Would you pay $2,500 for an Astoria one bedroom?

By Lucy Cohen Blatter | July 29, 2015 - 2:59PM

This $2,500 first-floor one-bedroom, one-bath located at 25-56 38th Street in Astoria has outdoor space and looks like it's been recently renovated, complete with new kitchen appliances and hardwood floors in the bedroom. (Take a look at another garden-free $2,200 one-bedroom listed in the same building to get a sense of what this place might look like with furniture.)

The only part that could still use a little makeover: that garden.

But we can only imagine that the very existence of said outdoor space may be what makes the landlords think they can get $600 more than the median rental price for one-bedrooms in the neighborhood.

Is it worth it? I asked our experts (and veteran renters), RentHackr founder Zeb Dropkin and freelance writer Lambeth Hochwald to weigh in with me on this week's Take It or Leave It.

Size: One-bedroom, one-bath
Location: 25-56 38th Street (between 28th and Astoria Boulevard South)
Cost: $2,500
Flexible layout: No
Days on the market: 23
Subway: N, Q to Astoria Blvd-Hoyt Avenue

Pros and cons:

"I love the bedroom closets, and the hardwood floors in the bedrooms. I'm not sure how I feel about the tiled floors in the living room (feels cold to me). The outdoor space is a nice perk, of course, but it needs some work. That said, Astoria is a fun neighborhood, and this building is only a few blocks from the N and Q trains." — Lucy

"This one bedroom looks newly finished and boasts access to a back yard. But it's priced at a two-bedroom rate for Astoria, and there's no mention if the yard is private or shared." — Zeb

"I’m all for a snazzy new kitchen and I’m a sucker for outdoor space, but I just don’t think the outdoor space in this Astoria one-bed is nice enough to justify the price, especially when there are several other two-bedrooms in the neighborhood for the same price." — Lambeth

Who would this apartment be perfect for?

"A single person or couple who loves Astoria and plans to entertain. Extra points for a green thumb." — Lucy

"If you'll get a lot out of having a back yard year round, and Astoria works for your commute and social circles, this is a good fit." — Zeb

"Someone with a truly green thumb (and a weed whacker) who is eager for a DIY urban-garden fix-up."— Lambeth

The verdict(s):

TAKE IT "If you can get the landlord to budge a bit on the price... I suspect you can. You don't want to be paying that much more than all your neighbors." — Lucy

LEAVE IT "It's worth a look if you need the yard. If not, move on." — Zeb

LEAVE IT "If you’re really set on finding a place with a back yard keep looking for one that doesn’t need as much work as this one does." — Lambeth

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