Listing at 269 W 72nd Street, #2D (http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/sale/412945-coop-269-west-72nd-street-upper-west-side-new-york)

Without actually visiting, it's hard to say what it's like -- but there's no harm in going to an open house or scheduling a viewing (assuming you're in the city, or will be at some point). It will give you a much better sense of what it's like than the pictures -- I've seen many places with beautiful pictures that turned out to be dumps, and a few going the other way.

There's a subway stop at 72nd and Broadway, close to the apartment.

The one big drawback I see (at least for me) is that it's a co-op -- which means board approval and all that jazz, and also requires 20% down. Some people don't like co-ops, but they can be cheaper. Plus, it's small and has almost no closet space -- whether that's important to you depends on your tastes.

Rest assured there will be a few compromises to make on a 350K 1br. Can you live with low light and a very busy street? If so, you may have a winner. Pier I on the river is an outstanding city escape in the summer and its a 10 minute walk -if that. Great transportation, shopping, the works. Looks like the owner purchased in 2005 for $382K. 3D closed for $400K in November, although it looks like it was completely renovated.

from the listing: "This comfortably proportioned 2.5 room is currently configured as a one bedroom." = this is a studio, not a true one-bed.

Thanks guys, I appreciate the feedback. I am looking at an early 2010 move to NYC and, if I can find a decent (and of course I know that is a very subjective term) 1br where the monthly PITI will be at/below rental cost, I would rather build some equity than throw $30K+ to a landlord.

Floridian - I think you will find entering the space that it is much smaller than the pics/floor plan may suggest. The unit is at best 400 sq. ft. I think anything over $325 would be paying on the high side as this is fundamentally a studio with a wall down the living room. The neighborhood is great and 72nd gets much less traffic now that the exit from the West Side Hway to 72 has been shut down. If this is street-facing 2nd floor, check to make sure the windows are thick enough to block out noise.

In any case, welcome in advance to the greatest city in the world.

Definitely a studio, not a 1-bedroom. I bet you can find something similar or better for rent or under $2,000.

As an aside, I don't know your personal situation, but I never understand the appeal of owning a tiny apartment unless you live by yourself and plan to for a long, long time.

It's a studio that has been tricked up to look like a one-bed.

You may think the space is ok regardless, but you should know that you would have trouble down the road trying to re-sell it as a one-bed, because your future potential buyers will see that it's really a studio.

I agree with the others here that the pricing is on the high side for what it is.

I absolutely see the studio-to-1br conversion now that I've seen all the feedback and looked at the layout again. I didn't notice it initially because the "bedroom" is not the miniscule size of a typical alcove conversion. But when you look at the size of the living room and the way that the apartment is laid out, it's pretty obvious.

I'm 26, single and would be living by myself for the foreseeable future (although hopefully not for TOO long!). But you're right, newbuyer, this really is a tiny space, even for 1 person. I guess that the possibility of having a 1BR in the mid-300 range temporarily blinded me to reality.

Floridian, assuming you're heterosexual and intend to get married at some point, I think you're crazy to buy anything right now, let alone a 1-bedroom or studio. One man's opinion, but I think in a market where owning is more expensive than buying (like it still is today), buying only makes sense with at least a 7-10 year time horizon, if that. In 7-10 years, you will be in your mid-30s.

With a shorter time horizon, you will need huge price appreciation to make up for the very significant transaction costs on the way in and out. What do you think the chances of that in the next 3-5 years are. So to me, your situation screams out "rent".

lol, nice "new" personality stevejhx

Floridian, it's the rear corner, facing east into back yards. Probably pretty dark. Might be quiet, but you'd be surprised how street noise can bounce.