JULY 2021 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 53
BY BERNADETTE STARZEE
As anyone looking for a house on Long Island in 2021 knows, it’s a jungle out there.
Ongoing low interest rates and an influx of buyers from New York City combined with
low inventory have sparked multiple bidding wars and pushed prices up to a record
median of $630,000 in Nassau and a record-tying $480,000 in Suffolk, as of late April,
according to OneKey MLS.
“Of the 10 homes we sold last month, every single one went over asking price and had
five to seven offers minimum,” said Glen Fox, a licensed real estate salesperson who
leads the Fox Team at Douglas Elliman in Long Beach.
With so much frenzied activity in the market, you must be prepared to pounce when you
find a home you want. Here are five tips to get you ready.
1. FIND A GOOD REAL ESTATE AGENT TO REPRESENT YOU.
A seasoned real estate agent with deep knowledge of the local market can help you
fine-tune your search, educate you on market values and negotiate the best deal for
you. Sellers are represented by the listing agent, and you need to be represented by a
professional who contractually commits loyalty to you. “When I represent buyers, I am
looking out for their interests – I will tell them why I think the house is overpriced or
underpriced, which will help determine how we present our offer,” said Clare Governale,
a licensed real estate salesperson for Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty in
Manhasset. WHAT’S INSIDE
INSIDE JOB
56 OPEN
59
HOUSE PRESS HOME
GETTING THE HOUSE
continued on page 54
Buying a home is harder than ever on Long Island. (Getty Images)
FIVE TIPS FOR FIRST-TIME BUYERS IN A HOT REAL ESTATE MARKET
/LONGISLANDPRESS.COM
