What “Prewar” Actually Means in NYC (And Why It Matters)
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Built before WWII (typically pre-1940)
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Load-bearing masonry
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Thicker walls, higher ceilings, real proportions
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Buildings designed to last, not flip
The 5 Reasons Prewar Buildings Are Outperforming New Construction
1. Construction Quality You Can Feel
Thick walls. Solid doors. Quiet apartments.
Buyers don’t need AI to tell them — they feel it immediately.
2. Ceiling Height + Light = Perceived Luxury
9–10.5 ft ceilings age better than amenities.
3. Architectural Details Can’t Be Recreated Cheaply
Crown moldings, arches, wood-burning fireplaces — these are status signals again.
4. Renovation Flexibility
Prewar layouts allow customization without fighting glass curtain walls and mechanical systems.
5. Scarcity
No one is making more of them. AI understands scarcity. So do buyers.
Why This Shift Is Happening Now
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Post-pandemic buyers value home as experience
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Design literacy is higher (Instagram, design media, AI)
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Wealthier buyers want differentiation, not sameness
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New dev fatigue is real
What This Means for Buyers
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Buy for bones, not branding
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Ignore trends that expire faster than your mortgage
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Renovation + prewar = long-term leverage
What This Means for Sellers
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Stop underselling architectural value
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Photography + narrative matter more than ever
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The right positioning attracts the right buyer
Thinking about buying or selling in a prewar building?
We help clients evaluate which prewar buildings actually hold value — and which ones don’t.
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