The Hunt
Finding the Harlem Apartment She Always Wanted: Which One Was It?
Two decades of living below her means and socking away money paid off when a longtime Harlem renter went looking for the right one-bedroom. But first she had to figure out what the right one-bedroom looked like.
Growing up in a military family, Tiffany Rothwell moved around a lot. She went to high school in Maryland, and then left for New Jersey to attend Centenary University, in Hackettstown. When it was finally time to put down some roots, she chose Upper Manhattan.
“There was an influx of young, Black corporate people who were making Harlem home, and I wanted to be a part of that renaissance,” said Ms. Rothwell, 40.
She settled in a Central Harlem rental with roommates — “perfect for my 20s,” she said — and later rented a studio in an East Harlem walk-up, living below her means and keeping her sights on a purchase. “Short-term sacrifice was part of my long-term goal,” she said, starting with the first dollar from her first after-school job, as a greeter at a store.
Ms. Rothwell has worked in product development for a popular retail chain for more than a decade, socking away savings while moving up the corporate ranks. By late 2021, she saw her opportunity as surging home prices began to taper off and apartments sat on the market for months.
[Did you recently buy or rent a home in the New York metro area? We want to hear from you. Email: thehunt@nytimes.com]
She figured she could afford up to $875,000 for a one-bedroom in a condominium building. A friend referred her to John McGuinness, an associate broker at Compass. “He encouraged me to be open-minded,” Ms. Rothwell said. “I tried not to exclude anything.”
She considered charming prewar buildings, gleaming new ones and many others in between. She walked around Harlem to check out the immediate surroundings of the apartments she liked, and to find the nearest markets and stores. Other variables to consider: the distance to the subway, building size, amenities, monthly outlay and, most important, “a sense of home.”
“I am a family of one,” Ms. Rothwell said. “My expectations were very practical. It was all about the pros and cons.”
Among her options, in Central Harlem:
No. 1
Close to Central Park
This one-bedroom was about 650 square feet, in a six-story 1989 doorman building two blocks north of Central Park. It had a walk-in closet, a view of other people’s windows, and a big, blue kitchen with a breakfast bar and some water damage near the dishwasher. The building had a gym and a landscaped, furnished roof deck. The asking price was $699,000, with monthly charges in the $1,100s.
No. 2
New Build With Amenities
This 640-square foot one-bedroom was near the top of a 15-story condo building. It had a large kitchen with a dining area, and a sunny southwest view of rooftops and skyline. The building, about 10 blocks north of the park, was still under construction, but it was filled with amenities, including a roof deck, lounge, courtyard and pool. The price was $845,000, with monthly charges in the $1,200s.
No. 3
Private Backyard
This 650-square-foot one-bedroom, on the ground floor of a four-unit condo in the West 130s, had a fenced-in, 860-square-foot backyard. The open kitchen and living room — which included a bricked-up fireplace and built-in shelves — were charming, but felt a little too lived in. The apartment was less expensive than the others, though, which allowed for a renovation budget. The price was $650,000, with monthly charges of around $800.
Find out what happened next by answering these two questions:
Which Would You Choose?
Close to Central Park
New Build With Amenities
Private Backyard
Which Did She Buy?
Close to Central Park
New Build With Amenities
Private Backyard