439 East 88th Street
439 East 88th Street, New York, NY 10128
BBL 1015680015 · BIN 1050619
- Year built
- 1915
- Type
- Cooperative
- Units
- 32
- Floors
- 5
- Amenities
- Private gated garden/courtyard, central laundry, bike room, and private storage that transfers with the sale per listing records
- Landmark status
- Not an individual landmark; not in a historic district
- NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission and City Planning records, updated February 2026
- Subletting by shareholders
- Permitted with conditions
- Pied-à-terre
- Requires confirmation
- Dogs
- Requires confirmation
- Cats
- Requires confirmation
- Maximum financing
- 75% of the purchase price
- Flip tax
- 2% of the purchase price, paid by the seller
- Doorman
- No doorman
Every recorded sale at this building, 2003–2025
Bedroom-by-bedroom medians, the full transfer record, and how units trade against ask.
- Studio median, 2024
- $362K
- 2 qualifying sales
- Recent range
- $328K – $650K
- Listing discount
- 1.8%
- Recorded transfers
- 39
Own an apartment here? See what it would sell for.
A Private Pricing Opinion — what your apartment at 439 East 88th Street would likely sell for today, what it costs to sell, and what you’d walk away with — reviewed personally against condition, exposures, renovation quality, and the competition actually on the market.
Yorkville's housing stock divides into towers and tenements, and 439 East 88th Street sits in the narrow band between them: a 32-unit, five-story 1915 elevator co-op on a quiet tree-lined block two blocks from Carl Schurz Park. The scale is the product. With roughly 30 shareholders, a single keyed elevator, a live-in superintendent, and no doorman payroll, the building runs lean — brokerage records have repeatedly described its maintenance as among the lowest on the Upper East Side — and that carrying-cost discipline is structural, not cyclical.
The ownership history is unusually well documented for a building this size. The conversion plan — dated November 17, 1980, sponsored by Ruth T. Weinstock, who had also been the building's managing agent — is on file in The Roebling Research Library along with its full run of twenty amendments, a period piece of the early-1980s conversion wave: tenant-discount repricing, a negotiated eviction moratorium, sponsor-arranged financing through the Dime Savings Bank. Few boutique Yorkville co-ops can produce their founding documents this completely, and for a buyer's attorney that paper trail shortens diligence.
The location argument is the same one that powers the East End Avenue corridor a block east, at a fraction of the price: Carl Schurz Park and the river esplanade as the neighborhood front yard, Asphalt Green and the East 90th Street ferry landing nearby, the Q at Second Avenue–86th and 96th Streets, and the 4/5/6 and crosstown M86 at 86th Street. The block itself, between First and York, is low-rise and residential — the quiet is real.
Architecture and unit composition
The building rises five stories in brown brick on a 70-by-100-foot lot, with the footprint leaving room for the gated garden court that listing records consistently flag as the building's signature shared space. The entrance sequence — two steps up under a canopy, wall lanterns, a red-marble surround — gives the house more presence than its tenement-era neighbors. City-recorded floor area divided by the 32-unit count is under 700 square feet, but that aggregate ratio is not an apartment measurement or evidence of the bedroom mix. Check the specific floor plan, including any combinations, and compare renovation quality line by line. Fifth-floor units market themselves as penthouse-tier for light. There is no roof deck; the garden is the outdoor amenity.
Building operations
This is a self-service boutique cooperative: keyed elevator, live-in superintendent, no doorman, central laundry, bike room, and storage that transfers with the sale per listing records. The economics follow the staffing model — low maintenance against package logistics handled by the super and a board of neighbors. The cooperative refinanced its underlying mortgage in 2018, building the reserve fund to roughly $365,000 at year-end 2018 per the audited financial statements on file, with flip-tax receipts feeding reserves on each transfer. The offering plan, amendments, and financial statements are on file in The Roebling Research Library and available to clients during diligence.
Application and transaction fees
Fees below are from building management's published schedule, as of September 2026. They are shown as published, item by item; no total is added because the total depends on the transaction. Deposits are listed apart from nonrefundable charges.
