What to know about buying in Homecrest, Brooklyn, a walkable residential community with low turnover and high prices
This two-bedroom, three-bath duplex has a 400-square-foot private terrace and two balconies and is asking $1.195 million.
The small southern Brooklyn community of Homecrest, where select scenes from the 1993 Robert De Niro film “A Bronx Tale” were filmed, is a serene suburban melting pot with some big-city chops.
Almost exclusively residential, Homecrest is a culturally diverse neighborhood with quiet streets and a pair of buzzing commercial corridors.
In this week’s Buy Curious, Albert Wilk, owner/broker at Wilk Real Estate, and Tina Epstein, a broker at Compass, give us the inside story on Homecrest.
The question:
I’ve heard that Homecrest is a good place to raise a family. What can you tell me about it?
The reality:
“It is extremely family friendly,” Wilk says. “In fact, most of the houses are single family.”
Where is it?
Homecrest, which has a population of about 44,000, is bounded by Kings Highway on the north, Avenue U on the south, Coney Island Avenue on the west, and Ocean Avenue on the east.
Why would NYers want to move to Homecrest?
“What makes it special is that it’s a vibrant and diverse neighborhood,” Epstein says. “You can walk down a block and hear people speaking Russian, Hebrew, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Greek, and Pakistani. It has beautiful, peaceful streets and bustling commercial areas. People of all economic statuses live here. And the real estate ranges from mini-mansions to more affordable co-ops.”
Wilk adds, "It’s very private—and it’s very walkable.”
Where in Homecrest should you live?
There are no named subsections in Homecrest.
What are housing and pricing like?
Real estate in Homecrest is “very expensive,” Wilk says, “because there’s a very, very limited supply of inventory.”
He notes that according to the Multiple Listing Service, only one single-family house, five two-family houses, 14 co-ops, and 14 condos are on the market.
Overall, most properties in the community are single-family houses, eight of which sold in the last year. Their prices ranged from $1.075 million to $1.950 million, Wilk says, noting that those that are 2,000 square feet or more tend to bring the highest prices. “A private driveway can add $200,000 to $300,000 to the price,” he adds. That's because there aren't a lot of places to park on the street.
Condos typically sell for $400,000 to $1.5 million and co-ops range from $300,000 to $550,000. “The prices depend on the size, the building, and amenities such as balconies,” Wilk says. “Again, because of the parking situation, the post-war buildings with garages bring higher prices.”
Rentals, in apartment buildings or multi-family houses, average $2,000 for a one-bedroom unit, $2,300 for a two bedroom, and $2,800 to $3,000 for a three bedroom, Wilk says. “For new apartment buildings, you can add $500 to all the prices."
Is there a lot of new development?
Other than renovations of individual single-family houses, not much new residential development is happening in Homecrest.
What’s the transportation situation?
In addition to the B and Q trains, the B3, B7, B36, B49, B68, B82, and B82 SBS bus lines run through the community.
What is there to do?
Kelly Park Playground, the main green space, has tennis and basketball courts and playgrounds.
Marine Park, which Epstein calls “magnificent” because it has a salt marsh nature center and offers boating and kayaking, is a five-minute drive from Homecrest.
Coney Island Beach, Brighton Beach, and Manhattan Beach are all a 10-minute drive away.
The community also has a variety of stores ranging from independently owned boutiques to big-box brands like Marshalls.
What’s the restaurant/nightlife situation?
Kings Highway and Avenue U, the main commercial corridors, are filled with restaurants that are as diverse as Homecrest’s population.
Some of the popular spots include Memo Shish Kebab, a Turkish café; Sushi Meshuga, a kosher sushi and sashimi takeout place; Wah Lung, a spot for Chinese fare; Safir Bakery, a Turkish café with sweets and sandwiches; and Sunflower Café, the go-to place for a kosher menu ranging from sushi to salads.
Other options include 3 Star Restaurant, a diner serving American and Greek fare and seafood, and Luigi’s Pizzeria.
How about grocery stores?
“There are grocery stores that carry items from every place in the world,” Epstein says.
Pomegranate Supermarket, which sells kosher organic and natural foods, is the largest supermarket; it’s in neighboring Midwood.
There also are a number of mom-and-pop groceries, including the health-food/groceries/vitamins shop Wealth of Health, as well as fruit and vegetable stands on almost every corner.
Check out these listings in Homecrest.
2131 Ocean Ave., #6A
This 1,417-square-foot condo, listed for $952,000, has three bedrooms, two baths, a custom kitchen with dishwasher, laundry hookup, and an intercom. The building, which opened in 2019, has 16 units on eight floors.
2381 Ocean Ave., #8C
Listed for $1.195 million, this duplex penthouse condo, which is on the seventh and eighth floors of the building, has two bedrooms, three baths, a 400-square-foot private terrace, and two balconies. The eight-story building, erected in 2006, has 22 units.
2299 East 13th St., #3A
This 550-square-foot studio co-op, listed for $220,000, has walk-in closets, new windows, and a kitchen with stainless steel appliances. Built in 1960, the six-story, 66-unit building has an elevator, upgraded lobby, a security system, live-in super, and laundry room.
1717 East 14th St., #2
Listed for $449,000, this 725-square-foot co-op has two bedrooms and one bath. Features include high ceilings, new windows, new maple floors, custom built-in closets, and a gourmet kitchen with stainless steel appliances and a granite waterfall island. The building, which dates to 1932, has three stories and 24 units.
1750 East 14th St., #6F
This 1,200-square-foot, top-floor co-op, listed for $435,000, has two bedrooms, two baths, hardwood floors, and a kitchen with stainless steel appliances. The 1961 building has six stories and 64 units, a laundry room, live-in super, an elevator, and parking for an extra fee. Pets and sublets are allowed.
Nancy A. Ruhling is a freelance writer based in New York City.
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