Blog Post

Months before the snow starts to fall, and a possible second wave of the coronavirus hits New York, locals are already looking for an escape route.

Like Marcus, a Tribeca resident who asked to withhold his last name for privacy, who has begun his house hunt. The 47-year-old financial consultant enlisted the help of Southern California broker Sally Forster Jones, of Compass, to look for a rental in sunny Los Angeles.

Among his musts: a modern property with a pool and an outdoor living room that not only fits his $20,000-per-month budget, but also a strict January-to-June timeframe.

He’s temporarily leaving New York because working from home and virtual school make it possible to test-drive a warmer climate.

“My work has become remote until further notice and my [two young] children won’t be attending classes in person anytime soon,” he said. “We aren’t in major fear of another lockdown, but the indefinite work/schooling timeline offers us an opportunity to get out of the city and experience something different. The LA weather doesn’t hurt either.”

Because the rush to secure a summer home to flee a coronavirus-stricken city reached a frenzied peak in the spring, affluent New Yorkers have spent their summers getting a head start on locking down a winter home — which are now in higher demand due to ongoing remote-work allowances, unclear plans around reopening schools and a desire to switch up routines.

“The search hasn’t been too hectic, but we do have a looming air of competition that follows us,” said Marcus. “Luckily, we have time to find a place, but when a property comes up that fits our requirements exactly, it seems to be gone within 24 hours.”

Source New York Post

Written by Zachary Kussin