Rentals with Condo Like Finishes

Related Rentals? None in Sutton Place though.

Solow? they're mostly by the river.

I think some of the Glenwood buildings have nice finishes, although I havent seen one in years so I cant verify that.

I have found that the nicest apartments are those being rented out by individual owners who renovated the apartments with the intent to live in them. They aren't that easy to find, and they tend to be listed either by owner on the NY Times web site or through the major brokerages (Corcoran, Elliman, etc.). If you take this approach you will need time and patience, but it will be worth it.

glenwood -- solo has no closets

solow

"They aren't that easy to find"

OnTheMove, why do you say that? A 3 second search of this website gives me 54 units on the UES alone, with an average price of $4325.

http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/rentals/ues-manhattan/type%3AD%7Cprice%3A-5000%7Cbeds%3E%3D2

UESBandit: I am saying that because I am (personally) looking for a special pre-war apartment (or at least something with high ceilings), not a cookie cutter box, on the UWS. Running your seach on the UWS gives 35 hits. Of those, a majority are at 372 CPW/392 CPW/Riverside Boulevard/155 West 68th and things of that ilk, which to me are all cookie cutter boxes. That really doesn't leave much, and most of the rest are stale listings, ugly apartments, etc. I feel like I am looking for the proverbial needle in a haystack!

But for someone who does not mind living in a square/rectangular apartment with 8-foot ceilings, I agree, there are choices out there!

"I am saying that because I am (personally) looking for a special pre-war apartment (or at least something with high ceilings), not a cookie cutter box, on the UWS."

Ok, so then your requirement isnt a condo but a pre-war. StreetEast has a search function for that too, all you need to do is go to the main page and select "more search options". This website is more than just a forum you know!

Another 3 second search on this website (2 bed, UWS, PREWAR only) gives you 60 listings to choose from.
http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/rentals/uws-manhattan/no_fee%3A0%7Cprice%3A-5000%7Cbeds%3E%3D2%7Cdescription%3Aprewar

UESBandit: I don't think there an inconsistency between "condo quality finishes" and prewar. In any event, I don't know how we got to discussing a generic search for prewar buildings, since I am not looking for just ANY apartment, but a "special" apartment, which for me includes tall ceilings in addition to nice finishes. Most, if not all, of the listings your search identifies do not qualify as "special". They have schlocky, low end rental finishes, which the OP is trying to avoid (as am I). In the last month I have seen about 10 apartments with crappy "renovations" that were cheap looking and/or half-assed, and have no interest in looking at more of the same. Also look at the quality of the brokers making the listings - mostly bait'n'switch types. And don't let the numbers (60) fool you - many apartments either don't exist or are listed many times over by different brokers. That's why when I search I only focus on apartments with an address and try to make sure that the address is not listed multiple times by different brokers. It is very naive to think that a special apartment can be found at the end of a 3-second Streeteasy search. I have been looking for a few months. I still stand by my initial response to the OP that the apartments with the nicest finishes are those being rented out by individual owners.

Finally, so as not to hijack the OP's thread completely, I did a quick search and found many apartments within gluck75's parameters aesthetically, but unfortunately outside the price range. Here is one that may fit both:
http://www.prudentialelliman.com/1076031

OnTheMove,

You can then further filter the prewar results by condo, I didnt do it nor do I know how many there are. The next thing you can do is search in the sales category, then reach out to the brokers (of the individual apartments) and ask if the owner would be willing to offer you a lease. Many are getting nervous watching their money go down the toilet, so they will say yes. I agree that condos will generally have higher quality finishes, however an easy search (on this website) will give you a bunch of numbers to call for more info. Good luck with your search.

UESBandit: Last month I started e-mailing sales brokers whose listings are getting stale about their sellers' interest in renting and have been told every time that the seller is not interested. I wonder if the brokers are passing along my inquiries because some of the responses come back almost immediately. I found one apartment that I like (prewar converted into a condo with really nice finishes, listed as a rental) and put in what I think is a fair offer but below ask, and I am still waiting to hear. I think there's still a way to go before most owners acknowledge the harsh realities of this market.

Another question on condo like finishes. What do Streeteasy denizens think that the differential in value between an apartment that has beautiful top of the line finishes and a corresponding apartment that has mediocre rental quality finishes? 10%? 20%? More?

Solow, Related & Glenwood do NOT have condo finishes- they have a lot of amenities but the apts are basically pretty standard- parquet square floors, stainless steel appliances, decent bathrooms, etc.
gluck75- do you want a rental building that has condo finishes or a rental in a condo? I have something in the E 60's for $4,800 with the first month free if you're interested shoot me an e-mail & I'll give you the details/flooprlan.
sophia.anzaroot@elliman.com