Virginia K. Smith

All-cash buying still seems to be at an all-time high in NYC, but for those of us who consider saving up for the down payment a battle in its own right, all hope is not lost: with the right moves, you can still win a bidding war, even with the prospect of a mortgage in tow.

Hey, finally, an easy tool to guarantee you're hanging your picture the right way (City Lab)

Think your new, higher rent is illegal? Here's how to know for sure (Bushwick Daily)

We're of the mind that there's a lot to be learned from stock images—women love laughing alone with salads, strainers don't actually look too bad when worn as hats—and the apartment search is no exception. From what to look for in a broker (hint: a goatee) to packing best practices, we've consulted the wide world of stock photos for helpful visual demonstrations of every step of the apartment search.

Paying rent with credit cards (or apps) isn't such a good deal after all (Pacific Standard via The Billfold)

One way to get traffic to your open house? Surprisingly well-executed Wes Anderson-themed marketing materials (Inman News)