Should you hop on this $2,300 Upper East Side bedroom with an 'extra' room?
While the listing agents describe this Upper East Side one-bedroom as "gigantic" it's more likely "decently sized." The $2,300 apartment, which appears to be on the fourth floor of a walk-up, has an extra space that could be used as an office, but is currently being used as a bedroom. Use it as an office or den and that space will likely feel more "gigantic."
So is it worth considering? We asked our experts (and veteran renters), real estate research and analytics firm NeighborhoodX founder Constantine Valhouli and freelance writer Lambeth Hochwald, to weigh in with me on this week's Take It or Leave It.
The apartment:
Size: One-bedroom, one-bath
Location: 312 East 83rd Street (between First and Second avenues)
Monthly rent: $2,300/month
Flexible layout: Yes
Days on the market: 34
Subway: 4,5,6 at 86th Street
Pros and cons:
"This is a no-frillls Upper East Side apartment with a nicely sized kitchen (there's even space for a small table there), plus an 'extra' room. Personally, I'd rather have extra living room space than that extra bedroom, so it might be worth finding out if you could take the wall down. On the con side, you'll have to climb to the fourth floor to get home, and the living room window appears teeny-tiny. But at least, on the other hand, the bedroom has two good-sized windows. And when the Second Avenue subway opens, this will be very convenient to the 83rd Street entrance." —Lucy
"Pros: A tree-lined street just blocks from the express train. Given an average price of $2,650/month for one-bedrooms on the Upper East Side overall, the price of $2,300 looks attractive at first glance. But the listing information is rather sparse. The listing claims that the apartment is 'gigantic' but doesn't list square footage. And it suggests that there is room for an office or extra bedroom, but there is no floorplan and the photos don't offer much insight (and it is listed as just three rooms, not four). And the unit number suggests that this could be on the fourth floor. All of that said, the renovation is rather Home Depot 1990s." —Constantine
"I’m hard-pressed to gush about this one except that it is located just a few blocks from 86th Street, the hub of the Upper East Side. And, sure, the bedroom is reasonably big and reasonably sunny but this building is also a five-story walk-up so all those groceries from Fairway are going to build serious muscles to bring home with you." —Lambeth
Who this apartment would be perfect for:
"A recent graduate (in good shape) who wants to join his/her friends on the Upper East Side." —Lucy
"Someone looking for an affordable living arrangement in an increasingly desirable neighborhood. The residents of Yorkville increasingly have the energy that was in the East Village eight or 10 years ago, and the dining and neighborhood bars have been improving to serve the younger crowd moving in. Plus, the express train makes for a convenient and rapid commute to midtown east or Union Square area." —Constantine
"A NYC newbie couple who don’t mind the hike upstairs." —Lambeth
The verdict(s):
TAKE IT: "The fact that the subway entrance will be nearby adds major convenience points. Plus, for the price, it's not a bad deal." —Lucy
TAKE IT: "Definitely check it out first, to resolve the square footage and extra room questions, but this looks like a cautious go." —Constantine
LEAVE IT: "The price is not right for this zero-amenity pad." —Lambeth
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