Find me an UWS/UES 2 bedroom apt!

do you have some time, or do you need to find a place within a month or so?

I have time ... I have a lease until Sept/Oct, but some overlap is fine... do you have some ideas?

A SE search turns up quite a few under $4,500, but don't know how many are one-year co-op rentals. Just going by the addresses, most seem to be condos, e.g. http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/rental/504348-condo-340-east-64th-street-lenox-hill-new-york. You're pretty much looking for what lots of people want.

i'll have a look, and others here are happy to keep people clued into the market. i understand your desire not to move so often, but if ever there were a time to take a one or two year condo rental, and then reevaluate, this would be it.

NYC: the task doesn't seem so hard. Look for apts at 1m, offer 800k. No?

You can definitely find a 2br 2 bth on the UES. I know we have lots in Murray Hill and Midtown East. Just look East of 3rd

Get me a glass of water...I'm thirsty.

I know the "bottom isn't here" theory and that renting for another 1-2 years could possibly yield lower sales prices.

http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/rental/508635-122-west-80th-street-upper-west-side-new-york (Anyone seen it?)

http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/rental/484429-201-east-69th-street-lenox-hill-new-york (This is the Fairfax, a Rockrose building ... does anyone know anything about the quality of this building? renovations to bathrooms or kitchens?)

THOUGHTS?

Looking at $1m and offering $800k isn't realistic. Made some offers on 2/2 on UES listed for $875k (offered $750k) and all were rejected. Sellers are just not that motivated in the 2/2 dept.

This, for example - http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/sale/392597-coop-230-west-end-avenue-lincoln-square-new-york or
make offers to the sponsor at 150W87.

230 WEA is too far west and only has 1 bathroom ...

NYCApt1234, i'm going to assume your sincerity. so i say to you, the 2/2 in yorkville in early 2001 was generally less than $500 psf. just a thought. and outside of Yorkville, it ranged from about $450-600 for your standard, nothing special 2/2. if you think that there has been anything to warrant an increase in prices since 2000-01, then maybe you should consider buying. if not, maybe you should think about why the market is where it is today. i have nothing but sympathy for those who wish to buy, particularly the younger, first time buyers. all i can say is do your research, and do it well. www.calculatedriskblog.com is a good start, www.urbandigs.com, and some others will give you a good sense of where the market is, and may be. good luck.

I've got the original brochure for the Fairfax, for some reason. Conversion of a warehouse back in the late 1980s. Standard-for-then kitchens and baths, folding-door closets, etc. The apartments run very deep from the outside to the hallways, so some awkward layouts. Mostly studios and one-bedrooms, with two-bedroom/two-bath at three of the corners. Always Rockrose, so probably stable in staff, etc. I'd go see what they've got, as the location is pretty good.

I am sincere... and definitely motivated to move... but not willing to compromise quality, which is a fear with rentals. Also, I just noticed that 122 West 80th St doesn't have an elevator and is on the 4th floor. So many of the rental listings just say "2 bedroom on UES" and don't specify the location.

from what I have seen, 2/2 apts. are some of the most desireable, especially those for under $1 million. Any seller in this cateogry would be foolish to accept a lowball. With that said, if you want a 2/2, I would consider making an offer at the "Best Home in the World" in Lincoln Towers. According to the seller's website, they are desperate to sell, so you *MIGHT* get a bargain.

not doubting you nycapt. rentals are much harder to search. have you found a decent broker and told them that under no circumstance you are willing to pay a fee? can't hurt and i've heard it can very much help these days. give it a go, and if you need the name of a simpatico broker give a shout out.

NWT, the first apartment we bought in NYC was in a rockrose conversion. we got a stupendous deal, largely because of the conversion. AG showing up all over the financials, etc. essentially what appeared to be fraud, structural engineering report-wise. and we still bought the unit, knowing that, but at extreme discount. and made a killing in the end. but now be careful, not so impressed with rockrose.

