If you’re an agent, investor, or even just a curious buyer, there’s a short list of market shifts that should be on your radar right now
Ryan Serhant is breaking them down one by one.
In a recent Instagram Reel, Serhant shared five major housing market trends he’s watching closely, from price growth to policy changes, and how they’re shaping opportunities in the second half of 2025.
Here’s what you need to know, with insights directly from Serhant and why they matter now.
1. The Market Is Cooling, But That’s Not a Bad Thing
Home prices aren’t crashing. They’re stabilizing.
Here’s how Serhant put it:
“Home price growth is slowing nationally. We know that. Forecasts show 2.9% growth next year, way down from pandemic peaks… which is a good thing.”
This slower pace is a reset, not a retreat. For agents advising buyers, the window is open. But it won’t stay that way for long.
“If I were you, I’d be advising buyers, ‘This is a window for smart purchases before rates drop and competition heats up again.’”
2. Sellers Are Losing Their Edge
Only 28% of homes are selling above asking right now. That’s the lowest rate since spring 2020.
This shift in leverage means agents need to step up their strategy game. Pricing, presentation, and negotiation aren’t just important. They’re make-or-break.
Serhant’s recommendation:
“If I were you, I’d be doubling down on pricing strategy, negotiation preparation. Presentation matters more than ever, but so does expectation setting.”
He also made a clear distinction in the SERHANT. brand mindset:
“No one works at SERHANT. as a Realtor; they’re all real estate strategists.”
3. Office Conversions in NYC Could Spark Nationwide Opportunity
One of the biggest stories in urban real estate is unfolding in Manhattan.
Serhant explained:
“Manhattan is going to lose 16.5 million square feet of office space by 2025 as it turns into residential.”
That’s not just a New York City story. For agents and investors everywhere, it’s a signal.
Here’s what he suggests:
“If I were you, I’d be scouting these conversions for opportunity. They’ll create brand new product types in the city that are going to attract both buyers and renters who want that hybrid lifestyle. And if you’re outside NYC, look at all the office opportunities you have in your market.”
The hybrid era is here. The buildings we once saw as business hubs are being reimagined as future homes.
4. The Rental Market Is About to Get Tighter and More Expensive
Oversupply is fading, and rents are headed back up.
“Rents are projected to climb, I think, 5-10% a year,” Serhant said. “And here in New York City, even more so now that the FAIR Act just passed.”
The Fairness in Apartment Rental Expenses (FARE) Act, which limits rent increases between leases, was designed to protect tenants. But Serhant believes it will also reshape how landlords approach pricing and upgrades.
“Landlords will likely price in that risk up front. Because obviously. Leading to higher starting rents, less incentives to upgrade properties, and over time, it’s going to shrink inventory. It’s going to discourage development.”
In short: good intentions with unintended consequences. And less affordable housing for everyone.
5. Coastal Markets Are Heating Up Again
Investors are heading back to the beach. As Serhant puts it,
“Investors are piling into beach towns again. And if I were you, I’d be advising clients to get in early—or pivot to the next underpriced waterfront market before the herd drives prices up.”
Lifestyle migration is still in full swing, especially in a post-pandemic world where flexibility remains a top priority. That demand won’t stay isolated to well-known hot spots.
The real opportunity lies in finding the next coastal sleeper before everyone else does.
Bonus: Serhant on HBO—and in Next Week’s BAM BBQ!
Just for fun, Serhant closed the Reel with a cameo mention:
“If you watched the most recent episode of And Just Like That (the Sex and the City spinoff on HBO), Ryan Serhant was played by… me.”
Ryan Serhant will also be playing himself at this summer’s hottest virtual real estate event: BAM BBQ. He’ll be joining two other CEOs, and our BAM co-founders, to turn up the heat on your strategy for Q3 and Q4 and prepare you for record-breaking success.
Sign up today to lock in your spot. Registrants will receive a link to the full replay.
