A small LES apartment fit for a (small) family—and you only need to put 10 percent down!

By Lucy Cohen Blatter | September 9, 2015 - 12:59PM

Usually we focus on studio apartments in this column (hence the name Small Wonder), but seeing as it's Back to School Week here on Brick, we figured we'd feature a (still equally small) Lower East Side two-bedroom that could potentially fit a (small) family. Compared to those 300-square-foot tiny houses we've read so much about, this 600-square-foot space is practically a mansion.

Plus, the $700,000 apartment at 309 East Houston Street employs some clever small apartment hacks, like pocket doors (i.e. sliding doors) for both bedrooms so the doors don't take up space when they're open, and a foldable desk.

Ingenious!

We also love the organized closets, which have Container Store Elfa storage systems inside. Uber-organization is key to living in an apartment this size.

Sure, not all families are going to be able to live with a mini-fridge (see below), but doable, no? Plus, there are plenty of cool neighborhood spots. Bonus: Clinton Street Baking Company is on the corner.

And once your child grows up, you can always rent out the place and use it as pure investment property—subletting is allowed indefinitely after three years, according to the listing. Added bonus: The co-op board allows just 10 percent down.

And, according to the listing, most of the furniture is also for sale, including a wall-mounted 54-inch Panasonic plasma TV, and a Crate and Barrel couch with a full-size fold-out mattress in it. That'll save you from having to find compact furniture to fit into the space.

To us this seems the perfect apartment for a hip couple who want to slowly transition from their pre-child years. Be forewarned: It is a third-floor walkup, so make sure you can leave the stroller on ground level before you sign on any dotted lines.

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