In a market as nuanced and unpredictable as New York City, understanding the real estate landscape requires more than just data. It demands context, conversation, and real-time experience. Because while numbers tell part of the story, they don’t tell the whole one.

That’s where anecdotal evidence comes in.

What the Data Shows and What It Doesn’t

Each week, I publish a real-time data recap across Manhattan. One recent report showed that the week of June 9th was one of the most active and productive weeks in the past year. That should have been great news for everyone; yet several of my clients, particularly condo sellers, were simultaneously facing challenges. In some cases, they were navigating potential losses from purchases made a decade ago.

The disconnect? It’s not that the data was wrong, it’s that it didn’t capture their segment of the market. This is why I constantly ask: What’s the “why” behind the “what”?

Anecdotal Evidence: The Missing Layer

Averages and metrics are critical, but they can’t account for hyper-local nuances or emotional shifts in buyer behavior. Anecdotal evidence helps fill those gaps: the candid agent emails, the open houses with zero traffic, the buyer who suddenly walks after weeks of negotiation. These real-world experiences offer a window into what’s actually happening right now.

For example, just last week:

• I hosted a broker open house and not a single person showed up.
• We launched a new listing email for a two-bedroom near Lincoln Center. A veteran agent responded, unsolicited: “Good luck, that market is dead.”
• Another agent replied to our weekly open house roundup with, “Nice! But showings are on life support.”
• A buyer’s agent whose deal fell through closed the conversation with, “It’s insane. Just insane.”
  

These moments, while unquantifiable, are very real. And they matter.

Acknowledging the Disconnect

I was encouraged to see Jonathan Miller, one of the city’s most respected appraisers, validate this reality. In his June 6th Housing Notes, he wrote, “The plural of anecdotal is not data, but with massive uncertainty, it’s all we’ve got.” He emphasized how, in a lagging market like NYC—where data often trails by 90-120 days—anecdotal feedback is one of our most reliable near-term indicators.

This hit home for me. Like Miller, I believe context is everything. Anecdotal evidence isn’t a substitute for data, it’s a vital complement. And when clients trust me enough to hear both sides of the story, they’re far better equipped to navigate the market.

Real-Time Market Intelligence

Behind the scenes, I’m constantly exchanging insights with lenders, attorneys, and fellow agents. What we’re seeing:

• Affluent buyers are still transacting, but with heightened scrutiny.
• Value-driven and necessity-based purchases are leading.
• “Vibe”–urgency, optimism, and sentiment–is influencing decisions more than ever.
  

These signals don’t show up in spreadsheets, but they shape outcomes every day.

Building Confidence in Chaos

I’ve always believed that trust and transparency are the foundation of successful real estate. In times of uncertainty, that matters more than ever. Clients don’t just need stats, they need insight. They need a partner who will connect the dots, share the real story, and lead them forward with confidence.

That’s the work I love most; being both the strategist and the storyteller, helping my clients see the full picture.

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