The Election is Over. Should You Buy, Sell or Wait?

Nov 7, 2026 · @Ralph

The midterms are over, and one question I'm hearing is: "So what does this mean for my apartment?"

Here's the honest answer. The housing market didn't change overnight. Congress doesn't set mortgage rates; the Federal Reserve and the bond market do. And Congress definitely doesn't set prices in Williamsburg or Greenpoint. Buyers and sellers on our blocks do that, one deal at a time.

So the right move isn't about who won. It's about your life, your money, and your timeline. Here's how I'd think it through.

If you're thinking about buying:

Buy now if...

• You plan to stay five years or more. That's enough runway to ride out a dip if prices soften.
• You found the right home and the payment works today. Don't buy a rate forecast. Buy a monthly payment you can live with.
• You want leverage. Sellers are negotiating right now. Across our neighborhoods, buyers are closing at about 4%* below asking.
• You can refinance later. If rates fall, you can refinance. You can't go back and renegotiate the price.

Wait if...

• Your job or income feels shaky. Stability first, square footage second. Never stretch yourself.
• You'd be stretching to make the payment. A home that keeps you up at night isn't a win. 
• You might move in 2-3 years. Closing costs on both ends can wipe out any gain.
• You're buying out of fear. Fear of missing out is not a strategy. Neither is fear of a crash. Say no to FOMO.

If you're thinking about selling:

Sell now if...

• You're willing to price it right on day one. Overpriced listings in our area are sitting 90* days. Well-priced ones still move.
• You need the equity for your next chapter. Downsizing/upsizing, relocating, or buying your next place shouldn't wait on a headline (but price it correctly).  This is not a market to push the price.
• New competition is coming. If new condos or similar listings are about to hit your block or building, getting ahead of them could matter.

Hold off if...

• You have a low-rate mortgage and no reason to move. That rate is an asset. Don't trade it away without a plan!
• You'd need a big price cut just to sell this season. Winter buyers are serious, but there are fewer of them.
• Spring is your realistic window. If you have a back yard or terrace that shows better in the Spring, then wait. Use the next few months to prep, stage, and fix what buyers will notice.

What I'm watching in Williamsburg and Greenpoint

These three numbers tell me where our market is really headed:

• Price cuts per listing: The two neighborhoods are moving in opposite directions. In Greenpoint, 41% of sellers who signed a contract in the last 90 days cut their price at least once (10 of 24 deals), and the median total cut was 8.2%, or $190,000. That's 26.2% deeper than a year ago. In Williamsburg, only 29% cut (16 of 54 deals), and the median cut was 5.1%, or $52,500. That's 12.1% smaller than a year ago. (Source: UrbanDigs, contracts signed in the last 90 days.)
• Days on market: Homes are taking longer to sell in both neighborhoods. The median listing in Williamsburg has been on the market 77 days, up 6.9% from a year ago and 10% from last month. In Greenpoint it's 67 days, up 45.7% from a year ago, though it improved 10.7% from last month.
• Contracts signed vs. last year: Williamsburg buyers signed 21 contracts in October, up 40% from a year ago. Greenpoint buyers signed 11, down 15.4%. Both neighborhoods picked up about 22% from September, so fall demand is waking up. But Greenpoint is still running behind last year, while Williamsburg is well ahead. (Source: UrbanDigs, October 2026.)

If price cuts keep rising and contracts keep slowing, buyers gain more leverage into spring. If contracts pick up, the window for a bargain closes fast.

The bottom line

Timing the market rarely works. Matching the move to your life usually does.

Elections come every two years. Your home is a decision you'll live with for a lot longer. Make it based on your numbers.

Want to see what this means for your specific apartment or building? Let's talk. I'll pull the real numbers, and I'll tell you straight, even if the answer is "wait."

Ralph Modica, Modica Geloso Team at Compass