Brownstones on Union Street, Park Slope, Brooklyn

Kings County, New York

Selling a home in Brooklyn

Brooklyn is our home base, and we price homes here block by block, from Bay Ridge row houses to Park Slope brownstones and Marine Park brick homes.

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About Brooklyn

New York City's most populous borough

Brooklyn is Kings County, and with 2,736,074 residents in the 2020 Census it is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs. It stretches from the East River waterfront in Williamsburg and DUMBO down to Coney Island, Sheepshead Bay and Jamaica Bay, and from the Narrows at Bay Ridge east to the Queens line. Prospect Park, Brooklyn Bridge Park, the Coney Island boardwalk and Marine Park are among its best-known open spaces.

The housing is as varied as anywhere in the country: brownstone and limestone row houses, wood-frame and brick two-families, detached houses in places like Dyker Heights and Midwood, prewar co-op buildings, and new condo towers. Much of Brooklyn is within walking distance of a subway line, and several neighborhoods are protected historic districts with their own rules for exterior work.

Seller guides in Brooklyn

Bay Ridge Dyker Heights Bensonhurst Midwood Sheepshead Bay Marine Park Park Slope Williamsburg

Homes in Brooklyn

What sellers should know

How you sell depends on what you own. A co-op sale needs board approval of the buyer. A condo sale needs the offering plan and building financials. A one- to three-family house needs a certificate of occupancy that matches its use, and buyers will look up its permits and violations. In historic districts, exterior work needs Landmarks approval, and near Jamaica Bay, Sheepshead Bay and Gravesend Bay, flood zones shape insurance and disclosures.

Pull your records early

Deeds are on ACRIS, permits and the certificate of occupancy are at the Department of Buildings, and tax bills are with the Department of Finance. Having them ready speeds up the contract stage.

Know your special rules

ZoLa shows whether your lot is in a special zoning district like Bay Ridge, Ocean Parkway or Sheepshead Bay, and the LPC map shows historic districts.

Check your flood zone

Coastal blocks in southern Brooklyn can be in a FEMA flood zone. New York now requires house sellers to disclose flood risk, history and insurance.

Plan for transfer taxes

Budget for the city's Real Property Transfer Tax and New York State's transfer tax, which sellers normally pay. Your attorney will calculate the exact amounts.

For landowners

Building on your land in Brooklyn

In Brooklyn, the NYC Department of Buildings issues permits, and ZoLa shows each lot's zoning, including special districts like Bay Ridge, Ocean Parkway and Sheepshead Bay. Since December 2024, one- and two-family homes can add one ancillary dwelling unit, but backyard units are barred in historic districts and below-grade units in high-risk flood areas; the Landmarks Preservation Commission must approve exterior work in historic districts. An architect should confirm what any specific lot allows.

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Selling a home in Brooklyn: questions

How much is the NYC transfer tax when I sell in Brooklyn?

For a one- to three-family house, condo unit or co-op apartment, the city's Real Property Transfer Tax is 1% of the price up to $500,000 and 1.425% above that. New York State's transfer tax is charged on top and is normally paid by the seller.

Who pays the mansion tax?

New York State's additional 1% mansion tax applies to residences selling for $1 million or more, and the buyer pays it. If the buyer does not pay or is exempt, the seller must.

How do I challenge my assessment before I sell?

The Department of Finance mails a Notice of Property Value each year. You can challenge it with the NYC Tax Commission by March 15 for Tax Class 1 homes and March 1 for other classes.

Can I sell with tenants in place?

Yes, many Brooklyn two- and three-family houses sell occupied. Buyers will ask for leases and rent records, and some units may be rent-stabilized, so talk with your attorney first.

Official sources for Brooklyn sellers

Nearby

Bay Ridge Park Slope Williamsburg Queens