I know everyone will flame but "Dormandie Court" has become much more family eqsue in recent years. I have a friend who just moved in with her child and loves the playroom, pool action.

http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/building/225-east-95-street-new_york

Never mind the Fairfax, just checked their site. Only one 2/2, and it's $4,600.

aboutready, interesting re Rockrose. I get them all confused, with only a vague sense that they were OK as these things go. Probably only because the son I know of third-hand is said to be a mensch.

i also know someone who just moved into dormandie with a couple of kids.

"Looking at $1m and offering $800k isn't realistic."

Can't agree with you there, 1234. Granted, you might have to take a lot of rejection; but you never know when a listing like this...
http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/sale/238970-coop-710-west-end-avenue-upper-west-side-new-york
... will turn into a sale like this:
http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/closing/802917

(If you don't have SE Insider access, you might want to consider it.)

west81st, i had approached this as someone who clearly wants to rent. but you are so right. 20% off asking isn't really anything stunning these days.

"Looking at $1m and offering $800k isn't realistic."

You must be joking. $1m sellers will take $800k and run like the wind right now.

WIthout giving too much info, 2 separate apts in East 70's (2 bed/2 bath) priced around $875k both rejected $750k bids. One countered, but it was offensive what they countered at. So, I don't think I'm that far off on thinking that even looking at $1m apts is not a productive thing to do.

NYCApt 1234, if you are serious about renting in Sept/Oct, not many brokers if any will take you around now because it would be a waste of both your times. As you know 2/2 in your price range is difficult to find and there is no guarantee that something you liked now would be available when you are ready. That being said, there is also no guarantee that the landlord would be paying the broker fee months from now and a real estate agent would be considered irresponsible (and liable) by their broker if they showed you a property now without having you sign a commission agreement. If you want to work with a broker now and insist on only seeing no-fee apartments months before you are ready to move, they would advise you to wait until you are closer (4-6 weeks) from your desired move date.

As for offering $800K for a one million unit, 20% discounts are rare among individual sellers and more likely with developers with lots of inventory they need to unload. Or a REALLY MOTIVATED seller.

Good luck with you search.

"You must be joking. $1m sellers will take $800k and run like the wind right now."

then if it's so easy, let's see you make an offer on a $1 million apt. for $800k and get it accepted on the FIRST TRY. Otherwise just admit that your an idiot who has no idea what your talking about.

1234: If two rebuffs were enough to discourage you, then you're probably right to stick to properties where the asking price is within 5-10% of your budget. Lowballing isn't for everyone.

exactly west81st. I think lowballing only works if you have insider information about the seller, such as they are in distress or absolutely must move ASAP. But unless the buyer has access to a govt. databse or is some sort of creepy stalker, chances are you will know squat about the seller and therefore lowballing will not work.

You're a hoot, alpine. I beat the bushes on random people just out of idle curiousity. If I wanted to buy their apartment I'd really do a number. The info might not turn out to be useful, but can't hurt to know with whom you're dealing.

I'm not even saying 800k is a good deal on a 2b2ba. It seems that you are willing and able to pay a premium for owning and that your tastes run to apts that are asking 1m.

Sorry, you didn't specify prox. to CP or 2baths.

If you are lowballing, you need to get aggressive making many (say 30) bids on apts, focusing on those that have "motivated" in the ad.

My bad, you did say 2 baths.

It's not even that my tastes tend towards $1m apartments, it's that I am a cook and need a spacious and renovated kitchen to use ... and that seems to jack the price up considerably.

"If you are lowballing, you need to get aggressive making many (say 30) bids on apts"

nyc10023, this is a pretty silly statement. We aren't at a bar trying to pick up drunk chicks, NYC1234 is trying to buy/rent an apartment.

I did a search on SE, and I think the real deal killer is the 2 bath & not as far west as WEA requirement.
I assume you're also not into duplexes with spiral staircases?

