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What $450K Gets Me in NYC | Upper West Side vs The Bronx

House Hunting

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Katie has just under $500,000 for her first apartment in New York City. Can she find a home that suits her? We tour two amazing properties - one on Manhattan's Upper West Side next to Central Park and the other in The Bronx on it's famous Grand Concourse next to Yankee Stadium.

Whether you are prioritizing location or interior layout, this walkthrough helps you understand the realities of current NYC real estate. We weigh the pros and cons of these different areas to help you decide which borough offers the better value for your money.

Agent contact:
Chris Baker
Compass Real Estate
https://www.compass.com/agents/cbaker/

Apartment #1 - https://www.compass.com/homedetails/2...

Apartment #2 - https://www.compass.com/homedetails/1...

CHAPTERS:
00:00 - 00:30 Meet Katie
00:35 - 01:00 What she's looking for in an apartment
01:15 - 03:50 See the first apartment - $499k next to Central Park
04:00 - 04:20 Head up to Da Bronx
04:30 - 07:00 See the second apartment - $399k
07:15 - 08:04 Decision time!
08:12 - 08:19 Please like and subscribe and comment!

20 Comments

@house-hunting Creator 1 day ago Pinned

Would you take 4x the space in the Bronx, or stay in Manhattan for the location? Let us know! Also we are going to Amsterdam to shoot new episodes.

@DebbieBorrie-db8fk 1 day ago

The 2nd apartment will go up in value it’s incredible. I would just get the train to live in such a incredible space.

@cmcpherson3002 1 day ago

I live in the Bronx building featured here. It's incredible. Great neighbors, beautiful neighborhood, a true New York vibe. Can't imagine living in Manhattan, though I did for decades.

@sami4508 1 day ago

1400$ A MONTH in fees is crazy

@MontanaGypsySoul 1 day ago

I’m absolutely in love with the Bronx apartment! I understand you’re young and you want to live in Manhattan but that apartment wow amazing

@saphire2214 1 day ago

The Manhattan apartment had zero natural light. I thought that was high on her priority list. That Bronx apartment was absolutely gorgeous but those monthly fees are way too high. I would keep looking.

@emilybrom4280 1 day ago

The first one is basically a studio though! Whaaaaaat

@SamsSalvo 14 hours ago

I lived on the Upper West side in '85 and '86 on 69th and Broadway. Having Central Park three minutes away and the Met a15-minute stroll was wonderful. To be a half block from Columbus and at the intersection of 69th, Amsterdam, and Broadway was amazing, and my window was on a corner so I could see the Hudson, up Amsterdam, up Broadway, and south down Broadway. It was fabulous. I love the Bronx apartment, but think of the fact that you can never go wrong if you're near the 7th Avenue subway and the Highline. Go upper west, young woman.

@chasingtheAmericanDream 1 day ago

The Bronx apartment had great space (minus the shower ) you could always take the train to Manhattan to see your friends

@BxGal-q4y 1 day ago

Love the Bx apt but $1,400 a month maintenance? NO. And those fees will never go down only up.

@maxweissman 1 day ago

I’m amazed by what is available in the Bronx. The subway connections are really good.

@suzannel7168 23 hours ago

The Bronx apartment has so much more character.

@FrankWhite145 1 day ago

Born and raised in NYC and still living in NYC I don't understand why people especially transplants always want to live in Manhattan where all the shoebox apartments are. That Bx apartment was gorgeous and with Yankee stadium, Bronx Supreme court and Criminal court near by there's plenty of public safety patrolling the neighborhoods.

@CarolLevine-m3y 1 day ago

The Bronx apartment was massive especially for the price however I can understand why she would want to be in Manhattan it was a studio but pretty nicely renovated.

@btown8210 1 day ago

if furniture was in that first one it would be a cramped, dark cell. Bronx one is badass

@rochelgrundman9936 14 hours ago (edited)

If I were your age I would go with my heart and stay near my friends , my familiar and comfy neighborhood places and grow out of the apartment in the right time. You’ll have the equity and therefore the flexibility to consider a more spacious home when you need it. Make the little cozy nest a someplace dreamy that you adore in your new Upper Westside jewel box.

@method2madnesssss 16 hours ago

Location wise obviously the first one. As far as the actual space the second one blows it out of the park and for 150k less. But at the end of the day if you’re moving to NYC for the excitement and the experience etc the first one makes perfect sense. And it’s really nice too.

@WalkingCommuter 3 hours ago

I actually really enjoy this series. Even though I live in NYC (been here since '91), we recently got our own co-op and I noticed that there are actually so few videos of people buying realistic apartments in NYC. FYI, regarding the audio - it looks like Rode mics are being used, but I think they are split so that each microphone goes to one channel (left or right). I think there should be a way to combine them so that they're both "mono" or at least coming out of both sides. Alternatively, it should be possible to do through editing (mirror the L/R channel to the other one). Just thought I'd point it out - sorry for unsolicited advice

@copper0 1 day ago

Smart move, that "cheaper" $399k house was far more expensive than the $499k house and likely she wouldn't qualify for the $399k if her budget was $500k.

@JohannaComo 1 day ago

I personally would have never made that choice! The space and long term growth isn't there in the one she chose but somehow I knew from the beginning she would choose that one, it fits her!!