The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s create one of Manhattan’s most unusual real estate windows. While many buyers assume the market “shuts down” for the holidays, the opposite is often true for those paying close attention. This year is especially telling: new listings are arriving at a moment when sellers typically pause until January—a reminder that nothing about 2025 has followed the usual script. I’ll be listing a very special townhouse in the next few weeks, and the timing is no accident.
For serious NYC buyers, understanding the rhythm of this season—how inventory behaves, how sellers think, and how negotiations shift—can open doors that simply don’t exist at other times of year. As a Manhattan real estate advisor, I see this period deliver meaningful wins every single year for prepared, strategic buyers.
Below are four seasonal trends you should know as we head into the final weeks of 2025.
1. Fewer Buyers Are Looking—But the Right Sellers Still Are
The holidays create a noticeable shift in buyer behavior. Travel, parties, school breaks, and all the end-of-year obligations mean many buyers simply pause—mentally, financially, or both. Showings slow down, open houses quiet, and weekends feel less competitive. Yet the sellers who remain active in December are often the ones who genuinely want to transact. The discretionary sellers—the ones merely “testing the market”—have usually stepped back or plan to relaunch in mid-January when buyer traffic returns in full force. What’s left are motivated sellers: owners who have already purchased their next home, people relocating for work or lifestyle reasons, sellers hoping to settle before year-end for tax or personal timing, or those who priced correctly from the start and are just waiting for the right buyer.
This dynamic creates a rare imbalance in Manhattan’s favor. Reduced buyer competition paired with motivated sellers can lead to meaningful negotiation advantages. In some of the city’s most competitive neighborhoods—the Upper East Side, the Upper West Side, Tribeca—December can be the moment when buyers secure a home that would almost certainly spark competing offers six weeks later.
2. Inventory Shrinks, but the “Overlooked Opportunities” Come Forward
Inventory may shrink during this season, but the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s often bring something more valuable than volume: clarity. By December, it becomes obvious which homes were overlooked earlier in the fall and which are now positioned for success after thoughtful price adjustments. Many of the apartments still on the market are strong candidates that simply sat in the shadows of the busy September and October surge—some because they were initially overpriced, others because they were overshadowed by more attractive and aggressively marketed listings. Proactive sellers often recalibrate their pricing in early December to capture any active serious buyers, and these newly adjusted homes tend to move quickly when sharp, well-informed buyers are paying attention.
There are also the quieter opportunities: off-market homes, whisper listings, and future listings that sellers prefer to keep out of the public eye during the holidays. In most cases, sellers have full exclusive agreements but temporarily shift the status to “off market.” In others, agents flag a home as a forthcoming listing, giving colleagues within their firm a preview before it officially launches. Sellers seeking privacy—or hoping to avoid a holiday increase in days-on-market—often allow only vetted, qualified buyers to tour through an agent they trust. This is especially common with historic townhouses and larger luxury residences.
3. Negotiation Works Differently in December—Here’s How
Negotiation also takes on a different character in December. While prime-season competition can push a listing into contract within days, the holiday market allows for a more thoughtful pace. Buyers have room to ask deeper questions, review building financials more carefully, and structure offers with intention rather than urgency. Sellers, in turn, often show more flexibility—sometimes through modest price adjustments, more generous closing timelines or a willingness to include fixtures and furnishings. This isn’t universal, but it is meaningfully more common at this time of year. The key is always understanding what motivates the seller and shaping your offer to meet that need. This is where representative expertise and thoughtful strategy truly matter.
4. Why December Is One of the Best Months to Prepare for 2026
If you are well-prepared, December can be especially powerful. Buyers who have their financials in order, their attorney selected, their building preferences defined, and their pre-approval in hand can move more quickly than the average holiday-distracted shopper. Being ready—simply being organized—can create advantages that are harder to capture in the busier months.
Even if you’re not planning to buy until 2026, December is one of the most strategic months to prepare. This is the time to clarify your budget, determine your must-haves, revisit the differences between condos and co-ops, speak with lenders about updated mortgage dynamics, and review upcoming inventory in the buildings you’re targeting. Setting up a January touring plan during these quieter weeks means you begin the new year ahead of buyers who waited until after the holidays to start thinking about the process. And for sellers, these same weeks can be ideal for preparing your home for an early 2026 launch—decluttering, refreshing, photographing, and beginning your pre-marketing work before the new year rush.
Ultimately, the holidays don’t halt the Manhattan real estate market—they simply reshape it. Buyers who stay engaged, even lightly, gain access to less competition, more motivated sellers, and a market rhythm that rewards preparation and attentiveness. Whether your goal is to purchase now or position yourself for the January surge, this season offers a unique opportunity to align your strategy with the quieter, more revealing pace of the final weeks of the year.
FAQ
Q: Is December actually a good time to buy in Manhattan?
Yes—reduced competition and motivated sellers often create conditions that favor buyers, especially in condos and townhouses. Many of the best deals I’ve negotiated happened between Thanksgiving and New Year’s.
Q: Do sellers take holiday offers seriously?
Absolutely. Sellers who remain active in December are typically highly motivated and welcome serious, qualified buyers.
Q: Does inventory dry up completely in December?
No. While new listings slow, overlooked properties, strategic price reductions, and off-market opportunities make December a valuable month to tour.
Written by Julia Boland, a 24+ year NYC Real Estate Advisor specializing in Manhattan condos, co-ops, and new development, with deep expertise in Harlem and Upper Manhattan.
📍 Harlem to Tribeca | ✉️ [email protected] | 🌐 TheBolandTeamNYC.com | #TheBolandTeamNYC
