New York City real estate today looks vastly different from 20 years ago. Consumer behavior, technology, regulation, volatility — every disruption has presented new challenges and opportunities for agents. Through it all, StreetEasy has grown and adapted alongside agents and brokers for a stronger, more accessible NYC market.
Join us as we reflect on two decades of change and all we’ve accomplished together.
Empowering agents with new technology
As technology evolves, so does the way agents work, from best business practices to lead generation and client experience. Mobile, in particular, has transformed how NYC consumers find homes, list properties, and connect with agents. Today, first-time buyers show a stronger preference for communicating with agents via text message (42%) than repeat buyers (27%).
StreetEasy has continuously built tools to evolve alongside these changes, including StreetEasy InboxSM (currently only available to StreetEasy Experts), which allows agents to keep their client communications in one place — directly on the StreetEasy platform.
What started as a hub to centralize fragmented NYC listings has since expanded into a multi-purpose platform that empowers agents to connect with clients outside of their direct network and market themselves more effectively.
Stronger data, more autonomy
Throughout the years, our goal has been to strengthen the quality and accessibility of NYC real estate data while giving agents greater control over their listings and presence on the platform.
StreetEasy’s clean, authoritative listing database and expanded property details — including zoning updates and building-level insights — give agents more reliable information than ever.
“StreetEasy continues to have so much inventory and such accurate information online,” says StreetEasy Expert and Agent Advisory Board member Nikolay Afansayev, who is the founder and managing partner of CITY SPHERE. “So instead of having to open 10, 20 tabs, why not do all of it inside StreetEasy?”
Innovating with agent feedback for greater impact
Every new feature or solution is built with agent input in mind — all to help you work smarter, not harder.
From the StreetEasy Agent Tools app to features such as ShowingTime and 3D tours, agents can manage their listings, schedule tours, and serve clients more efficiently, wherever they are.
Our advertising solutions — including the Experts program, Rental Boost, Building Showcase, and Agent Advantage — offer even more ways to expand visibility and grow your business across NYC’s largest real estate audience.*
Navigating industry challenges
The last 20 years have seen significant shifts in the market, from a global pandemic to stricter real estate regulations. Whenever agents have been forced to rethink their business strategies, StreetEasy has worked alongside them to figure out next steps.
Here are some of the top industry challenges in recent years and how StreetEasy has responded.
COVID-19
When the pandemic slowed the market and lockdowns kept people at home, StreetEasy worked with agents to provide clarity and solutions. As a result, agents could meet clients where they were — even when showing homes in person wasn’t an option.
This included:
- Transparency and education surrounding concessions
- Free 3D tours for quarantined buyers
- The Experts program, where agents can connect with motivated sellers
“StreetEasy was instrumental in ensuring that brokers could post 3D tours, video tours, walkthroughs for the folks who were stuck at home, browsing listings, and that enabled us as brokers to continue our business,” says Sarah Silva, a broker at Brown Harris Stevens and StreetEasy Expert, as well as a member of StreetEasy’s Agent Advisory Board.
FARE Act
While the FARE Act helped renters lower upfront costs and avoid hidden broker fees, it also provided agents with an opportunity to rethink how they work with landlords and renters.
To enhance rental market transparency, StreetEasy rolled out the Costs & Fees tool, which enables agents to enter and manage detailed fee breakdowns for their listings.
NAR settlement
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) settlement in 2024 changed the way agents interact with buyers, such as requiring potential clients to sign an agreement before a home tour.
“What we really appreciated was that StreetEasy came out with a very concise, one-page [touring] agreement,” says Afansayev. “It was very easy and straightforward to read. When we’re trying to build relationships with clients, giving them five, six, ten pages of paperwork can definitely scare somebody away.”
StreetEasy also created informational resources for buyers and sellers regarding the new regulations. This gave brokers another source to point to when educating clients.
Weathering change through collaboration
StreetEasy’s responses to shifts in the industry stem directly from our proactive partnership with agents.
Our Agent Advisory Board (AAB) regularly discusses what they’re seeing, hearing, and predicting in the market, allowing StreetEasy to anticipate changes and build solutions that help agents adapt with confidence.
Investing in partnerships, not just products
As StreetEasy invests in agents, their businesses grow — and we’ve grown with them.
Direct communication
When agents talk, StreetEasy listens. From early phone lines to current 24/7 support teams, we’re continually evolving how we collect feedback from partners.
Whether through inquiries or the Agent Advisory Board, agent input goes to leadership, who then make decisions on how to move forward. This process gives agents a hand in shaping our ad products and feature updates.
“I love being part of the growth of the platform,” says Alyse Kenny, a StreetEasy Expert, AAB member, and agent at SERHANT. “To be able to contribute to enhancing the features is really something that’s invaluable.”
Agent knowledge and success
At StreetEasy, agent success and platform growth are inseparable stories. That’s why we offer not only tools but also insights and opportunities to connect.
Whether we’re sharing best practices and market updates on our Industry Hub, hosting Experts Summits or agent conferences, or educating the public with our “Never DIY the Buy” campaign, StreetEasy is dedicated to investing in agents and furthering the conversation.
Let’s move forward together
Over the last 20 years, StreetEasy’s partnership with agents has strengthened the New York City market, built a real, lasting community, and fueled solo agents and teams alike to achieve new levels of success.
“I believe it’s a combination between the platform, StreetEasy, growing with us and also our agents becoming more experienced,” says Afansyev. “It allows for incredible growth, and it becomes a win-win situation for all of us.”
Here’s to another 20 years of StreetEasy and NYC agents growing the way we always have — together.
StreetEasy Skylines is where that conversation continues. Join us on June 2.
*Comscore Media Metrix ®, All Platforms, Key Measures (Comscore Market), Total Unique Visitors, 3-month average, Jan-Mar 2025, New York, NY, U.S. Results indicate combined performance for StreetEasy and Zillow.