Saturday Steals & Deals!

Not only was the weather perfect today, but the bargain gods smiled upon me.

Anyone who knows me knows I love a good deal. I was never big on renting apartments in the West Village because I think everything over there is overpriced. (Not hating, just sayin'...) I belong to a $20 a month gym. (A treadmill's a treadmill, kid.) One of these days I will find the nail joint that is both inexpensive and has an ample selection of OPI colors.

Clothes are a big area where I'm always looking for a steal. Filene's in Union Square is my go to place for anything. Cocktail dresses, new bras, even sunglasses. I go there first and they almost never let me down.

DSW, the Designer Shoe Warehouse, is in the same building and I almost always make a pit stop in there as well. It's easy to blow a lot of money at DSW, so I have a policy: I buy one fun pair of shoes and one sensible pair and that's it. I also only buy from their sale rack because there's always a great selection and it's all at least 30% off, if not more.

Today I scored two fall dresses for work. Each of these were $30 and they fit fantastic.


If you are not already familiar with the Cosmetic Market on 37th Street and Madison Avenue, then you need to get there, pronto. It's a giant store of discounted, brand name cosmetics and bath products that aren't a hundred years old. They also have accessories and home goods. The place is a girl's dream.

Today, among other things, I got this jewelry box for $13. It's about seven inches tall and just as wide. Great find. (And now I can find all my little earrings and necklaces that I leave all over the house.)


On the way home I stopped into Walgreen's and found these little guys: Nice Brand sodas, full size, four for 99 cents! Great for mixers.


Finally, the best deal of the day. While walking down Third Avenue this evening en route to getting a latte, I stopped in the thrift store on East 29th Street. This number was literally on the last spot on the last rack in the back of the store: a mink trimmed, lined jacket. It's very 1962 Mad Men era and I love it. $20!!

There was a woman at the register who asked where I found it. When I told her in the back she sucked her teeth and said, "I always miss the good stuff."

"That's real mink!" I said, and pointed to the fur trim. She gave me the skunk eye.



When I got home, my Birchbox was waiting for me. Best. Day. Ever.

Apartment of The Week -- Deluxe One Bedroom With Terrace!

About once a month I find an apartment that really impresses me. This week I stumbled upon this extra large, very sunny, one bedroom on 68th Street and Third Avenue. It's in a full service, luxury, doorman building, and the unit is up on the 15th floor. It's about 1100 square feet with a terrace and a wood burning fireplace. TONS of closets. Windowed kitchen is new and it even has a dining room. $5500 a month. No fee.

Yes, those are original hardwood floors.


No shortage of windows


Terrace!


New, windowed kitchen off of dining area.

Politeness Is Good For Business

Sunday can be a tricky day for showing apartments, since most supers don't like to show places or be bothered. Sunday is a good day, though, for showing doorman and luxury buildings, since keys are usually at the desk or there's an on site rep who shows you around.

This afternoon some pied a terre clients called me to tell me they were coming into the city to look at their final three choices. Since they are great people I was more than happy to make myself available. And so I called each on site agent at their favorite buildings and set up appointments for the afternoon. Given that the clients were coming in from out of town, they got delayed. Here's how the on sites reacted.

Building A: Was more than happy to see us on short notice, and had no problem whenever I had to call and push up the time by 20 minutes or so.

Building B: Is a nice, but overpriced place whose on site agent that visibly annoyed when my clients were 20 minutes late. "I have a 3:30 appointment," the woman told me. "And I go home at 4:00, so let's hope they show up soon."

Building C: Is a very overpriced new development where pretty much every unit looks out onto a brick wall. The on site agent was confused that my clients were even in town, since he had called them earlier in the day when it was snowing. But the snow cleared, and in came my clients who wanted to see his building again.

I had to push up our appointment, which is when the on site agent called me and asked, "Why are you late? Are these people even serious? I thought our building was the only one they were looking at!" It was a funny statement, since his building was actually their least favorite. And in New York, every one has at least three choices for everything.

The takeaway? When one works in a customer-service oriented field, such as real estate, does getting annoyed at someone like me about traffic and weather and parking delays do any good in the long run? My clients, again, who are from out of town, are relying heavily on my opinion and insight when it comes to making their final choice. I didn't get any static from Building A, and as luck would have it, it seems to be their first choice.

Upper East Side One Bedroom -- $1,900

I just got a new listing for this adorable one bedroom on 88th and Third. It's very Carrie Bradshaw, perfect for someone living the single life in Manhattan. Bright, hardwood floors, exposed brick, high ceilings. $1,900.