Your best bet is to focus in on the apts out of your price range and to get comfortable presenting lowball offers. You will get a hit, maybe over the summer and next winter.

The parameters are West 70s and 80s around Columbus, Central Park West, Amsterdam... or ... East 63rd to East 74th anywhere west of 1st Ave (including 1st Ave) ...

Hmm, take a look at 150W87, there are some sponsor units - they have 1 bath, but are more spacious than your 2bed in this price range. I don't know much about that specific building, but the prices don't look bad.

JM: whatever. This is exactly the climate for making many, many lowball offers.

How else can you tell which sellers would let it go for $800K? You have to ask, i.e. make an offer. I can see it taking tens of tries before hitting the one.

"JM: whatever. This is exactly the climate for making many, many lowball offers"

Do you have any idea what type of effort it would take to make 30 lowball offers? This isn't a numbers game nyc10023, your logic doesn't make any sense.

Yeah, no big deal 1234. You have to ask to get. Make a written offer, rough sketch of your financials (if it's a co-op). That's it. Who cares if you are rejected 20 times?

JM: it would take absolutely no effort on my part to make 100 lowball offers.

Here is how it would go:
1) See apt, like it enough to pay 800k (whether it is worth it is another question).

Write an offer letter (drop a copy with at the building for the owner, so the owner sees that what you are sending the agent):

NYCApt1234
Address

Blabla brokerage

Dear _____:

I visited your listing/your apt on ________. We would like you to present our offer to your client.
Our offer is _________.

Our financial situation is as follows:

1) Liquid savings of:
Derived primarily from:

2) Investment of:
Invested in ______
Derived primarily from:

3) I am currently employed at _____. My income for the last 5 years has been approx. ......

4) We will provide excellent personal references to the board ... blablabla.

I recognize that the offer is significantly below the listing price so I will gladly discuss it in further detail
with you and/or client.

Apologies for the typos - writing fast, but you get the gist. How hard is that to duplicate X times?

And JM: you're making a huge investment with your money, in what sense should this exercise NOT be a numbers game?

jm babe, still interested, but you've got to be joking and in a big way as to what someone will pay now for your botanical ass, and far beyond (ass galore, so to speak).

It's a matter of fact that the market for 2 bed/2 bath apts. is considerably stronger than the market for 2 bed/1 bath apts. You can lowball all you want, but you probably have a greater chance of winning the lottery than getting a lowball offer accepted. If the price is $1 million, then I am quite certain the absolute lowest the seller will accept is $900k.

You can listen to everyone above me who says to lowball, but remember: NONE of them have ever SUCCESSFULLY lowballed a seller. They are speaking out of their ass, not from experience.

alpine of course speaks from experience from an orifice that is not related to the ass or mouth...

think ... think..... ooohhhhh yeah.... that would be the VAGINA!

Take a look at 30 West 63rd - they are in the midst of a condo conversion, which, needless to say, is not going well. They are giving 2 months free on 12 month leases (14 months total). Smallish 2 bed / 2 bath with dining alcoves for sub $4000 (on a net effective basis). One key upside - the apartments are newly redone with all new appliances, etc. A few downsides - the building is still going through renovations and the lobby and some hallways are not complete. Also, they have a ridic rooftop gym spa which they charge $2500/year/person or so.

I think it's a pretty phenomenal deal - I just signed my lease.

I recently looked at 2/2s in the Fairfax. Garbage. Horrible layouts, as someone else mentioned. The living room is in the front of the apartment and the kitchen is in the back. You have to meander through a long hall with doors to the beds and baths just to get between the main living spaces. Kitchen was windowless, which is a big problem if you cook. Public corridors make you feel as if you are in a big, old, rundown university dorm or a really low-rent hotel. The only thing this blgd has going for it is the location.

Try up by columbia university. 105th-112th street west of Broadway.

The Gotham is a building to consider...this is a great listing 2 bed, 2 bath 1,050 with the owner picking up the fee.....87th and Lex

http://www.tregny.com/details/106181