UltimateCity Guide New York
Our favourites
Apartment buildings on Central Park West

31 of the best · New York City

Property in New York: Brokers, Developers and Buying a Home

Manhattan’s leading brokerages, townhouse specialists, new-development marketers and developers, with our guides to co-ops, condos and buying from overseas. We do not publish prices.

Our 31 favourites, listed A–Z · Updated October 2026

Insiders' picks

Three of our favourites from this list, vetted by people who know and love New York.

  1. A long-established New York brokerage

    Douglas Elliman

    Manhattan·Real estate brokerage

    A large New York brokerage for sales, rentals and new developments across Manhattan and Brooklyn.

    Explore View on map

  2. Headquartered on Madison Avenue

    Corcoran

    Madison Avenue·Real estate brokerage

    The Corcoran Group, with its headquarters at 590 Madison Avenue and offices across the city.

    590 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022Explore View on map

  3. Manhattan’s townhouse specialist

    Leslie J. Garfield

    Park Avenue·Townhouse specialist

    A brokerage specialising in New York City townhouses, at 505 Park Avenue, with a Brooklyn Heights office on Montague Street.

    505 Park Avenue, Suite 303, New York, NY 10022Explore View on map

The full list: Property, A–Z

Neighbourhood

The back story 3

How buying works.

  1. The back story

    Buying in New York from overseas

    Manhattan·In depth

    What overseas buyers should know: condos, financing, attorneys and the tax when you sell. General information, not legal or tax advice.

    Explore View on map

  2. The back story

    Co-op or condo? How buying a home in Manhattan works

    Manhattan·In depth

    The difference between co-ops and condominiums, board approval, attorneys and closing costs in New York City. General information, not legal advice.

    Explore View on map

  3. The back story

    Manhattan’s prime neighbourhoods compared

    Manhattan·In depth

    Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Billionaires’ Row, Tribeca, the West Village, Hudson Yards and DUMBO: how they feel to live in.

    Explore View on map

Leading brokerages 12

Sales and rentals.

  1. Prime Manhattan and Brooklyn

    Brown Harris Stevens

    Manhattan·Real estate brokerage

    A long-established brokerage for prime Manhattan and Brooklyn homes.

    Explore View on map

  2. Formerly Coldwell Banker Warburg

    Christie’s International Real Estate New York

    Madison Avenue·Real estate brokerage

    The Christie’s International Real Estate affiliate in New York, at 654 Madison Avenue (the former Coldwell Banker Warburg website now leads here).

    654 Madison Avenue, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10065Explore View on map

  3. A national brokerage based in New York

    Compass

    Fifth Avenue·Real estate brokerage

    A national brokerage with its New York headquarters at 110 Fifth Avenue.

    110 Fifth Avenue, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10011Explore View on map

  4. Headquartered on Madison Avenue

    Corcoran

    Madison Avenue·Real estate brokerage

    The Corcoran Group, with its headquarters at 590 Madison Avenue and offices across the city.

    590 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022Explore View on map

  5. Boutique brokerage

    CORE

    Madison Avenue·Real estate brokerage

    A boutique brokerage at 232 Madison Avenue, active in Manhattan and Brooklyn new developments.

    232 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016Explore View on map

  6. A long-established New York brokerage

    Douglas Elliman

    Manhattan·Real estate brokerage

    A large New York brokerage for sales, rentals and new developments across Manhattan and Brooklyn.

    Explore View on map

  7. Residential and commercial

    FIND Real Estate

    Midtown·Real estate brokerage

    A brokerage at 5 West 37th Street for residential and commercial property (the Level Group and Spire Group websites now lead here).

    5 West 37th Street, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10018Explore View on map

  8. Formerly Elegran

    Howard Hanna NYC

    Midtown·Real estate brokerage

    Howard Hanna’s New York City brokerage at 1407 Broadway (Elegran’s website now leads here).

    1407 Broadway, 26th Floor, New York, NY 10018Explore View on map

  9. Madison Avenue office

    Keller Williams NYC

    Madison Avenue·Real estate brokerage

    Keller Williams’ New York City office at 360 Madison Avenue.

    360 Madison Avenue, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10017Explore View on map

  10. Sales and rentals

    Nest Seekers International

    Madison Avenue·Real estate brokerage

    A brokerage with its office at 415 Madison Avenue, for Manhattan sales and rentals.

    415 Madison Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10017Explore View on map

  11. Based in SoHo

    SERHANT.

