhibited modest growth, reaching 130,300 positions. However, the arts, entertainment, and recreation industry underwent a substantial decline of 14.59%, leaving a total of 79,600 jobs, down from 93,200 in 2019.

Tourism faced a similar setback, losing 14.50% of its workforce, which now stands at 243,153 jobs. Retail experienced a reduction of 12.65%, with employment dropping from 343,900 jobs in March 2019 to 300,400 jobs in March 2023. Construction jobs saw an 8.07% decrease, totaling 145,900 positions across the city’s five boroughs. Furthermore, the restaurant sector encountered a 4.54% decrease in staffing.

In total, New York City’s private sector employment currently stands at 4,078,300 jobs, reflecting a 1.06% overall increase compared to the 4,035,500 jobs recorded four years ago. DiNapoli cautioned that industries facing ongoing challenges, including the arts, hospitality, and retail sectors, must regain a substantial number of jobs to ensure the stability and long-term growth of the positions that have already been restored. He emphasized the importance of these sectors, which collectively employ hundreds of thousands of workers, in contributing to a robust and inclusive economic recovery that benefits all residents of New York City.

La Lombardia è la regione con più transazioni in Italia

Milan’s Real Estate Market Soars: Unveiling the Hidden Gems for Affordable Homebuying!

By Columbus International,26 July 2023

Milan continues its upward trend in the real estate market, firmly securing its position at the top of Italy’s housing price charts, with an average of 5,186 euros per square meter. On a European scale, it ranks third among the most expensive cities for a two-room apartment, trailing only behind Amsterdam and Lisbon. However, there is still hope for those seeking to buy a home below the city’s average and with the potential for future appreciation.

The Immobiliare.it Insights Observatory, featured and reworked by Fanpage.it, has examined neighborhoods that have experienced significant price growth compared to pre-Covid times, while still offering accessible costs compared to Milan’s most coveted areas. These neighborhoods are primarily situated in the North/Northeastern part of the city, often well-connected to the metro network and undergoing a new wave of gentrification. Among the intriguing locations are Cimiano-Crescenzago-Adriano, Viale Certosa-Cascina Merlata, Pasteur-Rovereto, Affori-Bovisa, and Precotto-Turro. In these areas, the average price per square meter remains below the city’s 5,186 euros. Cimiano-Crescenzago stands out as the neighborhood with the highest price growth in the last three years, boasting a 30% increase and a current average price of 3,495 euros per square meter. Following closely are Viale Certosa-Cascina Merlata, experiencing a 29.8% surge and an average cost of 3,798 euros per square meter, and Pasteur-Rovereto, with a remarkable 28.5% growth and an average price of 4,579 euros per square meter. Affori-Bovisa and Precotto-Turro are also on the rise, with respective increases of 26.9% and 25.3%, and average costs per square meter of 3,425 euros and 3,996 euros.

Honorable mentions go to the area served by the brand-new M4 Forlanini metro line, where the average price per square meter stands at “only” 3,191 euros for a house, yet witnessed a notable 24.9% increase recently. Similarly, Udine-Lambrate is a pricier district, with an average of 4,136 euros per square meter, but still experienced a substantial 24.1% growth in recent years. These emerging neighborhoods present intriguing opportunities for homebuyers looking to acquire a property in Milan at a more affordable price while holding the potential for short-term appreciation.