Consumer Tips: How To Buy

In New York City, the majority of apartments fall into two categories: condominiums and co-operatives. Owning a condominium is just like owning any other kind of home – with one difference.
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Consumer Tips: How To Rent

In the New York City real estate market, time is of the essence if you want to guarantee that your dream home is yours to rent. That means having all the necessary paperwork and materials ready and available before you begin your apartment quest.
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New York City: Neighborhood Info

Of the five boroughs of New York City, the 28 square miles of Manhattan make up the most densely populated county in the United States. Bounded by the Hudson and the East River, the borough is made up of 21 neighborhoods.
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Sources of Data (by category)

Climate

Annual predominantly sunny days

Days with precip > .01 inch

Rainfall - inches

Snowfall - inches

Relative humidity (afternoon mean for July)

July mean high temp

Jan mean low temp

Average wind speed

Days < 0 deg.

Days < 32 deg.

Days > 90 deg.

National Weather Service, Regional Climate Centers

Missouri Climate Center

U.S. Geologic Service

National Hurricane Center

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Climatic Data Center

Comfort index

UV danger index

            Sperling’s BestPlaces

 

Costs of Living

Cost of Living Index

Constructed indices uses data of the Consumer Price Index from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (published and unpublished), with health costs from Medicare and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Consumer Expenditure Survey (BLS), Current Population Survey (BLS), Department of Energy, the Federal Travel Directory, National Association of Realtors, Home Price Index from the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight, median home sales prices from state Realtor associations and county deed records, Coldwell Banker's Home Price Index, and our own research. ACCRA (Association of Chamber of Commerce Researchers Association), Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index

Median home price    

Home price appreciation

Property tax – effective rate

Freddie Mac -Conventional Home Price Mortgage Index

National Association of Realtors

            National Association of Home Builders

Coldwell Banker - Home Price Index

            California Association of Realtors and other state Realtor associations

Housing Affordability Index

            Sperling’s BestPlaces

 

 

Economy & Jobs

Unemployment

Recent job growth (one-year)

            Bureau of Labor Statistics

Future job growth (10 years in the future)

            Sperling’s BestPlaces analysis

Household median income

Household income growth (1990-current year)

Average family income

Technical/professional/sales % (white collar)

Blue collar, clerical % (working class)

Census Bureau

Current year estimates – Sperling’s BestPlaces analysis

Sales taxes    

Income taxes   

            State and local taxing agencies


 

Update periods

All categories are updated at least once annually, though at different times during the year.  Quarterly updates are released during the year.

New data appearing each quarter include employment, cost of living indices, and home prices and appreciation.