The price jumps and shrinking inventory suggest the Manhattan real estate rebound continues to gain momentum, as more families look to trade up to larger apartments and buyers look to take advantage of lower prices and low mortgage rates.
"It's a sign of the frenzy and intensity of the market," said Jonathan Miller, CEO of real estate appraisal firm Miller Samuel. "It's rebounding much faster than most participants expected."
There were 3,417 sales in the second quarter — a 150% gain from last year, when many New York residents were leaving the city during the coronavirus pandemic, and Covid restrictions prevented apartments from being shown for much of the quarter. However, the pace was also robust compared with pre-pandemic levels. It was the strongest second quarter since 2007, according to Miller Samuel. Bidding wars were at the highest pace in 2½ years.