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October 31, 2026
Why Did Manhattan Luxury Contracts Jump 32.4% in Q2 2024?
Manhattan closed 2,596 apartment sales in Q2 2024, up 45% from Q1. Michael J. Franco on luxury contracts, Midtown East value, and the election pause.
Most Recent Posts
October 28, 2026
Do You Owe NYC’s Pied-à-Terre Tax on Your Second Home?
Tags: Manhattan co-op and condo / Manhattan real estate / Michael J. Franco / NYC pied-à-terre tax / NYC property tax / second home NYC
Who owes NYC’s pied-à-terre tax, who is exempt, what the court ruling changed, and when the first bill is due on January 1, 2027. A plain-English guide.
October 31, 2026
Why Did Manhattan Contracts Rise 8% In Q3 2024?
Manhattan contracts rose 8% and sales 2% in Q3 2024 as inventory sat 10% below average. Michael J. Franco on luxury gains and falling price per sq ft.
October 31, 2026
Why Did Manhattan Contracts Jump 22% At The End of 2024?
Manhattan signed contracts jumped 22% in Q4 2024 as the median fell 4% to $1.1M. Michael J. Franco on what drove the surge and what came next.
October 31, 2026
Why Did Manhattan's $10M+ Sales Jump 66.7% In Q2 2025?
Manhattan closed sales rose 5.2% in Q2 2025 and $10M+ sales jumped 66.7%. Michael J. Franco on condos vs. co-ops, tight inventory, and cash buyers.
October 30, 2026
What Are Closing Costs and Transfer Taxes in Manhattan?
Tags: buying a Manhattan apartment / NYC closing costs / NYC mansion tax / NYC transfer tax / selling a Manhattan apartment
In Manhattan, the buyer usually pays the mansion tax, which is 1% of the full price on any home of $1 million or more,...
October 28, 2026
Are High Maintenance Fees a Red Flag in Manhattan?
Tags: Condo Common Charges / Maintenance Fees / Manhattan Buyers / Manhattan Co-ops / Michael J. Franco
High maintenance fees in Manhattan are not automatically a red flag, and sometimes they are the point. A monthly charge...
October 27, 2026
Is Wealth Disparity Growing in America?
Tags: Great Wealth Transfer / Luxury Real Estate / Manhattan Luxury Market / Net Worth / Wealth Disparity
Yes, and the numbers are clear. Today, the wealthiest 1% of American households control 32.5% of all household wealth in...
October 27, 2026
Best First-Time Buyer's Agent in Manhattan, NY: Michael J. Franco
With 18 years of Manhattan experience and $1.56 billion in career sales, Michael J. Franco helps first-time buyers...
October 19, 2026
Should You Sell Your Manhattan Apartment Over the Holidays or Wait for January?
Listing between Thanksgiving and New Year's can work in Manhattan. Michael J. Franco on who should list now, who should wait, and how to make the call.
October 17, 2026
Do NYC Co-op Boards Now Have a Deadline to Approve You?
co-op board application deadline, how long does co-op approval take NYC, Int. 1120-B, co-op board package, NYC co-op law 2026
October 12, 2026
How Did Manhattan Real Estate Perform in the Third Quarter of 2026?
Michael J. Franco breaks down Manhattan's Q3 2026 real estate market: sales volume, median prices, inventory, and what it means for buyers and sellers.
October 2, 2026
The Price of the Apartment vs. the Cost of the Money: What Manhattan Buyers Need to Understand Right Now
Michael J. Franco breaks down how mortgage rates actually work, what the Federal Reserve does and does not control, and how buyers at different price points in Manhattan should be thinking about rate sensitivity right now.
October 2, 2026
Why Fall Is One of the Best Times to Buy an Apartment in Manhattan — And How to Use It
Michael J. Franco breaks down why the fall real estate market in Manhattan creates a rare window for buyers — more inventory, less competition, and more motivated sellers — and how to take advantage of it before it closes.
October 2, 2026
Can a New York City Neighborhood Completely Transform? Lower Manhattan Is the Answer.
On the 25th anniversary of September 11, Michael J. Franco examines how Lower Manhattan transformed from a deserted financial district into one of New York City's most dynamic residential neighborhoods — and what it tells us about the future of the city.
October 2, 2026
Why September Is the Best Month in New York City — And What It Means for the Real Estate Market
Michael J. Franco on why September in Manhattan is unmatched — the energy, the culture, the weather, and why the fall real estate market is one of the best windows of the year for serious buyers and sellers.
September 8, 2026
Have New York City Co-ops Become Undervalued?
Manhattan co-ops now trade at a 20% to 35% discount compared to condos. Explore the historical evolution of cooperative housing—from Gilded Age "French Flats" to modern board requirements—and discover why co-ops present exceptional value for primary residence buyers seeking pre-war architecture and spatial efficiency.
September 8, 2026
Why New York City Needs 700,000 New Apartments
According to a report by NYC’s HPD and Department of City Planning, New York City faces a shortfall of 700,000 homes over the next decade. Explore how historic building booms like the 1920s tax exemption compare to today’s inventory crunch—and what real estate scarcity means for buyers, sellers, and property values in Manhattan.
September 8, 2026
Is $1 Million Still a Lot of Money in New York City?
While $1 million remains a significant sum, inflation has dramatically eroded its purchasing power over time. Discover how inflation alters property value, why a fixed-rate mortgage can turn inflation into an asset, and how unadjusted thresholds like NYC's 1989 Mansion Tax impact today’s Manhattan real estate market.
September 8, 2026
Do You Only Get One Chance to Debut a Manhattan Listing?
Tags: Blog / Compass / New York City / New York City Market / NYC Real Estate / Phased Marketing / Sellers
Key Takeaways for Sellers The First Impression Advantage: In the New York City real estate market, a property's...
August 12, 2026
How Did Manhattan Real Estate Perform in Q2 2026?
Manhattan signed 3,477 contracts in Q2 2026, the most in four years, as the median rose 7% to $1.3M. Michael J. Franco on the pied-à-terre tax.
May 5, 2026
How Did Manhattan Real Estate Perform in Q1 2026?
Manhattan had its strongest Q1 closing volume in a decade in 2026, but contracts fell 11%. Michael J. Franco on tight inventory and pricing.
February 12, 2026
WHAT IS MORE BELIEVABLE, PESSIMISM OR OPTIMISM? | MJF Weekly Newsletter
Pessimism! Especially if you ask Morgan Housel, author of The Psychology of Money, which I just finished reading over...
February 12, 2026
How Is the New York Real Estate Market? A Look at Q4 2025
Manhattan's median hit $1.18M in Q4 2025, up 7%, in its strongest Q4 in three years. Michael J. Franco on the exodus that didn't happen and cash buyers.
November 4, 2025
How Did Manhattan Real Estate Perform in Q3 2025?
Manhattan closed nearly 3,200 sales in Q3 2025, over $6B in volume, with a median near $1.2M. Michael J. Franco on cash buyers and luxury scarcity.
June 23, 2025
How Did Manhattan Real Estate Perform in Q1 2025?
Manhattan sales rose 13.2% in Q1 2025 to nearly $6 billion, with sales above $5M up 49%. Michael J. Franco on cash buyers and the wealth transfer.
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