--- title: "159 East 71st Street, New York City, NY 10021" description: "159 East 71st Street, New York City, NY 10021 — Townhouse in Lenox Hill, Manhattan, NY. Listing Price $7,950,000. 7 bed, 6 bath, 5,400 sqft Illustrative Buyer Commission Share of $119,250 at closing, based on a 3% buyer-broker commission." url: "https://realestaterebatesnewyork.com/buy/newyorkcity/manhattan/10021/159-east-71st-street-ny-10021" source: "Real Estate Rebate Team" dateModified: "2026-09-17T16:39:18.070Z" status: "Active" --- # 159 East 71st Street, New York City, NY 10021 Townhouse in Lenox Hill, Manhattan, NY Courtesy of Compass Last updated: September 17, 2026, 12:39 PM ## At a Glance - **Listing Price**: $7,950,000 - **Beds**: 7 - **Total Baths**: 6 - **Sqft**: 5,400 - **Monthly Taxes**: $7,900 / mo - **Price per Sqft**: $1,472 - **Brokerage Fee**: Share Eligible ## The Private Brokerage Advantage As an independent luxury buyer representative, Régis shares 50% of the buyer-side commission he actually receives on your purchase. Eligible buyers receive that Buyer Commission Share directly at closing to offset closing costs, down payments, or renovations. The figures below are illustrative, based on a **3% buyer-broker commission**; your share follows the commission offered on the transaction. - **Contract Purchase Price**: $7,950,000 - **Illustrative Buyer Commission Share**: -$119,250* - **Illustrative Net Cost**: $7,830,750 *Illustrative Buyer Savings of $119,250 — 50% of a 3% buyer-broker commission, shared at closing.* [Request a private tour](https://realestaterebatesnewyork.com/contact) · [Estimate your Buyer Commission Share](https://realestaterebatesnewyork.com/calculators/buyer-closing-cost-calculator) ## Photos (10) ![159 East 71st Street, New York City, NY 10021 — photo 1 of 10](https://realestaterebatesnewyork-bucket.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/1520ab94-c945-427e-af45-0274402971c6.png) ![159 East 71st Street, New York City, NY 10021 — photo 2 of 10](https://realestaterebatesnewyork-bucket.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/9213d9c1-e0e2-4be0-abf7-eae788a11b9a.png) ![159 East 71st Street, New York City, NY 10021 — photo 3 of 10](https://realestaterebatesnewyork-bucket.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/ecb840d4-0720-4f91-8e27-83b494cc4c3f.png) ![159 East 71st Street, New York City, NY 10021 — photo 4 of 10](https://realestaterebatesnewyork-bucket.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/7f455e5c-e61f-4bcf-9b8e-3fac8beb1d84.jpg) ![159 East 71st Street, New York City, NY 10021 — photo 5 of 10](https://realestaterebatesnewyork-bucket.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/e1a9cbaa-4863-4357-8088-69e059b24754.jpg) ![159 East 71st Street, New York City, NY 10021 — photo 6 of 10](https://realestaterebatesnewyork-bucket.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/9d2557f7-92e3-4e66-a373-a9b7bdd7fed3.png) ![159 East 71st Street, New York City, NY 10021 — photo 7 of 10](https://realestaterebatesnewyork-bucket.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/69858e5d-54b1-4ed0-81d2-ea0768650494.png) ![159 East 71st Street, New York City, NY 10021 — photo 8 of 10](https://realestaterebatesnewyork-bucket.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/c9dd6920-18bf-4243-8f0b-02900e1a8634.jpg) ![159 East 71st Street, New York City, NY 10021 — photo 9 of 10](https://realestaterebatesnewyork-bucket.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/0f590139-4ebd-4e7c-9ce1-99df8e0edc93.jpg) ![159 East 71st Street, New York City, NY 10021 — photo 10 of 10](https://realestaterebatesnewyork-bucket.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/57ff87c3-4551-470c-9e11-49ea35ca557e.jpg) ## Property Overview 159 East 71st Street is a distinguished 20-foot-wide single-family townhouse offering approximately 5,400 square feet across 5 levels, with 7 bedrooms, 5.5 bathrooms, and private gardens at both the front and rear of the residence. Set on one of the Upper East Side’s most coveted tree-lined townhouse blocks, the home combines gracious scale, abundant natural light, and beautifully preserved architectural character. Additional 10,240 SF of air rights. Built in 1880 by noted architect James E. Ware in the Neo-Grec style, the residence features 5 working fireplaces, high ceilings, and distinctive architectural details throughout. Oversized bay and oriel windows bring exceptional natural light into the interiors while framing views of the surrounding gardens. The home also offers ample storage space, including more than 20 closets. The garden level is centered around a spacious eat-in kitchen and an open living and dining area overlooking the beautifully landscaped rear garden. Measuring more than 650 square feet, the