Pros and Cons of Buying a Brownstone in NYC

You'll rarely find a more iconic NYC type of residential building than brownstone. We've seen it in the movies depicting the town's history and read about it in some books (we even know that the famous writer Paul Auster lives inside one). Okay, so what's the deal with NYC's brownstone buildings? What's so special about them? Also, what are the pros and cons of buying a brownstone in NYC? In other words: what's it like to own a brownstone? You're about to find the answer to each question you've seen in this introductory section.

Wait, what is a brownstone?

Before we delve deeper into our main topic, it's best to take a quick look at what a brownstone building is and what's so special about this type of residential space. Brownstone buildings, better known simply as brownstones, got their (nick)name after the chemical reaction in sandstone that gave these residential townhouses their famous look. More precisely, it gave them the light chocolate color by which they're recognized worldwide. These homes were mostly built during the second half of the 19th century (although they first appeared at its beginning). So, where you'll find brownstones? We guess you can't go wrong with Brooklyn, Upper West Side, or Harlem, for instance. Many other neighborhoods possess brownstone buildings, but these are the most popular ones.

Brownstone townhouse is probably the most recognizable type of residential building in NYC.

Alt. text: Brownstone buildings in Upper West Side, NYC.

The PROS

Now that we've learned some trivia surrounding brownstone buildings, we should check out the pros and cons of buying a brownstone in NYC we've mentioned earlier. Let's begin on the positive side.

Pro: Aesthetics

There isn't a single person that would deny that these buildings have loads of character. If you're a history buff, you'll probably end up as a pretty proud owner of a brownstone. By pretty proud, we mean that you'll talk about it all the time until your friends warn you to stop. Brownstones are an obvious choice if you're feeling a bit sick from ultra-modern or post-modern or post-whatever architecture.

Pro: Consider the garden

By buying a brownstone, you'll provide yourself with a so-called private outdoor space. In other words: most brownstones you'll find in NYC come with a nicely-tucked-in private back garden, and some even have a little garden space out in the front of the building. If you're the type of person that likes to chill out in the garden and host some memorable parties, we guess this might be the option you'd prefer most.

Pro: NYC moving options

There's a funny little coincidence that will very well suit you. Did you know that there are fantastic local movers nearby wherever you have brownstone buildings in NYC? That's because these vibrant residential areas attract professionals from every part of the US, and the whole setup wouldn't be possible if there weren't for expeditious crews. For instance, if the brownstone you're planning to buy's in Brooklyn, you'll reach your new home with ease by hiring local pros. One can imagine NYC traffic is a bit tough, so going DIY here isn't something we'd recommend. 

Pro: Freedom

We know it sounds a bit too abstract, but we'll elaborate. What do we mean by freedom? Well, most importantly, there's no co-op board, condo agreement, or something similar. In other words, there are no limitations to what you can do with your home, no one to forbid you this or that. You can decorate or renovate it the way you want. However, keep one thing in mind: if your brownstone's a part of the historic district, you'll probably have to follow some rules set by the LPC (Landmarks Preservation Commission) if you're planning to make any changes to the exterior of your brownstone.

You'll have all the freedom to renovate or decorate your place after buying a brownstone.

Alt. text: A row of brownstone buildings in NYC.

Pro: No monthly fees

We'd almost forget to mention this if it weren't for the folks at Roadway Moving, who noted that many of their clients who chose brownstones for their new homes did so for a particular reason. There aren't any monthly building maintenance fees or other standard charges like you'd have to do if you were to buy a co-op or a condo.

Okay, so that's that when it comes to the pros of owning an NYC condo. Let's see those cons! 

The CONS

Without further ado, here are the negative things about owning an NYC brownstone. 

Con: More maintenance

Unfortunately, just because you'll avoid paying monthly maintenance fees doesn't necessarily mean you'll spend less money on maintaining your property. Unless you're buying a renovated and up-to-date brownstone, be prepared to invest funds in home maintenance, renovations, and various improvements. Without a collective budget for building maintenance, financial responsibility is solely on your behalf. Here's a suggestion: create an unfortunate-scenarios-and-unexpected-spendings type of budget. You'll thank us later! 

Con: Limited A/C options

Here's another unfortunate and unpleasant fact: with a brownstone, you'll "enjoy" something you'd call limited air conditioning options. Window units aren't so good once you're trying to cool a big home, and installing central air is pretty expensive. However, there's no need to be pessimistic about it: most brownstone dwellers find a compromising solution in a split A/C system.

Okay, so that's about it on the cons of buying an NYC brownstone building. As you could've seen, the pros beat the cons, so it's safe to say that purchasing an NYC brownstone isn't something you'd call a wild idea. Quite the contrary!

As you could've read, buying a brownstone in NYC has more advantages than disadvantages.

Alt. text: A tree in front of a row of brownstone buildings in NYC.

Final words

That's all about the pros and cons of buying a brownstone in NYC! Now you've got an idea about why so many folks love NYC's brownstone neighborhoods like Brooklyn (and it's obviously not only the looks). 

Keyphrase: buying a brownstone in NYC

Meta description: Wondering if you should buy an iconic NYC brownstone? If that's so, click here to see the pros and cons of buying a brownstone in NYC.

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