A strong first quarter in terms of apartment sales and contract activity has invited sellers to re-list top-of-the-market homes with the hopes of luring increasingly-covetous buyers. Manhattan's apartment inventory has steadily dwindled over the last several months and a dearth of new condo construction suggests that higher prices may loom on the horizon. With condo closing price down 6% year-over-year on a price per square foot basis, and mortgage rates still relatively low, bargain-hunters are out in full force to capitalize on Manhattan's still-soft luxury market.

We have been scouring NYC listings for some time now and it's been interesting to see how decor tastes have changed. Clean, white-box and highly functional interiors have taken a backseat to warmer, more inviting spaces that are splashed with colorful talking pieces, plantings, and natural materials. Surely, it is no surprise that during the pandemic many residents invested in making their homes more comfortable, characterful, and inspiring.

A more recent shift is that fully virtually-staged apartments have become seen as off-putting due to buyers recognizing their degree of disingenuity. In response, professional stagers have become more adept in making empty apartments seem more like a lived-in home instead of a furniture showroom.

Below are our picks for the most stunning new listings to hit the market in recent weeks. These apartments enjoy sweeping views, expansive interiors, and top-of-the-line appliances and finishes. However, such elegance comes at a price out of reach to most New Yorkers.

From the Listing: Perched atop a circa-1926 limestone tower and crowned with original historical details, PH1 at 88 & 90 Lex is a one-of-a-kind, 3,213-square-foot four-bedroom, four-and-a-half-bath corner residence that redefines classic New York living. Thoughtfully designed by architect Workshop/APD, this residence offers a sprawling layout with a gorgeous 1,124 square foot wrap-around terrace lined with pre-war copper detailing. PH1 boasts light-filled living spaces that include an expansive living room, corner dining room, and open kitchen, with ceilings up to 14 feet and views that span One World Trade Center, the Empire State Building, and New York Life Building. See floor plan and full details here.

From the Listing: No attention to detail was spared throughout this expansive home in the sky, with custom millwork, wallpaper, lighting, fixtures, and technology in every room, it is sure to be one-of-a-kind. Upon entry, you are greeted with a massive, mirrored foyer fit for greeting your guests and providing privacy and virtually zero hallway noise throughout the entire unit. The separate kitchen has been fitted with stainless steel appliances and paneling for a chic appearance and includes a wine fridge, Miele refrigerator, Miele stove, plenty of cabinet space, and built-ins for all of your organizational needs. Working from home? Change your scenery daily and enjoy dining in the separate breakfast room or dining area. See floor plan and full details here.

From the Listing: Enjoy spectacular panoramic views from the 47th floor of this stunning renovated luxurious corner 4 bedrooms 5 full bathroom Condo apartment with a home office at the amenity-rich Galleria centrally located on Billionaire's Row only a few blocks to Central Park.

Enter this majestic home through a spacious foyer leading to a sun-flooded open corner great living room with two exposures and views for miles which leads seamlessly to an open dining room framed by solarium windows. The dining area easily accommodates seating for 10 people and features a generous granite dining counter for three which leads to a chef's kitchen featuring new wood cabinetry, Caesarstone countertops, mirrored backsplash, and a suite of top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances (Wolf double wall oven, 6-burner gas cooktop, Miele dishwasher, and two oversized refrigerators). See floor plan and full details here.

From the Listing: This chic full-floor Penthouse boasts a huge private terrace, immaculate modern finishes, 10' ceilings, and approximately 2,505 square feet of interior space. Soak in the sun, dine or entertain on your oversized, private roof terrace of approximately 1425 square feet (per floor plan draftsman) accessible by elevator or from the planted glass atrium within the apartment. This spectacular terrace boasts open exposures, a gas grill, and approved and permitted plans for a hot tub and full landscaping. No expense has been spared to create a sophisticated and luxurious 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom home. The Great Room is an impressive and expansive space with south, west, and north views looking out over TriBeCa, the Financial District, and peeks of the Hudson River. There are oversized windows, a beautiful custom Cafe Argento marble mantelpiece, ribbed concrete ceilings with a burnished bronze decorative finish and the glass atrium that leads to the terrace. See floor plan and full details here.

From the Listing: A dazzling SoHo penthouse boasting designer finishes and a stunning rooftop terrace, this one-of-a-kind 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom home is the quintessence of Soho living.

Features of this 2,180-square-foot condo with an additional 779-square-foot private rooftop terrace includes beautiful hardwood floors, breathtaking barrel-vaulted redbrick ceilings, a steel-framed floating staircase, exposed metal columns, ducts, pipes, and beams, automated Lutron lighting, custom light fixtures, multi-zone A/C, imported Italian built-in closets, a laundry room, space for a home office, Bang and Olufsen audio/visual integration, and a glass-enclosed 100-bottle wine room with backlighting and temperature control.

