Apartment Watch Update

June 1 is a good day to check in on the apartments I have been watching. It's a new month, a new home-buying season and change is in the air. (But I flip-flop on which way the change is headed.)

The lead in Wednesday's New York Times article sounds good for buyers:

"America’s home-buying season, when for-sale signs sprout like dandelions, is shaping up to be even worse than expected this year, with prices falling, sales slowing and few signs of a turnaround emerging."

The article talks a lot about the housing slowdown finally hitting Seattle, a market stronghold. But what about New York City?

Nationally, housing prices have dropped 14%. But the New York Times isn't much of a local paper when it comes to reporting the pricing trends in the city.

So I must rely on my own observations:

• The Prospect Heights apartment on Plaza Street remains in contract.

• Since I last checked, the Union Street apartment has gone into contract. It's a shame there's no way to tell if the accepted offer is above, at, or below the asking price.

• The status of Washington Heights apartment status remains unchanged: no contract, no price change, no open house scheduled. G and I should really visit this one.
  

• The apartment with the crazy floor plan also remains on the market at the original price. Surprised no one has snatched it up?

• Brooke Astor's $46 million apartment is still listed unchanged.

• One bright spot: an apartment I have been watching (but yet to profile) has cut its price by $50K. But when you're over $1 million, what's $50K?