2025 Year in Review: Shallini Mehra, Meridian Investment Sales

What accomplishment, milestone, project or transaction stood out for you or your firm in 2025? 

Our team successfully closed the sale of a distinguished pre-war elevator building in Jackson Heights for $18.2 million. The property comprises 95 residential units along with two medical offices. In today’s market, many transactions falter under the weight of extensive due diligence and a challenging regulatory environment. However, the long-term owners’ diligent stewardship and exceptional operational management ensured the building and records were in outstanding condition, ultimately enabling the deal to move forward and reach completion.

What emerging trends or shifts will shape opportunities for you, your firm, or market sector in 2026? 

The 2019 HSTPA rent laws, coupled with an increasingly stringent regulatory environment, have made it difficult for landlords to profitably own and operate these management-intensive properties. Rent restrictions and rising interest rates have driven valuations down by 30–50%. While this correction presents an attractive low-basis entry point for buyers, the pool of investors capable of navigating such conditions is expected to remain smaller than in prior years. As a result, transactions will continue, but within a more limited set of operators.