What the listing does not show
161 East 56th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11203Walk-up apartment buildingLow risk(partial records)
Listed at $1,399,000. The listing does not mention what city records show: no open housing, building, or penalty records. The last sale price, the mortgage amount and the recorded document amounts are in the full report.
- Asking
- $1,399,000
- Beds
- 7 beds
- Baths
- 4 baths
- Size
- 2,560 ft²
- Building
- Walk-up apartment building
- Built
- 1930
- Housing file
- None
- Open building violations
- 0
- Unresolved penalties
- 0
- Unused residential floor area
- 1,577 ft²
01 / Findings
What to ask about
City records a buyer can raise and a seller should be ready to explain. A reading of open filings, not a forecast.
- 01The Housing department has no file for this address. That is common for condominiums and small buildings, and it does not mean the building is clear.
- 02Checked: no open Buildings Department violations.
- 03Checked: no unresolved penalties on file.
- 04About 1,577 ft² of unused residential floor area the listing does not mention.
02 / Building
The building
Department of Finance class C0: Walk-up apartments.
- Type
- Walk-up apartment building
- Year built
- 1930
- Floors
- 2
- Units
- 33 residential
- Building area
- 2,560 ft²
- Residential / commercial
- 2,560 / 0 ft²
- Lot
- 2,767 ft²27.67 × 100 ft
- Assessed value
- $61,440Tax assessment, not market value
- Assessed land
- $20,280
- Tax exemption
- None
03 / Zoning
What the lot allows
Zoned R5. Floor area ratio is how much building the lot can legally hold. Listings rarely spell this out.
Unused residential floor area
1,577ft²
Built at 62% of allowed
Zoning would still allow this much more housing on the lot.
- Commercial FAR allowed
- 0.00
- Community facility FAR
- 2.00
- Affordable housing bonus FAR
- 2.00
- Zoning district
- R5
04 / Checked
What was checked
A zero means the file exists and is clear. A dash means the city has no file for this address, which is not the same thing.
Housing (HPD)
—
no file
Housing records are kept for registered apartment buildings. Condominiums and small buildings are often not in them.
Buildings (DOB)
0
open violations
No open building violations on file.
Permits, unsafe structures, boilers, elevators, facades.
Penalties (ECB)
0
unresolved
No unresolved penalties on file.
05 / Full report
Not on the listing
Sale prices, mortgage amounts and document amounts the city has on file. The listing does not include them.
5 recorded documents · 1 sale of $10,000 or more · Last sale 2023 · Last mortgage 2023
Unlock the recorded amounts for 161 East 56th Street
After you register, the paid report includes who owns the building, plus the amounts below from the city file.
- Owner details
- Last sale price
- Mortgage amount
- Recorded document amounts
Paid report
The rest of 161 East 56th Street is not on the listing
After you register, the paid report names the owner. It also includes the city-file amounts the listing leaves out.
- Owner details
- Last sale price
- Mortgage amount
- Recorded document amounts
06 / FAQ
Questions
How many open violations does 161 East 56th Street have?
As of Oct 6, 2026, the building at 161 East 56th Street has 0 open DOB violations, 0 unresolved ECB penalties. These are building records, so they apply to this listing.
What is the zoning of 161 East 56th Street?
The lot is zoned R5. The building is built at a floor area ratio of 0.93 against 1.50 allowed for residential use, leaving about 1,577 ft² of unused residential floor area.
Is this property in a flood zone?
No. The lot is not inside a FEMA 100-year flood zone on the 2007 or 2015 maps.
Does a missing city file mean the building is clear?
No. A missing file means the city has no record matched to this address, not that the building has no problems. Condominiums and small buildings often sit outside the housing registry. Ask the seller or the managing agent directly.
What amounts are recorded for 161 East 56th Street?
Owner details are in the paid report, available after you register. Last sale price, Mortgage amount, Recorded document amounts are in the city file and included there too.
Where does this data come from?
Records are combined from NYC DCP PLUTO (tax lot, zoning, FAR); NYC HPD (housing violations and registrations); NYC DOB and ECB (building violations and penalties); NYC ACRIS (recorded deeds, mortgages and satisfactions); Active for-sale listings. PLUTO version 26v2.
Sources
NYC DCP PLUTO (tax lot, zoning, FAR) · NYC HPD (housing violations and registrations) · NYC DOB and ECB (building violations and penalties) · NYC ACRIS (recorded deeds, mortgages and satisfactions) · Active for-sale listings
PLUTO 26v2, refreshed Oct 6, 2026. Written for people buying or selling this property. Not legal, tax, or appraisal advice. Confirm the details with the city before you offer or list.