Home-buyers in New York City are packing their bags—well, mentally at least—and turning their gaze toward leafy suburbs like Connecticut’s Greenwich and Westchester County. Why? Because of mounting concern over the looming Zohran Mamdani mayoral win and what his policies might mean for city life.
Real-estate agents say the scene is eerily reminiscent of the early pandemic exodus: listing counts are plunging, bidding wars are erupting, and all-cash offers are back in a big way. For example, in Greenwich the number of available homes has fallen from over 800 to just around 117—while a five-bedroom colonial recently listed for about $2.39 million received 10 offers and closed for nearly $3.0 million—all cash.
In Westchester, a four-bedroom home listed for $1.49 million drew 75 showings, 24 bids, and sold for more than $700 000 above asking. Brokers now describe open houses as “the hottest ticket in town”.
The driver behind the rush? A mix of concerns: potential tax hikes, community safety, major policy shifts under a Mamdani administration. Buyers are saying things like “we’ll buy now or we’re out” or demanding so-called “Mamdani discounts” because they fear values will drop if he wins.
The shift is not purely emotional: Inventory is tight, and autumn sales typically slow—but not this year. Agents report volume already topping prior years despite normal seasonal lull. Many buyers are simply saying: “If we’re going to leave the city, let’s do it now.”
