Manhattan sees highest number of luxury contracts signed since early March

Activity bubbling in Manhattan after months of poor sales

565 Broome Street and 35 North Moore Street (Photos via 565BroomeSoHo and Google Maps)
565 Broome Street and 35 North Moore Street (Photos via 565BroomeSoHo and Google Maps)

Manhattan’s luxury market has seen a lot of grim milestones in the past six months: deals at one point fell to the lowest levels since 2009; hoards of wealthy residents decamped to the suburbs; and ambitious asking prices were chopped in half.

But now, as activity and interest slowly returns, the market has recorded a milestone it can celebrate: The number of contracts signed last week for properties whose asking price is over $4 million — 21 — was the highest recorded since early March. It was also three more than the same time period last year.

Donna Olshan, who documents luxury deals in a weekly market report, said that while the total was strong, it remains difficult to stitch together a narrative about the state of the market because the pandemic has thrown deal volume, data and seasonal buying patterns out of whack.

“All we can do is enjoy the week and hope that it’s a trend and not a one-week wonder,” she said

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The most expensive contract signed last week was for a duplex penthouse at 565 Broome Street, last asking $30 million. The 4,430-square-foot home has four bedrooms, four bathrooms and a 20-foot heated pool.

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Listing broker Andrew Anderson, of Douglas Elliman’s Anderson-Ehrmann team, told Olshan the buyer viewed the property only once.

“I was working on another deal for this apartment for a month and a half, and then a new buyer came in,” he said. “It took a couple of weeks to negotiate with the new buyer but it was all pretty smooth.”

The second largest deal was a duplex penthouse at 35 North Moore Street, owned by retired Brooklyn Nets star Deron Williams. The 7,200-square-foot property has been on and off the market for years; Williams bought it for $15.8 million in 2013, and originally listed for $33.5 million in 2015. It went into contract with a final asking price of $20 million.

Douglas Elliman broker Andrew Azoulay, who represented Williams, told Olshan the buyers were a family.

“They got two parking spots, which they really wanted,” he said. “They also bought what everyone is looking for — big space and big outdoor space.”