- Year built
- 1961
- Type
- Cooperative
- Units
- 153
- Landmark
- No
- Pets
- Pet-friendly — pets are permitted (board approval typical for the block)
- Subletting
- Permitted with board approval, subject to restrictions
Every recorded sale at this building, 2003–2026
Bedroom-by-bedroom medians, the full transfer record, and how units trade against ask.
- 2BR median
- $999K
- Recent range
- $505K – $1.4M
- Listing discount
- 4.3%
- Recorded transfers
- 73
437 East 86th Street is a solid, full-service postwar cooperative in the heart of eastern Yorkville — the kind of building that anchors the neighborhood's everyday market with doorman service, dependable inventory, and prices that keep the Upper East Side accessible. Built in 1961, it stands on the north side of East 86th Street between First and York Avenues, a block defined by other well-established postwar cooperatives and by some of the most convenient transit and waterfront access on the East Side.
For buyers, the building's value is practical. The roughly 153-apartment scale produces steady turnover and a useful range of layouts, from studios and one-bedrooms through larger family configurations. The full-time doorman and live-in superintendent deliver the service buyers expect at this tier, and the location does the rest: the Second Avenue subway (Q) at 86th Street is a short walk, Carl Schurz Park and the East River Esplanade are a few blocks east, and Yorkville's markets, restaurants, and shops are all close at hand.
This is a lifestyle-and-location building, not an architectural showpiece — and that is precisely its appeal to the broad pool of buyers who want full service and convenience in a quiet residential pocket without paying for a marquee name.
Architecture and unit composition
The building is a postwar mid-rise brick apartment house — the efficient, light-oriented vocabulary that lines much of eastern Yorkville, built for practical floor plans and reliable elevator service. The doorman-attended entrance is the building's defining street-level feature.
Apartments run from studios and one-bedrooms through larger combinable layouts, with the sensible room counts and storage typical of early-1960s cooperative inventory. Higher floors capture more open light and city views; exposure and renovation condition drive much of the pricing variation across lines.
Building operations
437 East 86th Street operates as a full-service postwar cooperative: a full-time doorman, a live-in superintendent, central laundry, a bicycle room, and private storage. The mid-rise scale keeps the operating base proportionate while supporting a full staffing model.
Cooperative admissions follow standard Upper East Side norms — financial review and board approval for purchase, sublet, and pied-à-terre. The building is pet-friendly, consistent with the surrounding East 86th Street cooperatives. The specific financing cap, flip-tax structure, and sublet terms are board-set and are best confirmed at offer stage.
Recent sales
Recent transfers at this building, curated by The Roebling Team research desk. Apartment-level facts are independently verified before publishing; sale prices reflect the recorded transfer amount at the NYC Department of Finance.
| Date | Unit | Apartment | Price | PPSF | vs. Ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 25, 2026 | 6G | 2 BR · 2 BA | $999,000 | -7.1% | |
| Dec 15, 2025 | 6D | 1 BR · 1 BA | $505,000 | -3.8% | |
| Nov 20, 2025 | 12G | 2 BR · 2 BA · 1,250 sf | $915,000 | $732/sf | off-mkt |
| Jul 30, 2025 | 15H | 2 BR · 2 BA | $900,000 | -21.7% | |
| Apr 16, 2025 | 4I | 1 BR · 1 BA | $765,000 | -4.3% | |
| Jan 30, 2025 | 5AJ | 2 BR · 2 BA | $1,200,000 | -5.9% | |
| Oct 17, 2024 | 8I | 1 BR · 1 BA · 836 sf | $575,000 | $688/sf | -16.1% |
| Sep 18, 2024 | 1F | 2 BR · 2 BA | $1,435,000 | -2.0% |
Market read. Most recent trades (2025) cleared a median $730/sf across 1 sale. Median listing discount 3.8% from the last ask — a recurring negotiation gap worth pricing into any offer or listing strategy.
The retrade record
Lines that have traded more than once in the public record — the building’s appreciation arc, apartment by apartment.
Other recent transfers
| Date | Unit | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Nov 4, 2025 | 5I | $575,000 |
| Jul 16, 2025 | 5G | $895,000 |
| Oct 24, 2024 | 9H | $1,479,000 |
| Oct 3, 2023 | 12H | $1,348,300 |
| Jun 13, 2022 | 8J | $540,000 |
| May 17, 2022 | 11J | $545,000 |
Full closing history with price-per-square-foot over time, the complete retrade record, and every line that has traded.
Sales sourced from NYC Department of Finance recorded transfers (BBL 1-01566-0017) and verified listing data. Apartment-level facts (line, condition, asking-price context) curated and cross-verified by The Roebling Team research desk. Not all transactions cross-verify with ACRIS records — sponsor and LLC purchases sometimes record at stipulated values rather than market price; square footage on co-ops is not officially recorded, figures shown are approximate.
What to know if you’re buying
This is full service at an accessible price. Doorman service and steady inventory in convenient Yorkville define the value here.
The location is the headline. The Q train, Carl Schurz Park, and the East River Esplanade are all a short walk away.
It is pet-friendly. Pets are permitted, an important factor for many Upper East Side buyers.
Per-room value is the metric. Bring apartment-level comparable analysis; rooms, light, and condition drive co-op pricing.
Confirm the board's financial policy at offer stage. Financing cap, flip tax, and sublet terms are board-set; review them during contract diligence.
What to know if you’re selling
Lead with location and service. The Q train, the park, and the river, plus a doorman building, are exactly what this buyer pool wants.
Condition sells. A renovated, well-lit apartment stands out against the surrounding postwar inventory.
Closing timelines are co-op standard. 6–10 weeks from contract to closing, plus board approval.
Comparable buildings
If you're considering 437 East 86th Street, also evaluate:
- 436 East 86th Street — large full-service cooperative directly across the block
- 446 East 86th Street — Yorkville cooperative on the same block
- 525 East 86th Street — full-service Yorkville cooperative
- 400 East 85th Street — Yorkville postwar cooperative peer
- 80 East End Avenue — full-service Yorkville cooperative near Carl Schurz Park
- 425 East 79th Street — full-service Yorkville cooperative peer
The Roebling Team at 437 East 86th Street
The Roebling Team at Compass specializes in the Upper East Side, Central Park West, and the broader Park-facing Manhattan market. We publish this building profile because Yorkville cooperative buyers and sellers deserve building-specific intelligence — amenities, board culture, transactional mechanics, and pricing at the apartment level — not generic market commentary.
If you're considering a purchase or sale at 437 East 86th Street, a 30-minute consultation is the right starting point.
The neighborhood
For the full corridor — architecture, schools, transit, and pricing across Upper East Side — read The Roebling Team Guide to Upper East Side.
Get the full picture on this building.
Current availability including off-market, the full comp set, and the board & financials read most listings don't show.