40 Downtown Brooklyn Townhouses

Brownstones, rowhouses, and townhomes across NYC in Downtown Brooklyn, Brooklyn

Townhouses for Sale in NYC

Townhouses represent the rarest and most architecturally significant category in NYC's residential market. From landmarked Italianate brownstones of Park Slope to Beaux-Arts limestone row houses on the Upper East Side, these structures offer direct ownership of the land, the structure, and the air rights above it. In my 25+ years selling NYC real estate, I have worked on townhouse transactions in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, and no two are alike. Browse available inventory in our property search, review Brooklyn Heights market data, and read our NYC buyer's guide.

What does Landmark Preservation Commission designation mean?

When a townhouse is in an LPC-designated Historic District, any exterior alterations including window replacements, facade repairs, and paint colors must receive a Certificate of Appropriateness from the LPC. This adds time and cost. Consult an architect familiar with LPC work before assuming any exterior renovation is feasible.

Why does the Certificate of Occupancy matter for townhouses?

The CO defines the legal use: how many units the building can contain. A single-family townhouse with an illegal basement apartment has a CO mismatch that creates title issues, financing complications, and DOB violation exposure for the new owner.

Which boroughs offer the best townhouse selection?

Brooklyn has the largest inventory, concentrated in Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights, Carroll Gardens, and Cobble Hill. Manhattan townhouses on the Upper West Side and Greenwich Village command higher prices. Queens offers more square footage per dollar in Forest Hills, Bayside, and Jamaica Estates.

Buying Tip from Milton Coste

Pull the DOB Building Information System (BIS) profile at nyc.gov/buildings on day one, before you tour. Open ECB violations, outstanding permits from prior owners, and boiler violations all attach to the property and transfer to the new owner at closing. I've seen buyers save tens of thousands by identifying DOB exposure early.