What is an Estate Sale? Hidden potential at lower prices

By CityRealty Staff | From Get To Know Monday, March 3, 2025

521 Park Avenue, #11B (Douglas Elliman(

When browsing New York real estate listings, you may come across the phrase “estate sale” attached to a home with an unusually low asking price. While buyers from other parts of the country might associate this term with a high-end garage sale, in New York, it means the property is being sold by the estate of a deceased owner—often their heirs.

For some buyers, the idea of moving into a home with a recent death carries an emotional hesitation. However, the bigger concern is often the apartment’s condition. Many estate sale properties have not been updated in decades, featuring dated decor, aging appliances, and infrastructure in need of serious upgrades. This is why listings frequently urge buyers to “bring your architect”—while the initial asking price may be low, the cost of renovations can be substantial.

Beyond aesthetics, purchasing an estate sale property often requires extra time and legal assistance. In some cases, the estate may list the home before all legal matters are fully settled, potentially delaying the closing process. Buyers can still conduct inspections, but unlike traditional sales, estate sales are typically sold as-is, with no room for negotiating repairs or updates. If title claims or inheritance disputes arise, the process can become even more complex—leading Brick Underground to note that “what you save on asking price, you may well pay for in the time, effort, and cost it takes in navigating a sale with attorney involvement.”

Yet, for the right buyer, estate sales present an opportunity. Some appreciate the history, location, and character of these homes, while others relish the challenge of restoring a prewar gem or modernizing a space to their taste. Below, we highlight estate sale listings in Manhattan and Brooklyn neighborhoods, offering the chance to craft a dream home at a lower price than typically found on the market.

Select Estate Listings on the Market

251 Seaman Avenue, #6A
$355,000 (-2.7%)

Inwood | Cooperative | 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath | 800 ft²

251 Seaman Avenue, #6A (Coldwell Banker Warburg)

From the Listing: Looking for a quiet, peaceful place to live. Inwood Hill is the place to be. Apartment 6A, a corner apartment on the top floor of a lovely co-op, is bright and sunny. It faces an open sky towards the north and east. The apartment is an estate sale so could use a little love, mostly cosmetic. The building has a live in super, a laundry room, storage cages and a secure package area. See floor plan and full details here.

205 East 63rd Street, #14D
$550,000

Lenox Hill | Cooperative | 2 Bedrooms, 2 Baths | 1,335 ft²

205 East 63rd Street, #14D (Corcoran Group)

From the Listing: This is an exceptional opportunity to create your dream home in the vibrant heart of the Upper East Side. Offering an expansive 1,335 sq. ft. of space, this 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartment boasts custom built-ins, and dual exposures, and is freshly painted, presenting a blank canvas with limitless potential. Bring your contractor since this residence in ORIGINAL, ESTATE CONDITION, offering the perfect foundation to design a custom oasis tailored to your lifestyle. See floor plan and full details here.

170 West 81st Street, #5C
$575,000

Broadway Corridor | Cooperative | 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath

170 West 81st Street, #5C (City Sphere)

From the Listing: An especially spacious one bedroom apartment with high ceilings and windows in every room. This is an estate sale and a great opportunity to make this home your own. The bedroom is king-sized and large enough for a walk-in closet, the kitchen could be combined with the living room to create a massive open-concept space, perfect for any occasion. See floor plan and full details here.

12 Beekman Place, #2F
$615,000

Beekman/Sutton Place | Cooperative | 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath | 1,000 ft²

12 Beekman Place, #2F (Compass)

From the Listing: Bring your Architect &Designer! This sun-drenched one-bedroom apartment, boasting over approx 1,000 sq. ft., is a canvas waiting for your personal touch. The charming original parquet floors still exude character and warmth.The spacious windowed kitchen offers ample counter and cabinet space, perfect for culinary creations. The expansive 30-foot living room provides the ideal setting for a media area, while the dining alcove is perfectly suited for your entertainment needs See floor plan and full details here.

