Weekly Manhattan and Brooklyn Market Update: 12/29
Howard Hanna NYC December 29, 2025
Howard Hanna NYC December 29, 2025
The final full week of 2025 delivered a textbook year-end slowdown across Manhattan and Brooklyn. Activity decelerated sharply as buyers, sellers, and attorneys stepped away for the holidays. Importantly, this pullback mirrors historical December patterns rather than signaling demand erosion. Inventory continued to tighten, while pending sales advanced modestly, reinforcing a constructive setup heading into January.
At the same time, the Howard Hanna NYC Consumer Sentiment Index declined from +36% to –19%, reflecting short-term hesitation driven by holiday timing rather than a shift in underlying market fundamentals. Similar sentiment resets have historically occurred during the final two weeks of December before rebounding early in the new year.
Outlook: Entering 2026, the market is set up for a rapid reactivation driven by tight supply, resilient buyer demand, and meaningful pent-up activity. The late-December slowdown reflects a seasonal pause rather than a deterioration in fundamentals. As holiday constraints lift, early January should see a faster-than-normal rebound in sentiment and transactions, with inventory remaining constrained and pricing leverage continuing to favor well-positioned sellers.
Manhattan’s active inventory declined for the sixth consecutive week, falling to 5,108 homes (–7.1% WoW, –5.3% YoY). New listings dropped to just 42 units (–49% WoW, +35% YoY), underscoring the seasonal seller pause and reinforcing downside pressure on available supply.
Brooklyn inventory decreased to 2,972 homes (–4.6% WoW, +4.4% YoY), marking the eighth straight weekly decline. New listings fell to 50 units (–40% WoW, +19% YoY), confirming that most sellers have wrapped activity until early 2026.
Manhattan Pending Sales: Pending sales jumped 4% to 3,176 units.
Brooklyn Pending Sales: Brooklyn pending sales rose 4% to 1,938 units.
Despite headline softness in contract signings, the pending pipeline continued to expand modestly, indicating that buyer intent remains intact.
Photo by Rihards Gederts | Howard Hanna NYC
Manhattan recorded 138 signed contracts (–43% WoW, –2% YoY). This reduced the Manhattan Consumer Sentiment Index from +24% to –27%, a decline fully consistent with Christmas week dynamics and closely aligned with last year’s holiday-period performance.
Brooklyn logged 91 signed contracts (–31% WoW, +6% YoY). The Brooklyn Sentiment Index eased from +71% to +18%, signaling moderation but not deterioration. Brooklyn ends the year slightly stronger than its 2024 finish, reflecting continued relative affordability and buyer preference stability.
Marketproof tracked 18 new development contracts across 17 buildings. Top performers included:
Vesta (Hunter's Point) signed 2 deals
108 Leonard Street (Civic Center) signed 1 deal.
Howard Hanna NYC brings the nation’s largest independent and family-owned brokerage to New York City, uniting the strength of a national network with the insight and sophistication of a local firm. Formed through joining forces with Elegran Real Estate, Howard Hanna NYC delivers a seamless, full-service experience backed by more than 15,000 agents across 500 offices in 14 states. The firm’s forward-thinking, agent-first culture continues to shape the future of real estate across Manhattan and the Tri-State area.Learn more at www.howardhannanyc.com.
Her experience, expertise, and engaging personality make Sonal the perfect combination of advisor, advocate, and strategist. She is the proud owner of several NYC properties and a skilled negotiator with a deep understanding of people and sharp instincts about market trends.