New Listing -- Huge Carroll Gardens One Bedroom --$2250

I just got a new listing yesterday: a huge one bedroom with a home office in Carroll Gardens, just two blocks from the Carroll Street station.

It's gut renovated, with an eat-in kitchen and a huge marble bath. Floor-through with laundry in the building. Quiet, sunny and big enough to entertain all your friends. A great find!

Available November 2. Call me if you would like to see it.

Rent This Amazing Apartment -- Please!

I had a rare free day yesterday: no appointments, no lease signings and no training. So I got a list of a bunch of available apartments that I'd never seen before and I hoofed up and down the East Side, from 92nd Street to 49th (yes I took the subway a few times) and checked out new things.

One apartment that I saw is a top-floor penthouse on 92nd and Lexington. It's a pre-war building with doorman, attended elevator, laundry and pets are OK. If you're into New York Grandeur, this is the building for you. The apartment, a gut renovated two bedroom with a new eat-in kitchen, faces south, is drenched in sunlight and has a 682 square foot wrap around terrace!! It's $5850 a month. No fee.

Someone needs to rent this apartment. It's perfect for a young couple, a bachelor or a small family that doesn't mind having one bathroom. I repeat: wrap-around terrace. No fee. Top floor. Doormen are very sweet. Steps from Central Park and the museums. Move in tomorrow, if need be. The photo above was taken on the terrace.

You can thank me later.

Checke out full specs here.

Friday: From Top To Bottom

It was yet another busy day for La Pauline yesterday, although most days lately have been a lot like this. Today I'm off to another showing and then I'm actually taking some time off to have tea with friends in Harlem.

6:30 AM: Woke up to a nasty e-mail from a guy I had to cancel on for an appointment, because I had to tie up some nuts and bolts at the office. He seemed to have a hard time grasping the fact that sometimes plans have to change. I can't be in two two boroughs at once. A colleague took him out instead.

9:00 AM: Dropped off Valentino at the Vet to get him fixed. I like the new vet, who is three blocks from TR's place in Murray Hill.

10:00 AM: In the office and waiting for a woman to come in to put in an application for a studio in Midtown. For $1900 a month she got a studio in a doorman building. This is not the norm. I am happy to have found her an incredible deal.

10:15 AM: While waiting for the studio client, I called to see if another client was approved for a duplex in Park Slope. The other broker didn't know quite yet but said to me, "Pauline, it's only 10:00 in the morning."

I said, "Only 10:00? I've been up since 6:00 a.m."

10:30 AM: Yet another client who needed a furnished one bedroom calls me to tell me he wants to put in an application for a modern building on Pine Street. I contact the listing agent and zip it over.

11:00 AM: The studio client came in an filled out paperwork. She leaves happy that she found a place and can go home to Miami in peace.

11:15 AM: Park Slope family is approved for their duplex. Awesome.

I spend most of the early afternoon running a search for one bedrooms in Murray Hill.

3:00 PM: Met up with client to view Murray Hill one bedrooms. After an hour of looking at places with tiny living rooms, we decide to try Midtown East and the Upper East Side on Saturday.

4:00 PM: Stopped by the office to look for new places for Murray Hill client. While pulling my phone charger out of the wall, I accidentally pulled out the whole power strip, and blacked out a whole row of computers. Sorry!

6:30 PM: After stopping at home to check on Val, who was recovering nicely from getting fixed, I hopped up to Whiskey Blue to meet some Junior League friends for drinks. Someone points out that I look a little tired. Strawberry mojitos never tasted so good.

8:30 PM: We decide to hit the Hudson Hotel and get bottle service. It was the perfect night to sit on the outside deck with vodka mixers.

10:30 PM: Back at home in Murray Hill.

NO FEE!! Upper East Side Convertible 3!! NO FEE!!

It's Friday, which means that if you need to start looking for a place to live, the weekend is a good time to do it.

These are shots of a no fee, two bedroom apartment in a doorman building on 87th and Lexington. It could easily be converted to three bedrooms, if needed. $5075/month. 11th floor. Amazing southwest views. New kitchen and new marble baths. Central air.

The apartment is immaculate and has huge bedrooms with large closets. Great light all around.


Another angle of the bedroom.


View from the living room

NO FEE!! Two Amazing One Bedrooms! NO FEE!!

Are you looking for a great one bedroom in a doorman building? Through the end of July these are being offered as no-fee. Just come and look and apply.

87th and Broadway $3600: Doorman, elevator, pool, healthclub and kid's playroom. It's a wonderful building and this apartment is drenched in sunlight.


New kitchen


Large bedrooms with plenty of closets. Easily fits a king-sized bed.