- Terms
- 2% of the sales price
- Rate
- 2% of the purchase price
- Paid by
- Seller
Source: building management's published schedule, as of September 2026
Purchase
4 items
Fees and charges
| Item | Paid by | When | Amount | Refundable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application Fee | Paid by Buyer | When With the application | Amount $650 | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Credit Check FeePer applicantRequired | Paid by Buyer | When With the application | Amount $150 per applicant Note: International credit checks may cost more. | Refundable Non-refundable |
Deposits
| Item | Paid by | When | Amount | Refundable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Move In Deposit | Paid by Buyer | When With the application | Amount $1,000 | Refundable Refundable |
| Move Out Deposit | Paid by Shareholder | When With the application | Amount $1,000 | Refundable Refundable |
Sublet
7 items
Fees and charges
| Item | Paid by | When | Amount | Refundable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application Processing FeeIncludes one free credit check | Paid by Subtenant | When With the application | Amount $600 | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Credit Check FeePer applicant | Paid by Subtenant | When With the application | Amount $20 per additional applicant after applicant one (1) and any adult occupant. International credit checks may cost more. Please contact the Property Management for information. | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Sublet FeeRecurring | Paid by Shareholder | When Upon approval | Amount 25% of maintenance monthly | Refundable Not stated |
Deposits
| Item | Paid by | When | Amount | Refundable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Move Out Deposit | Paid by Shareholder | When With the application | Amount $1,000 | Refundable Refundable |
| Move In Deposit | Paid by Subtenant | When With the application | Amount $1,000 | Refundable Refundable |
Sublet renewal
Fees and charges
| Item | Paid by | When | Amount | Refundable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application Fee | Paid by Subtenant | When With the application | Amount $300 | Refundable Non-refundable |
| Sublet FeeRecurring | Paid by Shareholder | When Upon approval | Amount 25% of maintenance monthly | Refundable Not stated |
Refinance
1 item
Fees and charges
| Item | Paid by | When | Amount | Refundable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application Processing Fee | Paid by Shareholder | When With the application | Amount $350 | Refundable Non-refundable |
Management updates its schedule without a public filing. The date is when management last updated the page, not when a rule changed. Confirm the current schedule with management before you apply.
Considering an apartment here? Send Corey the listing to discuss the building's costs and purchase requirements.
Own an apartment here? Request an apartment-specific pricing review.
Financing and purchase requirements
- Maximum financing
- 75% of the purchase priceSource: building management's published schedule, as of September 2026
- Co-purchasing
- PermittedSource: building management's published schedule, as of September 2026
- Parent buying for an employed child
- Not permittedSource: building management's published schedule, as of September 2026
- Parent buying for a student child
- Not permittedSource: building management's published schedule, as of September 2026
Sublet and pied-à-terre policy
A condominium owner leasing a unit and a co-op shareholder subletting are different rules, and a building-wide rule is different from a restriction on one apartment. This is the building's rule; confirm it for the specific apartment.
- Subletting by shareholders
- Permitted with conditionsApplication required for Board.Source: building management's published schedule, as of September 2026
- Pied-à-terre ownership
- Requires confirmationSources differ. Confirm with building management.
Considering an apartment here? Send Corey the listing to discuss the sublet and pied-à-terre rules for that apartment.
Pets and in-unit washer/dryer
- Dogs
- Requires confirmationSources differ. Confirm with building management.
- Cats
- Requires confirmationSources differ. Confirm with building management.
- In-unit washer/dryer
- Not verified
Considering an apartment here? Send Corey the listing to confirm the pet and washer/dryer rules for that apartment.
Monthly carrying charges in recent sales
- Maintenance, per room
- $476 per room a monthMedian of 3 recorded sales since October 2023Source: recorded sales, refreshed October 2026
Maintenance as recorded with each sale. A co-op's maintenance already covers the building's real estate taxes and the building's own mortgage, if it has one; add your own loan payment for the monthly outlay. A summary of recorded sales, not a current bill; charges change.
Building staffing and amenities
- Doorman
- No doormanSource: The Roebling Team's building profile
- Live-in superintendent
- YesSource: The Roebling Team's building profile
- Elevator
- YesSource: NYC Department of City Planning records (PLUTO)
- Amenities noted
- Garden, bike storage, storage, laundry roomSource: The Roebling Team's building profile
Staffing and amenities as our building profile and recent listing records describe them. A feature not listed is not confirmed absent. Outdoor space, parking and some facilities can belong to particular apartments or to a separate owner; confirm access for the specific apartment.
Local Law 97
This building is below the 25,000 sq ft threshold at which LL97 limits apply to a building on its own. It is still covered if it shares a tax lot or condominium board with buildings totaling over 50,000 sq ft; confirm on DOB’s covered-buildings list.
See full Local Law 97 analysis →Management & transfer contacts
- Flip tax
- 2% of sales price, paid by seller
- Sublet policy
- Allowed, application required for board. Sublet fee 25% of monthly maintenance
- Pied-à-terre
- Requires confirmation
- Policies and fees
- Application fee $650; credit check $150/applicant; move-in/move-out deposit $1,000. Max financing 75% plus board approval
Recent sales
Recent transfers at this building, from The Roebling Research Library. Prices are the transfer amounts recorded with the NYC Department of Finance; apartment-level detail is checked against the building’s own file in The Roebling Research Library before publishing.
| Date | Unit | Apartment | Price | vs. Ask |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 10, 2025 | 1E | 1 BR · 1 BA | $535,000 | -1.8% |
| Mar 19, 2025 | 2FF | 2 BR · 1 BA | $650,000 | -3.7% |
| Nov 26, 2024 | 5D | 1 BA | $395,000 | +0.0% |
| Jul 1, 2024 | 2E | 1 BR · 1 BA | $435,000 | +0.0% |
| Jan 5, 2024 | 3D | 1 BA | $328,000 | -6.0% |
| Oct 7, 2022 | 2C | 1 BR · 1 BA | $485,000 | -3.0% |
| Aug 19, 2022 | 5C | 2 BR · 1 BA | $680,000 | +0.7% |
| Jul 21, 2021 | 3B | 1 BR · 1 BA | $587,500 | -9.6% |
Market read. $/sf is measured on the latest sales with reliable square footage (2015): a median $706/sf (recorded) across 1 sale. The building has traded as recently as 2025. Median listing discount 2.3% 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.
