Last year 2024 was a big one for Dorchester Towers condo, it is also known as 155 West 68th Street!
With the sponsor finally putting their apartments on the market, it’s the start of an exciting new chapter for the building.
We got quite a few calls from people asking what we thought. Would this impact prices in a negative way? Why are they selling now? Is there something we should be worried about?
The good news is—it’s actually a positive change. Having more individual condo owners tends to be better for the overall community. Sure, some buyers may purchase as an investment, and those units could end up as rentals again. But many will be used as primary residences or second homes, which helps add long-term stability for everyone living in the building.
Over the years, the large sponsor percentage at the Dorchester has often been a topic of conversation, especially for new buyers needing financing. The initial assumption was that getting a mortgage might be impossible or at least very difficult. But in reality, financing has always been available through a handful of major banks that did their due diligence on the building and were comfortable lending.
Now that the sponsor apartments are hitting the market, we’re seeing more banks step in to offer additional financing options—a definite win for buyers, whether they’re purchasing a sponsor unit or buying from an existing owner.
So far, everything we’re seeing indicates that this hasn’t had a negative impact on condo prices. In fact, 2024 was a busy and successful year for us, helping Dorchester owners sell their units—and many achieved great results, with some even setting new price benchmarks.
The sponsor inventory has also been selling quickly, largely because most of these apartments are renovated. That’s a big draw for buyers. It’s worth noting that not every renovation is exactly the same—some are more recent than others—but overall, condition plays a key role in a unit’s appeal. Since many sponsor apartments are updated, it’s no surprise they’ve been doing well on the market.
If you’re a condo owner thinking about selling, it’s natural to wonder how your apartment might compare to a sponsor unit. With more inventory on the market, buyers tend to have the upper hand, so it’s important to factor in what sponsor units are available at the time.
Now more than ever, taking a deeper look at market conditions is essential.
When buyers look at recent sales in the building, it’s no longer as straightforward—especially if they’re browsing on StreetEasy. StreetEasy has long been a popular tool for quick research, but in our opinion, it’s become increasingly challenging and even frustrating to conduct basic searches.
Right now, if you search for Dorchester sales on StreetEasy, it feels disorganized. You’ll find sponsor sales mixed in, including some active listings, some in contract, and some that went under contract without ever being publicly listed. Meanwhile, resale units from individual owners are buried at the very bottom, making them easy to overlook unless you scroll all the way down.
So, what makes building sales data less clear?
The key is to break it down into different categories. We’re currently viewing it by comparing resale units (those sold by individual owners) and sponsor units that were openly listed on the market. Then, there’s a third category: sponsor sales that never went on the open market but still sold—often to existing tenants or other Dorchester residents. These off-market sales are trickier to evaluate because we don’t have insight into the apartment’s condition, making them harder to compare to other sales.
To keep things clear moving forward, we’ll focus on two main groups: resale units sold by individual owners and sponsor units that were publicly listed.
RESALE UNITS
Studio Category – unit 518, 725, 2129, and 310 – all sold in 2024
The studio market isn’t as straightforward to figure out as, say, the one-bedroom market. Across the condo market, studios account for only about 10% of the total inventory, compared to one- and two-bedroom units, which each make up around 30%. This smaller share means there are typically fewer studios on the market at any given time. And generally speaking, less inventory means less competition, which can help your apartment sell more quickly.
What makes studios a bit trickier, though, is that the buyer pool tends to be smaller. Many buyers, if they can, will try to stretch their budget into a one-bedroom for the added space and utility. So, while studios are more affordable, they often face lower demand compared to one-bedroom units.
That said, based on what we’ve observed, the demand for studios at the Dorchester remains very healthy. Let’s take a closer look at how resale (owner-owned) studios performed last year and so far in 2025.
We had the opportunity to be the listing agent for 3 out of the 4 studio apartments that sold last year, giving us first-hand insight into how the market was performing. The one apartment we didn’t list was unit 518, which sold for $700,000. It was the first studio to hit the market in 2024 and had a major selling point—a full gut renovation.
