Anchored in the south by Brooklyn College, Flatbush is one of the most unique neighborhoods in New York, both for its residents and its housing stock. Flatbush has many six- and seven-story brick apartment buildings, but Flatbush also boasts row houses and even a few high-rises. Flatbush properties are still affordable to rent and to buy, even in the most picturesque parts of the neighborhood. One gem of Flatbush is the area of South Midwood with its Victorian rowhouses and Colonial Revival houses, many of which have green, stately lawns and mighty trees. There are also many single-family homes on the pretty tree-lined strip of Flatbush between Nostrand and New York Avenues.

More Whether you’re a househunter or a renter, you’ll find that Flatbush Avenue is the neighborhood’s main commercial thoroughfare. The shops seem to offer everything for sale — there are hair salons, pharmacies, banks and restaurants with local West Indian fare, plus more and more cafes and trendy retail options are popping up daily. In Southern Flatbush, the three-way intersection known as “the Junction” has been transformed into a mall with tenants including Target, Starbucks and Shakespeare and Co. Flatbush’s proximity to Prospect Park — the neighborhood hangs right off the park’s southeastern corner — adds to the area’s value. Plus, the ivy-covered buildings and sprawling campus of Brooklyn College, built in the 1930s, lend an academic air to the area. The butterfly-filled community garden located at the College is a favorite neighborhood gathering place. Less