Virginia K. Smith

Posts by Virginia K. Smith:

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Even With Its Rent Hikes, New York is the country's most "livable" city
By Virginia K. Smith
December 10, 2014 - 12:59 PM

A handy new stat to pull out should you need help justifying what you pay in rent (or pacifying your dad who just doesn't understand why you insist on living in the big city): New York has been ranked as the country's most "livable" city for people under 35. Affordability be damned.

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Christmas trees on demand, how to throw a stylish condo party, and more
By Virginia K. Smith
December 10, 2014 - 10:59 AM
File under "Christmas miracles conveniences": two more options for tree delivery (Brooklyn Based, previously)
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New York's most—and least—affordable areas, mapped in 3D
By Virginia K. Smith
December 9, 2014 - 11:59 AM
Data maps are getting to be nearly as much of a New York pastime as complaining about the cost of housing, and a new series of graphics is here to help us enjoy both (and in three dimensions, no less). The above map comes courtesy of Constantine Valhouli, a principal at the Hammersmith Group, a consulting firm that focuses on real estate and market analysis—he's previously released a map of the city's notable musical references.
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How to handle the building's hoarder, an online bedbug support group, and more
By Virginia K. Smith
December 9, 2014 - 10:59 AM
A hoarder for a neighbor is a problem best solved by the building's board (Habitat Magazine, previously)
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Tricks to sell a retro apartment—for $1,000 or less
By Virginia K. Smith
December 9, 2014 - 08:59 AM
Dilapidated bargains and tricked-out new developments may dominate headlines, spawning buzzwords like “fixer-upper” or “move-in ready,” respectively. But the truth is, most New York apartments fall somewhere in between—with old appliances, scuffed up floors, dated bathroom tile and unfashionable finishes. How do you sell a place that's in the middle, and get the highest price possible? First, the good news: just because your apartment is less than mint doesn't mean a full overhaul is necessary. (Phew!) In fact, some experts recommend skipping a renovation altogether—particularly in a strong seller's market like this one, where even properties that aren't tip-top will find takers—since you won't recoup your investment.
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Free insurance for Airbnb hosts—but with a catch (or several)
By Virginia K. Smith
December 8, 2014 - 11:59 AM

For better or worse, Airbnb can't seem to go more than a week without making headlines. This time around, they're in the news for giving hosts "free" liability insurance, which would cover the death or injury of guests up to $1 million. Unlike similar sites like HomeAway that offer hosts the option of purchasing insurance policies for their short-term rentals, Airbnb is presenting their version for free. But just as there's no such thing as free lunch, there's also no such thing as free liability coverage (a slogan that's bound to catch on any day now).

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