January 2026 NYC Market Update

The new year opened with a noticeable shift across New York City’s housing market. January brought a meaningful increase in inventory across Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, giving buyers more options than we saw toward the end of 2025. While closed sales dipped month-over-month — a typical seasonal pattern — contract activity and pricing trends suggest steady underlying demand heading into spring.

Here’s what we’re seeing across the boroughs we specialize in.

Manhattan Market Overview

Manhattan entered 2026 with a significant surge in new listings across both condos and co-ops. With more properties coming to market, average days on market increased, giving buyers slightly more breathing room compared to the fast-moving periods we saw last year.

Pricing tells a nuanced story. Condo values showed strength month-over-month, while co-op pricing softened slightly. At the same time, signed contracts remain active year-over-year, signaling that serious buyers are still engaging — even if deals are taking longer to close.

Overall, Manhattan is presenting opportunity. Buyers have more inventory to evaluate, while sellers must be thoughtful about positioning and pricing in a more competitive environment.

Brooklyn Market Overview

Brooklyn also saw a sharp rise in new inventory to start the year. Closed sales slowed compared to December, which is typical for January, but pricing has remained relatively resilient on a year-over-year basis.

The borough continues to demonstrate long-term stability, particularly in the condo segment. Meanwhile, rental activity remains strong, reinforcing Brooklyn’s ongoing demand from both end users and investors.

The key takeaway: Brooklyn is not seeing softness — it’s seeing seasonality. As inventory builds, well-prepared listings are still commanding attention.

Queens Market Overview

Queens began the year with expanding inventory and encouraging contract activity. While closed sales declined compared to last year, signed contracts show that buyers are actively positioning themselves.

Pricing remains one of Queens’ strongest advantages. With more attainable entry points compared to Manhattan and Brooklyn, the borough continues to attract first-time buyers and value-focused purchasers.

Rental activity has also remained elevated, reinforcing Queens as both a lifestyle and investment market.

What This Means Moving Forward

January data often reflects a reset period after the holidays. Increased inventory, longer marketing times, and slower closings are typical this time of year. What matters more is contract activity and pricing stability — both of which suggest that demand is still present across all three boroughs.

As we move toward spring, we expect absorption rates to strengthen and transaction volume to increase.

For buyers, this is a window of opportunity with more choices and negotiation flexibility.
For sellers, strategic pricing and presentation will be key in a more competitive inventory landscape.

Download the Full January Reports

For a deeper dive into borough-specific data, download the full January 2026 market reports below:

Manhattan January 2026 Market Report 
Brooklyn January 2026 Market Report 
Queens January 2026 Market Report