The Hunt

If you have talked to me in the last few months, you know I am looking for an apartment. It turns out that looking on one's own is exhausting, especially since I'm working five days a week and commuting from the 'burbs. It also doesn't help that I'm a) super picky and b) horribly lazy.

All this searching can't help but remind me of one of my favorite New York Times features in the Real Estate section: "The Hunt." I read it every week. It follows someone and their search for the perfect home, whether that be a brownstone in Park Slope or a co-op in Flushing or a penthouse on Central Park West or a shared apartment in Williamsburg. Everyone's stories and needs are different and it makes for a good read. I half-jokingly said I would e-mail The Hunt and see if they would follow me on my journey, but I figured it would be easier to document my Goldilocks-type search on the blog. So here goes, for the realty-minded.

1.
Two-bedroom apartment in Prospect Heights
Pros: It had high ceilings and one wall was painted a funky color. One of the bedrooms was huge. Decent location.
Cons: Pretty expensive for such a small space. The other bedroom was teeny-tiny: the current resident was only using it for storage. The kitchen was weird and facing the bedrooms. And to tip it off, the broker said the apartment complex's management company might reject me for not having a roommate yet, and not having a higher salary.

2.
One-bedroom apartment in Astoria.
Pros: Huge! Nice-sized living room and kitchen. Really small bedroom, but I mean, I'm just sleeping in there. Pretty close to the Astoria Boulevard N/Q stop. I would have my own place without sacrificing space.
Cons: Stairways/entryway smelled really strongly of cigarette smoke. The floors were all carpeted, which was meh. (What can I say? My last two apartments had wood floors. I'm spoiled.) The house was pretty much underneath the highway, which felt sketchy. And ultimately, it was on the upper limits of my price range.

3.
Studio apartment in Astoria
Pros: Cheap. Wood floors. Really good location.
Cons: They called it a "walk-in" but it was a basement apartment. There were windows, but I still felt depressed being in there. Maybe because the guy who lived there hadn't done much but strew his stuff everywhere, but still. I want to feel happy in my place, even if it's small.


4.
One-"bedroom" apartment in Prospect Heights
Pros: Great location and really close to my friends. Huge! Painted walls! Real kitchen.
Cons: It was in a converted brownstone-type thing and none of the rooms were bedrooms. They were just weird rooms. I was totally into that, but then I noticed that they had built the bathroom out of some cheap plywood-type material, the apartment was filthy, and I could hear the neighbors like they were standing next to me. I'm not particularly sensitive to sound, but the walls were way too thin.

So that's where I am right now. I haven't included all the times that I've taken the subway somewhere only to find out the place has been rented or the broker doesn't have the key or the person isn't answering their phone. It's starting to feel like I'm going on a date once a week, knowing full well that the dude is going to stand me up. I'll keep you updated, loyal readers. And hopefully someday be able to have you over for a teeny-tiny housewarming party.