What’s happening in the Brooklyn and Manhattan housing markets right now?
September 2025 – Brooklyn & Manhattan Real Estate Market Commentary
Welcome to September
I just got back from an awesome two week trip to Ireland. Great music, people, scenery, food, pubs and Guinness! Highly recommended if you haven’t been! When I left, the market here was pretty dead. When I came back, things seemed to have flipped 180 degrees. While four days doesn’t make a trend, it certainly is encouraging. After a really slow August, September started off with a bang. Both Brooklyn and Manhattan have seen a significant wave of new listings since Labor Day. While it’s too early to tell if the floodgates have opened, It’s a positive sign for both buyers and sellers. Stay tuned!
A Quiet August
In both Manhattan and Brooklyn, August saw unusually slow new-listing activity. During the final week of the month, Brooklyn new listing activity was relatively flat at just 135 new listings through Aug. 29. Despite the limited new supply, contracts signed remained strong with 158 contracts signed for the week (a 53.4% increase YoY). Liquidity had already doubled from its July 4th lows, a sign buyers were ready to transact if given options. Manhattan echoed the same theme: deal flow solid, but with constrained fresh inventory, leaving the market in a holding pattern heading into Labor Day.
Post–Labor Day Surge
As soon as the holiday passed, the logjam broke. Over the first five days of September, new listings spiked well above late-August levels. This surge is consistent with post-Labor Day seasonality, but the magnitude of the bounce is noteworthy after such a thin August. Early September’s flow is effectively a “catch-up” wave—compensating for delayed August listings rather than signaling excess supply. With buyers still active, this should help rebalance the market and give September buyers some long-awaited options.
Data Snapshot
Manhattan (Aug 23–31): 141 listings total (~16/day)
Manhattan (Sept 1–5): 574 listings total (~115/day) ~7x prior 8 day daily average
Brooklyn (Aug 23–31): 138 listings total (~15/day)
Brooklyn (Sept 1–5): 236 listings total (~47/day) → ~3x surge prior 8 day daily average
Demand Hasn’t Been the Problem
Buyers have been out there for the right property at the right price. Even with lean August supply, contracts signings were fairly strong in both boroughs.
Inventory has been the primary bottleneck. The sharp rise in the past few days suggests sellers were holding back and not necessarily absent.
If early signals and seasonal patterns hold up, we should expect to see an active September/October as pent-up listings hit and buyers who were sidelined in August return in force.
For Sellers:
The post–Labor Day market is primed: buyers are back, demand proved resilient, and competition for listings has arrived. Pricing realistically against September comps will maximize visibility in a crowded field.
For Buyers:
Relief is here. Early September is delivering far more choices than all of August combined. But demand never left—so be ready to act decisively and potentially compete on well-priced homes.
Enjoy this month’s newsletter, including curated articles, market insights, and upcoming local events below. Have a great month!
Also, if you’re thinking about a move or simply curious about your options, I’d be happy to connect for a no-pressure conversation tailored to your goals. Don’t hesitate to reach out!
All the Best,
Steve
