By Emily Nonko | October 15, 2015 5:54pm
3 Starter Apartments Priced Under $700k to See This Weekend
MANHATTAN — On the lookout for a starter apartment in Manhattan? These three one-bedroom co-ops are all priced reasonably and have open houses this weekend.
320 East 42nd St., #2009, Midtown East One bedroom/One bath Approximately 650 square feet Co-op $645,000 Maintenance: $1,423 a month Open House: Sunday, Oct. 18, 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Lowdown: Although this apartment is legally a one bedroom, a renovation left it feeling more like a loft.
“The owner gut renovated the entire apartment,” said Douglas Elliman broker Dylan Hildreth-Hoffman. “It feels like a SoHo loft instead of a stuffy one bedroom.”
It is, admittedly, a “SoHo loft in small form,” said Hildreth-Hoffman. But without the bedroom wall, there is still a larger, more open living space in this apartment compared with other apartments in the building. The current owner built out a Murphy bed, which is separated from the living room by a curtain.
The renovation, which happened about six years ago, also included a new kitchen and bathroom.
The apartment is distinguished by its large lattice windows, which are part of the building's landmarked facade. The co-op plans to upgrade and soundproof the windows within the next 12 months, according to Hildreth-Hoffman.
Other perks include a walk-in closet and impressive views.
“You're on the 20th floor of the building, so you get a birds-eye view of 42nd Street,” said Hildreth-Hoffman. “It feels like the Chrysler Building is in your living room.”
Location: 320 East 42nd Street — also known as the Woodstock Tower — is the tallest building within the Tudor City complex. Located about a block from the East River, Tudor City is known for its co-op buildings with modest apartments at reasonable prices. Given that the complex is near the United Nations, Hildreth-Hoffman thought this may be the ideal apartment “for an oversees visitor.” The building allows residents to rent out their apartments if they're not staying full-time. For train access, it is about three long blocks from the Grand Central transportation hub.
Why put it on your open house calendar? “It's one-of-a-kind,” said Hildreth-Hoffman. “You've got light, the views, and an impeccable renovation.”
420 East 51st Street, #4H, Midtown East One bedroom/one bath Approximately 900 square feet Co-op $395,000 Maintenance: $2,646.88 a month Open House: Sunday, Oct. 18, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Lowdown: Although this apartment is located in a post-war co-op building, the seller renovated it and added some pre-war-inspired details.
The oak floors were stained and moldings were added, according to Halstead broker Eva Gellin. The kitchen and bathroom were gut renovated, with a new shower and marble details in the bathroom and new granite counters and cabinets in the kitchen.
“The kitchen is unique because it's wide, with two huge windows,” said Gellin. The windows look north, offering views of neighboring townhouses.
An L-shaped dining room is adjacent to the kitchen, and opens up into a living room space. From the living room, a small foyer leads to the bedroom.
“It's a very spacious bedroom, with views of the treetops outside,” said Gellin.
The apartment is located on the fourth floor of the 13-story building. Because it is a land lease building, in which shareholders pay rent for the land the building occupies, maintenance is high.
“The high maintenance can be difficult for young buyers,” Gellin said. “That's why the price is so low.”
Location: This co-op building is located on the very eastern edge of Midtown, between First Avenue and FDR Drive. Although the area is quiet, there are a number of bars and restaurants nearby along Second and Third avenues. The Lexington Avenue 6 train and the E and M trains at Lexington Avenue and 53rd Street are three long avenue blocks away.
Why put it on your open house calendar? “The space and the condition of the apartment,” said Gellin, who thought the size of the bedroom, living room and kitchen was “wonderful for a one bedroom."
179 East 79th Street, #2D, Upper East Side One bedroom/One bath Co-op Approximately 800 square feet $669,000 Maintenance: $1,763 a month Open House: Sunday, Oct. 18, 2:30 to 4:00 p.m.
Lowdown: Stribling broker Julie Perlin called this a “special starter apartment” due to its location in the Upper East Side.
“There are lots of bedrooms to buy under $700K east of Third Avenue,” she said. “But there are not many west of Third Avenue to Park, where this is located.”
179 East 79th St. is a pre-war co-op building with 16 stories and four apartments per floor. There's a full-time doorman, live-in super and private garden for residents. This unit is located on the second floor in the back of the building, “so it's quiet,” said Perlin.
It has “charming pre-war details,” she noted, including arched entryways and moldings. The living room is large enough for both a seating and dining area.
The seller, who is a long-term resident of the co-op, updated both the kitchen and the bathroom. The apartment has a galley kitchen and the seller had enough room to build out an office nook at the end of it, according to Perlin.
“It's a spacious kitchen,” she said. “There's also a window near the office nook to bring in light.”
Location: This building is located between Third Avenue to the east and Lexington Avenue to the west. It's only about three blocks away from Central Park and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. When it comes to transportation, you could take the 77th Street 6 train, two blocks away, or the 4 or 5 trains at 86th Street, six blocks away.
Why put it on your open house calendar? “It's the best value for a pre-war one bedroom in the neighborhood, west of Third Avenue,” said Perlin.
Source: 3 Starter Apartments Priced Under $700k to See This Weekend - Midtown East - DNAinfo.com New York