Buying a Home in Manhattan -vol.1-

It's almost 4months since I came to New York.

Just when I'm getting used to my new life here in Manhattan.
My husband suddenly says he wants to buy a HOME!



Husband: As we plan to settle here for a long time, I want to buy our own home. 
               It's more reasonable than rent. 

Me: What?!....Not so fast! we should think about it. 

       We shouldn't make a snap decision.

Husband: No, no. We can't buy what we can buy now in 3 years.
 

                  We're not going to renew the lease next year. We're going to move. 

Me: Sure? The house rent here is already extremely high!
 

        I don't believe it'll be still keep going up.. 

Husband: You never know, it's crazier in London.


               Believe me, in Manhattan it will NEVER go down, just up!

 

Anyhow it's hard for me to understand. 
We’ve started to search for our own home in New York. 

It is said that it's very tough to find the ideal property in Manhattan.
 It'll take about 6 months to search, and take another 6 months to close the deal.
 
Now is the time to start searching.



By the way, a "HOUSE" in America has a number of rooms, 2 or 3 bathrooms, charming fireplace, balcony, extensive green garden and backyard with BBQ pit... 

That is NOT the one we're trying to get. Sadly....



We will look for a small 2-bedroom, but it's still more than 1 million in the city! 
To my surprise...

So I should not say a "house" what we want, but should maybe say apartment instead maybe..

Well, first I sit in front of my PC and start from Net search. 


Requirements: Good public school for my daughter, more than 2 bedrooms, safe, have bath tub, elevator, spacious enough -

If possible, individual washer/dryer, full-time door man, good for commuting.
 And of course within our budget.

Sigh....it's not as easy as I had expected.. 


In Greenwich Village, Chelsea and TriBeCa... such a fantastic area I cannot find anything at all to match our requirements and limited budget...
My dream is easily collapsed.
 

OK, then as my 2nd wish I change the area to Brooklyn Heights, even if it's not Manhattan, but I found that it's more difficult to find an apartment there.

 

The Upper West Side seems very competitive for a family like us, especially near a good public school. 
Also, my husband is concerned about the future market growth in the area.
 

Finally we ended up looking at the Upper East Side,east at 3rd Avenue, where we've never thought to live...but it seems the right place for us, practically.

 

Last week I went to an house viewing for the first time.
It's already over our budget, but I really wanted to see that charming duplex pent house, which has huge balcony, brick wall and real fire place, and beautiful stairs.


"Yes, that's my ideal place!" 

I felt like that and destiny on instinct, but it’s still overreaching. 
I know I’m getting excited too easily.
And I'm the one who said to my husband, "We shouldn't make a snap decision."
We cannot do one of the biggest shopping in our life to see the first house viewing.

At such a time our broker's calm opinion is very helpful. 

He pointed out that with small children, a balcony is sometimes too risky, and a duplex is not very convenient. (and it is also said that nobody in New York actually uses the balcony!)

Agree. Absolutely true. 

Now I can calm down.



I remember that in my previous job I've learned what is creative thinking for planning.
When we explore possibilities, it's good to think positively and freely, not to worry too much. Once it comes to the stage of narrowing the search,then we should be critical and see negative effects.

The process of finding a home is similar to this idea.

With a limited budget and many requirements, it'll take a long time to meet our ideal home.
 

Yes, it may take a year......

PH with such a beautiful balcony in Upper East Side

Cozy Master bedroom