Virginia K. Smith

Most of us assume (or have learned the hard way) that living above a busy restaurant or bar can be a mixed bag when it comes to excess noise — and excess smell — but it seems that something as innocent as a bagel store can turn into a headache for its upstairs neighbors, too. Hence, a recent lawsuit from an Upper West Side couple who claim that bad ventilation at Bagel Talk on West 78th pumped hot air — or "excessive, unabated and sustained heat," per DNAinfo's report on the lawsuit — into their apartment, rendering it essentially unlivable. Which got us to wondering: If even a kindly purveyor of breakfast carbs can become a nuisance, is it ever a good idea to live directly above a business?

I just had an interview for an affordable unit in a building in my neighborhood. It went very well and they're now asking for documents showing my income and contacting my employer to verify. The only potential issue is that I'm a tipped employee in a seasonal position, so my income isn't fixed. That said, I've been at the same job for four years. Will this be a problem, and is there anything I can do?

Like hardwood floors and washer-dryers, exposed brick walls are one of the most coveted (and classic) apartment features in New York City.