BrickUnderground

1. Rent in Harlem's historic Randolph Houses for as low as $788/month

2. One of the best things about this Astoria studio: You don't need a huge down payment

3. Pets in the city: Prepared to be overwhelmed by NYC's cutest (furry) residents

The Upper West Side continues to be one of the tightest markets in the city, plagued with low inventory. But if your budget's around the three-quarters of a million mark, you're in luck: a handful of apartments are open for viewing this weekend. 

Of all the real estate trophies to hold in Manhattan, for many, there's nothing like a tried-and-true townhouse. First, there's the scarcity: Only a a few hundred of them are ever on the market—StreetEasy counts about 350 available as of this writing—and they're, yes, expensive. But some trophies are shinier than others. 

Want a quick lesson on what not to do when you're staging your apartment? 

Just take a look at these questionable listing photos, courtesy of Andy Donaldson, the man behind the Terrible Real Estate Agent Photographs blog and book, complete with Donaldson's one-of-a-kind commentary.

Ask out-of-towners what surprises them about New Yorkers, and besides discovering that we're not as rude as everyone thinks we are, high up on their list is likely how much we adore our pets. They're amazed by how well we manage to share such small apartments with animals, and how many of us actually do. (Have you seen the Upper West Side in the early mornings? Two words for you: dog walk.) In many instances, they rule the roost.

1. Go behind the exclusive gates of the Dakota, the city's first luxury apartment building

2. Two Hudson Yards renters got a $25 million buyout -- here's how to score one for yourself

3. 6 strange pets you can (probably) keep in NYC apartments