At Kogos Chronicles, we see Manhattan quietly doing what it always does after disruption: recalibrating. COVID violently swung the pendulum, creating the 2021 frenzy and the post–Spring 2022 hangover. Today feels different. More grounded. More rational. Beneath the political noise and national headlines, New York City is laying the foundation for what could have been the start of a new ten-year cycle—delayed, not denied. There is real, measurable pent-up demand, especially in the under-$1M to $1.7M range, where buyers paused when rates spiked and are now leaning back in.
We’re also watching a behavioral shift. Renters are running the math again after Fair Act–driven rent increases of 11–16%, and many are asking the inevitable question: why am I not owning? Add in upcoming Wall Street bonuses and slightly more cooperative rates, and the under-$1M to $2M category is poised for a meaningful uptick. Luxury never truly slowed—recent weeks showed dozens of signed contracts—but now the non-luxury segments are starting to reawaken. In this environment, pricing is not a suggestion. It is the strategy.
Whether you’re selling or buying, the past year has proven one truth: price correctly or prepare to wait. The era of “let’s try a number” is over unless you have a true unicorn. Cosmetic tactics like resetting days on market don’t fool today’s buyers. They are too informed. At Kogos Chronicles, our philosophy is simple—list at market value or slightly under to drive attention, competition, and momentum. For buyers, preparation is power. Ready, willing, and able wins in every cycle.
Spring feels active. Not loud. Not frenzied. But intentional. If a building has multiple similar units, buyers should use that leverage. If you love a neighborhood, know it deeply. I’ve lived in Chelsea for two decades—I jokingly call myself the mayor of 10th Avenue—and hyper-local knowledge always beats national noise. Private exclusives, reset rules, and shifting platforms may complicate transparency, but they don’t change fundamentals. New York rewards those who stay focused, stay informed, and move with purpose. And that, quietly, is exactly what’s happening now.
History isn't behind us, we live in it every day.
