The Riolo Properties Team at Compass has released its monthly report on the property market in District 13 and District 15—your inside look at how Brooklyn real estate is moving this month!
Pictured above: 320 Hicks Street, Unit 3
July 2026 Market Snapshot: So Much for the Summer Slowdown
July is traditionally when New York real estate takes a breath. Buyers travel, sellers wait for fall, and activity tends to slow with the temperature rising. This year, Brooklyn had other plans. This July we celebrated the 250th year of our great nation, and the market set off fireworks with the strongest contract and closing activity we have seen in the past 12 months.
In District 13, active inventory fell to just 41 listings from 77 in June, while contracts signed surged to 89 from 48. Closings also climbed to 85 from 73. To put that into perspective, contracts nearly doubled in one month while available inventory was cut almost in half. There is no way to dress that up: District 13 has a serious inventory problem, and buyers are feeling the frustration of very few options on the market with many properties trading before they even make it on StreetEasy. For sellers, there is a compelling window of opportunity and a trap. A property that is priced correctly and presented well is entering a market with far fewer than ever neighbors to compete with. But where to go! With little inventory out there to trade into, sellers can be locked up without options to pick from for their next home. For buyers, preparation matters, and get your team in place. The best properties are unlikely to sit around, if they even make it to the market to begin with. You have to get all your ducks in a row before you are ready to make a move, and it’s best to monitor the market a bit before actually dipping your toe in. We have the largest network nationwide of pre-market inventory as well as the relationships to unlock inventory before it gets to the market.
District 15 told an equally strong story. Active listings declined to 86 from 100 in June, but contracts signed jumped to 95 from 55. Closings rose even more dramatically, reaching 110 compared to 59 the month before. Buyers did not wait for the fall market to begin; they made their moves in July. What is remarkable is not simply the volume, but the conviction behind it. Buyers have had plenty of reasons to hesitate, yet the numbers show that the need to move continues to outweigh the desire to wait. When the right property becomes available, people are acting quickly and decisively. July’s results also challenge the assumption that sellers should automatically hold off until September. In a market with limited competition and this much buyer activity, a summer listing may receive more attention than one launched into a crowded fall market. There is no universally perfect time to sell, but this month’s data makes a strong case for evaluating the opportunity in front of you rather than following the calendar.
The takeaway is clear: this is not a market winding down for the summer. It is a market where demand is moving faster than supply, and where timing, pricing, and preparation can materially affect the outcome. August will be very telling: whether the market takes a breath before the start of the school year or keeps running away.
As always, we are here to help the Brooklyn Bridge Parents community understand what these numbers mean for their own plans, whether you are considering a late-summer sale, trying to buy before the fall rush, or simply evaluating your next move.
July Property Spotlight
A charming Brooklyn Heights co-op featuring a full-floor townhouse layout, a working fireplace, and an in-unit washer and dryer.
Reach out for details about this listing: 320 Hicks Street, Unit 3
An elegant Art Deco co-op located on a famed Brooklyn Heights cul-de-sac, featuring classic period details, nine-foot ceilings, and oblique river views.
Reach out for details about this listing: 2 Grace Ct, Unit 4N
District 13 residential listings & sales last 12 months
District 15 residential listings & sales last 12 months
Peter and the Riolo Property Team at Compass will be back next month with their real estate update! Their team is here to provide more detailed reports or collections of properties. Access to all listings is free; you just need an account with Compass.
Main Image: 320 Hicks Street, Unit 3
