Category Archives: HamiltonHeights

Only 4 Harlem townhouses sold this year for $4 million or more

So far this year, only 4 Harlem townhouses have sold for $4 million or more. One of the four townhouses broke a record in when it sold in February of this year for $5.1 million. That was a renovated home at 72 Hamilton terrace. 

72 Hamilton terrace sold for a record breaking $5.1 million in early 2018.

Beyond that, there have been 3 other townhouses that sold for $4 million and up. 251 West 138th street, a 20 foot wide townhouse on Striver’s Row sold also sold in February for $4 million. In April and May, the other two townhouses- 139 W 120th street and 455 Lenox ave, sold.

However, according to the July Harlem townhouse report, there are 17 buildings listed at $4 million and up. With the average per month sale rate for this price point being less than 1 per month, the number of months it will take to sell the existing inventory is 30 months which means that the $4 million and up price range in Harlem is oversupplied and in a buyer’s market.

The Author-  Brian Silvestry , a licensed real estate broker, has been selling residential and commercial real estate since 1999. He has sold in every neighborhood from Battery Park City to Washington Heights.

 

 

Harlem townhouse shortage below $2 millon

According to the July Harlem townhouse report, not one townhouse below $2 million was listed for sale. In July,  2 of the 4 sales recorded in the Central Harlem,Hamilton Heights townhouse market, were below $2 million. That brings the number of available properties below $2mm to only 6 out of over 80 listings. I am seeing a little bit of a tug of war as sellers priced at around $2.3-2.6 now begin to see the market may not sustain these prices for their Harlem properties  and probably not for 4 family homes above 125th street.

The Author-  Brian Silvestry , a licensed real estate broker, has been selling residential and commercial real estate since 1999. He has sold in every neighborhood from Battery Park City to Washington Heights.

Thinking of buying a Harlem townhouse around $2 million?

Though inventory has increased in the Harlem townhouse market in the last few months, the under $ 2 million range is still experiencing  a shortage of inventory. Currently, there are 12 townhouses priced at $2.25 million or less but all but 4 of them are SROs. The four houses that are not SROs are all 4 family homes and the two that are priced at $2.25 million and $2 million  are excellent values. One of the other 4 family homes has a contract out and the other one has a rent controlled tenant in place in one unit paying $200.

At the next level of price, between $2.25 million and $2.5 million you will find 11 townhouses for sale and only one with major issues. The rest are more or less intact townhouses close to move in condition but in most cases not renovated. As days on the market increases the lower tier of the price may become more crowded as some of prices are lowered over the next few months.

June Harlem townhouse report

July mid month Harlem townhouse report

The Author-  Brian Silvestry , a licensed real estate broker, has been selling residential and commercial real estate since 1999. He has sold in every Manhattan market from Battery Park City to Washington Heights.

423 West 147th street apt 2 rented

A 1 bedroom with a den in a brownstone between St Nicholas avenue and Convent avenue was rented for $2,350. The apartment was in the market for less than 20 days and was rented without any concessions. The 900 sqft +/- space featured high ceilings, fireplace mantels, plenty of woodwork and pocket doors.

The Author-  Brian Silvestry , a licensed real estate broker, has been selling residential and commercial real estate since 1999. He has sold in every Manhattan market from Battery Park City to Washington Heights.

 

 

 

9 New Harlem townhouse listings so far in July

So far in the first half of July, we have seen 9 new townhouse listings come to the market in Harlem. That is fairly in line with the number of new listings that we saw come to market in April and May. June seemed to bring a pause in the rising inventory. The least expensive Harlem townhouse brought to the market was listed at $2.3 million but a recent 4 family lowered it’s ask to $2 million.

June Harlem townhouse report

The Author-  Brian Silvestry , a licensed real estate broker, has been selling residential and commercial real estate since 1999. He has sold in every Manhattan market from Battery Park City to Washington Heights.

