IN RE LOVETT v. ASSESSOR OF TOWN OF ISLIP

ORDERED that the judgment is affirmed, with costs.

It is well settled that "the purchase price set in the course of an arm's length transaction of recent vintage, if not explained away as abnormal in any fashion, is evidence of the `highest rank' to determine the true value of the property at that time" (Plaza Hotel Assoc. v. Wellington Assoc., 37 N.Y.2d 273, 277). The Supreme Court correctly determined that the 1994 sale price of the subject property was the best evidence of its value (cf. Matter of FMC Corp. v. Unmack, 92 N.Y.2d 179, 189).

The petitioner's remaining contentions are without merit.

FLORIO, J.P., FRIEDMANN, ADAMS and CRANE, JJ., concur.