Luxury Condos Saturating New York City's Housing Market

The housing market in NYC has seen a 98.5 percent increase in luxury condo construction since last year. Market experts are concerned there is not enough demand to meet supply, causing developers to build upper to middle-income housing instead.

1 minute read

October 4, 2014, 5:00 AM PDT

By Maayan Dembo @DJ_Mayjahn


As Julie Satow reports for The New York Times, the number of listed luxury apartments for sale in Manhattan during the past year has doubled (up from 742 units to 1,473 units). These luxury apartments are priced at the top 10 percent of the market, with listings for $3.25 million or higher. The saturated luxury condo market does not have enough interested buyers willing to pay for these expensive purchases.

As a result, writes Satow, "of this growing supply at the top end of the market, developers are packing up their tools and pulling out, while some others are reconfiguring their projects to focus on smaller units with lower prices. If the trend holds, the supply of condos coming to market in two to three years will look very different from what is for sale now — with many fewer apartments priced at $10 million and up."

Developer Stuart N. Siegel of Engel & Völkers New York Real Estate also echoed that the market is in the beginning of a transitional state. According to him, we are currently moving from unfettered pricing, and can expect a healthier marketplace in the future with greater discipline in pricing and valuation.

Friday, October 3, 2014 in New York Times

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Historic homes in St. Augustine, Florida.

Florida Considers Legalizing ADUs

Current state law allows — but doesn’t require — cities to permit accessory dwelling units in single-family residential neighborhoods.

March 18, 2025 - Newsweek

Aerial view of suburban housing near Las Vegas, Nevada.

HUD Announces Plan to Build Housing on Public Lands

The agency will identify federally owned parcels appropriate for housing development and streamline the regulatory process to lease or transfer land to housing authorities and nonprofit developers.

March 17, 2025 - The Wall Street Journal

Close-up of traffic congestion from behind cars on a freeway in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Conservatives’ Decongestion Pricing Flip-Flop

When it comes to solving traffic problems, the current federal administration is on track for failure, waste, and hypocrisy.

March 17, 2025 - Todd Litman

Lava visible in crater with steam coming out in Hawaii.

Can Geothermal Energy Fuel Hawaiʻi’s Future?

Gavin Murphy, a New Zealand-based consultant with experience in indigenous-led geothermal projects, argues that Hawaiʻi is poised to achieve energy independence and economic growth by respectfully developing its untapped geothermal resources.

March 24 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Purple, orange, and yellow wildflowers in a field in California.

Climate Gardening: Cultivating Resilient Landscapes in Los Angeles

TreePeople’s 4th Annual Urban Soil Symposium explored how climate gardening, soil health, and collaborative land management strategies can enhance urban resilience in the face of climate change.

March 24 - TreePeople

Close-up on charging port for electric cars.

Electric Surge: EV Chargers Outnumber Gas Nozzles in California

California now has 48% more electric vehicle chargers than gasoline nozzles, reflecting its rapid shift toward clean transportation and aggressive zero-emission goals despite federal pushback.

March 24 - Inside EVs