Buying a home is a long game, and the “right time to buy” depends on a variety of personal factors. But for those buyers who are financially and emotionally ready, understanding New York City’s evolving market dynamics and seasonality — in addition to partnering with an experienced buyer’s agent — can help you get a leg up.

Using two decades of NYC real estate expertise and expansive historical data from StreetEasy® on the city’s sales market, we’ve determined the months that buyers are most likely to find the most listings, the most price adjustments, and the most open houses.

Best time for the most listings

The NYC sales market never sleeps, but over the last three years, buyers found the most available listings in May. In general, peak inventory of homes for sale in May follows gradual increases in listings throughout early spring, as sellers begin preparing and listing their homes. 

In 2026, higher inventory levels and declining asking prices in parts of the city will likely give buyers more choices than they’ve seen in recent years. While late spring may be when inventory has historically peaked, the surge in new listings at the end of 2025 suggests buyers who can act in early spring this year are poised to see more tempered competition.

Inventory starts to decline following Memorial Day as New Yorkers leave for summer vacations. However, buyers who miss the spring market can still expect a resurgence in inventory in September and October, albeit smaller than the springtime increase.

Best time to see price adjustments

Historically, price adjustments are most common in May and October, as sellers look to attract new buyers before the spring and fall home-shopping seasons come to a close. For buyers, these price adjustments may mean more homes coming within reach. Over the last three years, 12.5% of homes on the market in May reduced asking prices. The second highest month was October, with 12.4% homes reducing prices on average.

However, the exact timing of the peak could change. In 2025, 12.7% of homes on the market in June lowered asking prices, higher than 12.4% in May of that year. Moreover, shifting mortgage rates could change market conditions, and buyers shouldn’t count on end-of-season “discounts.” It’s important to explore different options throughout the season to find the right opportunity, and work with an experienced buyer’s agent with strong negotiation skills who can advocate on your behalf and help you identify a good deal.

Best time to attend the most open houses

To truly get a feel for a home, nothing beats seeing it in person — especially in NYC, where property types, views, and noise levels can vary dramatically not just block by block, but building by building. Buyers can find the most open houses across NYC in June, followed by October. Over the last three years, an average of 40,000 open houses were scheduled in June across the city, making early summer the ideal time to visit as many homes as possible. After that, the number of open houses tends to decline through August, but after Labor Day, a second peak typically occurs in October.

As buyers often visit multiple open houses in one afternoon, shopping for a home during these months can allow buyers to explore neighborhoods, compare buildings, size up different layouts, and — most importantly — assess their offer strategy. A well-attended open house could signal high demand, providing a basis for a buyer and their agent to come up with a strong offer.

So what is the best time to buy?

Ultimately, the best time to buy a home in NYC, or anywhere, comes down to when you’re financially ready. Buyers need to consider their current personal financial situation and what their life could look like over the next five to ten years. But for those who are ready, this year could be a good time to join the market following the surge in new listings and moderating mortgage rates. In select NYC neighborhoods, the balance is more clearly tipping toward buyers due to rising inventory and declining asking prices.

However, rising inventory does not necessarily mean an easier market. As lower mortgage rates bring additional buyers into the market, the NYC sales market is poised to be busier this year, with homes selling even faster than in recent history. Meanwhile, despite the expected modest decline in mortgage rates this year, rates will likely remain high, constraining buyers’ budgets. In a challenging market, working with the right agent is essential. Having an understanding of market dynamics and seasonality, and partnering with a skilled and experienced agent, can help buyers find and win their dream home.

StreetEasy is an assumed name of Zillow, Inc. which has a real estate brokerage license in all 50 states and D.C. See real estate licenses. StreetEasy does not intend to interfere with any agency agreement you may have with a real estate professional or solicit your business if you are already under contract to purchase or sell property. All data for uncited sources in this presentation has been sourced from Zillow data. Copyright © 2026 by Zillow, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.

The content in this presentation is informational only and not intended to be legal or professional advice. Nothing contained herein is intended to be a guarantee, representation, or warranty of any kind.