New York City is a notoriously expensive place to live, with homeownership unattainable for many of its residents. But while buying a home is pricier here than almost anywhere else in the U.S., it may be in closer reach than New Yorkers think, provided you know where to look.
A new report from real estate listing site StreetEasy identified 23 neighborhoods throughout the city with the lowest barrier to entry to becoming a homeowner. While the overall median asking price in NYC hit $1.05 million as of August 2023, the report shows where you can buy for a down payment under $100,000 and monthly carrying costs below $3,500 (which is less than the city’s current median rent).
Ranking first on the list is Briarwood, Queens, where the median asking price is $240,000, and $48,000 meets the 20% down payment requirement. Other Queens neighborhoods that rank among the top ten include Howard Beach, Kew Gardens, Kew Gardens Hills, Oakland Gardens, and Elmhurst. In Brooklyn, Sheepshead Bay and East Flatbush make the top ten, with median asking prices within the $349,000 ballpark. In the Bronx, Concourse and Riverdale make the cut with median asks set at $282,000 and $319,500. Unsurprisingly, there aren’t any Manhattan neighborhoods in the top ten, however, two (Hamilton Heights and Inwood) appear further down the list.
Check out the full list here to see all 23 neighborhoods that made the cut.
