…The Manhattan housing market continues to
experience record low inventory levels, but
surprisingly enough, is also seeing an uptick in the
number of sales. The record high levels of sales in
the fourth quarter in 2012 prompted expectations
that the first half of 2013 would lose sales volume
as a result of last year’s “poaching from the
future.” However, after several years of consumer
uncertainty culminating with the national election
buildup to the federal fiscal cliff deadline at the
end of the 2012, there was a release of pent-up
demand into 2013, pressing prices modestly
higher. The number of sales jumped 18.8% to
3,144 from the prior year quarter, the most active
spring market in terms of sales since 2007…