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12 NYC real estate holes-in-one

By Alana Mayman  | October 9, 2012 - 8:56AM
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Everyone knows that an inherited Park Avenue classic-six, a no-board-approval-required sponsor apartment, or an 80/20 rental are New York City equivalents of a hole-in-one.

But seasoned New Yorkers know some of the best perks are more subtle.

Here are a few of our top picks:

  1. A circular driveway is ideal as a loading zone, but a fire-hydrant in front of your building can work just as well.
  2. Speaking of transportation, the income from the in-building garage keeps co-op maintenance charges low and your car oh-so-convenient.  Runner up: A garage you can walk to instead of taxi to.
  3. Your master bedroom doesn't share a wall with anyone in your family OR anyone in your building.
  4. Your super accepts tips only at Christmas.
  5. You have 3 rowdy boys and you live above an elderly hearing-impaired couple who spends winters in Arizona and summers in the Hamptons.
  6. Your kids' pediatrician and/or your dermatologist has an office on the first floor.
  7. Recent rezoning of public schools moves you into the zone you wanted but could not afford. (Or, you could care less about the new zone, but your apartment is worth substantially more by those who do.) 
  8. The rent from the adjacent studio you bought pays for the renovation you plan to do on your apartment in two years.
  9. The 30-year-old commercial lease finally expires downstairs, and your co-op signs a new tenant at today's prices, cutting your monthly maintenance payments in half.
  10. Washer/dryer. Garbage disposal. Outside-vented exhaust fan over your stove. Central air.
  11. Subway stop near enough to sprint to in a rainstorm but just out of rumbling distance.
  12. Who are we kidding?  Just being in the NYC real estate game is a hole-in-one.

Related:

80/20 apartment living: My life as a 20 percenter

The NYC Housing Lottery: All you need is a low enough income and a dream

Everything you ever wanted to know about sponsor apartments but were afraid to ask

The top 10 NYC real estate myths

9 signs your co-op board interview is in the bag

10 things your building should have (but doesn't)

The Flat-Tip Bill, plus 7 other apartment laws we'd like to see

Top 10 NYC neighbors

16 things I have learned since moving to NYC

7 things you need for your apartment that do not exist (yet)

 

 

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