During the course of this year, New York City has been on a campaign of sorts to champion itself as a place where the country's burgeoning tech industry can both incubate and grow itself. The city has, for the most part, succeeded in this initiative with many tech industry giants like Facebook and Tumblr setting up shop in the city. The city has also promoted the creation of the Cornell University's tech campus on Roosevelt Island, thereby ensuring that New York will now be perceived as a strong rival to the current tech industry oasis of Silicon Valley. So if you work in New York’s tech industry in New York, the city sees you as an incredibly valuable part of the city and is pulling out all stops to make sure you stay on in the city.

As the year draws to a close, the latest rental report from MNS for the month of November reveals that rents in Manhattan have fallen again, hence following the trend seen in the borough’s rental market since fall began. However, the decrease seen in November is a very small one, with the average decrease across units reported as only $19. However, professionals following the real estate market closely over the past few years will probably not be too surprised by these values, because decreases in rents are traditionally seen during the same time as temperatures fall in New York City. Besides, the rents here had been on an upward spiral up till September, and had also plateaued at really high values. But November’s report is noteworthy because of the drop in the city's inventory, thanks to a market that was already short of apartments and Superstorm Sandy shuttering many of the new buildings as well.

The Atlantic Yards project in Brooklyn was one of the most contentious real estate developments seen in New York City in recent times, with critics lashing out at the 22-acre project that would see commercial office space, residential housing and a swanky sports arena arrive in Downtown Brooklyn. Of the three components of the Forest City Ratner project, the Barclays Center arena opened up a few months ago, and now, the next in line seems to be the housing units, with the first Atlantic Yards apartment building scheduled to be open by summer 2014.  

Already one of the most dynamic and popular Manhattan neighborhoods, Chelsea and its surrounding area is in for some big changes. In the next three years, three major projects are planned: the third portion of the High Line, running up to 30th Street; the Hudson Yards Redevelopment Project; and the extension of the 7 Line to 34th and 11th. Chelsea’s rental market has adjusted to the boom and cultural shift from the High Line and the growing allure of the neighborhood. Rental prices are remaining relatively steady, but anticipation is building in the face of this huge influx of new development. Although the massive impact of the High Line on real estate, retail, and cultural institutions was relatively unexpected, developers will not be caught off guard this time.

As the year nears its end, the latest monthly rental reports from various real estate companies have revealed that just like the temperatures in the city, the rents in Manhattan have also taken a dip, a dip that is particularly interesting given that there was a decrease in rents in the last month as well. However, as we mentioned in our analysis of last month’s rental report, despite the decreases, the average October rents are still at extremely high figures. For instance, the Elliman Report for October says that the average rental price for October was $3,856, an increase of 5.4% from the average rent of $3,658 for the same period last year.