Twelve Seventy Fifth Avenue, #11M
$775,000

East Harlem | Cooperative | 2 Bedrooms, 1 Bath

Twelve Seventy Fifth Avenue, #11M (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)

From the Listing: For just $775,000, you can purchase an 11th floor updated two bedroom apartment on 5th Avenue with a partial park view, East and South exposures and outstanding natural light in a full-service building with the low maintenance of just $1,544 a month. See floor plan and full details here.

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One Beekman, #705
$795,000 (-3.6%)

Beekman/Sutton Place | Cooperative | 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath | 950 ft²

One Beekman, #705 (Brown Harris Stevens Residential Sales LLC)

From the Listing: This rarely available, one-bedroom aerie in estate condition offers private townhouse living with the services and amenities of prestigious One Beekman Place. No financing allowed. See floor plan and full details here.

161 East 75th Street, #2E
$850,000

Lenox Hill | Cooperative | 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath

161 East 75th Street, #2E (Compass)

From the Listing: Bring your architect to this rare and special one (1) bedroom home in this boutique pre-war (1910) townhouse cooperative apartment in estate condition. Located on a beautiful tree-lined street between Lexington and Third Avenues overlooking stately carriage houses, this ideal pied-a-terre or full-time residence combines the elegance and old-world charm of townhouse living with the conveniences and community offered by a cooperative. See floor plan and full details here.

The Opera, #7A
$899,000

Broadway Corridor | Cooperative | 2 Bedrooms, 2 Baths

The Opera, #7A (Compass)

From the Listing: Do not miss this rare opportunity to transform a 2-bed, 2-bath home in the heart of the Upper West Side! Welcome to Apartment 7A, a spacious residence with endless potential. Currently in estate condition, this home is a blank canvas, ready for a full renovation to bring your vision to life. Situated in one of the city’s most vibrant neighborhoods, this pre-war gem offers incredible possibilities for creating your dream home. See floor plan and full details here.

167 East 67th Street, #PHA
$995,000

Lenox Hill | Cooperative | 1 Bedroom, 1 Bath | 800 ft²

167 East 67th Street, #PHA (Corcoran Group)

From the Listing: ESTATE SALE! First time on the market since 1960! BRING YOUR ARCHITECT/CONTRACTOR! Rarely available PENTHOUSE with 3 terraces with South/West/North exposures. BRIGHT! Two large sliding glass doors allow tons of light to flood the apartment. Only 1 other apartment on the Penthouse Level - very private. See floor plan and full details here.

860 Fifth Avenue, #7F
$1,175,000

Park/Fifth Ave. to 79th St. | Cooperative | 2 Bedrooms, 2 Baths | 1,350 ft²

860 Fifth Avenue, #7F (Stephen P Wald Real Estate Associates Inc)

From the Listing: AVENUE'S BEST ESTATE SALE OPPORTUNITY: BRING OFFERS/MUST SELL. This beautifully proportioned Two Bedroom, Two Bathroom home features a welcoming Entry Foyer which adjoins the separate Dining Area just next to your oversized Living Room with lovely north facing townhouse views. See floor plan and full details here.

125 East 63rd Street, #2B
$1,200,000 (-11.1%)

Park/Fifth Ave. to 79th St. | Cooperative | 2 Bedrooms, 3 Baths

125 East 63rd Street, #2B (Compass)

From the Listing: PLEASE NOTE THE FIRST YEAR'S MAINTENANCE IS INCLUDED WITH THE SALE.

Welcome to this sunny, south-facing pre-war Classic 6-room apartment in well-maintained estate condition. A gracious foyer leads to the warm and inviting living room with a working wood-burning fireplace, high beamed ceilings, and stunning hardwood floors. Handsome folding French doors open to the den/second bedroom complete with built-in bookshelves and a full bathroom off the bedroom hallway. An exceptional value. See floor plan and full details here.

Astor Terrace, #8H
$1,610,000 (-5%)

Yorkville | Condominium | 2 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths | 1,360 ft²

Astor Terrace, #8H (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)

From the Listing: Convertible 3 bedroom full service condo apartment now available for under $1200 per sqft. YOUR MASTERPIECE AWAITS! This estate sale offers a unique, blank canvas opportunity to create your own custom dream home at the renowned Astor Terrace building on East 93rd Street in Yorkville. See floor plan and full details here.

