NYC residential brokers optimistic on 2Q

Residential brokers are bullish on the second-quarter housing market in New York City, according to a survey by the Real Estate Board of New York released today. Of the 394 residential brokers REBNY said it polled through April 8, 72 percent said they expect the market to improve in the second quarter. And brokers reported having the sales numbers to back that up. Five percent more brokers said they have closings scheduled in the next three months compared with last year. Among the survey’s other findings, 7 percent of brokers reported sales that closed above the sellers’ asking price, up from 4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010. TRD