MW Bill Cosby lists New York townhouse for $7 million after being sued for defaulting on a loan

By Charlie Lankston

The Manhattan home was built in 1905 and is hailed as an 'architectural gem.'

Disgraced Hollywood star Bill Cosby has quietly listed one of his two New York City townhouses for $7 million amid an ongoing foreclosure battle over that property and another of his Manhattan homes.

The 87-year-old put the six-bedroom, 4.5-bathroom East 61st Street dwelling on the market on April 16-four months after he was accused of defaulting on a $4.2 million loan that is tied to the four-story abode.

In early December, the former "Cosby Show" star's lender, CitiMortgage, filed a lawsuit with the Manhattan Supreme Court alleging that Cosby had fallen behind on payments for the 2010 loan, which was taken out using the same LLC that he and wife, Camille, used for the purchase of the home.

CitiMortgage claimed that Cosby and his wife owe $3.7 million in principal on the loan, as well as interest and fees.

Weeks later, Cosby was then accused by another lender, First Foundation Bank, of defaulting on a $17.5 million loan taken out on a second townhouse that is located on East 71st Street.

In a lawsuit filed with the Manhattan Supreme Court on Dec. 31, First Foundation Bank, sought to force the sale of the lavish abode to recoup at least some of the money that its lawyers say the actor has failed to repay.

The $17.5 million figure cited in court documents came from two loans taken out on the home: a $12.25 million loan in 2010 and a $5.25 million loan in 2014.

However, Cosby has thus far only listed the East 61st Street property for sale, with an asking price of $6.99 million, around $200,000 more than the $6.8 million it was estimated to have been worth in January of this year.

The listing makes no mention of the legal drama surrounding the dwelling, which Cosby purchased for $1.2 million in 1980 and which is understood to have initially been used as a home for Cosby's late son, Ennis, who was murdered in Los Angeles in 1997.

Instead, the online description focuses on the historical significance of the townhouse, which was built in 1905 and is hailed as an "architectural gem."

"Welcome to this distinguished 19th-century townhouse, a true architectural gem located in the heart of Lenox Hill's iconic Treadwell Farm Historic District," the listing reads. "Offering a generous 20-foot-wide footprint and spanning 5, 000 square feet, this six-bedroom, six-bath residence defines timeless urban sophistication."

It goes on to note that, unlike condos and co-ops, the townhouse offers "privacy, scale, and authentic architectural grace" that cannot often be found in homes located in multi-unit buildings.

"Unlike apartment life, townhouses offer the freedom of full independence: no shared walls, no coop boards or common lobbies, no neighbors above or below," it reads. "Just your own private home, enhanced by exclusive outdoor spaces perfect for entertaining or simply unwinding."

In addition to that privacy, the home also features a number of very high-end amenities, including an in-house elevator that was, according to the listing, only the 10th residential elevator to be installed in New York City.

And while much of the historic design touches throughout the home have been carefully maintained, including the crown molding, fireplaces, exposed red-brick walls, and oak floors, the property has also been updated with a number of modern conveniences, including stainless steel appliances in the kitchen and an outdoor entertaining area.

There is also a basement, which "includes laundry facilities" as well as ample space for storage.

In addition to the private backyard-which offers a seating area, fire pit, and barbecue-the primary bedroom also features a Juliet terrace, as well as floor-to-ceiling windows that allow "sunlight to pour into the space."

The listing photos indicate that the home has not been occupied for some time-with many of the rooms left devoid of all personal objects.

However, the property's decor has been meticulously maintained and is in little need of additional renovations.

It's unclear whether Cosby plans to list the other townhouse that is also at risk of foreclosure; however, FirstFoundation bank had initially given the actor and his wife until Dec. 12 to pay back the money owned on their two loans.

First Foundation alleged that the Cosbys stopped repayments on their loan on June 1 and that the couple were served with a default notice on Nov. 18. That notice stated that they had "failed" to keep up with the monthly repayments on the loan, while also failing to pay property taxes. First Foundation says that more than $300,000 in property taxes were owed on the dwelling at the time of the filing.

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The foreclosure cases mark the latest in a long line of legal woes for Cosby, who has been accused of sexual assault, rape, and sexual harassment by more than 60 women in recent years.

In 2018, he was found guilty of three counts of sexual assault and sentenced to three to 10 years in prison. He served three years before his conviction was sensationally overturned by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 2021.

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Since then, it's understood that Cosby and his wife-who remained with him throughout his sexual assault scandal-have been living primarily at their home in a suburb of Philadelphia.

The couple purchased that property for just $225,000 in 1983, shortly before "The Cosby Show" began airing. Set on a sprawling 3-acre lot, the dwelling boasts seven bedrooms and 6.5 bathrooms.

Google Maps imagery shows the property's driveway barricaded with gates and traffic cones, with a large sign reading: "Private property. No trespassing."

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While Cosby's 2018 conviction was overturned, he has since faced several other allegations and lawsuits.

In June 2023, nine women filed a sexual assault lawsuit against the actor in a Nevada court, including former supermodel Janice Dickinson, accusing him of using his "enormous power, fame and prestige" to isolate and abuse them.

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Then, in January, he was accused by another woman of drugging and sexually assaulting her in Las Vegas in 1986, when she was just 15.

Cosby attempted to have the lawsuits dismissed. However, his argument was thrown out by a judge in September.

This story originally ran on Realtor.com.

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April 22, 2025 05:05 ET (09:05 GMT)

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