Staten Island Real Estate Market Update May 2026: Median Sale Price, Inventory, and What Is Actually Selling

Staten Island real estate is a seller’s market in mid-May 2026. Median sale prices sit in the $725,000 to $762,000 range, up 2.6% to 4.1% year over year. Days on market dropped to 57 in April and is trending into the low 50s through May and June. Months of supply is 2.6, well below the 5 to 6 months that defines a balanced market. Active listings sit at 887 to 921 homes, down 26% to 29% from balanced-market norms. The Freddie Mac 30-year fixed averaged 6.36% as of May 14, 2026.

What is the median home sale price on Staten Island in May 2026?

Borough-level median sale price ran $725,000 to $762,000 across Q1 and Q2 2026 reporting, with April 2026 settling at the high end of the range. April was up roughly 2.6% to 4.1% year over year depending on data source. The pace into May has held: well-priced South Shore single-families in Huguenot, Eltingville, Pleasant Plains, and Annadale are clearing in 30 to 45 days. North Shore inventory in St. George, Stapleton, and Tompkinsville is moving slower, with mid-priced North Shore typically taking 80 to 110 days. Luxury homes over $1.2M (Todt Hill, Emerson Hill, Lighthouse Hill) run 90 to 180 days.

How tight is Staten Island inventory in May 2026?

Active SI listings are at 887 to 921 homes, down 26% to 29% from what a balanced market would carry at this median price band. Months of supply sits at 2.6. A balanced market is 5 to 6 months. Anything below 4 months is a seller’s market. Anything below 3 is structurally undersupplied. Staten Island is structurally undersupplied right now, and that is the data point that makes the difference between a buyer winning and a buyer losing in mid-May 2026.

How are buyers financing Staten Island purchases in May 2026?

The Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey put the 30-year fixed at 6.36% as of May 14, 2026, down 1 basis point from the prior week and down 45 basis points year over year. Buyers using FHA at 3.5% down are seeing the mortgage insurance compress their max price by roughly 7% to 10% on Staten Island under-$700K stock. VA-eligible veterans qualify for the 2026 NYC VA limit of $806,500 with zero down. NYC HomeFirst, SONYMA Achieving the Dream, and the First Home Club grant stack can add up to $40,000+ for qualifying first-time buyers in Staten Island.

What is selling fastest in Staten Island in May 2026?

The pattern is consistent across the South Shore: 3-bedroom semi-attached or detached single-families priced $525,000 to $725,000 are clearing fastest, with multiple-offer activity common when staging and photography are professional. 2-family Staten Island homes, especially in Westerleigh, New Springville, and Heartland Village, are selling at 4 to 5 cap to small investors and house-hackers. The slowest segment is luxury single-family over $1.5M, where the buyer pool is thin and price discipline is critical.

What slows down a Staten Island sale in 2026?

Three things. Pricing 3% to 5% above the right comp band still produces 60 to 90 days on market with no offers, then a price drop, then a sale at original-market value with damaged statistics. Outdated kitchens or baths without a credit-to-buyer concession at listing drags pricing down across the board. Inadequate marketing (no professional photography, no video, no targeted social, no neighborhood circle prospecting) costs sellers 1% to 3% of final sale price. The Bridge and Boro Real Estate Team’s circle prospecting playbook for just-sold properties consistently yields 17% to 20% open rates and pulls qualified buyers off the sidelines.

Frequently asked questions about the Staten Island market

Is Staten Island still a seller’s market in May 2026?

Yes. Months of supply at 2.6 is well below balanced, days on market dropped to 57 in April, and inventory is down 26% to 29% from balanced-market norms. Well-priced homes routinely clear in 30 to 45 days with multiple offers.

What is the average Staten Island house price in May 2026?

Median sale price runs $725,000 to $762,000 borough-wide, varying by neighborhood. South Shore (10312, 10309, 10307) trades $625,000 to $850,000 for typical detached single-family. Mid-Island and North Shore vary more, with mid-Island detached in the $625,000 to $900,000 band and North Shore co-op and condo (Grymes Hill, St. George) running $325,000 to $525,000.

How much do I need to make to buy a house on Staten Island in 2026?

A $150,000 household income at the current 6.36% Freddie Mac rate and a 36% DTI cap supports a home price of $625,000 to $700,000 with 20% down, comfortably under the $1M NYS mansion tax floor. Add NYC HomeFirst ($40,000 grant for qualifying buyers) and the stack can push affordability into the high $700s. Full affordability breakdown is here.

How does Staten Island compare to Brooklyn in May 2026?

Staten Island borough median $725K to $762K versus Brooklyn borough median $1.02M. Staten Island DOM 57 days versus Brooklyn 76 days. Months of supply 2.6 SI versus Brooklyn rising from spring lows. See the Brooklyn companion update for full borough comparison.

Where should I list my Staten Island home in 2026 to maximize sale price?

Pricing should be set 1% to 2% below the right comp band to drive multiple offers in the first 14 days, then negotiate up. Professional photography, video walkthrough, professional staging, and targeted circle prospecting to neighbors are the four levers that move a sale price from market to over-ask. The Bridge and Boro Real Estate Team executes all four on every Staten Island listing.

Ready to sell or buy on Staten Island in 2026?

Companion reading: Brooklyn Real Estate Market Update May 2026 • Best Realtor on Staten Island – Joseph Ranola • Work With Joseph