10 Must-Follow Real Estate Blogs In New York City

If we’ve learned anything from years of tracking the New York City market, it’s this: the people who win in NYC real estate are the ones who stay informed. Prices shift quickly, laws change often, and each neighborhood behaves like its own little ecosystem.

That’s where the right New York City real estate blogs come in. They help us make sense of the data, decode new regulations, and spot trends before they hit the mainstream. Below, we’re sharing the 10 must-follow NYC real estate blogs we rely on for smart analysis, on-the-ground stories, and practical guidance, whether you’re buying, selling, renting, or investing in the five boroughs.

Why New York City Real Estate Blogs Matter

New York City isn’t just another market. It’s one of the most expensive and tightly regulated real estate environments in the country, with over 8 million residents and some of the nation’s lowest homeownership rates, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Because of that, relying only on national news or generic real estate advice is a fast way to make expensive mistakes. NYC-specific real estate blogs matter because they:

• Break down local laws and regulations (like rent stabilization and Local Law 11)
• Track neighborhood-level price shifts and inventory trends
• Surface real stories from renters, owners, and boards
• Explain how city policies from sources like NYC.gov actually affect buildings and residents

We also like pairing these blogs with hands-on research tools. For example, if we’re evaluating a building, we’ll often cross-check it using an NYC violation lookup tool like Violation Watch’s building search to see open HPD or DOB violations. Used together, blogs and data tools give us both the narrative and the numbers.

How We Chose These New York City Real Estate Blogs

With so many sites out there, we focused on quality over quantity. To build this list of must-follow New York City real estate blogs, we used a few simple criteria:

• NYC focus: Either fully NYC-based or with deep, consistent coverage of the city
• Timeliness: Regular updates, especially on changing regulations and market shifts
• Credible data: Use of verifiable data sources like NYU Furman Center research, public filings, or city records
• Practical value: Takeaways that actually help you make better decisions, not just clicky headlines
• Range of perspectives: We wanted a mix of consumer-focused, industry-focused, and neighborhood-level voices

We also asked a practical question: Would we bookmark this blog and check it at least monthly? If the answer was no, it didn’t make the cut.

The 10 Must-Follow New York City Real Estate Blogs

StreetEasy Blog

The StreetEasy Blog is one of our go-tos for everyday renters and buyers. It combines rental and sales data from its massive listing platform with clear, digestible guides.

Expect:

• Neighborhood medians and price trends
• Renter Q&As and broker interviews
• Step-by-step guides to board packages, guarantors, and more

We like using StreetEasy’s insights alongside a building violation history check via Violation Watch NYC to see if glossy listings match the reality of a building’s maintenance and safety record.

Curbed New York (New York Magazine Real Estate)

Now part of New York Magazine, Curbed’s NYC real estate section blends culture, architecture, and sharp reporting. It’s less “how-to” and more “what’s really happening behind the scenes.“

Curbed is strong on:

• Development battles and rezonings
• Landmarking and preservation fights
• Deep dives into luxury towers and major projects

If you care about how policy and development shape the city you live in, Curbed belongs in your rotation.

Brick Underground

Brick Underground is where we send anyone who’s new to NYC housing. It’s highly practical and unapologetically honest about the quirks of co-ops, rentals, and condo boards.

You’ll find:

• Real-life apartment hunt diaries
• Landlord–tenant dispute breakdowns
• Co-op and condo board advice

We often pair Brick Underground’s advice with a quick check on past violations via the Violation Watch lookup tool before recommending a building.

The Real Deal New York

If you want to understand the power players and money flows, The Real Deal is essential. Its New York section is industry-focused, ideal for investors, agents, and serious buyers.

Look here for:

• Large-scale development news
• Commercial and multifamily trades
• Lawsuits, foreclosures, and legal stories

The Real Deal is especially helpful when we’re tracking how rising interest rates or new legislation are affecting big landlords and developers across the city.

Brownstoner

Originally focused on Brooklyn townhouses, Brownstoner has evolved into a deep resource on brownstones, row houses, and neighborhood-level stories.

We rely on it for:

• Historic home renovations and design ideas
• Brooklyn market coverage
• Zoning and development updates in brownstone neighborhoods

If you’re eyeing a townhouse in neighborhoods like Bed-Stuy, Park Slope, or Fort Greene, Brownstoner is non-negotiable reading.

UrbanDigs Blog

UrbanDigs is heavily data-driven, especially for Manhattan and Brooklyn. It offers charts, dashboards, and analysis aimed at serious buyers, sellers, and agents.

You’ll see:

• Real-time contract activity
• Inventory and days-on-market trends
• Context on where we are in the market cycle

We use UrbanDigs when we want to go beyond headlines and understand why the market feels fast or slow in a given quarter.

NYTimes Real Estate (New York–Focused Coverage)

The New York Times Real Estate section isn’t exclusively about NYC, but its city coverage is unmatched in depth and storytelling.

Standout features include:

• “On the Market“ and “What You Get“ columns for pricing context
• Buyer and renter journeys across different boroughs
• Long-form pieces on policy, affordability, and housing trends

Combined with official stats from sources like the NYC Department of City Planning, NYTimes reporting helps us see the bigger picture of where NYC housing is headed.