12 East 88th Street, #9C
$2,225,000

Carnegie Hill | Condominium | 2 Bedrooms, 2 Baths | 1,375 ft²

12 East 88th Street, #9C (Compass)

From the Listing: Create your Carnegie Hill dream home in this sprawling two-bedroom, two-bathroom residence featuring inviting prewar proportions and an elegant layout in a beautifully converted Rosario Candela building just inches from Fifth Avenue and Central Park. See floor plan and full details here.

450 West End Avenue, #5B
$2,499,000

Riverside Dr./West End Ave. | Cooperative | 3 Bedrooms, 2 Baths | 1,930 ft²

450 West End Avenue, #5B (Compass)

From the Listing: This estate sale offers a spacious and elegant Classic-6 corner unit co-op at 450 West End Avenue. The pre-war residence features three bedrooms, two bathrooms, nearly 2,000 square feet of space, and charming details like herringbone floors, beamed ceilings, a formal dining room, and a sunken living room stretching approximately 26 feet. The unit includes a washer/dryer, generous closet space, and allows pets.

Located in a prestigious full-service building, amenities include a furnished rooftop deck with 360-degree water and park views, a 24-hour doorman, private storage, a bike room, and laundry facilities. Pied-à-terre purchases are now permitted, and flexible buying structures such as gifting, co-purchasing, and guarantors are allowed. See floor plan and full details here.

310 West 86th Street, #3A
$2,595,000

Riverside Dr./West End Ave. | Cooperative | 4 Bedrooms, 3 Baths

310 West 86th Street, #3A (Brown Harris Stevens Residential Sales LLC)

From the Listing: Estate Sale of an Enormous Pre-War 4-Bedroom Residence. This is the first offering of an extraordinary, sunlit, and elegant pre-World War I four-bedroom home filled with historic charm. With soaring 10-foot ceilings, abundant natural light, and unobstructed views, the classic layout seamlessly blends comfortable everyday living with effortless entertaining. See floor plan and full details here.

521 Park Avenue, #11B
$2,695,000 (-6.9%)

Park/Fifth Ave. to 79th St. | Condominium | 3 Bedrooms, 2 Baths | 1,468 ft²

521 Park Avenue, #11B (Douglas Elliman Real Estate)

From the Listing: Welcome to 521 Park Ave, Unit 11B, an expansive 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartment that embodies the essence of luxurious urban living in the heart of Manhattan's prestigious Upper East Side. UNIT IS IN ESTATE CONDITION. See floor plan and full details here.

24 Central Park South, #5W
$2,600,000 (-3.7%)

Midtown West | Cooperative | 3 Bedrooms, Unknown Baths | 1,825 ft²

24 Central Park South, #5W (Sothebys International Realty)

From the Listing: Perfect opportunity to live on Billionaires Row! Welcome to this beautiful, bright classic six, with three and a half baths and direct park views. Enjoy watching all the seasons from the comfort of the gorgeous glass-enclosed terrace.It is in estate condition, providing the perfect opportunity for a discerning buyer to reimagine and transform it into their dream home. See floor plan and full details here.

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In this article:

Select Estate Listings on the Market

251 Seaman Avenue, #6A
$355,000 (-2.7%)

205 East 63rd Street, #14D
$550,000

170 West 81st Street, #5C
$575,000

12 Beekman Place, #2F
$615,000

Twelve Seventy Fifth Avenue, #11M
$775,000

Select which properties are of interest to you:

One Beekman, #705
$795,000 (-3.6%)

161 East 75th Street, #2E
$850,000

The Opera, #7A
$899,000

167 East 67th Street, #PHA
$995,000

860 Fifth Avenue, #7F
$1,175,000

125 East 63rd Street, #2B
$1,200,000 (-11.1%)

Astor Terrace, #8H
$1,610,000 (-5%)

12 East 88th Street, #9C
$2,225,000

450 West End Avenue, #5B
$2,499,000

310 West 86th Street, #3A
$2,595,000

521 Park Avenue, #11B
$2,695,000 (-6.9%)

24 Central Park South, #5W
$2,600,000 (-3.7%)

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