Virginia K. Smith

Rental site Zumper did us all a favor and mapped out the cheap(er) parts of the city's most expensive neighobrhoods (Curbed NY)

No, the buying-houses-with-cash trend isn't going away: 8 out of 10 Manhattan buyers now do it (Washington Post)

We often receive emails from readers asking for help in navigating their own real estate crises. In this new column, we try to get them answers.

The problem:

When tenants have a legal dispute with their landlords, do they have to pay for the legal fees?

Summer house slackers are in luck: waiting til the last minute might actually help your negotiations on a rental (NYP)

And if the Hamptons are out, you could spring for this fairy tale cottage (well, mansion) in Bay Ridge (Curbed NY)

Short-term rental site Airbnb is trumpeting yesterday's court ruling--which struck down a state subpoena for reams of information about users--as a big win. Even the New York Times (somewhat misleadingly) called the ruling a "victory" for the company. 

Just because we're all at the mercy of landlords doesn't mean you can't negotiate, strategize, or renovate your way into cheaper rent (Apartment Therapy)