Welcome Message from Josh & Rachel

Hello from the Pinpointe team!

Spring in NYC always feels like the market stretching its legs again. The days get longer, listings start popping up, and buyers and renters who sat out the winter suddenly start touring again.

At Pinpointe, we've been busy helping clients navigate both rentals and purchases across the city. Our NYCbound relocation program has also continued growing, and we've welcomed a new face to the team. Always exciting as we keep expanding.

As always, thank you for reading. Are you enjoying the newsletter? Anything you want us to add (or remove)? Just hit reply and tell us.

And a quick reminder: if you refer a friend who ends up renting or buying with us, or intro us to your HR team, we'll send you a $100 gift card as a thank you.

Happy reading!

Rachel & Josh

Cofounders, Pinpointe Group

Recent Highlights

📝 From our blog

🎙️ Podcast Feature

If you're trying to figure out how to actually win in NYC real estate — whether renting or buying — this episode is worth your time. It cuts through the usual advice and focuses on what really happens behind the scenes during deals.

You'll hear practical strategies agents use every day, from navigating competition to understanding how decisions actually get made. It's straightforward, useful, and especially relevant as the spring market picks up.

📱 Social Media Hit

"Networking works best when it's intentional."

In this clip, Pinpointe's co-founder Rachel shares how she uses Goodword to build meaningful connections with the right people — instead of just attending random networking events.

Have you ever tried a tool like this for networking? If you want to try it out, use RACHEL as your invite code to skip the waitlist!

🌟 Agent Spotlight

We're excited to introduce Catherine Lockinger to the Pinpointe team. Catherine grew up moving around the U.S. and Europe before permanently landing in New York in 2011 — so she knows firsthand what it means to start fresh somewhere new. With a background in art and architecture, she brings a designer's eye to every search, with a focus on where the luxury market meets real family life.

Catherine is all about transparency and a personal touch — helping clients feel confident and clear-headed in a market that can feel anything but. When she's not deep in real estate, you'll find her with her twin boys, adding to her art collection, or walking her American Bull Staffy through Central Park.

📧 Reach out to Catherine at [email protected]

🏙️ Neighborhood Highlight: Park Slope, Brooklyn

Park Slope is one of Brooklyn's most beloved neighborhoods: leafy streets, historic brownstones, and a relaxed, family-friendly energy that still feels very New York. It attracts everyone from young professionals to growing families who want charm, space, and easy access to Manhattan.

What we love: Prospect Park right next door, beautiful brownstone blocks, incredible restaurants along 5th and 7th Avenue, and a neighborhood vibe that's hard to replicate anywhere else in the city.

Median 1-bedroom purchase price: $762,500
Median 1-bedroom rent: $3,450–$3,775/month

Hidden gem: Winner on 5th — a tiny café locals love for incredible sandwiches and low-key neighborhood energy.

💡 Renter’s Corner

Many NYC renters assume property taxes only affect homeowners.

In reality, taxes can influence rents too. When property taxes increase, landlords often factor those costs into their pricing over time — which can push rents higher across the market.

A few things to keep in mind:

• Rising property taxes can indirectly affect rental prices.

• Commercial spaces (restaurants, cafes, shops) feel the impact too.

• Neighborhood tax changes can influence future rent trends.

• It's one reason rents rarely stay flat for long in NYC.

Pro tip: if a neighborhood suddenly gets expensive, taxes and operating costs are often part of the story — not just demand.

Have questions about renting or buying in NYC? We're always happy to help or point you in the right direction.

📊 Market Pulse: March 2026

Record rents, vanishing inventory — and spring hasn't even started yet.

💸 Rental Rundown

• Manhattan median rent hit $5,000/month for the second straight month — an all-time record, up 6% year-over-year. Average one-bedrooms are at a new high of $5,206.

• Brooklyn reached $4,150 median rent, up 4% annually, with apartments leasing 11% faster than last March and inventory down 8% year-over-year.

• Queens averaged $3,064, with year-over-year gains across the board — studios up 3.6%, one-bedrooms up 6.4%, two-bedrooms up 5.5%. Long Island City is the priciest; Jackson Heights and Elmhurst offer the best value.

🧾 Sales Snapshot

• Manhattan saw 1,066 contracts signed in March — the $2M–$3M segment was the only price range to post annual gains (up 11%), and the Upper East Side was the only submarket to grow year-over-year (up 13%).

• Brooklyn contracts fell 10% annually, but price per square foot climbed 11% — its 14th annual increase in 18 months. Well-priced co-ops are still sparking bidding wars, with some closing 15%+ above ask.

• Active listings in Manhattan hit their lowest March level since 2017. Brooklyn inventory is rising, but listings are moving fast — average days on market dropped to 79.

🔑 What It Means for You

Renters, don't wait — inventory is near historic lows and summer will only make it tighter. Buyers, the market is nuanced: there's negotiating room in some segments, but the $2M–$3M range and well-priced co-ops are still fiercely competitive.

🌍 Partner Spotlight: Crossing Frontiers

Expanding to the United States? Start with the right immigration strategy.

Relocating to New York is an exciting step — but navigating U.S. immigration can be a complex hurdle along the way. That's where Crossing Frontiers comes in. They help individuals, founders, investors, and employees secure U.S. visas and immigration pathways aligned with both short-term and long-term goals.

Their U.S. immigration services include:

• Visa strategies for entrepreneurs and startup founders

• Investor visas

• Temporary work visas

• Green card pathways

• Cross-border immigration strategy between the U.S. and Canada

👉 Learn more at crossingfrontiers.ca

📰 News You Can Use

🤝 Connect With Us

Have questions about buying or renting in NYC? We're here to help!

• Email: [email protected]

• Phone: 917-633-6935

What topics would you like to see in our next newsletter? Reply to this email with your suggestions!

And don't forget: refer a friend who rents or buys with us, or intro us to your HR team, and we'll send you a $100 gift card as a thank-you.

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