In a city where owning property can feel like a fantasy, some Bronx real estate experts say opportunity is knocking but maybe not for long.
Local broker Manny Pantiga, co-founder and CEO of Locqube, says many Bronx residents underestimate how close they are to becoming homeowners.
“Buyers usually don’t understand what their power is,” Pantiga said. “They think they need 20 percent down, and it’s not a reality for them,” adding they even look.”
Pantiga says a cooling market has given buyers more leverage, with more sellers competing for fewer offers. But new data shows that advantage may be slipping. According to Zillow, Bronx home values rose 4 percent over the past year, and nearly half of homes now sell at or above the asking price.
Pantiga points to multi-family homes — like a two-family property in Williamsbridge listed for $829,000 — as smart investments that can help offset mortgage costs.
“A property like this generates income just by having an additional apartment,” he said.
Bronx renters who’ve been waiting for the right time to buy, that moment might be now — before the borough’s housing market catches up to the rest of the city.