It is worse than you have heard. There are only two common seeded varieties and neither preform or look good. The seed is very expensive, extremely hard to germinate and takes a very long time if it ever germinates at all. Take my advice and bite the bullet and buy a high quality Zoysia sod. Just wait a little while longer for it to warm up a bit more like May before you do as the results will be worth it waiting until grass is growing vigorously. You can do it now if you want, but likely will have problems with rotting and very slow root growth and green up. Let the sod get greened up at the sod farm and wait for warmer weather. You will be glad you did.

ocelaris(7a) - I live in Teaneck and have been slowly going Zoysia with plugging 2 summer straight. If you still have that lawn I would gladly take your Zoysia. Let me know how you would want to do this I have a plugger and a old VAN I have always been askng for someone who would want to get rid of their Zoysia . I would make 300 to 400 plugs. If you let me would be cheaper and faster. Then you can either replace the Zoysia with Blue Fescue plugs or seed. What ever works but I don't mine the hay like look as it looks great all other times

I don't think many places will carry it this time of year. I haven't seen any at Lowe's or HD since July. Call Myer's in Pelham since thsy do commercial landscaping. They may have some on hand or can name a source for you.

Take a ride to to Pine Island NY (Warwick area). There are many places up there that have great sod because of the outstanding soil conditions its grown in