Keller Williams NYCJonathan Answers · Buying what isn't for sale
Can you buy a New York apartment that isn't for sale?
Answered by Jonathan NormolleFounder, NextGen at Keller Williams NYC
The short answer
Often, yes. Every owner has a price and a moment. We identify the owners of the buildings or apartments you want, approach them discreetly with a real buyer, and negotiate. It takes longer than buying a listed home and you'll usually pay a premium, but you get the home you actually want.
Why it works
Most owners aren't selling because nobody has asked them the right way. A divorce, a move, an estate, a second home they rarely use: life changes, and a serious, quiet offer at the right moment often lands. Owners also like what a private sale avoids: no showings, no public price history, no months on the market.
How a private acquisition runs
- The brief. You tell us exactly what you want: the building, the line, the floor, the view.
- Research. We identify the owners from public records and our own network.
- The approach. A personal letter or an introduction through someone they trust. Never a cold flood of mail.
- Pricing. We price against what similar homes actually sold for, then agree what a fair premium for certainty looks like.
- Closing. From there it runs like any purchase, with your attorney and, for co-ops, the board.
What to expect
Some approaches turn into a deal in weeks. Some take a year. Many owners say no the first time and call back later. The buyers who succeed are specific about what they want and patient about when.
What we do
We run private briefs for buyers who know exactly what they want. Your legal fees are covered and so is 20–50% of your move.
Also asked
How do I find out who owns an apartment in NYC?
Ownership of condos and townhouses is public through the city's property records. Co-op ownership is not, which is where relationships matter.
Do you pay more for an off-list purchase?
Usually some premium, because you are asking an owner to sell on your timeline. Priced against real sales, it is often less than buyers expect.
How long does a private acquisition take?
Anywhere from a few weeks to a year, depending on the owner and how specific the brief is.
The NextGen Promise
Your legal fees, covered. 20–50% of your move, on us.
Buying or selling, at every price. We're the only brokerage that does it.