When it comes to homebuying in New York City, Wu-Tang Clan put it best : Cash really does rule everything.

All-cash buyers accounted for more than 60% of the 17,924 home sales in the five boroughs over the first half of this year, according to a new report from the nonprofit Center for NYC Neighborhoods.

Ariana Shirvani, senior program manager at the organization, said all-cash sales tend to favor wealthy people and corporate investors while making it even harder for other New Yorkers to purchase a small piece of the city.

“The report speaks to a deepening inequality in both who can buy homes in New York City and who can keep them,” Shirvani said.

Nationally, all-cash purchases made up about a quarter of home sales between July 2024 and June 2025, according to recently released data

See Full Page