can i as a dual owner of a family home in brooklyn new york force a sale or buyout of the property

Yes- you can force a sale of a jointly owned property by bringing a partition action. You are asking the court, in such an action, to divide the property in two by forcing a judicially ordered sale of the house, and then divide the proceeds.  It's really the worst possible way to resolve such a situation because the expenses- lawyers, referees, appraisers- eat up the equity in the house- but sometimes there's no other option. If you could work out a buyout agreement- either lump sum, partial lump sum and monthly payments, or straight monthly payments- that's the best way to avoid litigation.