PropertyShark Blog (New York City Insights)

The PropertyShark blog is best for people who like digging into numbers and property records. While it covers multiple markets, its NYC reports are particularly strong.

Expect:

• Market reports by borough and property type
• Foreclosure and distress data
• Ownership and lot-level insights

We often cross-reference a building’s ownership and sales history on PropertyShark with open violations on Violation Watch when assessing long-term risk.

Local Brokerage Blogs To Watch (Compass, Corcoran, And Others)

Major brokerages like Compass, The Corcoran Group, and Douglas Elliman maintain blogs and market reports that drill down to neighborhood and even building segments.

We like these for:

• Quarterly market reports
• New development spotlights
• Broker perspectives from specific submarkets (e.g., Upper East Side co-ops, Downtown Brooklyn condos)

While brokerage content can be marketing-driven, the better ones back their claims with charts, inventories, and historical comparisons.

Neighborhood And Hyperlocal Blogs With Strong Real Estate Coverage

Finally, we always recommend adding at least one hyperlocal blog for the neighborhood you care about most. Examples include:

• Community news outlets and local papers
• Civic association or community board blogs
• Neighborhood advocacy groups tracking rezonings and developments

These sites often break news about rezonings, shelter sitings, and large developments before bigger outlets pick up the story. When we’re evaluating a specific building, we’ll read hyperlocal coverage, check its official history via HPD or DOB, and then run a final pass with a building check via Violation Watch’s lookup page to see if anything concerning pops up.

Put together, this gives us a 360° view: stories, stats, and hard records.

Tips For Getting The Most Value From These NYC Real Estate Blogs

Following the right blogs is step one: using them strategically is step two. Here’s how we get the most out of them:

• Create a simple reading routine. Pick 3–5 of these blogs and skim them weekly. Save longer analysis pieces to read once a month.
• Cross-check with data. When a post mentions a “hot” neighborhood or “up-and-coming” area, verify it using sales and rent reports, or by reviewing building histories and violations.
• Pay attention to comments and Q&As. On consumer-focused sites like Brick Underground and StreetEasy, reader questions often reveal real-world issues you won’t see in glossy marketing.
• Watch for recurring themes. If multiple sources start flagging rising insurance costs, new legislation, or an increase in violations, we treat it as a trend worth watching.
• Save posts tied to laws and policy. Articles explaining rent laws, short-term rental rules, or safety requirements are worth bookmarking because city regulations change frequently.

Used this way, NYC real estate blogs stop being just “interesting reading” and become part of a real decision-making toolkit.

Conclusion

In a market as complex, and unforgiving, as New York City, information really is leverage. The 10 NYC real estate blogs we’ve highlighted cover the full spectrum: data, policy, neighborhood stories, and lived experience from renters, owners, and industry pros.

If we had to suggest a simple action plan, it would be this: choose a handful of these blogs to follow regularly, add at least one hyperlocal source for your target neighborhood, and pair what you read with objective data from city records and tools like Violation Watch NYC. That combination of stories and stats is what helps us move from guesswork to confident, informed decisions in the New York City real estate market.

In a city where a single bad decision can cost five or six figures, that edge is worth cultivating.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I follow a real estate blog in New York City instead of national real estate sites?

New York City is highly regulated, unusually expensive, and varies block by block. A real estate blog in New York City explains local laws like rent stabilization, tracks neighborhood-level price shifts, and decodes city policies so you don’t make costly mistakes by relying on generic national advice.

Which NYC real estate blogs are best for everyday renters and buyers?

For everyday renters and buyers, StreetEasy’s blog and Brick Underground are standouts. StreetEasy offers data-driven neighborhood trends and clear how‑to guides, while Brick Underground shares honest apartment hunt stories, landlord–tenant advice, and co‑op or condo board tips tailored to New York City housing realities.

How can I use New York City real estate blogs together with data tools for better decisions?

Use NYC real estate blogs to understand stories, trends, and laws, then confirm what you read with data. For instance, after reading about a “hot” building or neighborhood, cross‑check its sales history, HPD and DOB records, and violation history using tools like Violation Watch and official city databases.

What type of NYC real estate blog should investors and industry professionals prioritize?

Investors and industry professionals should focus on data‑heavy and deal‑oriented sources. The Real Deal covers big trades, lawsuits, and development, UrbanDigs provides market-cycle charts and contract activity, and PropertyShark’s blog offers foreclosure and ownership data that helps evaluate long‑term risk across New York City submarkets.

How do I find hyperlocal real estate coverage for my specific NYC neighborhood?

Start with community newspapers, local online news sites, and blogs run by civic associations or community boards. Many neighborhoods have advocacy groups that track rezonings and new developments. Combine their coverage with city planning documents and building records to understand how changes may affect your block or building.

What is the best way to choose a real estate blog in New York City for my needs?

First, define your goal—renting, buying, selling, or investing. Then pick a mix: one or two citywide blogs for policy and market trends, one data‑focused source, and at least one hyperlocal blog for your target neighborhood. Check how frequently each site updates and whether it uses verifiable NYC data sources.