How to Wholesale Real Estate in New York City, NY
New York City is five counties with very different markets, and most wholesale deals happen in the outer boroughs: one- to four-family houses in Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx and Staten Island. Prices are high, attorneys run every deal, and some neighborhoods have strict rules on contacting owners.
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The short answer
Is wholesaling legal in New York City?
New York City follows New York law. Legal without a license when you assign your own contract, but New York is strict about anything that looks like brokerage.
Read the New York wholesaling guide for the full rules.
New York City at a glance
| Primary county | New York City’s five boroughs |
|---|---|
| Typical home value | About $899,000 median sale citywide (Redfin, Aug 2026) |
| Housing stock | Pre-war attached and semi-attached one- to four-family houses in the outer boroughs, brownstones, and co-ops and condos in Manhattan |
| Where to search deeds | NYC Department of Finance ACRIS for Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx; Staten Island deeds are recorded separately, outside ACRIS |
| Probate court | Surrogate’s Court in each borough’s county: New York, Kings, Queens, Bronx and Richmond (for example, Kings County Surrogate’s Court, 2 Johnson Street, Brooklyn) |
| Who handles closings | Attorneys, with a title company insuring the deal |
The market
Why investors wholesale in New York City
New York City has hundreds of thousands of small residential buildings, many owned for decades and passed to heirs who live elsewhere. Outer-borough one- to four-family houses are the main wholesale product, because developers, landlords and investor groups can add units, renovate or hold them for rent. Prices are high, so each deal carries a larger spread, but buyers are experienced and expect clean title, accurate unit counts and attorney-ready paperwork.
Southeast Queens (Jamaica, St. Albans, Queens Village)
Detached and semi-detached one- and two-family houses from the 1920s–50s; landlords and flippers buy dated homes.
East New York, Canarsie and East Flatbush (Brooklyn)
Attached brick two- and three-family houses and rowhouses; investors buy for rental and conversions. Parts of Brooklyn are Department of State cease-and-desist zones.
Northeast Bronx (Williamsbridge, Wakefield, Eastchester)
Frame and brick two- and three-family houses at some of the lowest prices in the city; buy-and-hold landlords are active.
North Shore of Staten Island
Older detached frame houses and two-families near the ferry at mid-range prices; rehabbers buy dated houses for owner-occupants.
Rockaway Peninsula (Queens)
Bungalows, older frame houses and newer attached homes near the ocean; investors buy dated properties but must check flood zones and insurance.
Deal flow
Finding motivated sellers in New York City
- Estates. Each borough has its own Surrogate’s Court (New York, Kings, Queens, Bronx and Richmond). Estates holding inherited houses are one of the largest sources of off-market deals in the city.
- Foreclosure auctions. Foreclosure sales are run by court-appointed referees in each county’s Supreme Court, for example every Thursday at 2:30 p.m. in Kings County and Tuesdays at 2:15 p.m. at 60 Centre Street in Manhattan. The courts post lists of scheduled auctions.
- Lis pendens in ACRIS. Foreclosure lis pendens are recorded in ACRIS. Search new filings in your target neighborhoods to reach owners long before an auction date.
- Tax lien sale lists. Tax lien sale lists are published on NYC Open Data. Owners on those lists owe the city unpaid charges and are often open to selling.
- Building violations. City agencies post housing and building violations online by address. Owners with open violations often want to sell rather than repair.
Your exit
Finding cash buyers in New York City
Use ACRIS to search deeds recorded over the last year in your target borough and neighborhood, filter for one- to four-family property types, and note LLC buyers and names that repeat. Check whether they later filed permits with the Department of Buildings, which separates developers and rehabbers from landlords. City buyers include small developers who add units or rebuild, landlords who buy two- and three-family houses, and investor groups who buy several properties at once. Many expect you to supply a title report, a certificate of occupancy showing legal unit count, and a contract prepared by attorneys.
New York City tip
Watch pre-foreclosure rules and transfer taxes
If the owner lives in a one- to four-family home and is in foreclosure or at least two months behind on the mortgage, New York’s Home Equity Theft Prevention Act (Real Property Law 265-a) may apply: the contract needs specific language and the seller can cancel for 14 business days. Have your attorney review any pre-foreclosure deal. Also note that the city’s Real Property Transfer Tax (1% up to $500,000 and 1.425% above for one- to three-family homes) applies to each deed, so a double close costs more than an assignment.
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FAQ
Wholesaling in New York City: common questions
Is wholesaling legal in New York City?
Yes. New York has no wholesaling ban. You must act as a principal, buying and assigning your own contract, and not list or sell property for others without a broker license under Real Property Law 440. See our New York wholesaling guide.
Do I need to live in New York City to wholesale there?
No, but you do need a local attorney, because New York contracts and closings are attorney-run. ACRIS, court auction lists and violation records are all online, so you can research deals from anywhere.
How much do houses cost in New York City?
Redfin put the citywide median sale price at about $899,000 in August 2026. Outer-borough houses in the Bronx, Southeast Queens and parts of Brooklyn often sell below that, while Manhattan and brownstone Brooklyn sell far above it.
What is a cease-and-desist zone?
The New York Department of State has designated parts of the Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens (plus Rockland County) as cease-and-desist zones. Owners there can put their names on a list, and real estate solicitation of listed owners by phone, mail or in person at their home is prohibited. Download the list for your area and remove those owners from your marketing.
More markets
Other city guides near New York City
Compare other markets nearby, or read the full New York wholesaling guide.
Wholesaling guides for New York City investors
Sources. Last reviewed September 2026.
- NY Department of State: Request Cease and Desist List
- NY Courts: Kings County Foreclosure Sales
- NY Courts: New York County Foreclosure Auction Sales
- NY Courts: Kings County Surrogate’s Court
- NYC Department of Finance: Real Property Transfer Tax
- NYC Open Data: Tax Lien Sale Lists
- NY Real Property Law 265-a (Home Equity Theft Prevention)
- Redfin: New York housing market
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