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luxurious Upper East Side co-op, known for its high-profile buyers like journalist Barbara Walters and Disney president Michael Ovitz, has secured the priciest contract in Manhattan last week. The 14th-floor apartment at 944 Fifth Avenue, which spans approximately 5,000 square feet with four bedrooms and six bathrooms, was listed for $29 million after being reduced from its initial asking price of $35 million.

    The co-op, designed in 1925 and converted to a cooperative in 1953, offers stunning views of Central Park, a private landing, and wood-burning fireplaces. Amenities include a gym and resident manager, with the board allowing buyers to finance half of their purchase with a mortgage and use their apartments as pieds-a-terre.

    The pending deal is part of a surge in luxury sales in Manhattan, with 37 homes asking $4 million or more signing contracts between December 16 and 22. This number surpassed the previous period by six deals. The second priciest home to secure a contract was a unit at Extell Development's Central Park Tower, which asked $16 million for its 3,200 square-foot condo with three bedrooms and three bathrooms.

    The combined asking price of these luxury homes totals $271 million, with an average price of $7.3 million and a median of $5.5 million. The typical home spent over 660 days on the market and was discounted by 10% from its original listing price.