Some of the most testimonials that mention or highlight UrbanDigs' work.
Michelle Robinson
Jul 24, 2024
Sotheby's Realty
“UrbanDigs is my go-to resource for all market and sales data concerning Manhattan and Brooklyn real estate. Thanks to their comprehensive data, I recently secured a listing for a 1BD|1BA condo resale in Central Harlem. Impressively, the property went into contract within just 36 days and closed on June 28, 2024.
Initially, the seller had consulted with another broker who confidently suggested listing the unit at $650K but failed to provide any supporting recent comparable sales data or local market trends. Recognizing the importance of data, which key in pricing any property properly, I decided to send the seller UrbanDigs’ market data specific to Central Harlem ahead of our meeting. Before sharing it, I reached out to UrbanDigs via email to ensure I was interpreting the data correctly and to address a few other questions. The next day, John Walkup personally called me to confirm my understanding and answer my additional questions.
We listed the property at $555K, and it sold for $550K to a cash buyer. I am immensely grateful to UrbanDigs for their support and for providing the market data charts that were instrumental in winning the listing and successfully selling the property!”
Laura Cook
Oct 20, 2022
Keller Williams NYC
“UrbanDigs was an invaluable resource on my recent sale of an UWS classic-six. Although we got an above-asking price offer when we first listed in the spring, the deal fell through right before contract signing. We had significant ongoing interest, but as the weeks wore on, the market continued to soften.
By monitoring and utilizing the Market Pulse chart on UrbanDigs, I was able to carefully guide my client on a price adjustment. We changed course at the right time and were able to get an all-cash offer close to the new asking price! The clients were very happy with our performance, and we owe much of our success to the helpful tools UrbanDigs provides!”
Frank Giordano
May 27, 2022
Compass
“You can do all the slick marketing in the world, but we all know that proper pricing is the number one factor in selling your apartment quickly, and for the highest price. UrbanDigs is a godsend in helping illustrate this with clients; I use the platform daily to keep an eye on where the market is trending.
During COVID, I began putting together a deck that I would send to potential buyer clients for us to review virtually. I include information about myself, the home-buying process, and of course, loads of charts and data from UrbanDigs. It’s a game-changer in the sense that it makes me look like a rockstar who has done hours and hours of research, and it helps to visually show these potential clients what a very specific market looks like today, and how that compares to previous years.
In an extremely competitive neighborhood, like Park Slope, we need to be able to justify why clients should pay over asking price, and illustrate that it is a good investment. Using historical data from UD, I was able to show the average annual appreciation as well as what similar apartments were selling for during the height of the last cycle in Park Slope, giving my buyers the confidence they were looking for to make an informed decision. It is easily one of the most impactful tools in helping me gain an edge. We all owe a debt of gratitude for the heavy lifting John and Noah do to make this information easily digestible for us.”
Kevin Brunnock
Apr 29, 2022
R New York
“Earlier this year, I was working with a client looking at $2 million apartments in the Flatiron District. She was hesitant to pull the trigger, feeling unsure where prices were headed, and was contemplating holding off to see which direction the market moved. I shared data from UrbanDigs, along with critical insight from Noah and John that demonstrated a ‘window of opportunity’ for buyers. With her confidence buoyed by the UrbanDigs research, my buyer purchased her dream apartment, and is absolutely thrilled with her decision.”
A huge thank you to UrbanDigs!!
Chris Fry
Apr 22, 2022
Elegran
“Chris and I have truly witnessed the power of utilizing UrbanDigs through its various features that have allowed us to demonstrate opportunities and pricing accuracy in the Manhattan and Brooklyn marketplace. The efficiency of the platform enables real estate agents like ourselves to portray professionalism when entering listing appointments and showings with buyers, as we quickly prepare historical and real-time data encompassing detailed infographics and charts.
