Upper East Side Home GuideManhattan · East 59th to 96th
Upper East Side · Fifth Avenue to the East River

Find your block on the Upper East Side.

Lenox Hill, Carnegie Hill and Yorkville each live and buy differently. Choose an area on the map, read what it offers, then get matched with a licensed Manhattan agent who works that neighborhood every day.

E 59th – E 96thCore boundaries
3 neighborhoodsPlus 3 smaller pockets
Licensed partnersNew York agents only
5th Mad Park Lex 3rd 2nd 1st York 59th 70th 79th 86th 96th 105th Lenox Hill Central UES Carnegie Hill Yorkville EAST END AVE MUSEUM MILE ABOVE 96TH · EAST HARLEM CENTRAL PARK EAST RIVER
Selected area

Yorkville

Read the full profile ↓

Schematic, not to scale. Boundaries are approximate and vary by source.

The areas

Three neighborhoods, three smaller pockets.

The Upper East Side divides into Lenox Hill in the south, Carnegie Hill in the northwest and Yorkville in the east. Three smaller pockets cut across them and are worth knowing by name.

Neighborhood · South

Lenox Hill

E 59th – E 77th/79th St · Fifth Ave to the river

The southern end of the Upper East Side and the closest to Midtown. Park and Madison Avenues hold the grand pre-war co-ops, the side streets are lined with townhouses, and newer condo towers stand toward the avenues in the east.

Housing
Park Avenue co-ops, limestone townhouses, condo towers east of Lexington
Suits
Buyers who want a short trip to Midtown offices and walkable shopping on Madison
Landmarks
The Frick Collection (East 70th), Hunter College (68th and Lexington), Lenox Hill Hospital (East 77th)
Getting around
4/5/6 on Lexington, Q on Second Avenue at 72nd
Open the Lenox Hill market page →
Neighborhood · Northwest

Carnegie Hill

E 86th – E 96th St · Fifth Ave to Lexington

Quieter and more residential, organized around the Fifth Avenue museums and the private schools. Pre-war Park Avenue co-ops, townhouse blocks inside the Carnegie Hill Historic District, and a village-scale run of shops on Lexington.

Housing
Pre-war co-ops, townhouses, a few condos
Suits
Families, and buyers who prefer a calmer street over a commercial one
Landmarks
Guggenheim (88th), Cooper Hewitt (91st), Dalton, Spence and Convent of the Sacred Heart
Getting around
4/5/6 at 86th Street, 6 at 96th Street, Q on Second Avenue at 86th and 96th
Open the Carnegie Hill market page →
Neighborhood · East

Yorkville

E 79th – E 96th St · Lexington to the East River

Once a German, Hungarian and Czech enclave, now the most varied part of the Upper East Side. Pre-war walk-ups sit beside mid-century co-ops and newer condo towers, and apartments here typically offer more space for the money than blocks west of Lexington.

Housing
Co-ops, condos, walk-ups, full-service towers along the avenues
Suits
Buyers weighing size and price against the Fifth and Park Avenue address
Landmarks
Carl Schurz Park, Gracie Mansion, Asphalt Green (90th and York), the East River Esplanade
Getting around
Q on Second Avenue at 72nd, 86th and 96th since 2017
Open the Yorkville market page →
Pocket · Central

Upper 70s / Central UES

About E 77th – E 86th St · Fifth Ave to Lexington

The classic pre-war corridor between Lenox Hill and Carnegie Hill: Madison Avenue boutiques, Park Avenue co-ops, townhouse blocks, and the Metropolitan Museum at the edge of the park.

Landmarks
The Met (82nd), the Carlyle (76th and Madison)
Getting around
6 at 77th Street, 4/5/6 at 86th Street
Pocket · River edge

East End Avenue / Gracie Place

About E 82nd – E 90th St · East End Ave to the river

A quiet residential edge facing Carl Schurz Park and the river. Pre-war co-ops on East End Avenue, the small row houses of Henderson Place, and very little through traffic.

Landmarks
Carl Schurz Park, Gracie Mansion, Henderson Place Historic District
Getting around
The longest walk to a subway; York Avenue and crosstown buses fill the gap
Pocket · Fifth Avenue

Museum Mile

Fifth Ave · E 82nd – E 105th St

The Fifth Avenue stretch fronting Central Park. A prestige address where park-facing apartments rarely come to market, with the museums at the door.

Landmarks
The Met, Neue Galerie, Guggenheim, Cooper Hewitt, the Jewish Museum, Museum of the City of New York
Getting around
Walk to Lexington for the 4/5/6; Fifth and Madison buses run the length
How buying works here

Manhattan has its own rules. Learn them before you tour.

The process differs from most of the country, and the building often matters more than the block. These are the points that surprise out-of-town buyers most.

Ownership

Co-op or condo

In a co-op you buy shares in a corporation and a proprietary lease, and the building sets its own rules on financing, subletting and pied-à-terre use. A condo is a deed to the unit and usually closes faster with fewer restrictions. Many Upper East Side buildings, especially pre-war ones, are co-ops.

Approval

The board package

Co-op buyers submit financial statements, tax returns and references, then often meet the board. Each building sets its own standards, commonly including limits on debt and a requirement for liquid assets after closing. Your agent should know a building's reputation before you make an offer.

Costs

Beyond the price

Budget for monthly maintenance or common charges, possible assessments, and a flip tax in some co-ops. New York's buyer-paid transfer tax on residences begins at 1% once the price reaches $1 million and rises in steps above that. Financed condo purchases add mortgage recording tax and title insurance, which co-op purchases generally avoid.

Process

Attorney and timeline

A New York real estate attorney is customary and reviews the contract, building financials and any offering plan. A deposit, commonly 10% of the price, is due at contract. Co-op closings usually take longer because of board review.

General information only. It is not legal, tax or financial advice, and rules and rates change. Confirm specifics with a New York attorney and tax advisor.

The match

You tell me what you want. A licensed local agent takes it from there.

This guide is a referral service. Peter holds a Connecticut license and does not represent buyers directly in New York. He maintains a curated referral network of New York specialists. Every introduction is disclosed, every agent is vetted, and every match is made with your goals in mind.

  1. Send a private inquiry

    Share the areas, home type, budget and timing. It takes about two minutes.

  2. Get matched by fit

    Peter pairs you with a New York agent who works your neighborhood and your building type, co-op or condo.

  3. Work with your agent

    The New York agent represents you in the search, offer, board process and closing. Peter stays reachable if you want a second opinion.

Leaving Manhattan?

Selling on the Upper East Side and looking at Connecticut?

Peter lives and works in Connecticut and represents buyers and sellers across the Farmington Valley and the Fairfield County Gold Coast, with a focus on New York City buyers relocating north.

See Farmington Valley homes
Peter Tumbas, REALTOR with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties Private inquiry

Start with a short note.

There is no pitch and no obligation. Peter lived in New York City before settling in Connecticut and spent years in business financing, so he knows what a Manhattan move asks of a buyer. Tell him what you are after and he will reply with the right agent.

Phone412-225-0598 Emailpetertumbas@bhhsne.com Office172 W. Main St, Avon, CT 06001
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