Category: News + Insight
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Bess Freedman: Private Listing Networks are the Dark Pools of Real Estate
In a sharply argued piece for Inman News, CEO Bess Freedman draws a direct parallel between private listing networks and Wall Street’s “dark pools,” warning that the growing trend is fundamentally at odds with how real estate is supposed to function. Her core argument is simple: real estate works best when it’s transparent—and private networks…
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What the Proposed Pied-à-Terre Tax Could Mean for NYC Real Estate
A Proposed Pied-à-Terre Tax: What Could It Mean for NYC Real Estate? A newly proposed pied-à-terre tax is once again raising questions about how public policy can shape New York City real estate, particularly at the luxury end of the market. The proposal would impose an additional tax on certain non-primary residences above a high value…
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The Line: Say Less Fed
This week, we love what Kevin Warsh said about members of the Fed speaking too much. Welcome to the “loose lips sink ships” edition of The Line. Say Less Fed No, I’m not trying to show my knowledge of the latest slang, just saying I want the Federal Reserve to speak less. President Trump’s nominee for the next chair of the Fed agrees…
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The Amenities Defining Luxury Living Now, According to BHS Agents
To better understand what today’s luxury buyers truly value, Brown Harris Stevens surveyed agents across our markets, asking them to identify the top amenities shaping demand right now. The updated results reinforce a clear shift toward homes that offer immediacy, light, and livability—where elevated design meets everyday ease. Turnkey / Move-In Ready Living Leading the…
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Pricing Isn’t About Being Right. It’s About Positioning Your Home to Win.
Pricing a home has always been one of the most nuanced and consequential parts of the selling process. But in today’s New York City market, the stakes are even higher. What may appear, at a glance, to be a balanced environment is, in practice, far more dynamic. We’re operating in what can best be described as…
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How to Finance a Real Estate Investment the Smart Way
Most investors spend months finding the right deal. Far fewer spend that same energy figuring out how to finance it. In Episode 404 of The Build Up podcast, we sat down with Brian Scott Cohen, top loan originator at Guaranteed Rate Affinity, to break down what investors need to know about financing in today’s market. Whether…
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Why a Proposed Pied-à-Terre Tax Could Impact Every New Yorker
New York City’s housing market has always been a balancing act where policy decisions at the top can ripple through every neighborhood, price point, and property type. A newly proposed annual pied-à-terre tax by Governor Kathy Hochul is a clear example of how a measure aimed at a narrow slice of the market could have…
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What Q1 2026 Tells Us About the Manhattan Real Estate Market
The first quarter of 2026 offered a clearer picture of where the Manhattan market is heading, and in many ways, the results were stronger than expected. According to the recently released Q1 2026 Manhattan Apartment Market Report, both average and median apartment prices moved higher compared to a year ago, with several segments of the market…
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AI in Real Estate: What Buyers and Sellers Should Actually Be Paying Attention To
AI is now standard in real estate. Learn how buyers and sellers can identify the difference between generic listings and strategic property marketing that actually performs. AI didn’t replace real estate agents. It exposed them. Over the past year, AI has become part of nearly every listing. From property descriptions to virtual staging to marketing…
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The Real Estate Industry’s Reckoning on Private Listings Has Finally Arrived
There has been a growing disconnect in residential real estate between what is being marketed as innovation and what actually serves the best interests of buyers and sellers. In a recent guest post on Jonathan Miller’s Housing Notes, I explore the destructive nature of Private Listing Networks, and why the tide is beginning to turn…