On June 2, hundreds of NYC real estate agents gathered for our StreetEasy® Skylines event. Attendees walked away with practical insights from top-performing agent peers, real examples of what’s working in today’s market, and tactical ideas they can implement in their businesses right away.
While we can’t replicate the full value of the all-day event here in this article, we can offer a recap of agents’ top takeaways based on their feedback on the sessions and community-building opportunities. Read on to learn the key trends shaping successful agents’ businesses in NYC.
1. Market clarity is a business advantage
Any buyer or seller expects an agent to tell them it’s a great time to enter the market. But they’re far more likely to actually believe it if you have data to back it up.
This is where market data is key. In Skylines’ NYC-focused session on market clarity, StreetEasy Senior Economist Kenny Lee explained that spring 2026 was stronger than agents may realize — with an 8.5% increase in homes entering contract compared to last year.
Not to mention, some neighborhoods are seeing inventory rise and median asking prices fall. This gives agents concrete evidence to offer clients who feel priced out of the broader NYC market.
That said, Lee expects buyers to become more selective throughout the year, with well-priced homes selling faster and overpriced homes sitting on the market longer. “That means marketing strategies that can convert eyeballs into connections will be even more essential,” Lee adds.
Staying up-to-date on local market insights like these gives agents an edge, whether they’re advising clients, nurturing leads, or marketing listings.
2. Consumer expectations are shifting (again)
How NYC buyers find, compare, and evaluate agents is constantly evolving, impacting how agents market themselves.
Most notably, earning repeat buyer clients in NYC can be challenging. A StreetEasy survey found that only 31% of recent NYC buyers said they would definitely use their agent again, meaning trust and transparency are essential to building repeat business.
Establishing this level of trust comes in two stages:
- How you capture attention: Reviews, referrals, years of experience, and the platforms you advertise on.
- How you nurture leads: Your communication style, market knowledge, and ability to explain the buying process.
Buyers who value transparency already use it as part of their criteria when choosing an agent. You can meet this expectation by clearly disclosing your fee structure and providing full visibility of the available listings buyers want to see.
For seller agents, strategies for marketing listings have also shifted. Listing photography is now the single most important element, with emphasis on character-rich details like exposed beams, brick walls, and arched doorways driving up to 20% more saves and views per day on Zillow.
3. Systems are a top driver of lead conversions
The age of building a successful real estate business in NYC based on charisma alone is long gone. Today, turning leads into clients consistently depends on systems, not personality or luck.
Top agents at Skylines reported the best results with speed to lead and consistent follow-up. More specifically, they recommended responding to leads within five minutes (or under two minutes for maximum impact) with at least one piece of added value, such as a building insight or neighborhood data point.
Also important to keep in mind: lead-nurturing is a long game with high potential rewards. One agent panelist stayed in touch with a couple for over two years, and ultimately closed a deal that was twice the price of the client’s original request.
Automations and CRM workflows, like Follow Up Boss Smart Lists, can help take the mental work and time out of routine lead-nurturing tasks. Adopting AI workflows and new technologies early gives you a competitive advantage, setting you ahead of the learning curve with tools that will soon become pivotal to lead pipelines.
4. Building a brand is no longer optional
Today, it’s your personal brand that wins clients over, not that of your brokerage. To start, ensure you understand your motivation, what you’re known for, and what type of content feels natural to you. This is crucial to making your brand more authentic — because clients can tell when it’s not.
Social media is now a prominent avenue for brand awareness, and it’s where 13% of NYC buyers find their agents, according to StreetEasy’s survey.
Top agents recommend prioritizing consistency on social media rather than perfection. This builds trust with your network long before they need you.
Lastly, bolstering your message with value doesn’t have to be expensive. For example, StreetEasy’s complimentary market reports and Data Dashboard provide hyper-local data that you can package into digestible social posts. Free AI programs can also help you generate social posts and optimize your online presence for GEO (generative engine optimization).
5. Community matters more than ever
When it comes to real estate, “location, location, location” also applies to the community you surround yourself with. Connecting with like-minded agents, brokerage leaders, and other industry experts can do far more for your business than any tool or program ever could.
This belief was the driving force behind StreetEasy Skylines. At every point in the day, agents built relationships with each other and learned from one another’s wins — whether during agent panels, in between sessions, or at the reception afterward.
Agents also connected with StreetEasy and Zillow teams directly in Sky Studio, Skylines’ dedicated tech hub. There, they asked questions, experimented with programs and tools, and learned new ways to improve the technical aspects of their marketing.
In a place like NYC, where real estate moves fast and competition is high, no one succeeds in isolation. All agents need a space to compare notes and sharpen their strategies.
Building a stronger market together
Skylines reinforced StreetEasy’s longstanding commitment to championing NYC agents and building a better, more accessible market together. We look forward to continuing to show up for the agent community in this great city of ours.
Did you miss the Skylines conference? Check out more photos from the event.