In an effort to guide our client in search of a property on the UES with a budget of $20M, we were able to segment specific requirements, pull comparables, market trends, and even off-market options, all in one cohesive format that allowed our client to understand the complexity of her decision in simple terms. In a nutshell, UrbanDigs serves as a speedy, precise, easy-to-navigate, asset that helps make what we do justifiable.”
Carole Becker
Apr 15, 2022
Elegran
“Everyday, I find a reason to use UrbanDigs. I start my week with the Brooklyn Market Report, and wrap up Friday with the Manhattan Market Report. On any day in between, I may run CMAs, search listings, or research neighborhood statistics. I find that being able to filter the Market Snapshot by neighborhood is an invaluable tool in keeping up with the fast-paced New York market, and educating my clients with accurate, up-to-the-minute data.
Recently, I convinced a seller that now is the perfect time to list her Brooklyn one-bedroom apartment to sell quickly, and at her desired price. I explained that the Market Pulse suggests it is a seller's market — being able to illustrate that with the Supply and Pending Sales charts allowed her to see and understand the data. I then used the CMA tool to show her what the active listings and recent sales suggest the current market value is for her home. After two years of waiting, she agreed that it is the perfect time to list!”
Berthile Ango Banga
Apr 01, 2022
Keller Williams NYC
"As a real estate expert on the Upper East Side, I already know that I can't really rely on the neighborhood comparables to effectively price a listing because of the complexity of the market. Within the neighborhood, buildings have different amenities, material quality, views, square footage, proximity to transportations and stores, etc. However, the landlord I’m currently working with didn’t take all that data in consideration while attempting to price his apartment — he went just by the market comparables, and wanted me to list his rental for $5,000, trying to make the most money. But my role as his agent, which is to look out for his interests, led me to take my time to educate him by pointing him to a more accurate pricing process that helped us price efficiently at $4,500, with the aim to avoid his listing to sit on the market, and make him actually lose money.
I was able to do so only in a few clicks using UrbanDigs, thanks to their Professional Agent Tool, which generates Building Breakdowns. I was able to get building sales and trends, compare condos, and get insights that a regular CMR can't reflect. UrbanDigs also helped me export all that data onto a simple report that my landlord was able to read and understand. And that’s why we work with a great partner like UrbanDigs.”
Jules Garcia
Mar 25, 2022
Elegran
"UrbanDigs is always open on my laptop or iPad.
Though my clients trust me and my firm, they also appreciate that I use an independent, dynamic pricing analysis from UrbanDigs. I have the pricing tool ready to go on my iPad whenever I go on a listing discussion. It helps me illustrate in real-time a comprehensive analysis of not just the comparable units in the building and surrounding geography, but also, key notables that make the specific unit stand out.
Recently, I was able to reference back to my pricing analysis for a Brooklyn condo purchase that suffered an appraisal shortfall. I was able to reassure my purchasing clients by articulating my process, and displaying both the initial CMA (comparable markets analysis) and the current CMA. In doing this, I made sure to secure their support in rebutting the flawed appraisal, and gain an appraisal recertification. This helped win the day and get the financing outcome that was desired."
Jared Antin
Mar 18, 2022
Elegran
“UrbanDigs gives Elegran agents a competitive advantage when working with both buyers and sellers. UrbanDigs focuses on leading indicators (such as contract activity, supply, and sales velocity), which gives agents up-to-the-minute data they need to advise their clients in an in-demand and supply-constrained market. Today, buyers are facing near constant multiple-bid situations, and UrbanDigs allows me to advise my buyers with facts and figures that help them feel comfortable finding the bid needed to secure the desired apartments.
In a recent multiple-bid situation, data from UrbanDigs helped me demonstrate to my buyer that the apartment they were bidding on – and bidding on well-over ask – was still a good buy, even at the elevated price. When buyers fixate on the asking price, they can lose sight of the larger picture, and UrbanDigs equipped me with data to substantiate why their over-asked bid was still a good deal.”
