The recent warmer weather may have had you dreaming of life by the water. If so, move fast: the lottery to join the waiting list for a Rockaway Beach apartment, priced far below market value, ends Monday, March 16.
You can buy a one-bedroom co-op apartment a short walk from the boardwalk for a range of $14,818 to $15,347 (the actual price is subject to change). The price stays the same whether you make $38,970 (the minimum income) or $182,250 (the maximum).
You can also throw your hat in the ring for two-bedroom apartments for $17,993 to $19,316. Three-bedroom units are up for grabs for $21,565 to $21,962. The building is located at 3-53 Beach 57th St.
A Mitchell-Lama co-op
These Arverne Limited Profit Housing Corp. apartments are open to a wide income range because they’re part of the Mitchell-Lama program. You aren’t buying the unit itself, but rather shares that grant you the right to live there. As Epicenter NYC has reported, these developments are designed to make housing affordable not just to low-income families but also moderate- and middle-income New Yorkers. For a refresher on how Mitchell-Lama co-ops work, read our full guide.
Maintenance fees
Monthly maintenance fees range from $974 to $995 for the one-bedroom units, $1,237 to $1,283 for the two-bedrooms, and $1,525 to $1,537 for the three-bedrooms.
These fees cover shared costs such as building upkeep, staffing and insurance. The charges are similar to those for co-ops and condos throughout the city.
Credit: NYC Housing Connect
Who can apply
The lottery for a one-bedroom is for households of one to three people. To be eligible, your annual household income should range from $38,970 to $182,250.
For a two-bedroom, households of two to four people can apply. Your annual household income should range from $49,494 to $202,500.
The three-bedrooms are for households of four to six people. The annual household income should range from $60,988 to $235,000.
To apply to any of these apartment lotteries, you must:
Be a New York State resident
Be at least 18 years old
Be financially responsible (as shown by documentation such as your tax returns, bank statements and credit scores)
Not be a current shareholder in a Mitchell-Lama development
Submit only one application (either online or by mail)
Duplicate applications will automatically be disqualified. Applicants without the correct household composition or income eligibility will also be disqualified.
How to apply for the lottery
You can apply online through the NYC Housing Connect website here (for the one-bedroom), here (for the two-bedroom), and here (for the three-bedroom). If you apply online, you’ll need to log in or create a NYC Housing Connect account.
You may also request an application by mail by sending a self-addressed envelope to:
P.O. Box 966
New York, NY 10272
What to know after the lottery closes
If you’re selected in the lottery, you don’t immediately get an apartment. You must pay a $75 nonrefundable application fee to get placed on the waiting list in order to proceed. Then, when a unit becomes available, the management company will contact you. If you’re selected and are an eligible veteran living in New York State, you’re given priority over other applicants.
Those who are already on another waiting list from an affordable housing lottery must choose which they prefer; you can only be on one. It often takes years before a unit becomes available.