garden provides a private outdoor retreat in the heart of Manhattan. This level also includes an additional bedroom and full bathroom, ideal for guests or staff. Above, the grand parlor floor showcases the scale and character of the house, with high ceilings and a gracious living room at the front. At the rear, an elegant wood-paneled library with a fireplace and bay window overlooks the garden below. A wet bar and powder room complete the floor, creating an ideal setting for entertaining. The primary bedroom level offers a private retreat with 3 large south-facing windows, a generous dressing area, extensive closet space, and an en-suite bathroom. An additional bedroom or home office with its own en-suite bathroom provides flexibility. The upper level features 4 additional bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms. A nearly 200-square-foot front garden creates a gracious approach to the residence, while the expansive rear garden offers a rare sense of privacy and tranquility. Beyond its architectural distinction, 159 East 71st Street has a storied New York history. The home was once owned by acclaimed pianist and bandleader Peter Duchin, who was known for hosting memorable gatherings at the residence, and it was the site of Mayor Ed Koch’s inauguration celebrations on two occasions. Just a few doors away is the iconic townhouse featured in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, adding to the history and character of this exceptional block. With its 20-foot width, historic architecture, gracious scale, remarkable provenance, and exceptional outdoor space, 159 East 71st Street presents a special opportunity to own a classic Manhattan townhouse in one of the Upper East Side’s most desirable locations, moments from world-class museums, schools, restaurants, galleries, shopping, and Central Park. ## Property Details - **Property Type**: Single Family Residence - **Beds**: 7 - **Total Baths**: 6 - **Rooms**: 12 - **Sqft**: 5,400 sqft - **Stories**: 5 - **Year Built**: 1910 - **Price per Sqft**: $1,472 - **Monthly Taxes**: $7,900 / mo - **Listed On**: Sep 1, 2026 - **Days on Market**: 21 Days ### Residence Features - Laundry Room - See Remarks - Building Garden - Private Outdoor Space Over 60 Sqft - Wet Bar - Eat-in Kitchen - High Ceilings - Bar - Walk-In Closet(s) - Dryer - Washer - Hardwood - Full - Bay Window(s) ## Estimated Monthly Payment **$48,100 / month**, assuming a 20% down payment ($1,590,000), a 6.5% interest rate and a 30-year term. The page's calculator lets a buyer change all three. - **Principal & Interest**: $40,200 - **Property Taxes**: $7,900 Estimates only. Actual payments may vary. Confirm terms with your lender. ## Sales and market data ### How this price compares - **This home**: $7,950,000 - **Median sold price**: $13,900,000 - **Difference**: -$5,950,000 (-42.8%) - **This home, $/ft²**: $1,472 - **Median $/ft²**: $1,529 - **Comparable sales**: 38 - **Sales from**: October 2021 – August 2026 - **Middle half of those sales**: $7,537,500 – $20,115,000 Based on house sales in Lenox Hill. A house is not part of a building of comparable apartments, so this benchmark is drawn from house sales across Lenox Hill. Apartment sales are excluded from it entirely. ### How these sales were negotiated - **Sale-to-list price**: 89% (36 sales) - **Sold below asking**: 86% (36 sales) - **Typical time to find a buyer**: 244 days (36 sales) - **Typical time to close**: 47 days (36 sales) Based on house sales in Lenox Hill with the required listing and closing data. Sample sizes vary by metric. These are two separate periods measured on different clocks — time to find a buyer, and time from agreed deal to closing. They are medians of different sets of sales and do not add together into a single "days on market" figure. Sales data through August 2026. Sale prices are the consideration recorded with the City in ACRIS, and each sale is dated by the day the City recorded it. A closing date reported to the MLS typically falls one to two weeks earlier. Recorded sales describe what has already happened and are not an appraisal, a valuation, or an estimate of what this home will sell for. [See every recorded sale at 159 East 71ST Street](https://realestaterebatesnewyork.com/buildings/new-york-city/manhattan/159-east-71st-street) ## Property Tax History Taxes at 159 East 71st Street were $95,957 in 2026, up 4.3% from 2025. | Year | Tax Assessment | Land | Additions | Billable Value | Property Tax | Tax Rate | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026 (FY 2026/27) | $515,640 | $191,700 | $323,940 | $477,757 | $95,957 | 20.085% (estimated) | | 2025 (FY 2025/26) | $566,700 | $191,700 | $375,000 | $457,850 | $91,959 | 20.085% (estimated) | | 2024 (FY 2024/25) | $493,740 | $191,700 | $302,040 | $437,944 | $87,961 | 20.085% | | 2023 (FY 2023/24) | $585,720 | $191,700 | $394,020 | $422,017 | $84,762 | 20.085% | | 2022 (FY 2022/23) | $621,240 | $191,700 | $429,540 | $398,131 | $80,856 | 20.309% | | 2021 (FY 2021/22) | $667,560 | $191,700 | $475,860 | $398,131 | $79,479 | 19.963% | | 2020 (FY 2020/21) | $760,320 | $191,700 | $568,620 | $381,542 | $80,296 | 21.045% | | 2019 (FY 2019/20) | $748,980 | $191,700 | $557,280 | $364,953 | $77,250 | 21.167% | | 2018 (FY 2018/19) | $351,681 | — | — | $351,681 | $73,568 | 20.919% | | 2017 (FY 2017/18) | $331,776 | — | — | $331,776 | $67,633 | 20.385% | | 2016 (FY 2016/17) | $331,776 | — | — | $331,776 | $66,325 | 19.991% | | 2015 (FY 2015/16) | $317,952 | — | — | $317,952 | $62,172 | 19.554% | | 2014 (FY 2014/15) | $304,128 | — | — | $304,128 | $58,262 | 19.157% | | 2013 (FY 2013/14) | $293,068 | — | — | $293,068 | $56,243 | 19.191% | | 2012 (FY 2012/13) | $276,480 | — | — | $276,480 | $51,340 | 18.569% | | 2011 (FY 2011/12) | $276,480 | — | — | $276,480 | $50,333 | 18.205% | | 2010 (FY 2010/11) | $264,960 | — | — | $264,960 | $46,008 | 17.364% | The City has not published the official FY2026/27 and FY2025/26 tax rates yet. We calculated the tax for those years using the prior year’s rate, so treat them as an estimate rather than a figure the City has adopted. Every rate without the Estimated marker is the published one. Tax Assessment is the assessed value on the City’s roll, and it is the figure other listing sites publish. It is not what the bill is calculated on. New York phases assessment changes in gradually for some tax classes, so the City bills the Billable Value shown beside it, less any exemption the owner holds. It usually trails the assessment, and it can sit above it for a few years after an assessment falls. Figures are the New York City Department of Finance assessment roll for tax lot 1014060025. Assessed and billable values are determined by the City for tax purposes and are not an appraisal or an estimate of market value. Tax classes and rates are set annually and can change. [How we source and calculate NYC property tax data](https://realestaterebatesnewyork.com/nyc-property-tax-data-methodology) ## About The Building ### 159 East 71st Street Lenox Hill · Townhouse 159 East 71st Street, New York, NY 10021 A Townhouse in Lenox Hill built in 1910. - **Year Built**: 1910 - **Active Units**: 1 - **Floors**: 5 [View the building page](https://realestaterebatesnewyork.com/buildings/new-york-city/manhattan/159-east-71st-street) ### Available Residences — For Sale (1) | Unit | Beds | Baths | Size | Price / Ft² | Price | Listing Office | Listed Date | Days on Market | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [N/A](https://realestaterebatesnewyork.com/buy/newyorkcity/manhattan/10021/159-east-71st-street-ny-10021) | 7 | 6 | 5,400 sqft | $1,472 | $7,950,000 | Compass | Sep 1, 2026 | 21 days | ## Lenox Hill Overview of Lenox Hill [Explore Lenox Hill](https://realestaterebatesnewyork.com/neighborhoods/new-york-city/manhattan/lenox-hill) · [All Neighborhoods](https://realestaterebatesnewyork.com/neighborhoods) ### Nearby Lenox Hill - [Inwood real estate for sale](https://realestaterebatesnewyork.com/neighborhoods/new-york-city/manhattan/inwood) ## Related Links - [159 East 71ST Street — building page](https://realestaterebatesnewyork.com/buildings/new-york-city/manhattan/159-east-71st-street) - [Lenox Hill neighborhood guide](https://realestaterebatesnewyork.com/neighborhoods/new-york-city/manhattan/lenox-hill) - [Estimate your Buyer Commission Share and closing costs](https://realestaterebatesnewyork.com/calculators/buyer-closing-cost-calculator) - [Contact Régis Roumila](https://realestaterebatesnewyork.com/contact) --- > RLS IDX Data display by Real Estate Rebate Team. This information is not verified for authenticity or accuracy and is not guaranteed and may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. ©2026 The Real Estate Board of New York, Inc., All rights reserved. IDX information is provided exclusively for consumers’ personal, non-commercial use and it may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. > All information furnished regarding property for sale, rental or financing is from sources deemed reliable, but no warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy thereof and same is submitted subject to errors, omissions, change of price, rental or other conditions, prior sale, lease or financing or withdrawal without notice. All dimensions are approximate. For exact dimensions, you must hire your own architect or engineer and the number of bedrooms listed is for informational purposes and is not a legal conclusion. Please consult with your own architect or engineer for exact dimensions and legal specifications.