Opportunity Meets Preparation: What It Actually Takes to Buy in NYC Right Now

In December, I closed a deal for a young couple in Brooklyn.

First-time homebuyers
Tech jobs
Clear budget
They knew their numbers cold

But here’s what made this work…

Before we ever looked at a single apartment, we spent months - Zoom calls, emails, texts back and forth.
And we weren’t talking about granite countertops or which neighborhoods were “hot.”

We talked strategy.

I connected them with referrals for lawyers and bankers, but I didn’t just hand over names.
I coached them on what questions to ask.

I wanted them walking into those conversations as informed buyers.

Then we toured properties.

They sent me listings.
I sent them listings.
And we walked through the options together.

With their budget, every decision mattered.
My job was to help them make the right one.

We found the perfect place, and I negotiated hard in a tight Brooklyn market.

And here’s the thing…

They closed in December, when most buyers were sitting on the sidelines waiting for “the right time.”

Yes, interest rates might be slightly higher than they may be in a few months.
But they understood the trade-off:

Less competition
More negotiating power
Getting ahead of the spring rush (when Brooklyn goes crazy)

When they closed, they told me how seamless the process felt.

I said:
“That’s what happens when opportunity meets preparation.”

Because here’s what I know after nearly two decades in NYC real estate…

The right time isn’t about market conditions.
It’s about being READY when your moment comes.

That means:

Understanding your actual budget
Building relationships with the right professionals before you need them
Knowing how to read the market’s rhythm, not just the headlines

Having someone in your corner who’s thinking three steps ahead

Most people think a broker’s job is sending listings.

My job is making sure you’re prepared to act when we find the right one.