Virginia K. Smith
ContactPosts by Virginia K. Smith:
Moving in with mom and dad, the saga of the 2nd Avenue subway, and more Read More
June 24, 2015 - 11:30 AM
True stories of moving back in with one's parents as an adult (Refinery 29)
A whole lot of buildings have gone up while we waited for the 2nd Avenue subway (DNAinfo)
6 surprising roadblocks than can mess up your mortgage application
June 24, 2015 - 09:59 AM
There's no question that the biggest thing standing between most of us and home ownership is the absurdly high cost of New York real estate. But even if you have managed to squirrel away the sizable down payment most properties here demand, getting a mortgage isn't necessarily a snap.
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Ask Sam: Can I sue my roommate for charging me more than my fair share of the rent? Read More
June 23, 2015 - 13:59 PM
Dear Sam: I’ve been living as a roommate in a rent-stabilized apartment that I found on Craigslist, and am thinking of suing for a rent overcharge. It’s an alleged two-bedroom, but one of the rooms is makeshift with no window. And my roommate, who’s the primary leaseholder, charges me more than half the rent. Is this legal?
The Italian town of Gangi is giving away houses
June 23, 2015 - 12:59 PM
For buyers eager to live out their Under the Tuscan Sun dreams—or just not particularly enticed by the fixer-upper deals being offered in Detroit or Newark—it might be time to pack your bags and head to Sicily. The small town of Gangi is generating PR with a pretty unbeatable offer, as the New York Times reported yesterday: They're giving away houses for free to buyers willing to fix them up within the next four years. Yes, free.
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Indoor gardening know-how, sad stats about New York mortgages, and more Read More
June 23, 2015 - 10:59 AM
Tips on keeping plants alive in even a small, dark apartment (DNAinfo)
Depressing new data says NYC mortgages are even tougher to lock down for minorities (StreetEasy)
It's OK if you're jealous of these Brooklyn homes with pools (AM NY)
How much does it cost to rent along the JMZ line in Brooklyn?
June 23, 2015 - 08:59 AM
It's no surprise that the farther you live along a train line, the cheaper it probably is. But by how much? Recently, we examined how much it costs to rent at every Brooklyn stop along the L train, and what you will or won't save the farther away you move from its Bedford Avenue epicenter. Which brings us to this follow-up question: What happens if you move a little bit south, along the JMZ line?
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