Is the Holiday Season the Best Time to Buy in NYC?
Not for the deepest discounts, but it can be the best time for less competition. New research from Redfin shows holiday buyers get the biggest discounts of the year in seven U.S. metros, including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach. In the New York metro, discounts typically peak in mid-August instead. Over the holidays, NYC buyers trade fewer fresh listings for fewer rivals and more motivated sellers.
- Metros where holiday deals peak7
- Best deals in the New York metroMid Aug
- Best deals in Miami and Palm BeachMid Dec
- Manhattan sales that took 180+ days28%
01
Where are holiday home deals the biggest?
In seven metros, mostly in Florida and the upper Midwest. Redfin found discounts peak in early November in Milwaukee, Riverside, California, and Tampa, and in mid-December in Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Miami and West Palm Beach. Nationally, discounts usually peak in early fall.
The reasons are local. In South Florida, hurricane season keeps buyers away into the fall, snowbirds don't arrive until after New Year's, and luxury homes often sell below asking late in the year. In Milwaukee and Detroit, the short northern selling season pushes the slowdown later. For New Yorkers shopping for a winter home in Palm Beach or Miami, this is the window.
02
When do New York buyers get the best deals?
Mid-August. In the New York metro, the most new listings hit the market in mid-May, the most fresh inventory is available in early June, and the biggest discounts come in mid-August. Nassau County and Newark follow a similar calendar, while New Brunswick's best deals come later, in early October.
Source: Redfin, October 2026. "Best deals" is the week buyers' discounts from the original list price peak for the year.
03
How much negotiating room is there in NYC right now?
Less than the national headlines suggest, but more than you might think for homes that have been sitting. Nationally, sellers outnumber buyers by 63%, and 43.1% of listings have taken a price cut, according to Redfin and Compass research. In Manhattan, supply is still shrinking, and the average discount from list price was 6% in Q3 2026, per the Compass Manhattan Market Report. The real opening is time on market: 28% of Manhattan homes sold in Q3 took 180 days or more.
U.S. | New York | |
|---|---|---|
When discounts peak | Early fall | Mid-August |
Market balance | 63% more sellers than buyers | Manhattan listings down 10.9% |
Price cuts or discounts | 43.1% of listings cut | 6% average Manhattan discount |
Slow sellers | – | 28% of Manhattan sales took 180+ days |
Sources: Redfin (October 2026), Compass research (October 2026) and Compass Manhattan Market Report, Q3 2026.
04
Should you buy or sell in NYC over the holidays?
If you're ready, yes. Don't buy just because of the calendar; the end of the year offers real advantages for both buyers and sellers.
If you're buying
- Target homes that have sat since spring or summer. Those sellers are often eager to close before the new year.
- Expect less competition from other buyers, which gives you more time to decide and more room to negotiate.
- Shopping for a Florida winter home? Mid-December is when Miami and Palm Beach discounts peak.
If you're selling
- People who shop over the holidays usually have a real reason to move, like a new job or a lease ending.
- You'll compete with fewer listings than in May, when new inventory peaks.
- If you'd rather wait, plan to list early in the spring, before the mid-May wave of new listings.
Frequently asked questions
Is the holiday season a good time to buy a house?
In some markets it's the best time of year. Redfin found that buyers get the biggest discounts in early November in Milwaukee, Riverside and Tampa, and in mid-December in Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, Miami and West Palm Beach. In most of the country, discounts peak earlier, in early fall.
When is the best time to get a deal on a home in New York City?
In the New York metro, discounts typically peak in mid-August, according to Redfin's analysis. New listings peak in mid-May and the most fresh inventory hits the market in early June.
Is it smart to buy a home in NYC in November or December?
It can be. You'll see fewer new listings, but you'll also face fewer competing buyers, and sellers whose homes have been on the market for months are often more willing to negotiate. In Manhattan, 28% of homes sold in Q3 2026 took 180 days or more to sell.
Is it a buyer's market right now?
Nationally, yes. Sellers outnumber buyers by 63%, the biggest gap in Redfin's records going back to 2013. New York City is tighter: Manhattan active listings were down 10.9% from a year earlier in Q3 2026, according to Compass.
When is the best time to buy a home in Florida?
Mid-December in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach, and early November in Tampa, according to Redfin. Prices soften before snowbird buyers arrive after the new year, which matters if you're a New Yorker shopping for a second home.
Should I list my NYC home over the holidays or wait until spring?
It depends on your home and your timeline. Spring brings the most buyers, but also the most competing listings, peaking in mid-May. People shopping over the holidays usually have a real reason to move. Contact Darrell Williams for a pricing and timing plan for your home.
Thinking about buying or selling before the new year? Contact Darrell Williams for a private consultation, or view my Compass profile and listings.