The 18-line units, like this one, have a couple of standout features. For one, the kitchen is surprisingly large—bigger than what you’ll find in any other studio or even most one-bedroom apartments in the building. Additionally, the Northern-facing exposure at the back of the building offers a nice combination of peace and quiet, along with partial views of Broadway and West 69th Street, depending on the floor.
Unit 725 This was hands down one of the best-renovated studio apartments we’ve ever seen at the Dorchester. The renovation was incredibly well-executed, thoughtfully designed to maximize every square inch of space.
One standout feature was the bathroom. Unlike the typical 5×7 Dorchester layout, this one had been reconfigured and expanded to include a double vanity, a sleek shower stall, and a separate toilet room. The result? It felt like stepping into a luxury hotel.
We listed the apartment at $775,000, and it quickly attracted multiple offers. It also had Broadway-facing views—a highly coveted exposure in the building that consistently performs well on the market.
Unit 2129 sold for $825,000—a price that may seem high for a studio, but in this case, it was well-deserved. This was truly a one-of-a-kind apartment with standout features that made it extra special.
Located on the 21st floor on the Broadway side of the building, it’s not only on the top floor but also benefits from a unique perk: higher ceilings. While most units in the building have standard 8-foot ceilings, the 21st-floor apartments boast ceilings just under 9 feet—and that extra height makes a noticeable difference in how spacious and airy the apartment feels.
Another rare and highly desirable feature? A triple exposure. Apartment 2129 offers Eastern-facing primary views, with additional Southern and Western exposures, flooding the space with natural light and providing picturesque, panoramic views.
The apartment had also undergone a full gut renovation in 2017, featuring high-end finishes and thoughtful design details that you could see and feel the moment you walked in.
Unit 310 the final studio to sell last year, was an alcove studio on the Amsterdam side of the building. With a tree-lined exposure and a highly functional layout, it sold for $690,000.
The sponsor units sold for closing prices ranging from $773,000 to $809,000. It’s important to note that all of these units were renovated within the past 5 to 10 years. While there is some variation among them, we believe they generally fall under the category of renovated-condition apartments.
One Bedroom Category:
In 2024, two resale one-bedroom units sold, and we had the pleasure of handling both transactions: Apartment 620 and Apartment 1927.
Unit 620 This is the only South-facing one-bedroom layout in the building, which is always a sought-after feature. The Southern exposure over West 68th Street, combined with the setback from the circular driveway and the unique setbacks across the street at Tower 67, gives these South-facing apartments an abundance of natural light and a deeper, more expansive view. It’s one of those features that really stands out when you see it in person.
We listed Apartment 620 at an asking price of $779,000, which is a great price point for entry-level one-bedroom condos in the neighborhood. The apartment generated a lot of interest, and we received multiple offers. It ultimately sold for a little over the asking price, closing at $786,000. This sale was a solid indicator of the market—an apartment with excellent fundamentals at an affordable price point getting strong attention.
Unit 1927 – Another success story: the first one-bedroom unit to sell for over $1 million. This apartment had several key factors working in its favor. It had just undergone a complete gut renovation, with everything updated to the highest standards. Situated on a high floor with a Broadway-facing exposure—highly desirable—it also featured the ideal 27-line layout with excellent proportions.
We listed it at $1,050,000, and after receiving multiple offers, we closed at $1,060,500. Since then, a sponsor one-bedroom has sold for just over $1 million, and several other one-bedrooms have sold in the mid-to-upper $900K range. One thing all these sales have in common? They were all renovated.
The Junior 4 layouts category – sometimes referred to as Convertible Two Bedrooms, can be a bit more complex when it comes to pricing. The key factor that affects pricing is whether the apartment has been converted into a two-bedroom, which, in our experience, typically adds value. Additionally, some of these layouts feature one bathroom, while others have one-and-a-half bathrooms, with the latter generally commanding a higher price. From what we’ve seen, when the sponsor sells a Junior 4 unit, it’s typically not converted.
Unit 1214, which technically closed in 2024 but was listed in late 2023, sold for $1,125,000. It had not been converted into a two-bedroom and featured one-and-a-half bathrooms.