Wendy Arriz
Mar 11, 2022
Sotheby's Realty
“When pricing a new listing, UrbanDigs is my ‘go-to’ for real estate data and data analytics. In this market, and now more than ever, understanding the nuances of each marketplace and category is critical. UrbanDigs not only provides the data, but interprets it in real-time, and addresses the subcategories.
In addition to the dashboard, the “Friiiesday” market report with Noah and John has become an important part of my weekly wrap-up. Recently, I shared this report with my buyer who was having a hard time understanding the frenzy in the downtown condo market. Listening to the ‘end of week news report’ helped my buyer comprehend the market. It is all about the numbers, and the data speaks for itself.”
Epo I Manning
Mar 04, 2022
Sotheby's Realty
“At the height of the pandemic, I had clients that called me to say this was the perfect time for them to buy a pied-à-terre. They ended up loving a fabulous three-bedroom property in the heart of NoHo — but it was a long and brutal negotiation process, and after three weeks of negotiating with the sellers, we were at a standstill. And it was UrbanDigs’ data that ended up being the best tool in my toolbox for closing the sale.
I pulled historical and recent data, used the comps and adjustments tools, and then sent an extremely comprehensive report to the listing broker, who then showed it to the sellers. After that, we finally reached our number, which ended up being 17.8% off of their last asking price.
UrbanDigs is the sharpest tool in your toolbox for working with both buyers and sellers, and is tremendously important to use when speaking to sellers about pricing and reductions.”
Kimberly Jay
Feb 18, 2022
Compass
“While brokerage firm quarterly reports give the past quarter’s macro picture of the market, UrbanDigs is an invaluable tool that provides both the macro and micro reality of the current state of the market versus historical data. Using UrbanDigs makes me smarter, giving me an edge to advise my clients and customers to make better-informed decisions.
I met with a seller in Midtown whose property was on the market with another agent, and the exclusive was expiring. They wanted to know why their property had had very few showings and no offers while Manhattan as a whole was experiencing record contract activity. I knew the property was way overpriced in the $1.5 range, and I’d need to show real data points in order to justify a major price reduction.
Using UrbanDigs, I was able to show the seller numerous things: First, that their micro market was a ‘neutral/buyers’ market’ using the ‘market pulse.’ Second, that their asking price per square foot was greatly over the contract signed average price per square foot. Third, going back ten years, there had never been a similar apartment sold at or near the current asking price. Fourth, that the property, which is a co-op, was priced similar to a condo, and fifth, that the peak of pricing for their micro-market occurred during 2016.
While this wasn’t the news that they necessarily wanted to hear, they thanked me for my honesty, and said ‘you certainly did your homework. I’m impressed.’”
Eli Levi
Feb 11, 2022
The Corcoran Group
“I use an iPad Pro at my listing appointments. I always make sure to have UrbanDigs open and displayed, as I base my entire pitch on facts and up-to-date information. As a selling agent, my biggest challenge, mainly, is to educate sellers on the value of their homes. Most sellers feel that their homes are worth way more than what the market will offer — but with UrbanDigs, I can present to my clients how quickly I can get a deal done, and the price at which their home will sell for. If they follow the data.
Most recently, I have a deal on the Upper East Side with a four-bedroom, three-bathroom unit. I suggested that we price it at $1,900,000 (as the unit needed a lot of work), and possibly, get a bit more. The data (from UrbanDigs) was shown to the sellers, and they chose to price it at $2,100,000, thinking that the market was hot enough to justify it. At the first open house, I received an offer for $1,935,000 — which the sellers rejected.
Fast-forward six months, and the same buyers ultimately purchased the unit for $1,935,000. First offers are always the most serious, and if the data and advice I had offered was initially taken, this listing would have closed months ago.”
Sara Kennedy
Feb 04, 2022
Douglas Elliman
“UrbanDigs has been a crucial tool in helping me get several transactions across the finish line in 2021. [John and Noah’s] passion for data specific to the NYC real estate market considerably changed my conversations with clients and potential clients by providing me with charts, market updates, and pricing tools for both buyers and sellers. That allows me to confidently speak to the market with succinct visual attestations.
