Who’s Buying What in the Big Apple? Ask NYC’s Top Realtors

Cautious optimism. This had been the mood, earlier this year, of many of New York City’s top brokers as they navigated the challenges of low inventory and high interest rates. Then came the stock market convulsions and recessionary fears triggered in April by President Trump’s sweeping tariffs. “Even with financial uncertainties — political instability, layoffs and global tensions — New York’s real estate market remains resilient,” said Steven Cohen of Douglas Elliman, speaking before the market convulsions. “Moving to its own rhythm and continuing to attract discerning buyers and investors — quite a bit of opportunity in the market right now.”

The volatility Cohen alludes to has since dramatically increased, as has the likelihood of a slowdown in the luxury real estate market. Yet the source of New York brokers’ optimism remains unchanged: a belief that the Big Apple will always find a way to thrive in the long term, no matter the broader economic vicissitudes. “The beautiful thing about the NYC market is that it’s so healthy and always self-adjusts,” says Eleonora Srugo of Douglas Elliman. “Manhattan is an island, after all, so supply will always be limited to a degree. It creates an ecosystem where there is always opportunity for somebody in the real estate market.”

With innovative approaches to marketing and pricing, the agents in THR‘s list of top brokers in NYC and the Hamptons are up to the challenge. Nota bene: All interviews were conducted before the tariff-induced market chaos. Yet elite clients from the worlds of entertainment, finance, industry and art continue to drive the high-end market, and realtors are determined to meet their wishes and wants.

Preston Kaye and Gary Cooper

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Ace Hamptons brokers Kaye and Cooper — with $200 million in sales in 2024 — are known for their off-market deals. They are currently representing 67 Surfside Drive in Bridgehampton. Listed at $32 million, the estate served as Gordon Gekko’s beach house in Wall Street. “In 2024, we observed a noticeable slowdown in oceanfront transactions in the Hamptons, largely due to a lack of high-quality inventory,” Kaye and Cooper wrote in a statement to THR. “With fresh, top-tier products likely to enter the market … we anticipate renewed activity, particularly in the ultra-luxury segment.”