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The Pinpointe Post
June 2025 Edition
Rachel Fiegler
June 17, 2025
Welcome Message from Josh & Rachel
Hello from the Pinpointe team!
June already? Time flies when you’re showing apartments day and night—and this month marks a big milestone: Pinpointe turned 3 on June 1st! Thank you to every renter, buyer, and reader who’s trusted us since day one. Your support (and occasional 9 p.m. “Is this place still available?” texts) keep us hustling.
Inside this issue:
Market Pulse breaks down record-high May rents and what shifting inventory means for summer apartment-hunters.
Renter’s Corner decodes the brand-new FARE Act—why 1,000 listings vanished overnight and how to stay ahead.
Neighborhood Highlight takes you to Long Island City for skyline views and MoMA PS1 vibes.
Agent Spotlight puts Josh (“Catch me on the streets”) in the spotlight after four deals across two boroughs.
Plus, our most-watched Instagram reel, a new podcast episode featuring Pinpointe agent Al, and hand-picked news you can actually use.
Speaking of news: Rachel was recently quoted in Realtor.com on bidding wars, Brick Underground on broker-fee fallout, and another Realtor.com piece comparing fee laws nationwide—links inside if you’d like the full scoop.
Happy reading!
Rachel & Josh
Cofounders, Pinpointe Group
Recent Highlights
📝 From our blog
🎙️ Podcast Feature
Renting in NYC can feel like speed-dating with landlords—listings vanish, 40× income rules hit hard, and everyone’s afraid to commit. In this episode of Pinpointe Unfiltered, we vent about those headaches and share the scrappy tricks that actually land you a lease. We also brought on our very first guest: Al—yes, the same Al we hyped in May’s newsletter, who dishes on what it’s like to field a hundred inquiries before lunch and still get clients in the door that day. If you’ve ever asked, “Why is finding an apartment in this city so brutal?”—or just want to know how to make the process suck less—this episode’s for you.
Our LIRR “booze train” clip just became our top post at 2.7 K views—a solid milestone for our still-growing page. What NYC moments or questions should we tackle next? Hit reply and let us know.
🌟 Agent Spotlight
We’re back with Agent Spotlight, shining a light on the Pinpointe brokers hustling across NYC.
Josh Hernandez — Co-Founder & “Catch Me on the Streets” Broker
You’ll spot Josh zipping between previews and showings (his podcast catchphrase isn’t a joke). In the past month, he:
Closed 3 Manhattan leases in under a week.
Wrapped up 1 Staten Island deal, proving no borough is off-limits when a client needs results.
Need an agent who’s literally everywhere? Email Josh at [email protected] and catch him on the streets.
🏙️ Neighborhood Highlight: Long Island City, Queens
This month, we’re zooming in on Long Island City—Queens’ skyline-on-the-rise, where sleek glass towers meet waterfront parks and an indie-arts scene.
What we love: LIC pairs jaw-dropping East River views with cultural heavyweights like MoMA PS1 and Culture Lab’s free outdoor concerts. A one-stop subway ride drops you into Midtown Manhattan, yet the neighborhood still feels refreshingly laid-back.
Median 1-bedroom purchase price: $882,500
Median 1-bedroom rent: $4,316
Hidden gem: Swing by Dutch Kills Bar, a speakeasy-style cocktail spot tucked under an old elevated track—you’ll feel worlds away from the new-build buzz while sipping one of NYC’s best Old Fashioneds.
💡 Renter’s Corner
The FARE Act kicked in on June 11, 2025—and overnight 1,000+ listings vanished from StreetEasy while advertised rents jumped about $495. “No-fee” simply means the landlord paid the broker for that one listing. To reach the many units now kept off-market, renters will still need to hire their own broker.
What you need to know
Who hires, pays. Broker fees aren’t banned; they’re just paid by whoever hires the broker. Want access to unlisted units? You’ll sign (and fund) a tenant-broker agreement.
Our transparency tools.
Pre-Showing Acknowledgement — Applies only to listings we advertise online and you inquire about. One quick form confirms the address is truly no-fee to you. No signature, no tour. (Read about it on our blog)
Tenant Broker Compensation Agreement — For a full apartment search. We agree on the fee upfront—either a flat amount or a percentage of the annual rent—and it covers every unit we show (except those covered by a pre-showing form). (More info on our blog)
Agency matters. Know the difference between landlord’s agent, tenant’s agent, and why dual agency is now banned. (Agency 101)
Pro tip: Add the broker fee to your move-in budget—then let us unlock the off-market homes landlords aren’t advertising. Transparency first, surprises never.
📊 Market Pulse: May 2025
Record Rents, More Listings — NYC Keeps Heating Up
💸 Rental Rundown:
Manhattan: Median rent hit $4,571 — a new record, 3rd in 3 months.
Brooklyn: Median rent edged up to $3,650; nearly 1 in 3 leases still spark bidding wars.
Queens (LIC/Astoria): Median rent is $3,625 and inventory almost doubled, giving renters a bit more choice.
🧾 Sales Snapshot:
Manhattan: Signed condo & co-op contracts rose about 10 % year-over-year, led by deals above $4 M.
Brooklyn: Mid-priced co-ops ($1–2 M) surged 87 %, while townhouse listings jumped 60 %+, widening options for buyers.
🔑 What It Means for You:
Buyers: More listings = more negotiating power, especially in Brooklyn townhouses and Manhattan mid-market condos. Luxury units move fast — be ready to pounce.
Renters: Budget for rent bumps (8-12% due to the FARE Act) but use rising inventory to push for modest concessions. Start your search early to avoid bidding-war frenzies.
📰 News You Can Use
Thousands of NYC rentals just hit bankruptcy court
Pinnacle Group just put about 5,000 rent-stabilized apartments into Chapter 11 to restructure $574 million in debt. Tenants keep their leases but could see slower maintenance and potential ownership changes during the bankruptcy process—read more here.
The Two-Bedroom Hunt in New York is Worse than Ever
Citywide median rent for a two-bedroom jumped 17.5 % in a year to roughly $5,560, pushing Manhattan close to its all-time high. Renters should budget for steeper renewal bumps or lock in shares now before summer prices surge—read more here.
7 reasons why ground-floor apartments are desirable—instead of dealbreakers
Ground-floor apartments can run up to 15 % cheaper than units upstairs and often feature perks like private backyards, no elevator waits, and zero downstairs neighbors. Brick Underground outlines seven advantages that make street-level living a smart value play—read more here.
🤝 Connect With Us
Have questions about buying or renting in NYC? We're here to help!
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 917-633-6935
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