For example, I recently worked with clients who were indecisive about whether to sell their one-bedroom home in Brooklyn Heights. Through UrbanDigs, I was able to provide them with monthly market updates, median sales price analysis, and individualized visual supply charts specific to the market pulse in Brooklyn. Pricing being essential, the data provided by Urban Digs created an open and educated collaborative conversation to determine the best time and perfect price to list their home on the market.
When they were ready to purchase a three-bedroom home, I used UrbanDigs’ tools to provide pertinent information regarding pricing and valuation of their top home choice. I am proud to say that both transactions were lucrative and beneficial to my clients; they are happy in their new three-bedroom home, and are now clients for life! Plus, they’re actively referring friends and loved ones to reach out to me for any and all real estate needs.”
Kelly Robinson
Jan 28, 2022
Compass
“I regularly send reports to buyers and sellers. In many cases, the reports have made my sellers more realistic about pricing their homes and my buyers more realistic about making offers.
In one instance, a seller came down $200,000 because an UrbanDigs report that I had sent them showed the average price for three-bedroom co-ops on the Upper East Side. We got a full-price offer the following day, and they were thrilled. They also really appreciated the real-time data of the weekly reports.
In another instance, a buyer of mine was hesitant to pay the asking price for their dream apartment on Park Avenue in Carnegie Hill after reviewing comps from a few months prior, and they were cash buyers. So, the appraisal was not going to be an issue. The reports that I had been sending them every week showed the discount from listing-price to sold-price shrinking significantly on a weekly basis. They ended up buying the apartment, and are extremely happy.
I truly believe the UrbanDigs reports I sent them made the deal happen.”
Kelly Scher
Jan 21, 2022
The Corcoran Group
“In the ever-tight West Village market, where one seller of mine lived, UrbanDigs’ tools were tremendously helpful. One of the first places I go, before meeting a seller, is to use the UrbanDigs ‘Price Unit’ tool. It allows me to find the most relevant comps for a given unit, while simultaneously allowing me to adjust for factors like the unit’s physical condition, its flooring, and most importantly, market conditions. It then generates a visual chart with a price range based on multiple comps and shows the adjustments made. Being able to show the seller the manipulations I can make to correctly price an apartment is extremely valuable.
In this case, I was able to show the seller the price that he wanted was outside of the confines of what the market would likely support. I was also able to show him clearly, based on the weekly market updates I received from UrbanDigs, that while the market was liquid, it didn’t necessarily mean prices were increasing. The macro market information, coupled with the micro market comps, allowed us to agree on a price that, while aggressive, was attainable.
After an incredibly busy ten days of showing and garnering multiple offers — all within the range given by the price unit tool — we were able to secure a full-price, all-cash offer. We closed a couple months later, and the seller couldn’t have been happier.”
Nishant Sondhi
Jan 14, 2022
Compass
“UrbanDigs has had a tremendous impact on my business, and helps me advise my buyers and sellers on a tactical level…The way UrbanDigs breaks down the concept of 'Days on Market,' and its direct impact on listings discounts, has helped sellers understand the importance of pricing right. Also, it has helped me during difficult pricing conversations, in which I am possibly looking for a price correction. The data doesn't lie, and UrbanDigs provides me with the data that helps my clients make the right decisions.
Almost all buyers I work with ask their favorite question: ‘What is the discount I can expect on this property?’ I have coached my buyers to look at Days on Market and correlate that with the listing discounts report that UrbanDigs publishes. Recently, I was able to help my investor client secure a fantastic deal at a new development in Manhattan because of the podcast interview that Noah had. In that interview, one of the agents gave tactical advice on thinking about a winning offer and working with my co-broker more as a teammate rather than a competitor. That collaborative approach advice changed my mindset and helped me go through multiple rounds of negotiation and get my client a great deal.”
