Would you rent this hooked-up two-bedroom in Brighton Beach for $2,400 a month?
Beach weather is here, and with it, some people's fantasies of living down by the seashore. The commute from Brighton Beach is a bit of a drag, but the Q train is fairly reliable, and this two-bedroom condo rental in the neighborhood offers a lot of creature comforts beyond easy access to the sand and surf. Listed for $2,400, the apartment is at 2955 Brighton Seventh St., a block form the Brighton Beach subway station and three blocks from the beach itself. It has central air and heat, a video intercom, two bathrooms, two balconies, a washer-dryer, a dishwasher, and bedroom furniture if you want it, plus it comes with roof access and use of a parking space.
Cats and small dogs are allowed.
So is it worth it?
As always when weighing New York City apartment listings, we turn to our Take It Or Leave It experts: myself, Constantine Valhouli, founder of real estate research and analytics firm NeighborhoodX, and freelance writer Lambeth Hochwald. But first, here are some more pictures of the place.
Pros and cons
"The photos are really weird—who thinks that the floor of a balcony is what we want to see?—and the finishes may not be to everyone's taste, but the place seems pretty swanky. It's hard to overstate how nice it is to not have to leave your apartment to do laundry, and dishwashers are nothing to sneeze at either. Whether the outdoor spaces are nice to hang out on is anybody's guess, but the rent is in line with other apartments listed in the area, and living near the ocean sounds great, if you can stomach the 45-minute-plus trip into Midtown."—Nathan Tempey
"You'll get space, and the condo boasts some very interesting floor tiling and fixtures that may not appeal to your average renter, but why must the outdoor space look so bleak? Seriously, if you're advertising two outdoor spaces, why not plant a tree or two to make it look a little more appealing?"—Lambeth Hochwald
"Pros: This reminds me of my first apartment in New York City, in Astoria, before Queens became Brooklyn. This is not the New York City that people dream of when they think of moving to The City. But Brighton Beach is an enclave of the city that feels distinct, which is increasingly rare. Also, beaches. And Coney Island. Cons: The neighborhood is a considerable commute to downtown and especially Midtown."—Constantine Valhouli
Whom it would be perfect for
"Someone who works in Downtown Brooklyn or drives to work, and loves being near the water and/or Russian speakers."—Nathan
"An ex-suburbanite who can't imagine car-free living. There's a private parking spot that comes with this condo!"—Lambeth
"Friends who particularly enjoy the neighborhood mention the Russian and Eastern European food, international newsstands, and music that makes them feel at home. It seems like a perfect expat neighborhood, a launching pad for someone who is trying to establish themselves in New York City from abroad."—Constantine
Take it or leave it?
TAKE IT. "If the commute makes sense, you can afford it, and you want to be near the water."—Nathan
LEAVE IT. "With a capital 'L.'"—Lambeth
LEAVE IT. "The price is fair, but I just don't feel too excited about this."—Constantine
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