Brick Underground

A new Bankrate.com report compared data for five categories: affordability, wellness, weather, culture, and crime and found that New York ranks dead last in affordability—the study’s most important metric—and 13th worst in weather. It fared well in culture (7th) and crime (tied for 11th with Massachusetts).

Personal finance website WalletHub just released its report on 2019's Most & Least Energy-Expensive States. New York State is ranked the ninth least energy-expensive in a comparison that looked at electricity, natural gas, motor fuel, and home heating oil. The average New York State monthly energy bill is $284.

A broad new climate plan passed in Albany requires the state to nearly eliminate greenhouse gas emissions, which means New York City buildings will have to phase out oil-burning furnaces.

It’s essential to work with an experienced real estate agent who can identify buildings that are the best fit and position you in the best possible light as a financially responsible buyer and upstanding future neighbor.

“Construction labor alone, for example, is significantly more expensive in Manhattan than Brooklyn or NJ,” says Koda Wang, co-founder of Block Renovation, a New York City design-build startup that uses a pricing algorithm to demystify and simplify bathroom renovations. 

Inventory in NYC is at near-record highs and slowing sales. Obviously, this is a great time to buy. But sellers find themselves in a tougher position than at any time in NYC’s recent history.