New bathroom



A few blocks farther south on 45th and 8th is a doorman/elevator building (I personally met the owner today) that has a great one bedroom for $2800 -- and NO FEE! It gets great light, is renovated and has a new marble bath as well. Steps from all theaters and restaurants and any subways you could imagine.


Bedroom is large and has great closets


Marble bathroom


New kitchen

Steals And Deals: Murray Hill Studios Under $1800

It's not all luxury high rises for me. Sometimes someone just needs a studio. Below are two studios that I found this afternoon on 26th Street And Third Avenue.

$1750 a month. New hardwood floors, high ceilings new marble bathroom.


Kitchen is new with full-sized appliances.


Down the hall is another studio, slightly larger, for $1800. Same hardwood floors and new kitchen and bath. This one has a deco fireplace.


Also: serious closets.

Open House Today: 1 Bedroom Riverside Drive: $3600

Need a one bedroom in a quiet area? I'm having an open house from 2:00 to 3:30 today for a one bedroom on Riverside Boulevard on the west side. Be the first to live in it!

• High floor
• Hudson River views
• Washer/Dryer
• New kitchen
• Marble baths
• Cherrywood floors
• Doorman/Elevator/Full service
  
• Building has gym, theater and billiards room

Drop me a line if you'd like to come by or see it another time.

A Truly Amazing Place To Live: $8500 20th Floor Park Avenue South

Yesterday I stumbled across this enormous two bedroom, two bath on Park Avenue South, literally just steps from Union Square. It's drenched in sunlight and has some amazing city views, including of the Flatiron Building.

The bedrooms are enormous and there is a master suite. Lots of closets. Central air. New kitchen, full service building. Pre-war marble lobby. Building has roofdeck, pool, jacuzzi and gym. $8500 firm.

Master bedroom, 12 x 21.


One of two new bathrooms. All have showers. Master bath has a tub and and a shower.


New kitchen


View from the living room and kitchen

How Much Is....?

Below is a chart of the average market rate for apartments in different Manhattan neighborhoods for June 2008.

Get Your No-Fee On!

It's summer, folks, and the no-fee offers are all over the place. These are just a few of the MANY options out there. Time for an upgrade and a deal, yes?

Murray Hill:
Luxury Building on 34th Street, many with river views. Doorman, elevator, laundry.
1 Bedroom: $2895
Convertible 2: $3850
Convertible 3: $5095

36th Street:
Sunny, alcove studios, some with outdoor space, high floors. Doorman, elevator, fitness room $2650

SOHO:
Broome Street
Convertible 2 - $2750

Prince And Sixth Avenue
Studio: $2250
1 Bedroom: $3350

Prince And Mott
Studio: $2850
1 Bedroom: $2995

Mulberry And Grand
1 Bedroom: $2195
3 Bedroom: $4395

Chelsea
20th And Seventh Luxury Building
Large Alcove Studio: $3495
1 Bedroom: $4695

An Amazing Place To Live On Union Square -- $6200 A month

Living in Union Square means being in the middle of everything. Subways, nightlife, action, it's all on 14th Street.

This is an enormous two bedroom on the 8th Floor of a high rise right on 14th and Fourth Avenue. It has two large, sunny bathrooms, two new marble baths, a new kitchen and an enormous living room (about 550 square feet) which also has a dining area. $6200 a month. Doorman, elevator, laundry, etc. It's one of the largest apartments I've seen in a long time, and for its size and location it's quite a deal.

New Kitchen


One of two new marble baths


One of two very large and sunny bedrooms that overlook Union Square.


Another view of the living room


Dining alcove

NO FEE Apartments Available!!

There are a ton of no-fee apartment offerings right now, so if you or someone you know needs to move, I highly suggest getting in touch with me.

One large management company is offering no fee on several of their buildings through July 15. Many of these have doormen, fitness rooms and laundry. Murray Hill, Upper East Side, and Midtown available. Studios start around $2350, but I know of some that are $1950, without a doorman.

These are for immediate to August 1 move ins. Call me in August if you need a September lease.

Outdoor Space In NYC! $4200!

Every now and then I see an apartment that is so cool I need to tell everyone about it.

Over on 69th Street there is a true three bedroom that has its own large private deck, pictured above. You could easily fit 20 people on it, if not more. It also has a huge living room and a separate, eat-in kitchen. It's on the third floor of a walk up, but it's a cool, pre-war building with a big staircase and lots of neat details. I've been in it lots of times and it's full of young professionals.

$4200 for outdoor space and lots of indoor space? Tell anyone you know who may need a three bedroom and I'll set up an appointment. New college grads would love this space. The same building has other three beds that are just as large but without the decks for $3900. July and August move-ins available.