A lovely foyer adorned with a full bathroom and a pair of coat closets blends seamlessly into an expansive, open-concept living room, home office, dining room, and kitchen. The living area has an incredible built-in wall unit and northwestern exposure, while the kitchen is equipped with an eat-in waterfall island, black marble countertops, a matching backsplash, custom cabinets, and a suite of high-end appliances. See floor plan and full details here.

From the Listing: Chic designer style and extraordinary sunlight fill every inch of this recently renovated convertible three-bedroom, two-bathroom condo in an ultra-desirable Dumbo. With large windows facing north, west, and south, you'll enjoy fantastic natural light in every room of this 1,330-square-foot loft residence. Pale hardwood floors and soaring 11-foot ceilings underscore the bright and airy ambiance, while stylish light fixtures make a bold designer statement throughout. Enjoy magnificent entertaining or relaxed daily life in the expansive corner great room featuring a stately decorative fireplace and a private balcony overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge approach. See floor plan and full details here.

From the Listing: A private key-locked elevator opens into this magnificent home, showcasing city and river views from the expansive floor-to-ceiling glass window wall and the large private terrace, one of two private outdoor spaces. An abundance of natural light streams into this unique space. This renovated/ turn-key unit is currently configured as a 2 bedroom, bonus room + home office, 2.5 bathroom plan, but can easily be converted into a 3 bedroom + home office, 3.5 bathroom home. See floor plan and full details here.

From the Listing: This stunning 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom waterfront duplex loft perched on the fifth floor of a boutique elevator coop offers architectural detailing rarely found in today's market with a private roof deck and undisrupted views overlooking Brooklyn Bridge and the Manhattan skyline.

Make your way into the expansive and grand Great Room spanning 31' x 24' to find dramatic 17'9" foot ceiling heights, two cast iron columns, original wooden beams, exposed brick walls, oak floors, an original and functional Olympic wood-burning stove, and five oversized south and west-facing windows, three of which look out directly towards Manhattan. See floor plan and full details here.

From the Listing: A rare opportunity, this 2,554-square-foot garden + parlor floor duplex condo in a beautiful 22-foot wide Carroll Gardens brownstone has it all. This gorgeous four-bedroom home was completely redesigned and customized, providing a loft-like living room and dining room, and a modern open kitchen on the parlor floor, along with a gracious entry foyer. A separate guest room/library/fourth bedroom off the foyer has full height parlor floor windows and a wood-burning fireplace with a beautiful marble mantle, with a sleek glass-tiled full bathroom off the hall. Custom millwork and deep closets line the entry foyer, and space opens up with 11-foot ceilings and a south-facing wall of windows onto the deck and garden below. See floor plan and full details here.

From the Listing: This one-of-a-kind home overlooking Gramercy Park blends elements of an open loft with a classic Manhattan apartment in a circa 1900 townhouse with an elevator and tastefully appointed public space. Enter into a warm and welcoming book-lined foyer that leads directly into a great room centered around an oversized wall of windows. Light fills the apartment from dawn to dusk and two sets of triple-paned French doors open to a lovely balcony from which you can practically touch the flora of Gramercy Park. In the winter, the view becomes even more magical with an unobstructed view of the Gramercy Park's towering Calder sculpture, the National Arts Club, and the landmark townhouses of 20th street, ranked by Time Out as Manhattan's most beautiful. Ownership at 48 Gramercy Park North, a beautifully maintained and well managed boutique co-op, comes with the coveted key to Gramercy Park. See floor plan and full details here.

From the Listing: Elevated townhouse living awaits at 133 Fort Greene Place. Elegant and turn-key, this 21-foot-wide, 4,400-square-foot home is meticulously and lovingly renovated from top to bottom. Move-in ready, this house was designed to be a forever home with all of the high-end, modern conveniences of today's luxury home, and is set perfectly on a beautiful tree-lined block in dynamic Fort Greene, Brooklyn.

The beautiful arched front doorway is flanked by original sconces from the Woolworth building. The parlor floor features 10.5-foot ceilings and a west-facing living room with gas fireplace and sleek limestone surround. The living space flows seamlessly into a large dining area with a parallel wet bar and wine refrigerator, and on into the large, open kitchen. Gather around the huge island that anchors the kitchen, which includes Miele appliances and a Sub-Zero refrigerator. Breakfast is served at the large banquette surrounded by oversized bay windows facing east over the garden. A beautiful powder room featuring Calacatta gold-honed marble rounds out this floor. From the kitchen, you step out to the deck leading down to the large, wide-open back yard, ideal for impromptu soccer games, roasting marshmallows in the firepit, or dining alfresco. See floor plan and full details here.

From the Listing: Triple Mint renovation! Classic loft in prime Tribeca location. Beautiful 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath home, includes a 400 square foot landscaped terrace with gas grill station and outdoor shower. The current renovation includes 3 new bathrooms, the addition of a powder room, spectacular new eat-in kitchen, tray ceiling and lighting in the living room, new central a/c system, refinished floors, and new doors throughout. Additional features include 11' ceilings, large skylight in great room and master bath, custom-fitted closets, laundry room with vented dryer, and 2 private storage units. See floor plan and full details here.

