As New York City heads into 2026, the housing market is settling into a familiar but evolving rhythm—competitive, selective, and increasingly shaped by buyers with significant financial flexibility. In Curbed’s recent look at broker predictions for the year ahead, Brown Harris Stevens executives and agents offered an unfiltered view of where the market stands now and where it may be heading next.
For Brown Harris Stevens agent Sarah Silva, the past year underscored just how challenging the market has become for traditionally financed buyers. Silva described working with a young Manhattan couple searching for a two-bedroom home under $2 million in neighborhoods like Park Slope and Cobble Hill. Despite strong financial profiles, their offers repeatedly fell short, edged out by higher bids and all-cash competitors. Eventually, the couple decided to pause their search, feeling that the remaining inventory within their budget would require too much renovation to justify the cost. Silva noted that a stronger bonus season could change their outlook in 2026, but the experience illustrates the widening divide between typical buyers and those able to compete without financing.
That divide, Silva explained, has reshaped her business. Much of her recent activity has shifted toward all-cash buyers, a trend that mirrors what many brokers are seeing across the city. In a market where certainty matters to sellers, financed offers often struggle to compete, even when buyers are otherwise well qualified.
From a leadership perspective, Brown Harris Stevens CEO Bess Freedman characterized 2025 as a “return to better.” After years of uncertainty and market hesitation, she pointed to renewed momentum, with listings that had lingered finally finding buyers and showing activity improving across price points. Freedman also acknowledged broader political and economic changes in New York City, but emphasized that demand—particularly at the higher end of the market—has remained resilient.
Agent Shawnalei Tamayose pointed to the potential impact of easing mortgage rates later in 2026, noting that even modest declines could release pent-up demand among buyers who have been waiting on the sidelines. Tamayose suggested that resale condos and select co-op properties may benefit first, as buyers recalibrate what feels attainable in a shifting rate environment.
Precision in today’s market is key, observed agent Daniella Schlisser. Thoughtful pricing, staging, and targeted improvements can make the difference between a stagnant listing and a successful sale. Her experience reflects a broader trend toward strategy over speculation, where success depends on execution rather than timing alone.
While affordability remains a hurdle for many, demand—especially among well-capitalized buyers—continues to drive activity across the city.
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