Weekly Manhattan and Brooklyn Market Update: 11/17
Real Estate Howard Hanna NYC November 15, 2025
Real Estate Howard Hanna NYC November 15, 2025
As Thanksgiving approaches, New York City’s housing market continues to show surprising resilience. Both boroughs posted stronger-than-expected contract activity while inventory trends signal a controlled cooling rather than a winter freeze. The Howard Hanna NYC Consumer Sentiment Index climbed from 27% to 32%, marking a growing confidence despite rising seasonal headwinds.
Momentum is being driven by active buyers seeking opportunities before inventory tightens further. Manhattan’s foreign-buyer segment and Brooklyn’s steady mid-market demand remain particularly influential in keeping the city’s fall market alive.
Lower inventory in the pipeline and steadier interest rates have created a window of opportunity for those who missed the early-fall rush — and many are taking it.
The final stretch of November is shaping up to be steady but selective. With both inventory and mortgage rates leveling off, market activity is expected to remain moderate rather than drop off sharply.
Seasoned buyers are moving quickly on value-driven listings, while sellers who stay active through the holidays may find reduced competition and more serious offers.
Despite expected mid-December softness, early indicators point to a firm base for Q1 2026, especially if rate cuts materialize early next year.
Manhattan’s active inventory edged down to 6,647 homes (+0.1% WoW, –0.2% YoY) as the borough entered its pre-holiday pause. However, new listings rose to 251 units (+12% WoW, –1% YoY), likely representing one final listing push before sellers fully step back for the winter.
This brief surge provides additional buyer choice in core neighborhoods like the Upper East Side and Chelsea, where active demand continues to absorb inventory efficiently.
Brooklyn’s overall supply declined slightly to 3,546 homes (–0.1% WoW, +7.8% YoY), maintaining its steady year-over-year growth. More notably, new listings rebounded to 185 units (+32% WoW, +24% YoY), breaking the downward listing trend of prior weeks.
This uptick suggests that some sellers are seizing the late-season window before Thanksgiving — particularly in neighborhoods such as Williamsburg, Prospect Heights, and Carroll Gardens, where demand remains consistent for well-located mid-market properties.
Pending volume indicates that transaction pipelines remain active heading into the holiday period, suggesting a solid November close.
Contracts signed rose to 229 (+8% WoW, +10% YoY), driving the Howard Hanna NYC Manhattan Consumer Sentiment Index up from +9% to +17%. This uptick contrasts with typical seasonal patterns, fueled in part by renewed foreign buyer activity in luxury and new development segments.
The persistence of well-capitalized demand is keeping the borough’s pricing stable even as broader market activity cools elsewhere.
Brooklyn logged 143 signed contracts (+4% WoW, +4% YoY), lifting sentiment from 79% to 86%.
This rise demonstrates that local and move-up buyers are still participating late into the season, driven by competitive pricing and limited future supply.
Brooklyn continues to outperform its typical November pace, maintaining the most consistent buyer activity of any outer-borough market in 2025.
Marketproof tracked 32 new development contracts across 25 buildings. Top performers included:
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