Queens, New York
Selling a home in Forest Hills
From Queens Boulevard co-ops to the Tudor houses of Forest Hills Gardens, each Forest Hills home has its own set of rules a buyer will ask about.
Get my free home valueAbout Forest Hills
Forest Hills Gardens, Austin Street and the LIRR
Forest Hills sits in central Queens along Queens Boulevard, between Rego Park and Kew Gardens, with Flushing Meadows-Corona Park to the northeast and Forest Park to the south. Austin Street and Queens Boulevard carry the shops. The E, F, M and R trains stop at Forest Hills-71st Avenue, with more stops at 67th Avenue and 75th Avenue, and the LIRR's Forest Hills station gives a direct rail trip to Manhattan.
The best-known part of the neighborhood is Forest Hills Gardens, a 142-acre planned community laid out in 1909 by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. with architect Grosvenor Atterbury. The Gardens has its own covenants and restrictions, and the Forest Hills Gardens Corporation requires an application for all exterior work, from windows and fences to painting and pointing. The West Side Tennis Club and Forest Hills Stadium are next to the Gardens.
Homes in Forest Hills
What sellers should know
Forest Hills has large prewar and postwar co-op buildings along Queens Boulevard and the side streets, condos, brick and stucco Tudor-style houses in Forest Hills Gardens, and detached houses in the area north of Queens Boulevard. Co-op sellers need board approval for their buyer, and many buildings have their own sublet and financing rules. Gardens sellers should give buyers the Corporation's rules up front, because they shape any future renovation.
Share the Gardens rules early
If your home is in Forest Hills Gardens, give buyers the Forest Hills Gardens Corporation's architectural regulations. Any exterior work needs an application, and buyers planning changes will want to know.
Prepare the co-op board package
Queens Boulevard co-ops each have their own board requirements, down payment rules and fees. Have the building's financials and rules ready before you list.
Mention both rail options
Being near both the subway at 71st Avenue and the LIRR station is a strong selling point. Say how many minutes you are from each.
Document original features
Leaded windows, slate roofs and original woodwork are what Gardens buyers look for. Photograph them and note any restoration.
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Selling a home in Forest Hills: questions
Do I need the Gardens Corporation's approval to sell?
The Corporation's application process covers exterior work, not the sale itself. But unapproved past changes can come up, so gather records of any work you did and its approvals before you list.
How long does co-op approval take?
It depends on the building. The board reviews the buyer's application and usually interviews them. A complete, well-organized package is the best way to avoid delays.
What transfer taxes apply in Queens?
The same as the rest of New York City: the city's Real Property Transfer Tax is 1% up to $500,000 and 1.425% above for homes, condos and co-ops, plus New York State's transfer tax.
Official sources for Forest Hills sellers
- National Park Service: Forest Hills Gardens (Olmsted-designed community)
- Forest Hills Gardens Corporation: architectural regulations
- NYC Real Property Transfer Tax (RPTT)
- ACRIS property records (NYC Department of Finance)
- NYC ZoLa zoning map
- NYC Department of Buildings