Jen Laing
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Most New York City apartments have bathrooms barely big enough for one, let alone two or more roommates (whether family members or friends). That's why our heart quickens at the sight of restrooms so large and compartmentalized their floorplans would give most studios a run for their money. The bathrooms here all feature distinct areas—often separated by doors and walls—for bathing, showering, teeth brushing and more. If we were apartment-sharing, we'd definitely want one of these in which to start and end the day.
If your apartment-hunting style is more about number-crunching than ogling listing photos—or if it's a mix of both—you might want to take your search over to RealtyHop, the new sales-focused site from the team behind rental search database RentHop, that offers up classic listings, but with a twist.
If, like many New Yorkers, you would rather stay in your less-than-perfect apartment than deal with the extreme headaches of moving, then The Collection at Gotham West may inspire you to get packing.
Finding a great apartment in a killer nabe at an affordable price may feel like winning the Triple Crown of New York City real estate, but to claim victory in this high-stakes derby, you need to get approved by the landlord—and that’s where the race is really won.
To qualify for an apartment, New York City landlords typically demand an applicant have stellar credit and an annual income of 40 to 50 times the monthly rent (or be able to come up with a single co-signer in the metropolitan area making 80 to 100 times the rent).
A general rule of thumb when it comes to real estate listings (especially in New York City): The nicer the pics, the more expensive the place. This week, however, rental search site RentHop has uncovered some real beauties—a downtown studio, a Williamsburg one-bedroom, a family-friendly home on the Upper West Side—all below the median prices for their nabes.