Published October 18, 2026 in Market Update

Staten Island still has fewer homes for sale, even as the national market loosens

By Chris DiToro

Real estate, Primary market

The National Association of Realtors counted 1.60 million homes for sale across the U.S. in September 2026. That sounds like relief for buyers. But Staten Island is telling a different story.

Fewer homes for sale means buyers have fewer choices. That tends to support prices and limits how much room there is to negotiate. Those are two very different conditions from what the national headlines describe.

New listings are also down

It is not just the total count of available homes. Fewer sellers are coming to market, too. The Real Estate Data Aggregator recorded 1,317 new listings across Staten Island in the three months ending August 31, 2026. That is down 2% from the same months of 2025. When new supply stays thin, the inventory shortage does not ease quickly.

Sales are actually up a little. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 993 homes sold across the Island in the three months ending August 31, 2026, up 2.3% from the same period a year earlier. More sales, less supply. That combination keeps conditions tighter here than in many other places.

Rates are adding pressure for buyers

Freddie Mac put the average 30-year fixed rate at 7.40% as of October 15, 2026. The 15-year fixed averaged 6.71% the same week. Those are not small numbers. Higher rates mean a buyer qualifies for less, which is one reason pending sales on the Island slipped 11.2% from a year ago even as closings held up.

Every ZIP code on the Island reads differently

The Island-wide numbers are a starting point. But the North Shore, Mid-Island and South Shore each have their own pace, and the story shifts further depending on whether a home sits above or below Hylan Boulevard. Below the boulevard, flood insurance is a real ownership cost that does not show up in the sale price. That changes what a home actually costs to own.

Some ZIPs saw inventory fall sharply. The Real Estate Data Aggregator showed homes for sale in ZIP 10314 down 27.1% from a year ago, and in ZIP 10303 down 25.9%. A few ZIPs moved the other way. ZIP 10308 had 85 homes for sale, up 23.2% from a year ago. ZIP 10302 edged up 6.3%. Not every corner of the Island tightened at the same rate.

Prices held up in most of the Island

Most ZIP codes saw median prices hold steady or rise in the three months ending August 31, 2026. A couple dipped a little. ZIP 10305 saw the median sale price slip 4% to $720,000, and ZIP 10309 was down 6.7% to $786,750. Those are real moves worth knowing if you own or are shopping in those areas.

What this means if you own a home here

Tight inventory tends to work in a seller's favor. But it does not mean every home sells fast or above asking. In ZIP 10304, the Real Estate Data Aggregator showed a median of 59 days on the market and an average sale-to-list ratio of 95.8%. In ZIP 10302, the same period showed a median of just 26 days and 45.8% of homes selling above list. Same Island, very different conditions.

For buyers, tight supply means less room to wait. But higher rates, as Freddie Mac reported at 7.40% for a 30-year loan, are a real constraint on what you can offer. Going in with clear numbers matters more when the margin for error is smaller.

One street can read very differently from the ZIP code around it. If you want to know what the numbers look like for your specific address, I am happy to walk you through it.