Deborah Bhatt
Jan 07, 2022
Vesta New York
“I love that UrbanDigs helps me answer those quick questions buyers love to ask…There is so much information about real estate in the press, but there isn't usually market-specific data that is useful to buyers, and it's great to be able to provide it for them.
For example, some first-time buyers reached out to me in December 2020. Many people were leaving NYC at that time, but they knew they were staying long-term, and wanted to get a deal. They found an apartment on 20th Street that they absolutely loved, but it was more than they wanted to spend. I helped them understand why it was a good price for a unique (in a good way) apartment - and also why it was during a very good time-frame in which to buy.
I graphically showed them the beginnings of some price increase trends — it was the early days of what turned out to be a spike in pricing. The market really picked up right after they signed the contract in March 2020, and by the time we conducted the pre-closing walkthrough in June, the market had really shifted, and the listing agent said that the seller could have gotten a much higher price if it were still on the market. I recently did a quick price-check on the apartment using UrbanDigs, and the average comp is selling for 20% more than they paid!”
Wendy Maitland
Dec 17, 2021
Atelier
“UrbanDigs is my go-to for stats, comps, and listings communication with my clients — whether they be buyers or sellers. Most recently, I worked with a foreign national (Canadian) buyer. He reached out 12 days ago with the imperative to purchase a luxury condominium in the $15M range. This buyer is very intelligent — a captain of industry. However, not being intimately familiar with the Manhattan market, he needed to be educated, as he himself noted.
Thanks to UrbanDigs, I was able to efficiently provide him with listing data, current and historical, in a professional manner, which helped him quickly identify a trophy property on the first day it was listed, which I virtually toured him through the next day. By the end of the day, I submitted an offer (sight unseen) on his behalf. The next day, we had a competing offer to contend with. And by referencing comparable properties in detail, I was able to guide him to engineer and negotiate an accepted offer before the end of the following day. As of today, we have a signed contract (under his budget) and I have a very happy buyer!”
Deanna Kory
Dec 10, 2021
The Corcoran Group
“In September 2018, I was working with a seller who hoped to sell her unit quickly – she was downsizing, and wanted to achieve a great price in a relatively short window of time. We listed in the fall at $2,860,000, a price we agreed made sense given the activity in her building and neighborhood. Her apartment was beautiful: A Classic Seven on a high floor, with expansive views of Riverside Park and the Hudson River. Initially, we received a flood of inquiries as potential buyers could envision their lives there. But the requests began to slow by the middle of October with no offers or serious buyers in sight.
She and I decided to sit down and re-evaluate her goals. To prepare, I generated a chart on UrbanDigs that spoke to the slow movement in contract activity across the sub-market. It proved it wasn’t an issue with her unit, but a market-wide slowdown. The data helped convince her to lower the price in November and again in January, down to $2,550,000. I was sending her regular UrbanDigs reports that demonstrated contract activity that helped level her expectations. Ultimately, in March, we received an offer of $2,400,000. I advised her that this was her opportunity — the buyer fell in love with the apartment and was motivated. Ultimately, she accepted an offer of $2,500,000.
The apartment closed in August of 2019, and until closing I continued to send her articles and charts from UrbanDigs. This helped encourage her that she sold at the right time. In fact, the data demonstrated that had she waited any longer, she may not have received another offer for quite some time. So, from beginning to end of the transaction, the UrbanDigs data was invaluable.”
Roberto Cabrera
Dec 03, 2021
Brown Harris Stevens
“UrbanDigs is a big source of my knowledge base, and I feel that it gives me a leading edge when performing on behalf of my clients. The single most important thing I glean is “perspective” — a prerequisite for our work as brokers. I learn not only where we are now, but where we were, and a thoughtful projection as to where we might be going. They have created an ecosystem of data points which I rely on to effectively do my job, which is to guide my clients.
