The Real Cost of Holding On to Your NYC Home Too Long

by Latisha Dash

If you’ve been thinking about selling your Queens, Brooklyn, or Long Island home but keep saying, “Maybe next year,” you could be costing yourself serious money.

Here’s why waiting too long to sell can backfire:

Deferred maintenance = higher costs. That roof repair you put off? Buyers notice. And they deduct it from their offers.
Shrinking buyer pools. As interest rates stay high, fewer buyers qualify for higher-priced homes. Waiting could mean fewer offers.
Equity risk. The longer you wait, the more market conditions can shift against you. Don’t assume values always rise.
Life costs. Carrying property taxes, insurance, and utilities on a home you no longer want or need can eat into your profits.

👉 Seller Tip: The “perfect time” is when your life goals align with market opportunity—not when you’ve wrung every last dollar out of your home.

Sometimes, selling sooner means walking away with more peace, more cash, and more freedom.