Lucy Cohen Blatter

Two things make this $399,000 alcove studio in Astoria, Queens stand out: lighting and storage space. 

The lighting is of the pendant and recessed variety (see the main photo above), and the apartment's got built-in storage spaces all around—from a built-in wardrobe to a built-in bookshelf in the living room area.

If you’re a dog owner, you know how hard it can be to find a hospitable building for you and your pooch. Many buildings ban dogs outright, while others have restrictions on size, breed or number, or charge fees to keep them in your unit.

But is it also more expensive to buy in a pet-friendly building and will your home therefore be worth more if your building allows them? The answer is yes and no. Let’s examine the numbers: 

Assuming your pet is the only roommate you have (or want), one of these five one-bedrooms, may be just right for you.  Most have some seriously swanky pet services right there in the building.

There are some major differences between renting a flat in London and an apartment in New York. First, many Londoners live in big, Victorian-style houses with lots of roommates; secondly, the rent in the United Kingdom is usually advertised by its weekly price rather than monthly.

Assuming you can wait until November 1 to move, you might want to check out this $2,900 two-bedroom, one-bath in the ever-popular Astoria neighborhood in Queens (even Lady Gaga was spotted there last night to mark the opening of her best friend's restaurant, The Pomeroy).