Virginia K. Smith

Buying in a building that's still under construction always has its risks, but it's rare that you hear about a delay like the one at 185 York Street in Vinegar Hill, where condo buyers who signed contracts back in 2012 are still waiting for a move-in date—and blowing money on rent in the interim—a full two and a half years later. 

When telling your upstairs neighbors that their kids are too loud, tread lightly (NYT)

Take photos when you first move in, and other tricks to become a renting expert (Apartment Therapy)

While property is almost always a solid investment, there's a lot of risk involved if you're buying a place with the intent of renting it out—even if you've got the means, it can be scary to take the leap. One Billfold writer is currently mulling over this thorny question—she and her husband own a New York apartment, and with good savings and equity, they're contemplating investing in a place, but don't really know where to begin. 

Here's how she explains it:

Yes, even in #deBlasiosNewYork—and even if you have a doorman—you really do need to keep the door to your apartment locked. Seems obvious, right? Like advice we shouldn't even bother rehashing?

What, you don't create theme outfits to match your NYC neighborhood? (Refinery 29)

As a rule, we're advocates of taking most real estate market reports with a grain of salt. But one noteworthy data point from this week's onslaught of numbers caught our eye: according to Bond New York's report on the fourth quarter of 2014, since September, "a whopping 45 percent of contracts signed on units above $4 million were made off of floorplans." In other words, nearly hal