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 1-01568-0015). Apartment-level facts (line, condition, asking-price context) curated and cross-verified in The Roebling Research Library. Not all transactions cross-verify with ACRIS records — sponsor and LLC purchases sometimes record at stipulated values rather than market price.
What would your apartment rent for?
Enter your apartment and I'll send you what it would rent for, from comparable closed leases at 439 East 88th Street and nearby.
At the recent median sale of $535K (3 transfers in the past 24 months, since October 25, 2024), a buyer putting 25% down would pay about $10,556 to close, or 2.0% of the price.
- Mansion tax: $0
- No mortgage recording tax or title insurance on a co-op purchase
- Attorneys, lender, building fees and filings: $10,556
Assumes a resale (the seller pays transfer taxes), a $4,500 attorney fee and a mortgage on the rest.
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What to know if you’re buying
The carrying cost is the headline. Run the monthly math against any full-service alternative at the same price — the maintenance gap compounds. Use the True Monthly Carrying Cost Calculator on the specific unit before you weigh amenities.
Small co-op mechanics cut both ways. A roughly 30-shareholder corporation means reserves are sized to a small base, and a single assessment is felt by everyone. Your attorney should read the financials on file with us, including the 2018 refinance and reserve build, along with the current budget, debt and any assessments; underwrite the building, not just the apartment.
The policy stack needs case-specific verification. Listing records conflict on pied-à-terre (some say board-approved, one says not permitted), and sublet terms are thinly documented. We verify current policy directly with the managing agent before any offer. Financing runs to 75 percent; prepare the package with the Co-op Board Qualification Calculator.
No doorman means no doorman. Packages, deliveries, and renovations run through the super and the board. Buyers trading down from staffed buildings should price the service trade honestly.
The block is the amenity. Walk First-to-York on 88th at night, then walk to the park. Carl Schurz, the esplanade, Asphalt Green, the 90th Street ferry, the Q at 86th — the corridor amenities are public and two blocks away.
What to know if you’re selling
Sell the monthly number. Buyers comparing listings rarely normalize for maintenance; do it for them in the marketing. The building's low-carry profile is its sharpest edge against the doorman stock at the same prices.
Document the building's record. The offering plan, amendment history, refinance, and reserve growth are on file with us and survive attorney review. A boutique co-op that can produce its paper trail closes faster.
Price to condition within the line. The spread between renovated and estate-condition units in buildings this size is wide and visible. Run the Renovation Cost Calculator against your asking strategy rather than anchoring to the building's last trade.
Comparable buildings
If you're considering 439 East 88th Street, also evaluate:
- 200 East End Avenue — the post-war full-service anchor opposite Carl Schurz Park; the step-up in service and price
- 400 East 85th Street — post-war Yorkville co-op; the full-service alternative at moderate pricing
- 425 East 86th Street — 1929 pre-war co-op at larger scale
- 320 East 86th Street — 1925 condop; the flexible-ownership pre-war alternative
- Gracie Gardens (520–530 East 86th Street) — the corridor's pre-war garden-complex co-op
- 120 East End Avenue — the prestige pre-war tier on the park, for calibration upward
- 180 East 88th Street — new-development condo tower; the new-construction alternative
- 360 East 89th Street (Citizen360) — boutique new condo one block north
More Upper East Side buildings
- 436 East 84th Street (Claiborne House) — 1963 co-op
- 436 East 86th Street — 1973 co-op
- 437 East 86th Street — 1961 co-op
- 440 East 62nd Street (The Park Sutton) — 1960 co-op by Leo Stillman
- The Gregory House (440 East 79th Street) — 1956 co-op
- 444 East 87th Street — 1905 co-op
The neighborhood
For the full corridor — architecture, transit, and pricing across Upper East Side — read The Roebling Team Guide to Upper East Side.
The full playbook — what goes in the package, how boards read your financials, the interview, and the timeline — plus sample cover, reference, and personal letters you can adapt.
How to read the facts on this page. Items attributed to an offering plan describe the building as it was offered at that filing — unit mix, square footage, the amenity program as planned. They are not a statement about how the building operates today. Tax and compliance figures are sourced separately to current City records and carry their own dates. House rules, staffing and fee policy can change by board resolution without any public filing: treat every policy line here as a starting point for diligence and confirm it with the managing agent. Where this page compares one building or neighborhood to another, that is our analysis of the recorded record — it names the measure, the period and the sample it rests on, and it is an observation about medians rather than a prediction about any particular apartment.
Considering a move at 439 East 88th Street?
Request a private building brief with the relevant comparable sales, current and off-market availability, and an apartment-specific view of value.
646.939.7375 · c.cohen@compass.com