Two First-Time Buyers Searched the West Side With a $700,000 Budget. Which One-Bedroom Was Right?
A Couple’s Journey to Homeownership
Gaby Hernandez and Josh Gordon, a couple of Manhattan theater friends, weren’t exposed to much homeownership. “A lot of my friends in the theater world rent in New York and then sublet in different cities,” said Mr. Gordon, who moved to Manhattan in 2014 after studying design and theater at Northwestern University. Ms. Hernandez arrived in 2015 to attend the American Musical and Dramatic Academy.
A Budget and a Wish List
After meeting online in 2018, the couple lived in a series of rentals, most recently a small one-bedroom in a Hell’s Kitchen walk-up, where they were conveniently close to the Theater District but inconveniently mired in the commotion of Midtown. “We had lived in enough typical shoebox Manhattan apartments that it was like, we want a nicer place,” said Mr. Gordon, 32. “We want an elevator building.” Over the years, he had saved around $300,000 from his job as an architectural lighting designer with a Chelsea-based hospitality firm, though he and Ms. Hernandez each carried some student-loan debt. Now it was time to invest, even if she was a bit skeptical.
A Virtual Course and an Agent
Last year, the couple dipped their toes in the market to see if it really was an option. They set a maximum budget of $700,000 and hoped to find a place on the Upper West Side, which Ms. Hernandez had come to love while attending AMDA. Along with a doorman and elevator, their wish list included in-unit laundry, sunlight, and minimal renovations. They also wanted to be no more than a few subway stops or a quick bike ride from their jobs. And their bichon-poodle mix, Teddy, had to be welcome, too. While taking a virtual course for first-time homebuyers, they were introduced to an agent, Niklas Hackstein of Compass.
Options Abound
Among their options:
Which One-Bedroom Was Right?
Find out what happened next by answering these two questions:
Conclusion
Gaby and Josh’s journey to homeownership was a successful one. With their budget and wish list in mind, they were able to find the perfect one-bedroom apartment on the Upper West Side. Their story is a testament to the power of planning and perseverance in the competitive world of Manhattan real estate.
FAQs
Q: What was the couple’s maximum budget for their new apartment?
A: $700,000
Q: What were the couple’s must-haves for their new apartment?
A: Doorman, elevator, in-unit laundry, sunlight, minimal renovations, and a location within a few subway stops or a quick bike ride from their jobs.
Q: How did the couple find their agent?
A: Through a virtual course for first-time homebuyers.
Q: What was the couple’s biggest challenge in finding their new apartment?
A: Navigating the competitive Manhattan real estate market and finding a place that met their budget and wish list.
