One of New York City’s five boroughs, Staten Island offers a high quality of life and a relaxing small-town feel. Despite being the third-largest borough in terms of land area, it is the least populated, giving residents plenty of breathing room and expansive natural spaces perfect for spending time outdoors.
With its access to Manhattan as well as an array of scenic outdoor destinations, Staten Island offers the best of both worlds. The borough is home to a diverse assortment of suburban amenities including malls, outlet centers, restaurants, delis, and other services needed for everyday living, providing residents with a highly convenient lifestyle.
All of these combine to make Staten Island a desirable place to call home. It’s also why its housing market is very competitive – it’s currently a seller’s market with more people looking to buy than there are homes available.
For those looking to buy a home in Staten Island, one of the first and most important steps is to hire a realtor. Having an experienced real estate professional at your side will give you better options to choose from, help you make well-informed decisions, and enable you to navigate every step of the home buying process with ease.
On this page, we’ll take a closer look at the current market and offer some insight into how working with a realtor in Staten Island, NY will help you achieve your real estate goals.
Table of Contents
Overview of Staten Island, NY real estate
A diverse selection of real estate options is available for anyone looking to relocate to Staten Island.
Homes in Staten Island consist mostly of single-family detached properties, which account for 34% of the borough’s housing market. Other prevalent housing options include duplexes, apartments, townhouses, and high-rise condos.
Staten Island homes feature an assortment of elegant architectural styles such as Cape Cod, Dutch Colonial, New England Colonial, Queen Anne Victorian, Tudor, and Ranch, among others.
Some common examples of features you can find in homes for sale in Staten Island include:
- Lush, meticulously manicured lawns
- Bright, airy, and well-appointed living spaces
- Exquisite custom designer details throughout
- Spacious gourmet kitchens with breakfast nooks and top-quality stainless steel appliances
- Elegant baths equipped with high-end fixtures
- Primary bedrooms with large walk-in closets and gorgeous views
- Abundant storage space
Staten Island neighborhoods
Prospective buyers looking to relocate to Staten Island can find a collection of neighborhoods, each with its own unique charm and character. Here’s a quick glimpse at just some of the neighborhoods in the borough:
- Great Kills – Great Kills is home to many schools, which makes it a very popular choice for families with kids. This serene neighborhood has plenty to offer including a great selection of shops and restaurants along Amboy Road and the expansive 580-acre Great Kills Park, which features amenities that include a beach, a spacious field, and a network of trails perfect for walking and biking.
- St. George – Nestled on the northern end of Staten Island, St. George is a historic neighborhood that’s a popular choice for Manhattan commuters due to its convenient location offering quick access to the ferry. The neighborhood features a highly walkable pedestrian-friendly environment, with an array of bars, art galleries, and entertainment venues. There are plenty of terrific housing options to choose from in St. George, including spacious single-family homes, apartments, condos, and townhouses. Many sought-after properties in the neighborhood can be found in its historic district, which features an impressive collection of stylish 19th-century homes.
- Huguenot – Situated along Staten Island’s south shore, Huguenot is a tranquil neighborhood with a very relaxing vibe. It’s a primarily residential community with very few commercial establishments, which further adds to its laid-back charm. Residents of Huguenot can enjoy exceptional outdoor attractions like the beaches and South Shore Country Club, home to first-class amenities including a top-rated 18-hole golf course.
- New Dorp – New Dorp holds the distinction of being one of the most sought-after Staten Island neighborhoods because of its trendy, cosmopolitan character and walkable streets. The neighborhood is densely populated, which explains why most of the housing options available consist mostly of apartments, but there are many single-family homes in the area as well. In addition to its vibrant array of attractions along its main streets, New Dorp offers easy access to the beach, perfect for those looking to relax outdoors.
- Oakwood Beach – In addition to boasting waterfront access, this picturesque slice of Staten Island is highlighted by tranquil tree-lined streets and old buildings that give it a laid-back, nostalgic setting. Oakwood Beach borders Great Kills, giving residents easy access to the top-rated Great Kills Park, making it a terrific choice for families.
Advantages of hiring a realtor in Staten Island, NY
If you’re planning to purchase a new home in Staten Island, you’re likely thinking about the pros and cons of hiring a realtor. Although it is true that there are some drawbacks, the benefits of having a real estate agent at your side while you navigate the homebuying process significantly outweigh these.
In a diverse and sought-after real estate market like Staten Island, having an experienced and reliable professional you can count on will help you make well-informed decisions. A realtor serves as an advisor as you go through the home buying process, preparing you for each step along the way, which can be extremely beneficial especially in a competitive and unpredictable market.
