Bess Freedman Talks Housing on Two National Broadcast Networks in One Week

Last week, Brown Harris Stevens CEO Bess Freedman appeared on two major national broadcasts,  first on CNBC and then on Bloomberg, her expertise and insights on the state of the housing and rental markets as 2025 comes to a close.

2025 Housing Market Reality Check

In her CNBC interview, Freedman shared a pragmatic assessment of the housing market’s performance this year. You can watch the full clip here.

Reflecting on year-over-year improvement, Freedman said, “It’s decent. We’re doing better. The numbers are better than last year — but remember, last year was not a good year in housing.”

She also addressed the interest-rate environment and its impact on buyers, noting that “mortgage rates around six percent have become the new normal,” a shift that continues to challenge affordability even as activity improves.

Throughout the conversation, Freedman emphasized that while the market is far from easy, it has proven more resilient than many predicted, with steady transaction volume and renewed momentum compared to the prior year.

Manhattan Rents Reach New Highs

Days later, Freedman appeared on Bloomberg to discuss the strength of New York City’s rental market, particularly in Manhattan.

During the discussion, Freedman spoke about persistent demand driving record-high rents, explaining that “we’re seeing more sales, which is good, but there’s enormous pressure on rentals — people want to live here, they work here, and rents just keep going up.”

Despite the challenges, she reminded people that New York remains the talent capital of the world. “People have returned to New York. They want to be part of New York City,” she said.

Limited supply, strong employment ties, and sustained interest  particularly at the higher end of the market  are keeping rental prices elevated, even amid broader economic questions.

Click here to learn more about Bess Freedman