A. Ready

In an article for real estate brokers earlier this month, industry trade mag The Real Deal blew the lid off Murray Hill.  Apparently, the East Midtown neighborhood is shedding its modern-day reputation as a giant post-college frat house and reverting to a version of its quiet, convenient underappreciated former self.   “Murray Hill has lost some fresh-out-of-college renters to places like the Far West Side and Midtown, where brand-new buildings are offering amenities and concessions," reports The

Amid rumors about the imminent extinction of rental concessions, we would like to remind you that our friends at the no-fee apartment search site UrbanEdgeNY maintain a handy list of buildings currently offering concessions, like the one-to-three months free rent you can get right now at 20 Exchange Place in the Financial District (pictured).

Will StuyTown ever hit the auction block? In a move that fails to surprise us, the auction scheduled for today has once again been postponed, now scheduled for October 29. CurbedNY caught a glimpse of flyer entitled "A Tenants' Meeting You Don't Want to Miss." This event, dubbed "Stuy Town Woodstock" by Curbed, will be held on October 30, and promises attorneys, financial advisors and a slew of politicians.

A helpful commenter has a suggestion for BrickUnderground's perpetually locked out Rental Rookie: "I have a spare key hidden taped to the underside of a piece of decorative furniture in the hall on another floor in the building.  Periodically I go to check to make sure it's still there.

With the continued expansion of Trader Joe's and Whole Foods into New York's grocery-shopping scene, comparison shopping has become a hot topic.   For us, the question boils down to this:  If you're unable or unwilling to hit three or more stores a week, which store gives the best value? Send us your grocery list (15 items or less, relatively standard items, no brands please) by next Tuesday, Oct. 26th.

When this 920-square foot prewar Carnegie Hill co-op first hit the market in June, it was listed at $775,000. At the now-reduced asking price of $595,000, it is priced 9% lower than it sold for in June of 2005 and $192 per square foot less than the $842 median per-square-foot asking price of Carnegie Hill one-bedrooms. 

That's not the only reason we like it.