From the Listing: Located at the nexus of NoHo, the East Village, and SoHo, 32 East 1st Street has been meticulously designed throughout. Concept Combination Penthouse BC is an incredible light-filled six-bedroom, six- and a half bathroom expansive Penthouse with 3,128 SF of outdoor space, positioned on the top four floors of 32 East 1st Street. This North, South, East and West facing unit features three private terraces with three outdoor kitchens, expansive triple-pane windows with 360-degree views of the downtown and midtown skylines. See floor plan and full details here.

From the Listing: One of only two of its kind in New York City's premier residential building, we proudly offer this exquisite 4 bedroom, 5 1/2 bathroom duplex with about 5,000 square feet. Located on the ideal height and with the best sightline within the building, there are breathtaking views from enormous picture windows in every room. This magnificent apartment is brand new, never lived in, and new to the market. If you are looking for the absolute best, this is it. See floor plan and full details here.

From the Listing: Open, big, protected sunset views in Soho are incredibly rare: The elevation of this penthouse condominium atop The Hohner Building is of collector quality, clearing all of Soho with impressive vistas that span from Downtown Manhattan all the way north past Hudson Yards to Midtown. Equally unusual are the soaring ceilings and south-facing side windows that feature throughout, filling the space with light all day long.

The key-locked elevator opens into this superb home: the living area combines living, dining, and the kitchen, all benefitting from the enormous west-facing windows that frame humanly-scaled panoramic views. A sleek stone-clad gas fireplace makes for the perfect cozy setting to meet with friends and family, even though the proportions of this room are grand. The gracious kitchen is impeccably outfitted with the best quality millwork and appliances, including a wine fridge, with Caesarstone countertops and backsplashes: the combination makes for a highly appealing setting for elegant entertaining. A hallway leads past the powder room and laundry room equipped with a full-sized LG washer/dryer. There are three bedrooms on this floor, one set up as a home office that leads out onto the perfect east-facing breakfast terrace. See floor plan and full details here.

From the Listing: The Pinnacle Penthouse, developed by Alchemy Properties, is New York's preeminent residential offering. Reaching 727 feet high, this five-story home encompasses 9,680 square feet of interior space and a private 408 square foot observatory terrace. Exquisite highlights include 125 windows, 24-foot ceilings, and an in-residence private elevator. Customize this coveted home with magnificent floor plan designs from Thierry W Despont and David Hotson. See floor plan and full details here.

From the Listing: Captivating and ultra-modern. Loft 5N is a 3 -bedroom/3.5-bathroom full-floor home with a private elevator entrance. Perfect and singular, this 4800 square foot luxury loft begins with its entry guided by a custom backlit bookshelf wall that leads easily into the great room. Surrounded and bathed in natural sunlight with custom arched windows, this room features multiple exposures. Imported European oak floors have been added throughout the space as well as custom ceiling beams and lighting by world-renowned Herv Descottes. The adjacent private terrace with its brick archway is accessed by two sets of French doors, completing this most remarkable interior landscape, which has been skillfully designed to accommodate your every desire. See floor plan and full details here.

From the Listing: Magnificent 11-room home at 720 Park, designed by the famous architect, Rosario Candela, one of his most celebrated buildings in New York City. This home has grand room proportions, high ceiling heights, original Candela molding, and four wood-burning fireplaces. The private entry vestibule opens to a large gallery with a large ante-room for coats and a guest powder room. The gorgeous corner living room, with its original molding, wood-burning fireplace, and windows, faces the Park Avenue trees and sunny 70th Street. The connecting library with windows facing the trees on 70th Street has its own wood-burning fireplace and offers serenity and calm. See floor plan and full details here.

From the Listing: Occupying the entire 17th and 18th floors, and spanning 11,655 square feet with views in all directions, from sunrise to sunset, this exquisite duplex feels like a dream. Whether it's a dream for someone who likes cooking, entertaining, enjoying unobstructed views of the Hudson and the city skyline, or an entrepreneur, this palatial home has it all. See floor plan and full details here.

From the Listing: A thoughtfully composed interplay of classical loft living and modern design, this impeccable 2,798 square foot, 3 bedroom, 3 bath home is the epitome of discerning luxury and contemporary taste.

Designed by acclaimed architect, Annabelle Selldorf, the building's stainless steel and glass facade holds a strong corner presence, while captivating light through floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors that line the exterior, allowing for a fluid transition from indoor to outdoor living. AD 100 Architect and Interior Designer, William T. Georgis, has created a rich aesthetic featuring luxurious fabrics and organically shaped pieces that complement the building's minimalist design, balancing sophistication and connoisseurship with seductive comforts. See floor plan and full details here.