Lots to Spend, Little to Buy.

PITY the long-suffering brokers of luxury Manhattan real estate. They endured a lonely spell, waiting for the phone to ring. Few properties sold and few buyers were even looking. Now with the Wall Street bonus season about to begin, they are suffering again, they say, but this time because of a drought in inventory. After a bump-up in sales over the last few months, brokers say, more wealthy buyers have come back to the table, looking for fabulous apartments at a bargain. But there are precious few listings. ''I have clients who feel this is the time to buy,'' said Felise Gross, a broker at Brown Harris Stevens, ''but there is very little prime property to show them.'' [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]