Financing an NYC purchase can mean competing with a buyer who does not need a mortgage contingency. That makes preparation important, but it does not make a financed offer uncompetitive by definition. The seller will weigh the price, terms, timetable and likelihood of closing.

At BRN, we help buyers assess the property and prepare a competitive financed offer, and return half of the commission we receive, up to 1.5% of the purchase price.

This May 2026 commentary distinguishes the historical cash-purchase benchmark from the first-quarter 2026 sales reports. Closed-sale statistics describe completed transactions; they do not identify the competing offers on a home you are considering.

Manhattan: A high cash share, with a clear reporting period

The Elliman and Miller Samuel third-quarter 2025 Manhattan report recorded a 65.3% cash-purchase share, below the 69.1% record in the second quarter of 2025. The 69.1% figure is not a first-quarter 2026 statistic.

In Jonathan Miller’s first-quarter 2026 Manhattan overview, the combined co-op and condo median was $1.225 million, up 5.2% annually. Closed sales rose 2.9%, while listings fell 16.7% to 6,164. That is a separate set of measures about price, activity and supply.

A high cash share is useful background. For an offer, the important questions are whether the property can support your loan, what your lender has reviewed and which terms the seller values. Avoid assuming that every competing buyer will pay cash or that a particular property type guarantees less competition.

Brooklyn: More listings do not mean every seller will negotiate

Corcoran’s first-quarter 2026 Brooklyn report showed active listings up 12% annually and signed contracts down 14%. The median price rose 4% to $828,000, while average days on market fell 11% to 87.

Those mixed signals argue for a property-level comparison. More available homes may expand your choices, while a well-priced listing can still move quickly. Review comparable sales, competing listings, condition and recurring costs before deciding how much negotiating room a seller may have.

The Hamptons: Establish what would make your offer credible

For a financed Hamptons purchase, ask your lender about the specific property early. A broad preapproval is only a starting point. The house, appraisal, insurance, condition and proposed loan all matter to the path to closing.

Ask the seller’s side about timing and other priorities. A flexible closing date or well-documented financing plan may be useful, but neither guarantees acceptance. There is no reason to infer the financing structure of competing offers from the asking price alone.

Strengthen the offer without accepting a risk you cannot fund

Prepare a current preapproval, supporting financial information and a realistic closing timetable. Find out which parts of the lender’s review remain open. Coordinate with your attorney so the proposed terms match the protection you need.

Waiving a mortgage contingency can leave you responsible for closing even if the anticipated loan fails. Before offering that term, understand the contract, your available cash and what would happen after a low appraisal or a building-financing problem. Our NYC mortgage-contingency guide explains those risks.

A competitive offer is one you can carry through. Sometimes that means a higher price with appropriate protection; sometimes it means pursuing a different apartment. A seller’s preference for certainty does not make an unfundable commitment sensible.

How BRN helps you compete

BRN specializes in representing buyers. We help assess the property, develop the offer and coordinate the steps through closing with your attorney and lender. We never represent both sides of the same transaction.

We also return half of the commission we receive to our buyers, up to 1.5% of the purchase price. A return paid after closing is separate from the money you need to satisfy your purchase contract.

Contact Us with the home you are considering and your financing plan.

The figures above are tied to their stated reporting periods. Conditions and transaction terms vary; this is commentary, not a forecast.