Sponsor co-op pick of the week

A two-bedroom co-op in Hamilton Heights for $560,000, no board approval required

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By Emily Myers  |
April 5, 2019 - 10:00AM
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The listing suggests the partition separating the kitchen and living areas could be removed to open up the space. 

Wald Real Estate

Welcome to Brick Underground’s sponsor apartment pick of the week, where we feature a co-op for sale by the owner of the building. You do not need board approval to buy these apartments, they are often newly renovated, and they typically require a down payment of only 10 percent, versus the 20 to 25 percent that most co-ops demand. In exchange for the condo-like ease of acquisition, expect to pay a bit more than a regular co-op, but considerably less than a condo. For more information, check out "Everything you ever wanted to know about sponsor apartments but were afraid to ask."

The West Harlem enclave of Hamilton Heights has seen prices rise as amenities have changed over the past few years with new restaurants and stores pushing out some of the older favorites. The median asking price for two-bedroom units in the neighborhood is $590,000 and this recently renovated unit, 640 West 139th St., #65, is being offered a little below that, at $560,000. The unit has a new kitchen, lighting, and hardwood flooring.

The last sale in this prewar building was for a three-bedroom unit that changed hands for $580,402 a year ago. The co-op is pet-friendly and has 62 units and six stories. It isn’t flush with amenities but there is an elevator, laundry facilities in the basement, and a live-in super. Monthly maintenance is $759.

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The unit opens into a narrow corridor that leads past the bathroom to the living room. The windows in the living room face south, the best orientation for natural light. 

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The kitchen isn't big enough for a table and it doesn't have a breakfast bar but it does have a window and a stainless steel refrigerator, range, and convection microwave. No sign of a dishwasher but if you wanted to create more of an open concept layout, the listing says there are "no load-bearing walls," suggesting it might be possible to combine the kitchen and living areas. 

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The larger of the two bedrooms is off the living room. The windows face north and the listing suggests there are views of the George Washington Bridge and Hudson River. There's plenty of construction going on in the area so those views might not last long. Columbia University's Manhattanville campus expansion promises to make the area more competitive. 

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Towards the entrance of the unit is the second bedroom, which has a built-in closet. 

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The bathroom decor isn't very contemporary and there's no tub, but it does have a window. 

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The co-op board allows subletting, pieds-à-terre, co-purchasing, and parents buying for their children. 

The 1 train is a five-minute walk from the building. It's a 20-minute walk to the A, B, C, and D lines. Riverbank State Park is a popular resource nearby—it runs along the Hudson River west of Hamilton Heights and has a double sized Olympic pool, tennis and basketball courts, ice skating rink, running track and playgrounds.

 

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Emily Myers

Senior Writer/Podcast Producer

Emily Myers is a senior writer, podcast host, and producer at Brick Underground. She writes about issues ranging from market analysis and tenants' rights to the intricacies of buying and selling condos and co-ops. As host of the Brick Underground podcast, she has earned four silver awards from the National Association of Real Estate Editors.

Brick Underground articles occasionally include the expertise of, or information about, advertising partners when relevant to the story. We will never promote an advertiser's product without making the relationship clear to our readers.

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