Good news renters, this week was for you

We're coming to an end of Renters Week 2013 on Curbed. All week the site has featured rental-focused content. ICYMI, here are some of the most interesting posts of the week, in our humble opinions:

• How Much Do NYC Renters Save By Living Farther From Work - This map looks to answer the question of how much money you save by living farther from the center of the city? Interesting takeaways: Long Island City, with its quick commute time to office hubs in Manhattan, wins as best value for your money (as compared to Manhattan specifically). "Tribeca, on the other hand, is a bad trade-off," says Curbed. "Sure, you can get to most neighborhoods south of Central Park under 10 minutes, but because rents are so high, you're paying extra to do so every single month. You spend $115 more for each hour you commute every month, or about $800 more every month." A surprising lesson: "Living in East Harlem, Williamsburg, or downtown Brooklyn doesn't save you as much as living in the East Village, around Astor Place."

• A Renters' Guide to Astoria, a Neighborhood Headed for Change -  Prices in this Queens neighborhood will go up big time, predicts Curbed: "Within 10 years, the landscape of Astoria, Queens may be very different than the diverse, middle class neighborhood it is today. Two big developments, Hallets Point and Astoria Cove, will bring thousands of new luxury apartments to the waterfront, jacking up the population and creating a new wave of gentrification. The neighborhood's large housing stock and welcoming, diverse community have drawn young professionals and new residents for years, but with housing prices rising all over the city, the neighborhood's appeal only seems to be increasing."
• In What NYC Neighborhoods Does It Pay to Have Roommates? Turns out that tripling up on roommates isn't always the smartest financial decision. Bottom line: "Manhattan is for lovers, while Brooklyn is for roommates."
• A Renter's Guide to the Seaport, An Area Weathering Changes - This neighborhood guide explains how the area--hit hard by Sandy--fares for renters. "Most of the rentals are a mix of new luxury-condo-type units and converted lofts with exposed ceiling beams, brick and the like," says Curbed. This week, Howard Hughes Corporation announced plans to develop a 50-story condo and hotel building, so that should keep the neighborhood in the news for a while.
• Updating the Rental Heatmap: Where to Rent Right Now -  Taking inspiration from Eater's Heat Maps, Curbed has put together a map that shows all the new, hot rental buildings that have gone up in the last year. If new construction is your thing, we suggest you take a look.
• These NYC Rental Buildings are Actually Architecturally Savvy - Think owners get all the pretty buildings? Curbed rounds up some of the most architecturally interesting rental buildings around the city, including Mercedes House and New York by Gehry.
• The Ten Most Expensive Rentals in New York City - What would a Rental Week be without some aspirational apartments? Here are the priciest pads on the market, ranging from $70-$135,000 a month.
• Watch This Rental Broker Try To Appease His Client In A Day- A day in the life of a renter's broker.  "Realistically the real estate search is ... about finding the best possible deal for the customer's priorities," says Citi Habitats salesperson Aash Jethra says delicately. "I encourage my customers to look at all listings and then make a decision, instead of basing what they're going to see on the fee.... the best thing to do is to go out and see everything and then decide."
• Comparing the Priciest and Cheapest Units in 10 NYC Rentals - These high-low comparisons feature buildings where apartments can run from $3,800-$50,000 a month and shows the differences between those at the top and those at the bottom. Hint: Views and outdoor space are game changers.

Related posts:

How to Rent a NYC Apartment

An Autumn in New York Guide to Rental Concessions

The 8 best websites for finding a no-fee apartment in NYC

Rental concessions smaller but plentiful -- here's where

Get yer rental concessions here!

Moving to NYC?  Here's a crash course in finding an apartment here