Downsizing in Astoria, Queens

Astoria at a glance

Queens Community Board 1 covers all of Astoria, parts of Long Island City and Woodside, and says its boundaries run along the East River, 81st Street and Northern Boulevard. NYC Planning splits the area into three neighborhoods: Astoria (North)-Ditmars-Steinway, Old Astoria-Hallets Point and Astoria (Central).

The Historic Districts Council says the area was first called Hallett's Cove after William Hallet, who settled there in 1652, and was later renamed for John Jacob Astor in the hope of attracting his investment. Astoria and nearby villages, Steinway among them, joined Long Island City in 1870 and became part of New York City in 1898. The community board also points to Kaufman Astoria Studios, the former Paramount studios built in 1920, and the neighborhood's film history is carried on by the Museum of the Moving Image.

Sources: Queens Community Board 1; Historic Districts Council, Astoria.

Homes for downsizers in Astoria

• Houses and multi-family buildings. Community Board 1's district needs statement (fiscal year 2018) describes mixed zoning and notes high-rise and multi-family dwellings going up where one- and two-family homes once stood. The Historic Districts Council notes large residences built in Astoria Village in the late 1800s, and the Steinway House is one of the area's designated landmarks.
• Co-ops, condos and rentals. A co-op is shares plus a proprietary lease, run by a board with its own rules; a condo is a deeded unit under a declaration and by-laws. Rental buildings are a third category, so confirm what a building is from its offering plan or the seller's attorney rather than from a listing.
• Elevator or walk-up. Many Astoria buildings are low-rise. Ask about steps to the entrance, to laundry and to storage, and how far the front door is from the nearest N or W stop.

Read the co-op and condo buying guide and the comparison of home types before touring, and have a New York attorney review the contract.

Sources: Historic Districts Council, Astoria; Queens Community Board 1 needs statement (FY2018); NY Attorney General, buying a co-op or condo.

Getting around Astoria

The MTA's N line map lists Astoria Ditmars Blvd (the terminal), Astoria Blvd, 30 Av, Broadway, 36 Av and 39 Av before Queensboro Plaza, which connects to the 7. W service runs on weekdays only. Among the Astoria stops, only Astoria Blvd is marked accessible, and Queensboro Plaza is accessible too; the others are not marked, so check stations before you choose an address. The Queens Public Library's Broadway branch page also lists R and M service at Steinway Street.

NYC Ferry's Astoria route stops at Astoria, Roosevelt Island and Long Island City, then Manhattan landings at East 34th Street, East 90th Street and Wall Street/Pier 11, and the Brooklyn Navy Yard. NYC Ferry lists a reduced fare for seniors.

The MTA's Reduced-Fare program is open to anyone 65 or older; see our guide to getting around after 65. For buses and door-to-door trips, use the MTA trip planner.

Sources: MTA, N line map; Queens Public Library, Broadway branch; NYC Ferry, Astoria route.

Health care near Astoria

Mount Sinai Queens is at 25-20 30th Avenue. It says it has nearly 500 physicians across about 40 specialties and an expanded emergency department. Elmhurst Hospital Center, at 79-01 Broadway in Elmhurst, is also in western Queens. Confirm that your plan and doctors participate.

Sources: Mount Sinai Queens; Elmhurst Hospital Center.

Everyday life in Astoria

• Astoria Park. The Astoria Park Alliance describes a 60-acre park with an East River shoreline and a public pool. The Historic Districts Council lists the 1936 Astoria Park Pool among the area's designated landmarks, and the community board singles out the views from Shore Boulevard.
• Museums and studios. The community board names the Museum of the Moving Image, the Noguchi Museum, Socrates Sculpture Park and Kaufman Astoria Studios.
• Shopping. Community Board 1's needs statement names major shopping areas along Broadway, Ditmars Boulevard, Steinway Street, 30th and 36th Avenues and Northern Boulevard.
• Libraries. The Astoria branch, 14-01 Astoria Boulevard, is closed for renovation until Summer 2029. Nearby are the Broadway branch at 40-20 Broadway and the Steinway branch at 21-45 31 Street.
• Older adult centers. The RAICES Astoria Older Adult Center is at 30-14 Crescent Street and serves adults 60 and older. Catholic Charities runs the Peter J. DellaMonica Older Adult Center at 23-11 31st Road. Use the NYC Aging center finder for others.

Sources: Astoria Park Alliance; Community Board 1 needs statement; Queens Public Library, Astoria branch; RAICES; Catholic Charities Brooklyn and Queens.

Storms, flooding and insurance in Astoria

Astoria borders the East River, and risk varies by block and by building level, so check each address. Queens County was among the counties in the federal disaster declaration for Hurricane Sandy in October 2012.

• Use the city's Hurricane Evacuation Zone Finder. The city explains its six zones on its evacuation page.
• Look up the flood insurance map at the FEMA Flood Map Service Center. Evacuation zones and FEMA flood zones are separate maps.
• Ask about a separate flood policy, since standard homeowners, condo and co-op policies exclude flood. FloodHelpNY has guidance.

Our flood and storm insurance guide has more.

Property taxes and local government in Astoria

Astoria is in Queens County, and the city bills property tax. Owners 65 or older with combined income of $58,399 or less may apply for the Senior Citizen Homeowners' Exemption on a primary residence, covering one to three family homes, condos and co-ops (co-ops apply separately), by March 15 (March 16 in 2026). Enhanced STAR reduces school taxes for owners 65 and older within its income limit, and a buyer registers with the state. A co-op or condo building can apply for the city's tax abatement on owners' behalf. Transfer taxes on a sale can be estimated in the net proceeds calculator, and costs and money and the senior property tax exemptions guide give more detail. A New York lawyer or CPA should confirm figures for your situation.

Sources: NYC 311, SCHE; NY Tax Department, STAR; NYC Finance, co-op and condo abatement.

Questions to ask before you buy in Astoria

• Is this a co-op, condo or rental building, and what do the financial statements show about reserves and planned assessments?
• What is the co-op flip tax, and how long does board approval take?
• Is there an elevator, and how many steps are there to the front door and the laundry?
• How far is the nearest N or W stop, and is that station accessible?
• If the address is a house, what do the heating system, roof and any basement flooding history look like?
• What do the evacuation zone finder and FEMA's map show for this address?

Start with the downsizing plan. To be introduced to an agent, get matched with one on the operating team at eXp Realty. Introductions go only to agents on that team, so this is not a search of the whole market.