Research Guides: Real Estate: New York City Real Estate Research

Reference Materials for New York City

Community district needs: Manhattan by NYC Department of City Planning
Call Number: KFX2079 .A7
2002-2011; current editions found on NYC DCP website. Brause Library also has volumes for Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, and Staten Island
Directory of Manhattan office buildings 2016 by CoreLogic
Call Number: HD268 .C97 2016
Includes indices arranged by building name, address, block & lot, with additional information on development rights
Real Deal Data Book
Call Number: HD1361 .R422
Publication Date: 2007-
Annual statistical report for New York City development, sales, rentals markets
State of New York City's housing and neighborhoods by Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy
Call Number: HD7304 .N5 S74
Publication Date: 2001-
Annual report on New York City housing
Zoning handbook by Department of City Planning
Call Number: KFX2079 .A2 2018
Publication Date: 2018
Guidebook for understanding NYC zoning code
Zoning Resolution - City of New York by Department of City Planning
Call Number: KFX2079 .A2 1985
Publication Date: 1985-
Last updated in print in 2015, the full-text, three-binder NYC Zoning Resolution

Data Services

For a list of software applications available through the NYU Data Services, consult their Research Guide.

Data Services
by Carol Choi Last Updated Nov 18, 2024 31026 views this year

Geographic Information Systems
by Michelle Thompson Gumbs Last Updated Oct 18, 2024 6137 views this year

Researching History of Buildings

Columbia University Library's NYC Buildings Research Guide
Links and resources for researching buildings created and maintained by staff at the Avery Library
Christopher Gray's Guide to Researching the History of a New York City Building
Guide hosted by the New York Society Library

Mapping, Demographic, and Urban Planning Resources

Ancestry Library Edition This link opens in a new window
Ancestry Library Edition provides access to billions of names by aggregating a variety of genealogical databases, immigration records, census surveys, passenger lists, religious registries, and UK and Ireland records.
Digital Sanborn Maps, 1867-1970 This link opens in a new window
Provides access to historic large-scale maps of New York State towns and cities.
North American City Reports This link opens in a new window
North American City Reports contains reports generated by local government agencies, civic organizations, academic and research organizations, public libraries, and metropolitan and regional planning agencies from major cities in the United States and Canada. The core of the collection contains fiscal and architecture & planning documents. The Index also provides information for all urban-related issues, from hazardous waste disposal to arts in the community, and includes documents from the former Index to Current Urban Documents.
SimplyAnalytics This link opens in a new window
SimplyMap is a web-based mapping application with access to thousands of demographic, business, and marketing data variables that can be used to develop interactive thematic maps and export high-resolution images to word processing or presentation software. Individual registrations are required.
Users are not required to log-in with a user name and password; however, in order to save your work, it is recommended that you create your own user account. SimplyMap user accounts are still functional in the SimplyAnalytics interface.
Social Explorer This link opens in a new window
Social Explorer contains access to U.S. Census data dating back to 1790. Users can create maps and embed them as objects or download static images.
To access Social Explorer, create a user account after signing in to NYU's SSO. If you have questions about authenticating your NYU Social Explorer account from off-campus, please contact Data Services.

Other NYC Mapping, Planning & Real Estate Resources

Center for an Urban Future
Nonpartisan, public policy think tank producing research on 'smart and sustainable policies that reduce inequality, increase economic mobility, and grow the economy in New York City.'
Municipal Art Society of New York
Community advocacy organization with reports on planning, policy, and preservation issues
New York City Department of Buildings: Building Information System
Search for permits, complaints, and violations, determine census tract number and community board number, and search for skilled trades licensees
New York City Department of Buildings: Code Tools
Housing Maintenance Code, Fire Code, and links to Building, Electrical, Energy Conservation, and historical codes
New York City Department of City Planning
Zoning maps and zoning resolution text, redevelopment and rezoning proposals and plans, neighborhood profiles with statistical reports, Open Data (MapPLUTO, Privately Owned Public Spaces, Inclusionary Housing)
New York City Department of Design and Construction Project Browser
Public building development and construction projects by borough, zipcode, Council district and project code, with scope of work, dollar value, and phase information
New York City Department of Finance: ACRIS Database
ACRIS (Automated City Register Information System) provides access to property records by block and lot numbers, document type, or party name; view scanned images of deeds, mortgages, liens, and other agreements
New York City Department of Finance: Digital Tax Maps
Find current and historical tax maps with lot lines, dimensions, easements, and alternations (including mergers for air rights sales)
New York City Department of Finance: Property Tax Public Access web portal
Access property tax rates, assessed value, tax payments and statements for all lots in New York City
New York City Department of Finance: Rolling Sales Data
Last 12 months of property sales for tax class 1, 2, and 4
New York City Housing & Preservation Department: HPDOnline
Search for open complaints, violations, litigation, charges, and building registration information on apartment buildings
New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission
LPC's designation reports database, searchable by address, keyword, borough, etc, provides access to reports of buildings that have received landmark status
New York City Rent Guidelines Board
View complete list of buildings with rent stabilized units, annual reports including income and expense studies, housing supply reports and mortgage affordability studies, and find tenant guides and assistance
New York Law School: CityAdmin Online Library
A searchable library of decisions made by 15 New York City agencies, including: Board of Standards and Appeals, Department of Buildings, City Planning Commission, Landmarks Preservation Commission, and more
NYCityMap
New York City’s online map portal providing property profiles (owners, square footage, etc), as well as locations of schools, day care centers, senior centers, libraries, hospitals, subways, and more. Navigate by entering a specific address or zooming into neighborhoods
NYU Furman Center
Joint center of the New York University School of Law and the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, producing reports, data tools, events, and analysis on housing, neighborhoods, and urban policy
Regional Plan Association
Regional urban research and advocacy organization working to improve the prosperity, infrastructure, sustainability and quality of life of the New York-New Jersey-Connecticut metropolitan region.
Reports from the Office of the New York State Comptroller
Budget reports for New York City and the MTA, and economic snapshots of different boroughs and neighborhoods