5 NYC luxury rentals you can check out from the safety of your couch

While many segments of the economy have ground to a halt, the New York City real estate market is still chugging along, albeit it at a slower rate than usual. For renters, that means it's actually not a bad time to be searching for a new apartment: reduced activity in the market means that there are deals to be found.

Of course, there's one big catch: In the era of social distancing, you can't actually physically visit apartments around the city. Thankfully, some agencies, like Corcoran, are now offering virtual tours, with a growing library of listings updated daily.

Here are five apartments around the city that renters can scope out from the safety of their own home.

22 South Portland Ave., Fort Greene

This is a rare opportunity to rent fully furnished single-family townhome on one of the best blocks in New York. This 3,620-square-foot classic brownstone dates to 1856 and is one of only four single-family homes on its park block in the heart of the Fort Greene Historic District. The home is four stories high and 20 feet wide, and features five restored fireplace mantles, frescoed ceilings with original moldings, valence, and other resplendent architectural details.

Enter the grand parlor floor: with 12-foot ceilings and full-length windows, light floods into both the front double parlor entertaining/living space and the spectacular open chef’s kitchen with top-end appliances like a LaCanche gas range, Bosch microwave and dishwasher, a wet bar area with wine fridge, a cast zinc island, and an antique stone mantle. Doors lead to a glass block steel deck overlooking the gorgeous 1,000-square-foot landscaped garden, for alfresco dining.

Upstairs, the second floor has three bedrooms, a full bathroom with heated floors and a tub, walk-in closets, and a laundry room. The third floor features the master bedroom suite with windows spanning the front of the house, a walk-through closet and floor-to-ceiling custom cabinets, which enters into a rear master sitting room, and the modern marble bathroom with double sinks, heated floors, and a walk-in shower. Next to the master bedroom sits a private home office.

The garden floor features a guest room with a full bathroom, and the family room with a custom entertainment center with walnut counter top and wall-mounted TV, original cooking hearth with exposed brick wall, wet bar with fridge, sink, stone top, and antique mirror backsplash. Sliding patio doors open up to the landscaped garden with architectural lighting and full bluestone patio. 

Features include ambient floor heating in all bathrooms and the kitchen, zone heat and central A/C throughout, brand-new mechanicals, and a cellar.

The home could not be better situated, with  Fort Greene Park half a block away, and all the perks of the the Fort Greene Cultural District: BAM and the Polonsky Shakespeare Theater, along with a vast array of stylish bars and restaurants, great subway links all within a short walk. The home is listed for $16,000 a month.

404 West 22nd Street, #1, Chelsea/Hudson Yards

This three-bedroom, two-bath duplex spreads out over 1,300 square feet across two full floors of a well-maintained townhouse just one block from the High Line. The master bedroom faces south and has a walk-in closet, and there's also a separate office nook—perfect for working from home. The dining area/den is adjacent to a kitchen with appliances including a dishwasher and microwave. One of the bathrooms holds large Jacuzzi tub, while the other has  a modern shower stall with a Kohler shower head. Both bathrooms have electronic Toto toilets.

Apartment features include south and north exposures, multiple decorative fireplaces with mantles, built-in shelving, exposed brick walls, central A/C, large picture windows, custom recessed lighting, high ceilings, large closets, and a video intercom. The building itself has a marble lobby and carpeted stairs, and is situated on a quiet, tree-lined block, with three parks, Chelsea Market, and the 1/C/E trains all nearby. Pets, guarantors, and shares are allowed. The apartment is listed for $6,495 a month.

435 Pulaski Street, #2, Bedford-Stuyvesant

Can't get outside? Then bring the sunshine indoors. This 1,600-square-foot two-bedroom, 1.5-bath duplex in trendy Bed-Stuy is flooded with light, with southern exposures, so there is no shortage of sun throughout the day. The first floor opens to the large living room, a galley kitchen with ample storage and brand-new stainless appliances, an area for your dining table or home office, a half bath, and a deep closet. Upstairs there's a a large closet with a washer/dryer hook up, a full bath, a separate linen closet, and two large bedrooms on opposite sides of the floor, each with a generous closet. Tenants also get exclusive use of the backyard. The apartment is located just two blocks from the J/M/Z subway stop at Kosciuszko, near the border between Bed-Stuy and Bushwick, with all of the eateries, bars, retail, and galleries that two of Brooklyn's coolest neighborhoods have. It is asking $3,000/month.

306 West 142nd Street, #7D, Harlem

This two-bed, one-bath prewar penthouse is made bright and airy by the large picture windows in each room—and if that's not enough, there's a private outdoor terrace. The custom renovations include white oak flooring; a smartly laid out kitchen highlighted by Caesarstone countertops, Blomberg appliances, and custom cabinetry; and a bathroom with a custom floating vanity, hotel-quality Noken fixtures, a deep soaking tub, and Italian porcelain tile. The master bedroom can hold a king bed and boasts northern and western exposures, while the second bedroom can easily fit a queen bed with room for furniture. The large living room allows for many different furniture configurations. Three deep closets and one smaller pantry closet make storage a breeze.

The boutique building has its own landscaped backyard patio and roof deck for lounging and relaxing. There's also a laundry room in the basement, a video intercom system, and efficient individual heating and cooling systems in each apartment. It's located where Hamilton Heights meets Central Harlem and Strivers Row, a junction of diverse architecture, tree-lined streets, stellar restaurants, inviting cafes, and eclectic boutiques, while the B, C, A, and D express trains at 145th St offer a quick commute for work or play. The apartment is listed for $3,600 a month.

53 West 76th Street, #4-B, Upper West Side

This prewar charmer is just a half-block away from Central Park, and to boot it has a spacious, manicured garden shared with just one neighbor. The studio is pin-drop quiet, and has been spruced up with fresh paint to complement the exposed brick walls, a windowed kitchen, a walk-in closet, and new hardwood floors. The building includes a laundry room, and is located on a tree-lined block near the Natural Museum of History, the New York Historical Society, a Fairway, a Sunday farmers' market, a plethora of neighborhood eateries and cafes, and the B, C, and 1 subway lines. It is asking $2,495 a month.

Take a virtual tour of these apartments and many more today. See one you like? Connect with a Corcoran agent to inquire about leasing.