"The Hunt" Sends Buyers to Jackson Heights

One of our favorite New York Times real estate columns — The Hunt — took a trip through Queens this week. Husband and wife Brian Shirey and Jill Schwartzman rented a two bedroom in Astoria for $1,880 a month but wanted to buy. With the popularity of Astoria growing, they decided to look in Jackson Heights for a two-bedroom co-op with a budget up to $400,000. They found a nice two bedroom at the Carlton House above budget, asking $435,000 (it sold for $416,000) and a less-nice two bedroom on a higher floor asking $279,000 (it sold for $265,000). They checked out a one bedroom at the Greystones for $249,000 but thought it was “boxy and small.” It sold for $237,500.

According to the Times, “Places were either below their price range and too small and plain, or above their price range and too big and fancy. There was little available in the middle.” After a few months of much searching, a 1,000-square-foot two bedroom at the Carlton House came on the market for $319,000, with maintenance in the mid-$900s. They paid ask, moving in last fall. Because parking at the building’s underground garage only cost $100, they also bought a car. Overall, Schwartzman feels like the hunt in Jackson Heights is starting to feel a lot like the hunt in Brooklyn: “In my experience, if you aren’t coming in at or close to asking for a prime apartment, you are going to lose it because there’s more demand now. There isn’t that room for bargaining anymore.”

Jackson Heights: More Space; Hold the Frills [NY Times]