August 2, 2026
A counter-offer is how most Staten Island and Brooklyn home deals actually get made. When a seller gets an offer they like but not entirely, they answer with a counter-offer — a revised proposal on price or terms — and the two sides trade responses until they either agree or walk away. In 2026, with the 30-year fixed mortgage rate averaging 6.66% for the week ending July 30 and inventory still tight in both boroughs, knowing how to counter well is one of the most valuable skills a buyer or seller can have. Joseph Ranola, Team Leader of the Bridge and Boro Team at Real Broker LLC, negotiates these exchanges every week across Staten Island and Brooklyn.
A counter-offer is a response that rejects a buyer's original offer and proposes new terms in its place. When a Staten Island or Brooklyn seller receives an offer that is close but not quite there, they can counter — raising the price, moving the closing date, or adjusting a contingency — and the buyer can then accept, reject, or counter back. The key New York wrinkle is that all of this is non-binding until both parties sign a formal contract of sale prepared by their attorneys. Unlike many states where an accepted offer becomes the contract, here nothing locks in until contracts are signed and the deposit changes hands, so either side can still move until that moment.
Counter-offers in Staten Island and Brooklyn usually move through the agents by phone, email, or text rather than on a single signed form, because the binding document is the attorney-drafted contract that comes later. A buyer submits price and terms, the seller's agent conveys a counter, and the two sides trade responses until they reach a verbal meeting of the minds. The deal then goes to the attorneys, who prepare and negotiate the contract of sale, and the buyer typically delivers a deposit of around 10% on signing. Because nothing binds until contracts are signed, speed and clear communication protect a deal.
Staten Island's market is dominated by one-, two-, and three-family houses, so counters often turn on the closing timeline and on whether a two-family's rental income and tenants stay in place. Buyers here are frequently financed, so a seller weighing two offers should counter the stronger, better-qualified buyer rather than simply the highest number. With homes in many Staten Island neighborhoods sitting on the market for weeks, a seller usually has a little more room to counter and hold firm than a Brooklyn seller does.
In Brooklyn, a large share of transactions are co-ops and condos, and that changes what you counter for. A condo buyer might counter on price and on who pays certain transfer taxes, while a co-op buyer has to clear a board after the price is settled, so terms like closing flexibility carry weight. Brooklyn's tighter inventory also means desirable listings can draw multiple offers fast, so a buyer's counter needs to stay competitive — often by strengthening the deposit or shortening contingencies rather than nickel-and-diming the price.
A seller can change far more than price. Common non-price terms include the closing date, the size of the deposit, which contingencies the buyer keeps, whether appliances or fixtures are included, and whether the seller offers a concession or repair credit. A seller might accept a lower price for a faster, all-cash close, or hold firm on price but credit closing costs. In 2026, with the 30-year fixed near 6.66%, buyers frequently counter for a seller concession that effectively buys down their rate or offsets closing costs, and sellers weigh that against a cleaner, higher net offer. Joseph Ranola helps each side see which levers actually move the other.
There is no legal limit on how many times a buyer and seller can exchange counter-offers in New York — they can go as long as both stay willing. In practice, most Staten Island and Brooklyn deals settle within two or three rounds, because each additional counter risks fatigue, a change of heart, or a competing offer. Momentum is real: a deal that keeps moving tends to close, while one that stalls over small gaps can fall apart. A skilled agent knows when to hold, when to split the difference, and when a final number is truly final.
Whether you should counter or accept depends on how the offer compares to your home's true market value, how strong the buyer is, and how quickly you need to move. If the offer is near list price from a fully pre-approved buyer with few contingencies, accepting can be the smart play, because a bird in hand beats chasing a few thousand dollars and risking the buyer walking. If the offer is below market or loaded with contingencies, a measured counter can improve your net without scaring the buyer off. Joseph Ranola runs the comparable sales, reads the buyer's financing, and recommends counter-or-accept based on your actual goals rather than emotion.
Run your own numbers with the free home valuation tool, read the companion pieces on the best realtor on Staten Island and the best realtor in Brooklyn, or work with Joseph Ranola.
Joseph Ranola and the Bridge and Boro Team have closed $40M+ across both boroughs, backed by 87+ five-star Google reviews. Let’s build a counter that actually gets you there.
Text or call (917) 905-2541 • joe@bridgeandboro.com
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