Here are some of the benefits you can look forward to as a homebuyer when you hire a realtor in Staten Island, NY:
A fine-tuned home search
Most buyers already have a rough idea of the type of home they want, including key features like size, number of bedrooms and baths as well as some personal must-haves like a home office or a backyard patio.
While having a list of requirements in the back of your mind will certainly be helpful when you start your search, there will always be properties that will be a better fit for your needs and budget.
When you’re looking for a home without a realtor, you’ll have no other choice but to sort through all of the available options on your own, which can be tedious and time-consuming. With an experienced agent working with you, however, you’ll have someone who will zero in only on the properties that match your needs and preferences. Realtors usually know about every home available on the market they specialize in, so you can count on them to make the entire process more streamlined and stress-free.
In-depth market knowledge
Part of a realtor’s job is to stay up to date on current trends and conditions in the real estate market. They’re well-versed in all of the factors driving the housing market, such as mortgage interest rates, inventory, sale-to-list price ratio, the average price per square foot, and so on. They are professionals who are familiar with the ins and outs of the local market and possess comprehensive knowledge of homes for sale in the neighborhood.
When you hire a realtor, you get access to their deep knowledge of the community you’re considering. This enables you to make informed decisions faster, which is crucial, especially in a highly competitive market.
Access to professional networks
Realtors know other professionals involved in nearly every stage of the home buying and selling process. Most of them even have a list of providers whom they have had a good experience working with in the past.
This is one of the biggest benefits you get as a homebuyer. Purchasing a property involves working with other professionals in the real estate business such as appraisers, real estate lawyers, mortgage brokers, and home inspectors. Hiring a realtor enables you to tap into their network, so you won’t need to search for and get in touch with each of these professionals yourself.
This is very helpful especially for first-time real estate investors, as it can help them build their own network of real estate professionals who they can count on for property investment deals in the future.
Privacy and confidentiality
A real estate agent has a fiduciary responsibility to every client they work with, which means they’re legally obligated to prioritize their client’s best interests.
Working with a realtor provides you with a high standard for confidentiality. This is important, especially for buyers. Without an agent, you could be giving intimate financial details to a for-sale-by-owner (FSBO) seller who isn’t legally obligated to keep your information confidential.
Meticulous record-keeping
Although realtors are not lawyers, they serve as exceptional resources, even years after the transaction has closed. While it’s important that you keep a record of all of your files, you can rely on your realtor to safeguard all relevant information should you encounter any issues with your property in the future. In fact, some states require all licensed realtors to keep complete files of all the documents in every transaction.
Should any questions about the property resurface in the coming years, all you need to do is get in touch with your realtor to gather the information needed to resolve the problem.
Objective and levelheaded approach
A realtor helps you navigate the homebuying process with an unbiased eye, helping you attain your goals while staying within your budget. They’re also trusted resources whom you can rely on for area information like zoning laws, utilities, contractors, and nearby amenities.
In addition, a realtor will write your requests objectively and forward them to the seller and their agent, effectively taking the emotional aspect out of the deal. In case there’s a heated discussion between a seller during negotiations, you can count on your realtor to handle that in a calm, professional manner.
Negotiation skills
You’re after the best real estate deal possible, so you want someone who will represent your best interests at the negotiation table.
Negotiating directly with the seller can often be a stressful affair with a lot of back-and-forth going on, which is yet another great reason to hire a real estate agent. They are skilled and savvy negotiators who have been doing this for years. They know what strategies are effective when trying to get the best possible deal for their client.
Your agent will leverage data like real estate comps in the neighborhood to help you build a strong case for you during negotiations, so you can get the home at the price range you’re aiming for.
Facilitating the final walk-through
One of the essential steps prior to closing is the final walk-through.
The main objective of the final walk-through is to ensure that the property is indeed in the condition in which you agreed to purchase it. Your realtor will be there with you to see to it that everything that requires repairs or replacements was done and that the property will be transferred to you in pristine condition.
Work with the top team of realtors in Staten Island, NY today!
Looking to fulfill your real estate goals in Staten Island? Work with the finest real estate experts in the area by getting in touch with Casandra Properties, Inc.!
Founded by top realtor Casandra Zapala, Casandra Properties, Inc. started as a small boutique firm before transitioning into a full-service real estate company known for offering an exceptional representation of its clients. The premier real estate firm has completed more than $1 billion dollars of real estate transactions over the past decade, making them the most experienced and trusted resource when it comes to Staten Island real estate.
If you want to get in touch with the top realtors in Staten Island, NY, give Casandra Properties, Inc. a call today! You can reach the team at 718.720.0126 or by sending an email to info(at)casandra(dotted)properties