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Dear Ms. Demeanor: What are the rules for housesitters?

Jamie Lauren Sutton — Wed, 16 May 2012 19:06:00 +0000

Dear Ms. Demeanor,

We bought a beach house in Massachusetts over the winter and we are taking the bold step of spending the ENTIRE summer there. A college student who is the niece of a friend will be taking care of our apartment, plants, and fish while we are away.

Your Celebrity Neighbors: Michael Douglas and Catherine-Zeta Jones

Lucy Cohen Blatter — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:51:00 +0000

WHO: A-list Hollywood power couple Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas continue to prove that age ain't nothing but a number (though in case you're wondering, Zeta-Jones is 42, and Douglas is 67).

Unraveling NYC real estate spin, one white lie at a time

Lucy Cohen Blatter — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:01:56 +0000

Here at BrickUnderground, we have lots of first-person columns to peruse, from Farm to City--chronicling a rental rookie's adventures in NYC real estate--to My Big Fat Board Interview--where New Yorkers relate what really happens in a co-op board interview--to read more

My Murray Hill walk-up is still perfect--if only the neighborhood would shut up

Jennifer as told to Hong Le — Wed, 16 May 2012 12:12:00 +0000

When I found my three-bedroom apartment in Murray Hill almost two years ago with two friends from college, I knew I was lucky.

It had everything I wanted, especially the location. It was one block from the 6 train; the M101, M102, M103 stop outside our apartment. It was in walking distance from Grand Central one way and Union Square the other.

It was also very close to Madison Square Park, offering a convenient escape from the apartment, which has a tiny living room and kitchen.

Ask an Expert: Do I need co-op board approval to leave my 19-year-old in my apartment?

Teri Karush Rogers — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:36:23 +0000

Q. I'm moving to London for work and planning to leave my 19-year-old son in my co-op apartment. He will take in a roommate to cover some of the costs. Do I need to get the approval of the co-op board?

A. You might, say our experts. The answer depends on what your proprietary lease says.

The StreetEasy Hot Dozen: 12 rentals that may or may not be available by the time you read this

Alex Hughes — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:33:49 +0000

This first-floor $1,895/month Chelsea jr-one-bed at 28th and Seventh Avenue was among the top 12 most-clicked on rentals on StreetEasy.com this past week.

Affordable pads in the enviable and notoriously expensive East Village hit the top of this week's Hot Dozen -- meaning more StreetEasy.com visitors clicked on these rental listings over the past seven days than any others. But beware, spaces in the EV are usually small, and if the price tag is too-good-to-be-true we're probably talking shoebox-sized.

Get ready for what may be the buggiest summer ever

Marjorie Cohen — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:34:08 +0000

Those of you who've never bothered to put window screens in your apartment--or apply flea and tick repellent to your urban dog--may want to re-think that.

NYC's pest control experts agree that as a consequence of our mild winter, you can expect to see more insects inside as well as out--including mosquitoes, ants and water bugs.

Here's what to expect:

Mosquitoes: Mosquitoes won't be here early because they never left. New Yorkers from East Harlem to the Village have seen mosquitoes and reported horrific bites all winter long.

What co-op boards should ask (and tell) buyers at the interview

Braverman & Associates — Tue, 15 May 2012 11:11:12 +0000

As a lawyer representing co-op boards for nearly two decades, I’ve spent a fair amount of time explaining what not to ask buyers at a co-op board interview in order to avoid discrimination claims by rejected buyers.

Tips from a Greenwich Village Doorman: My $1,000 tip; the best Chinese takeout, and more

Leonora Desar — Mon, 14 May 2012 18:43:49 +0000

Our West Village doorman loves the pork fried rice at Suzie's, and judging from how popular it is for deliveries, his building's tenants do too.

We recently chatted with a 52-year-old doorman who works in a Greenwich Village rental complex surrounded by some of the best restaurants and nightlife in the city. He's been a doorman for 30 years, having worked in Chelsea, on Central Park South and on Sutton Place before moving to the Village about four years ago.

9 signs your co-op board interview is in the bag

Alana Mayman — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:47:10 +0000

Sure, you've prepped your financials, practiced your answers and prepared for the worst case scenario in your co-op board interview, but sometimes the best case scenario occurs, and they're bending over backward for you instead of the other way around. (This must happen sometimes, right?)

Here are 9 signs you've got this whole co-op board interview in the bag....