    SoHo·Real estate brokerage

    Ryan Serhant’s brokerage and media company, based at 372 West Broadway in SoHo.

    372 West Broadway, New York, NY 10012Explore View on map

  12. The Sotheby’s network

    Sotheby’s International Realty – New York City

    Manhattan·Real estate brokerage

    Sotheby’s International Realty’s Manhattan brokerages, part of its worldwide network.

    Explore View on map

Specialists & boutiques 3

Townhouses and luxury.

  1. Manhattan’s townhouse specialist

    Leslie J. Garfield

    Park Avenue·Townhouse specialist

    A brokerage specialising in New York City townhouses, at 505 Park Avenue, with a Brooklyn Heights office on Montague Street.

    505 Park Avenue, Suite 303, New York, NY 10022Explore View on map

  2. Manhattan homes

    Living NY

    Manhattan·Boutique brokerage

    A Manhattan brokerage for sales and rentals.

    Explore View on map

  3. Luxury homes, Manhattan and the Hamptons

    The Modlin Group

    Upper East Side·Boutique brokerage

    A boutique brokerage for luxury homes in Manhattan and the Hamptons.

    Explore View on map

International & citywide networks 3

Offices across the city.

  1. Offices across the city

    Bond New York

    Manhattan·Real estate brokerage

    A New York brokerage with offices in Manhattan and the other boroughs.

    Explore View on map

  2. An international network

    Engel & Völkers New York City

    Manhattan·Real estate brokerage

    The New York City shops of the German-founded Engel & Völkers network.

    Explore View on map

  3. Sales and rentals

    Real New York

    Manhattan·Real estate brokerage

    A Manhattan brokerage for sales and rentals.

    Explore View on map

New-development marketing 1

Sales galleries.

  1. Sales galleries for new buildings

    Corcoran Sunshine Marketing Group

    Madison Avenue·New-development marketing

    Corcoran’s new-development marketing company, which runs sales for many of the city’s new buildings.

    590 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022Explore View on map

Resources 2

Listings and the industry body.

  1. The industry body

    REBNY (Real Estate Board of New York)

    Manhattan·Trade association

    The Real Estate Board of New York, the city’s real-estate trade association.

    Explore View on map

  2. Search listings

    StreetEasy

    Online·Listings website

    A listings website for New York City homes for sale and rent.

    Explore View on map

Developers 7

Who builds New York.

  1. Central Park Tower and One57

    Extell Development

    Billionaires’ Row·Developer

    The developer of Central Park Tower and One57 on West 57th Street.

    Explore View on map

  2. 111 West 57th and The Brooklyn Tower

    JDS Development Group

    Billionaires’ Row·Developer

    The developer of 111 West 57th Street and The Brooklyn Tower.

    111 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019Explore View on map

  3. Residential and hotel projects

    Lightstone

    Park Avenue·Developer

    A developer with its office at 299 Park Avenue.

    299 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10171Explore View on map

  4. Manhattan towers

    Macklowe Properties

    Midtown·Developer

    A Manhattan developer and investor (William Macklowe Company).

    Explore View on map

  5. The company that shaped DUMBO

    Two Trees Management

    DUMBO·Developer

    The DUMBO-based developer that turned the neighbourhood’s warehouses into homes, offices and shops.

    45 Main Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201Explore View on map

  6. 220 Central Park South

    Vornado Realty Trust

    Midtown·Developer

    The real-estate trust behind 220 Central Park South.

    888 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019Explore View on map

Mortgage calculator

A rough monthly repayment before you talk to a lender. Everything is worked out in your browser; nothing you type is sent anywhere. Closing costs in New York include transfer taxes and, from $1 million, the mansion tax: see our guide to buying property in New York.

Mortgage calculator

A guide only. It assumes a repayment (capital and interest) mortgage at a fixed rate for the whole term, and leaves out fees, taxes and insurance. Lending terms vary, and non-resident buyers are often offered different ones; ask a lender or mortgage broker for accurate figures.

We list firms for information; we are not paid to include them and we do not give legal, tax or investment advice. Check that agents hold a New York State real estate licence.

Explore more of New York

38 of the best Hotels54 of the best Restaurants20 of the best Cafés & Bakeries33 of the best Bars & Jazz28 of the best Sights49 of the best Museums & Arts8 of the best Parks6 of the best Walks28 of the best Shopping21 of the best Health14 of the best New Developments6 of the best Luxury Cars14 of the best Getting Around

The ULTIMATE letter

New York in your inbox

An occasional email with new places, events and our latest in-depth articles. No spam, ever.