Need advice too...

Option 1 sounds like the better deal to me, but then I'm not a big advocate of buying cheap in fringe.

option 1 with revisiting option 3.

In which area do you prefer to live, or are you agnostic on the matter?

re: the part aboue 'home office' vs. 'leasing separate space'
If you haven't done both before, I would recommend thinking this through more carefully. Some people love the 30 second commute, while others hate it. Make sure you know which one you are if you're making a purchase partially based on that.

@ inonada...Each of the areas have a quality to them I can be content with. Central Harlem closer to CP. Morningside is somewhat of an extension of UWS, Perhaps I should mention that I am looking to buy for the long term.

@ Sunday,,,THe office space is used by my wife (and her earning covers a little more than half the rent). She is looking for a change (i.e. lease a separate space).

psssss... psssss... short ueros... take option 3 ... buy 2 wives in 2 yrs...

Christ if you really have a $2600 2/2 in Murray Hill that is nice, why would you move to Morningside Heights or Harlem? Can't you rent these $500k apartments up there in either hood for like $2000 or less? Option 2B is paying $450k to save what, about $12000 a year...not that you're paying cash. Ick.

@ w67thstreet 2 wives? Good money after bad...

@ Rhino66 Full disclosure: 1.5 baths. Next lease it will be $2800 and so on...2Br's at the Kalahari can be had for $2300 per which is certainly negotiable. But over say 10 or 15 yrs Option 1 is still better?

I dont like hypotheticals that assume you are locked into renting for 10-15 years if you dont purchase today.

@rhino86 These posts reaffirm my belief that I stay. I Appreciate the comments.

Thread started with a few options. The update is Option 2A has moved to 525K. Next yr. may be closer than we think. Thoughts?

once it hits $400 psf, then it becomes an option. another 17% to go.