尋.找.自.我.中

We chose a GREAT day to start our house huntting in NYC: 15 degree F (-9 degree C) outside with slight snow.

hmm... "fun" to walk around the city with this crazy weather!

We have been using curbed.com to look for couple apartments we are interested in. We targeted to visit 5 items today (we missed one but walked in a random one). Here is the tour:

1) 20 Pine- New Condo

Pros: Armani-designed furtnitures, A 421-G tax abatement for 10 years, 50,000 suqre feet of amenities (including fitness center, yoga studio, billiard rooms golf simulators, indoor pool, treatmentrooms and Turkish bath....and stunning rooftop), Main fee: 93cent per sq feet

Cons: kitchen is a little bit small- unless u get an island. Financial district has nothing much going on during the weekend

In summary: GREAT amenies- both pulic & in the room (come on, Armani!). Floor plan didn't fit our need based on our desired price point.

3 units we saw:

a) $1.1M, 1223 sq feet, 17F, one room (with no window), one "area" which can convered into a small room

b) $1.2M, 1208 sq feet, 17F, one bed room, facing South with view of NYSE building

c) $1.6M, 1387 sq feet, 11F, two bed room, facing East with chase plaza, but has a column in the center of living room

2) One Maddison Park- New Condo

Pros: WONDERFUL view, great location facing Maddison Park, only 1 or 2 units per floor, floor to ceiling windows surrounded the unit, luxury interior design

Cons: so expansive...>____<. Public amenies still under construction.

In summary: Definitely a DREAM apartment if I am rich. It should be a great investment- location, interier, design, view.

We saw this building by accident when we walked out from the subway station. We walked in and found out they usually only see people with appointment.  We only saw the model room- since the sales rep can tell this house is not in our price range.

a) 1 bed room (only 2 units left), around $2M

b) 2 bed room, around $3M to $4M

3) 50 Lexington Ave- Condop built in 1988

Pros: Nice area, decent space, reasonable main fee, pool, gym

Cons: Interior closet and amenies are a little bit old

In summary: Reasonable buy in a nice neighborhood. Need some re-do for interier (ex. closets).

a)  2 bed, 2 bath: 23F, $899K with $1554 mth main

4) 100 West 57 street- coop

Pros: Spacious living room and decent size of two bed rooms, renovated bathroom with marble tiles, both rooms and the kitchen all have window, close to central park

Cons: Small kitchen with old countertop (though have a brand new viking range), a little bit high main fee, no public amenies

In summary: Good investment given the location and the conor view/lighting. High maintanice fee makes it less attractive

a) 2 bed/2 bath, 14F, 1200 sq. feet, $925K with $2444 main fee, facing south, it's a corner unit surrounded by windows, great lighting

5) 100 West 58 Street- Windor Park

Pros: Newly renovated (used to be a hotel, renovated to condo for sale in 2006), brand new interier amenities (including wine cooler?!), windows in both rooms, washer/dryer included, decent room space and closet spaces, gym

Cons: Not much lighting though many windows, no view (facing back of the building and the top of the next building)

In summary: Good investment: only one block away from Central park south but the price can be under 1M for 2 bed room! Lighting/ view is a little bit concern. (may want to go back to see if other units on sale with this price range)

a) 2 bed/ 2 bath, 9F, 1161 sq. feet, $1.1M (possible to come under $1M) with $1130 main fee and $947 tax per month