I could have called this post “The runner-up.” This well laid-out alcove studio in Chelsea was my back-up apartment for if I didn’t get the Williamsburg 1 BR.

The layout of the N series showed me that living in an alcove studio wouldn’t be a real hardship for me. A similar apartment is available for December if you happen to be apartment hunting. While $2650 might sound pricey to non-New Yorkers, trust me: this represents good value for a Manhattan apartment in a “good” neighborhood. And by good I mean not boring, not isolated, etc.

250 W 19th

The fixtures were not what I’d call upscale, but they were acceptable from my perspective. Relatively well-maintained parquet floors. Open kitchen – not condo-quality, but not the old school NYC stove either. The building featured a laundry and a 24 hour doorman in a perfectly fine but somewhat “tired” lobby. And the location was great: dynamic neighborhood without being crazy or loud, and close to lots of transportation options.

Another selling point? Although a broker tried to show me this place, the apartment was, in fact, no-fee. There was a bit of trickery here:

When a broker mentioned the address, asking if I had seen listings there, it sounded familiar. After as many apartments as I had seen, they all started to sound the same. I googled the address and guess what? The first thing I see is the apartment listed on StreetEasy and similar sites for no fee. There was NO WAY IN HELL I was going to let a broker show me an apartment I could rent directly, saving myself thousands of dollars.

It pays to do your homework. No fee apartments do exist and the internet helps you find them. Unfortunately, it helps anyone with a little patience find them too.