I have been helping a friend with her apartment hunt recently. She asked me to photograph some of the apartments so that she could e-mail the photos to her family. We saw 5 apartments in two days and all of them in Queens.Finding an apartment to buy in New York City can be a daunting task due to the myriad of options like whether to buy a condo or a co-op; a pre-war or a post-war (as in built before or after WWII); uptown or downtown; Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island or the Bronx; high rise or low rise, close to work or close to subway, etc.
This photo shows a hallway that leads into the living room (left) of a one-bedroom apartment on the top floor of a low rise pre-war building. The double doors in the photo is the hallway closet.
17 comments:
The idea of buying an apartment seems so strange to me. We just lived in one until we could afford to buy a house.
Although I guess if you are limited in space, it makes perfect sense. I really like the floor in that apartment. Good luck to your friend.
ooh, i just missed your comment while I was replying the rest. I carry my camera most everywhere I go. It's bulky yes but it pays off when I bring the shots home. I have different sized bags depending on how much I want to bring along for the day.
I think you should get a DSLR. Stop debating and just get one. Your pictures are really good now but imagine the benefits of an SLR? Your shots will be flying. And now the DSLRs are getting smaller, Nikon D40 & D80, Canon 400D... GO have a look.
Now I understand the empty apartment shots on Flickr. Yes, the floor is nice and good flooring is very important.
Do New Yorkers love making decisions? Or do you guys simply love having an overwhelming number of varieties of everything?
Reading your post reminded me of the time I asked for a bagel at a cafe in NY.
I thought my request was pretty straight forward, so imagine my surprise when it was followed by myriad questions as to the TYPE of bagel I wanted (wheat, whole wheat, blueberry, poppyseed etc), and then what I wanted in it.....I never realised just how many different types of bagels and bagel fillings there were! I was speechless from confusion!
I guess this enormous variety extends to house hunting too.
Good luck to your friend - hope they find the perfect place!
I would not like the job of hunting for an apartment. I am too old to think about moving.
Hi Ming, I get the feeling that you could make any place look chic and comfortable for your friend no matter how old or where the apartment is. I'm sure with your help, she'll end up with a gem.
I think to find an apartment in NYC must be...difficult! This one has a nice wooden floor.
I do like the new size of your last photos, Ming. Could you tell me how to do that?
susan - A townhouse in Manhattan cost about $2 - $4 million. So apartments are all most of us can afford. Even in Queens, a house can cost $500,000+ easily.
edwin - I will definitely look into it.
belind - I think we just like choices. There are so many people from so many cultures and backgrounds that everyone wants a little something different. Have you been to a NYC Starbucks and listen to the orders? :-)
Ab - Me neither. But I try to live a very zen life. I try not to keep things or get too attached to materialistic things. If I get a new pair of jeans, an old pair of jeans gotta go. Also, I don't have a lot of room in my apartment to store things.
oh for...food - Thanks for the confidence. My friend is a designer so she is definitely going to be doing most of the decoration.
alice - I will let you know.
Thank you for answering me so quickly! I have understood but when i do what you've written, all my profile and links come on the bigger photo...I am not very skilful!
I suppose living close to the subway would take two fairly good salaries? Or a wealthy aunt... :)
I'm not so sure it's that difficult... First, drop Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island or the Bronx! Second, choose only East Side, between 56th and 77th St. and 1st and 5th Av. Third, check your bank account and, if needed, play EuroMillions... :)))
apartment hunting in Singapore's not easy too. we are just too picky about this and that.
one important criteria for me, a nice kitchen! :-P
I've lived in the same house for almost 30 years, so the thought of apartment hunting is kinda exciting.... comparing room sizes and layouts and access and locations... hmmm... on second thoughts, maybe not, I'll just stay here for a few more years.
It looks a little small to me. I wonder how I'd do, moving from my house into a smaller space. Would I feel snug and happy or would I feel confined and claustrophobic?
Looks immaculate. Did your friend take this one? Lovely floor.
meg - My friend didn't take this apartment because it was overpriced ($279,000) and needed major renovation in the bathroom and kitchen.
this photo is so beautiful, I just love doors, great shot!
Did she buy a place already? Is it a buyer's market right now? Exciting and scary at the same time...
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