A recent seller was convinced of substantial upward market value, but was deceived by the market activity and volume as reported by the press. I was concerned they would overprice. That said, I was confident the UrbanDigs charts would assist me to reveal the real truth. Yes, the volume of transactions had been record-setting, but it had yet to translate into price appreciation. The data actually proved a trending increase in discounts in the luxury sector. Noah and John further textured the data by identifying this as a probable ‘lull,’ which I completely agreed with, and effectively communicated to my sellers.”
Caroline Bass
Nov 19, 2021
The Corcoran Group
“My weekly seller feedback reports are a cornerstone to my 12-point selling strategy and I wouldn’t be able to send them without the detailed statistics from Urban Digs. As an early adopter, I saw the value in this information, and I wanted to make sure my sellers did too. Every Monday, I send a weekly report detailing how many people have seen their home, how many views it’s had, how many offers we’ve received, what the feedback was, etc. but the second half of the report is the real secret sauce. This is where I include stats on the neighborhood, the median price per square foot, the median discount, the number of active listings, the number of closings for that given month, the number of apartments that have gone into contract, etc. All of this can be found in the Charts Room on Urban Digs. When you send this type of in-depth data to a seller on a consistent basis, I guarantee they will come to you and suggest a repositioning of price rather than the other way around. What a powerful tool Urban Digs is, it’s helped my business tremendously and more importantly it’s brought transparency to deciphering current market data.”
Brian Lewis
Nov 11, 2021
Compass
“[UrbanDigs’] regular data touch has served my clients (and me) very well. My sellers get to hear from me what their reality is, and they also get to hear clear, clean, real-time facts and data from a reliable third-party source. This dual-sourced data and insight deepens my clients’ trust in me, and inspires action that helps them close smarter and faster.
My buyers also benefit from UrbanDigs’ weekly reports. They learn the moods of the market, they feel fully informed, and they make decisions based on real data in real-time. Like my sellers, my buyers are fueled by John and Noah’s facts, and by my weekly anecdotal market experience. This dual-data engine empowers all of my clients to make smarter and better property decisions — decisions that serve their bottom lines.”
Russell Putterman
Oct 25, 2021
Keller Williams NYC
“I use UrbanDigs to help educate my clients on what is happening with the market — and it’s a trusted, third party source. Recently, we used UrbanDigs to consult a seller on a price reduction that they were considering. It helped them understand the current market dynamics and make a better decision.
I use the information from UrbanDigs to validate points that I am looking to get across with existing clients. There is only so much that we can do, and it is important that we interpret the market for our clients, as opposed to giving them our opinion — which can be as good as guessing.. When the points we make can be sourced [to UrbanDigs], it adds credibility and results in a buy-in from the client.”
Nikki Field
Oct 18, 2021
Sotheby's International Realty
“Recently, I was in a pinch, and needed to show a significant amount of data. This included all the townhouse sales on the UES and UWS over $30 million, along with the specific details of each of those properties, such as square footage, price per square foot, width, lot size, original asking price, closing price, and dates on the market. Within minutes, UrbanDigs got me the information I needed. In our current market environment data always wins, whether securing a listing or closing a deal and UrbanDigs is the place to get it. They are our single most valuable asset — John and Noah are simply brilliant and my secret weapon for out maneuvering the competition.”
Nicole Beauchamp
Oct 11, 2021
Sotheby's International Realty
“At any given point there are literally hundreds of tabs open on my browsers across my devices, and UrbanDigs is always among them. I rely upon the UrbanDigs data dashboard on a daily basis as I consult with my sellers and buyers as we position, reposition and negotiate on their properties. It helped some of my clients, during the pandemic, make buying decisions that have turned out to be exceptional.
Recently, UrbanDigs helped me illustrate to my clients why a particular offer was the right one to accept given the current market dynamics, and the dynamics of similar units we knew were going to come to market. Those new units could shift our position — and ultimately, we pounced, feeling that we’d struck a deal at a great price, and one that will enable my clients to proceed to their next purchase of a larger home in New York City.”