By Michael Herzenberg Manhattan SHARE NEW YORK — A new Douglas Elliman Real Estate report shows the number of signed sales contracts doubled for apartment sales in Manhattan and Brooklyn in January when compared to January 2020. What You Need To Know Pent up demand, low mortgage rates and sellers willing to take less for their property led to a sharp increase in sales activity Newly signed co-op contracts in Manhattan increased by 167% from January 2020 to January 2021 Newly signed co-op contracts in Brooklyn increased by 156% from January 2020 to January 2021 Jonathan Miller of Miller Samuel Real Estate Appraisers says prices will continue to "be soft" until the vaccine has been widely distributed