Sonja Morgan’s Upper East Side townhouse, long a fixture on “The Real Housewives of New York City,” is back in the spotlight. This time, it’s for rent asking a jaw-dropping $42,000 a month, The Posthas learned.
Just months after Morgan sold the property in an online auction, the new owner is now seeking some deep-pocketed tenants for the luxe residence at 162 E. 63rd St.
The five-story townhouse changed hands on July 9 for $4.59 million, according to property records filed with the city. Morgan and her now-ex husband, JPMorgan heir John Adams Morgan, purchased the 4,650-square-foot townhouse in 1998 for $9.1 million.
Morgan didn’t part with the house without a few words.
“This townhouse has been our cherished home for decades,” she told The Post when the auction was announced earlier this year. “In addition to raising my daughter here, we entertained heads of state, royalty, luminaries and Fortune 500 CEOs. Many memories were made over the years, including hosting my daughter’s friends from boarding school and university, and so many noteworthy moments were filmed by NBC for Bravo and Peacock TV.”
But after a series of price cuts and several years on and off the market, Morgan decided to auction the home last spring through Concierge Auctions in a no-reserve sale.
The property had initially been listed for nearly $10 million in 2013.
Over the years, the price dropped dramatically. By the time of the auction, it had been re-listed for $7.5 million.
The auction saw just two serious bids, with the winning offer coming in mere minutes before the close, The Post previously reported.
Now, some three months after the sale closed, the new owner — an LLC linked to the Los Angeles-based real estate firm Hillcrest, according to the mortgage documents — has put the home up for rent. The firm has not responded to requests for comment.
Photos show that home has undergone significant changes and updates under new ownership.
The home boasts five bedrooms, 5.5 bathrooms, custom woodwork, antique P.E. Guerin hardware, and a stunning solarium that leads to a 35-foot garden with a koi pond.
Other standout features include a formal dining room with Gracie Studio wall coverings and a primary suite with a private balcony.
Despite its grandeur and prime location, the house proved difficult to sell.
Even after a 2010 bankruptcy left Morgan grappling with $19.8 million in debt, she managed to hold onto the property, ultimately deciding to stay.
She even tried renting it out in 2018 for $32,000 a month after a series of renovations, but never found a long-term buyer.
Whitney Didier of Douglas Elliman, who brokered the sale, is also handling the rental listing.