The Pinpointe Post

August 2025 Edition

Author

Rachel Fiegler
August 19, 2025

Welcome Message from Josh & Rachel

Hello from the Pinpointe team!

Quick check-in as summer hits full swing: NYC rents set another record in July, so we pulled together what that means for you right now, plus some practical tips to make peak-season apartment hunting less painful. You’ll also find a Fort Greene spotlight, our podcast comparing Washington Heights vs. West Village vs. FiDi, and a couple of news hits worth two minutes of your day.

One more thing: we’re grateful for this community. If you refer someone who signs a lease or buys/sells with us, we’ll send you a $100 gift card as a thank you.

Happy reading!

Rachel & Josh

Cofounders, Pinpointe Group

Recent Highlights

📝 From our blog

Common NYC Apartment Scams and How to Avoid Them

NYC rental scams are everywhere this year. Our guide shows you how to verify listings, vet brokers, and keep your money safe before you sign.

pinpointe.nyc/nyc-rental-scams-2025-guide

🎙️ Podcast Feature

We compare Washington Heights, West Village, and FiDi—rent ranges, architecture, commute trade-offs, noise, and the real day-to-day vibe. Trying to pick your Manhattan fit? This quick guide episode is a must-listen.

📱 Social Media Hit

In our most-watched Instagram video, Rachel rants about people standing on airport moving walkways; Josh says it’s fine…whose side are you on?

🏙️ Neighborhood Highlight: Fort Greene, Brooklyn

This month, we’re zooming in on Fort Greene—tree-lined brownstone blocks, BAM’s arts hub, and Fort Greene Park anchoring one of Brooklyn’s most livable, culture-rich neighborhoods.

What we love: Saturday mornings at the Fort Greene Park Greenmarket, quick C/G train access, and a food scene that runs from cozy cafés to destination restaurants—without losing the neighborhood feel.

Average 1-bedroom rent: $4,393

Hidden gem: Stroll the Fort Greene Park Greenmarket for local produce and pastries, then picnic on the hill with skyline peeks—peak neighborhood vibe without the crowds.

💡 Renter’s Corner

Peak season (Aug–Sept) is here—rents are at records and good units move in hours. Here’s how to land one without burning cash.

  1. Be “application ready.” One clean PDF with ID, last 2 pay stubs, last 2 bank statements, and 2024 W-2/1040 (or offer letter). If using a guarantor, prep their docs too (remember guarantors must show 80x the monthly rent).

  2. Decide your broker plan early. Listings you see online are “no-fee” to you, but many units are off-market post-FARE Act—those require hiring a broker and signing a Tenant Broker Compensation Agreement (flat fee or %). For any Pinpointe listings you inquire about, we’ll send a quick Pre-Showing Acknowledgement confirming the address is truly no-fee.

  3. Win with speed, not just price. Tour weekdays if you can and have funds ready to wire.

  4. Widen the map. Add one adjacent neighborhood or one extra subway stop—you’ll often find similar space without the bidding war.

Pro tip: Draft a “greenlight” text/email now (“We’re in at $X, start date Y, docs attached”) so you can send it from the curb the moment you love a place.

📊 Market Pulse: July 2025

Record Rents…Again, Robust Manhattan Sales

💸 Rental Rundown:

  • Manhattan: Median rent hit $4,700—the fifth record in six months—with bidding wars at a new high.

  • Brooklyn: Median reached $3,850 (second-highest ever); inventory fell year over year for the first time in 18 months as bidding wars set a record.

  • Queens: Median climbed to $3,750; inventory rose ~10% YoY, adding options even as bidding wars increased.

🧾 Sales Snapshot:

  • Manhattan: New signed contracts kept rising—co-ops +23%, condos +19% YoY—with the $4M+ segment growing even as new listings fell.

  • Brooklyn: Condo contracts +7.6% and 1–3 family +10.8% YoY (co-ops slightly lower); new listings are climbing faster than contracts, especially for 1–3 family homes.

🔑 What It Means for You:
Buyers: Manhattan momentum = fewer bargains; Brooklyn’s growing townhouse supply offers more choice and leverage. Renters: Renewals will feel the heat—start early and be ready to move quickly, with Queens still a relative value despite rising competition.

📰 News You Can Use

More Pain for Big Apple Renters as Prices Surge Again and There’s No Relief in Sight

NYC rents surged again in July, with Manhattan’s median hitting about $4,700 (up ~9% YoY) and nearly 29% of leases ending in bidding wars—Brooklyn and Northwest Queens also notched near-record medians. With summer demand, FARE Act fallout, and would-be buyers staying put, the Post says renters shouldn’t expect relief soon.. Read more here

Rise of all-cash deals in NYC reshapes the real estate market

A PropertyShark study finds 60% of Manhattan deals were all-cash in early 2025—concentrated wealth is tilting prices and speed to those buyers—while financed buyers dominate more in the Bronx and Queens. A new 90-day waiting period for institutional investors on 1–2 family homes aims to give end users a fairer shot. Read more here

This One Weird Trick Could Cut NYC Rent by 18%

An MIT analysis suggests that removing certain density limits (or even just upzoning near transit) could expand NYC housing by ~71% over decades and cut rents ~18% by 2060. Benefits would accrue slowly and skew toward lower-income households, but the takeaway is clear: zoning reform beats tax breaks for adding supply. Read more here

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