Unit 2002 was initially listed in 2023 with an asking price of $1,600,000. At that time, aspirational pricing didn’t produce the desired results, and the apartment sat on the market for a while. Eventually, it was re-listed with a significant price reduction, coming back on at $1,275,000—a price more in line with the market.
What made this unit unique was its terrace. Only about 25 apartments in the building have terraces, and once they change hands, they’re rarely available again for years. Additionally, the apartment’s size—around 950 square feet—was larger than most convertible two-bedroom layouts. While it wasn’t officially converted, the layout offered that potential.
After re-listing at $1,275,000, the apartment ultimately sold for $1,350,000.
Unit 1404 was the second time we sold this unit, having previously sold it in 2014. It’s always a mix of enjoyment and bittersweetness to see how well an apartment has served its owners, but then comes the time to move on as life evolves.
This time, we listed the apartment for $1,350,000, and it sold quickly—achieving the full asking price after receiving multiple offers. The apartment had undergone a complete renovation, including a conversion to add a second bedroom. The 04-line layout is known for having one of the larger living rooms in the building, with a wall of Southern-facing windows that truly stand out and create a welcoming atmosphere as soon as you enter the apartment.
Unit 1229 located in the 29-line, is the only Junior 4 with 1.5 bathrooms that directly faces Broadway—an exceptional combination of features. The layout is well-designed, with the second bedroom easily convertible to seamlessly integrate with the rest of the apartment. This unit was listed at $1,295,000 and sold quickly for the same price.
Two Bedroom Category:
While we often discuss convertible two-bedroom layouts, it’s important to highlight that we’re referring here to the original, “true” two-bedroom configurations. It’s also worth noting that, aside from the tower (floors 22-35), there’s only one other line (30) with a two-bedroom layout, apart from a few unique one-offs or combination apartments. Historically, true two-bedroom units rarely come on the market, so when they do, there’s always a built-up demand and plenty of interest from potential buyers.
Unit 25E – We sold this unit – The E-line is a spacious two-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom unit, offering over 1,200 square feet of living space. One of the standout features of the E-line is its triple exposure. The primary views face east, providing open vistas, distant views of Central Park, and abundant sunlight with clear blue skies. Compared to other larger two-bedroom layouts in the tower, such as the A, B, or D lines, there is minimal obstruction in front of this apartment, enhancing the sense of openness.
Additionally, the master bedroom offers northern-facing views, while the second bedroom, which could function as an alternate master, boasts a western-facing view and an ensuite bathroom. The layout is highly versatile, with the potential to open up the kitchen for a more modern, open-concept feel. With its great views, ample natural light, and well-thought-out design, this apartment truly checks all the boxes. It ultimately sold for $1,700,000.
Combo Apartment Category:
Unit 304/305 sold last year. While we weren’t involved in the recent sale, we had previously represented this unit, so we are very familiar with its layout and features. The apartment was a combination of two Junior 4s, converted into a spacious four-bedroom with additional home office space. It offered plenty of room to grow, with a beautifully renovated open kitchen, a living/dining room layout ideal for entertaining, and a corner position with Southern and Western exposures. This was a standout apartment that ultimately sold for $2,750,000.
2025 Market Overview
The 2025 sales season has seen a significant number of sponsor unit closings, with only a few resale units sold so far this year. As of March 20, 2025, approaching the end of the first quarter, the sponsor has successfully closed on approximately 62 apartments, with another 20 currently “in-contract.” Please note, these numbers are always evolving, as new contracts are entered daily and closings happen frequently, so we expect these figures to change over time.
Out of the total 324 apartments offered by the sponsor, approximately 40 are rent-stabilized, which we consider a separate category. Of the remaining 285 units, 60 have closed, and another 20 are in contract—bringing the total to about 80 units, which we view as a strong and steady pace.
As always, we closely monitor the activity at Dorchester Towers and continually update our market reports and newsletters. We also send out e-newsletters with the latest updates about Dorchester Towers condos. If you’d like to join our mailing list or have any questions about the market, feel free to email us directly.