Harlem neighbors trying to prevent Methadone clinic from opening

Neighbors in the Hamilton Heights/Sugar Hill historic district gathered to protest the potential opening of yet another drug treatment facility in Harlem. According to officials 13 of the 29 methadone clinics in Manhattan are located in Harlem. The operator, Argus Community Inc. needs to get a license from the State to operate a methadone clinic and neighbors are trying to prevent that from happening. The building in question 730 Saint Nicholas avenue was purchased for $ 4.3 million in August of 2017.

Why does an operator buy such an expensive property in a landmark, residential district to convert to a methadone clinic?

Full coverage from Patch.com

Previous coverage

Thinking of moving to Hamilton Heights?

CurbedNY takes a look at the Hamilton Heights neighborhood and gives you the lowdown on it.

Edgecombe avenue

I agree that it is a wonderful place to live with some of Manhattan’s most beautiful tree lined blocks. If you are looking to purchase very little is available below $2 million right now. For a property that needs work but you can live in, the starting point is just north of $2 million. Recently, I had a chance to show property  to a buyer client that had many historic details in place and was a 2 family home that could have been purchased for $2.1 million.

Continue reading Thinking of moving to Hamilton Heights?

Why does a Harlem 2 family sell for more than a 4 family?

If you examine listings on the market in Harlem, you see a price difference between a 4 family and a 2 family.  Why is that?

One reason is that the buyer for a 2 family is typically look at the purchase to gain more space and perhaps live on 3 floors and rent the garden level apartment. In a 4 family, the most common layout is a floor thru and that might be a 1 or 2 bedroom which is not going to address the space needs of a primary residence buyer. It is going to be an interesting offering for an investor or someone who wants to buy instead of renting. But these are not need based buyers so they will shop for a better price.

Another reason is that a 4 family may have been converted from SRO or some other use and the historic details that make a Harlem townhouse so appealing may not be present. Certainly, that is not always the case but many times it is. For example, I evaluated a solid 4 family townhouse in Hamilton Heights for an owner and it was 4 well maintained 1 bedrooms with a value of around $2 million more or less. A similar 2 family home in the same area that has many original details in place but in inferior condition is asking $2.3 million, or 15% more.

The Author-  Brian Silvestry , a licensed real estate broker, has been selling residential and commercial real estate since 1999. He has sold in every neighborhood from Battery Park City to Washington Heights.

 

June Harlem townhouse report

The June Harlem townhouse report is here and it shows less activity both in number of listings, and new sales. Only 3 sales were made during the month of June in the Hamilton Heights and Central Harlem market. 262 Lenox avenue was the most expensive sale which transferred for $2.625 million. Two SRO townhouses were sold. 102 Edgecombe avenue transferred for $1.7 million while 429 W 146 street sold for $1.645 million.

The least expensive Harlem townhouse in the market is 361 West 116th street which is being offered at $1,699,000 and is being delivered with 4 tenants at closing and without the certificate of no harassment.

June listing data

# new listings Low price High price Contracts Sales
8 $1,825,000 $4,700,000 3 3
#Total  listings Inventory
81 27 months

Harlem townhouse May report

In both April and May, nearly 20 houses were put in the market as sellers sprung into action but without the slow amount of sales, it will take quite a while to deal with all of this inventory. This means more price reductions on the way. 

The Author-  Brian Silvestry , a licensed real estate broker, has been selling residential and commercial real estate since 1999. He has sold in every neighborhood from Battery Park City to Washington Heights.

Take a VR Tour of 423 W 147th street

423 West 147th street apartment 2 is now for rent for $2300. You can see a VR Tour below. The asking rent is $2,300 for this 1 bedroom with den/office on one of the most beautiful blocks in Hamilton Heights.

Listing details here

The Author-  Brian Silvestry , a licensed real estate broker, has been selling residential and commercial real estate since 1999. He has sold in every neighborhood from Battery Park City to Washington Heights.