From the July issue: The pace of residential sales in Manhattan continues to slow, causing a backlog of inventory. The rest of the summer doesn’t look any more promising. Sales activity is down by roughly one-third from the same point last year, Jonathan Miller, president and CEO of appraisal firm Miller Samuel, said last month. Brokers said that their buyers were not as quick to pull the trigger, between worrying about the market, job security, their ability to obtain financing and whether prices will drop. “Some speculators are thinking that purchase prices should drop and want to hold out for a ‘good deal,’ or negotiate more aggressively,” said Jorden Tepper, executive director of sales at Century 21 NY Metro, Fine Homes & Estates.