Apartment hunting in New York City is equal parts hope, stress, and whiplash. In this video, Chandler and his wife Lucy tour apartments across the Upper West Side and Brooklyn while trying to upgrade from a tiny studio into a place they can grow into long-term. Their must-haves are clear: at least one bedroom, ideally Upper West Side, no more than one flight up if there’s no elevator, laundry in the building, and a budget of $3,000 to $3,900. Their nice-to-haves are the same ones that keep showing up in NYC search filters: a doorman, a usable kitchen with counter space, and ideally a gym so they can cancel their membership. What makes this tour especially useful is that it shows the real tradeoffs, including broker fees, walk-ups, “too good to be true” listings, and the siren song of luxury buildings. Credit to the original creator video here:
What They’re Looking For: The NYC “Start a Family” Checklist
Chandler and Lucy are not apartment hunting for novelty, they are searching for stability. They want a true one-bedroom (or better) that feels like an upgrade from their studio and can work for a future family. Location matters most, with the Upper West Side as the clear favorite, but they are willing to tour outside it if the value is strong. They are also trying to avoid lifestyle pain, like multiple flights of stairs, since walk-ups get old fast and become a bigger issue when you are hauling groceries, strollers, or laundry. Laundry in the building is treated like a core requirement, not a luxury, because it changes weekly life in New York more than almost anything else. Their budget tops out at $3,900, which is important because the video shows how quickly “almost perfect” apartments jump into the $4,000+ range.
Day 1: Upper West Side Reality Check
The early February tours start with classic NYC contrast: “interesting layout” apartments that are priced well, and then a chaotic listing that reveals why the price is low. One Upper West Side apartment listed around $3,100 had two lofted spaces and a well-maintained building, but the layout made it difficult to fit their existing furniture. The loft ladders felt sketchy, and even though the price was attractive, a broker fee became a major downside. They also run into a two-bedroom tour with a long line where previous visitors are warning people not to go in, and the apartment appears to have been left in an extreme, unacceptable state. Their reaction is blunt because it should be, and it highlights a real NYC issue: some listings get shown in conditions that should never be presented to renters. By the end of Day 1, they feel that none of the options are quite right, even though one had real potential if the major cons were not there.
Apartment Tour: The $3,300 One-Bedroom That Almost Worked
A one-bedroom listed for $3,300 had the kind of building that immediately feels safer and more “put together.” They note the building feels well maintained and the apartment has laundry in the building, which is a huge win and the first one they saw that day with that feature. The vibe inside is described as quaint, which in NYC often means charming but not always spacious. The main dealbreaker is that the apartment feels like a basement even if it is technically first floor, and the street-level windows make them worry about pests and privacy. Another major issue is air conditioning, since the living room windows face the sidewalk and do not allow an AC unit setup in a practical way. The biggest heartbreak is the kitchen, which they describe as the least functional they saw all day, and they basically say they would have seriously considered it if the kitchen worked.
Apartment Tour: The $2,995 “Charming” Deal With a Brutal Catch
Their most budget-friendly option is listed for $2,995, and it comes with something that always tempts renters: outdoor space. The living room is spacious and the apartment has a huge deck that they can immediately picture for hosting. That said, the bedroom is tiny, to the point where even a full-size bed would dominate the room and limit how the space can function. The defining con is that it is a four-story walk-up, and they are clear that this does not align with their long-term plan. This is a classic NYC trade: you get charm and a fun feature like a deck, but you pay for it with daily friction and physical effort. By the end of the day, their takeaway is that compromise is unavoidable, but some compromises are not worth it when you are choosing a home, not a temporary crash pad.
Day 2: Why They Pivot to Brooklyn Luxury Buildings
By March 1st, the search shifts because inventory is slow and nothing new is hitting their ideal area. Chandler explains they start touring places outside the Upper West Side, mainly in Brooklyn, because these buildings offer stacked amenities like gyms, workspaces, and even pools. The key justification is that these luxury buildings often have no broker fees, which matters because broker fees can be around 15% of annual rent and can add roughly $6,000 upfront in their price range. That changes the math and makes slightly higher rent feel more rational, at least in the short term. They tour one higher-end option on the Upper West Side first, and then three luxury buildings in Brooklyn. The emotional shift is real: the apartments look better, the amenities are exciting, but the prices push past the boundary they wanted to stay inside.
Upper West Side Luxury: Beautiful Views, But $4.3K to $4.4K
Their first “luxury-feeling” tours are still in Manhattan, and the immediate highlight is light and views. They describe strong natural light, central air, good closet space, and a living room that can actually fit their furniture. The biggest problem is simple: the price is $4.3K to $4.4K, which is clearly above their stated budget. They are also surprised that at this price there is not an in-unit washer/dryer, even though laundry exists somewhere in the building. The amenities feel slightly dated for the cost, which is a common NYC frustration when a building charges premium rent without fully modernizing. The result is a familiar conclusion: it is gorgeous, but it does not feel financially responsible unless the price can be negotiated down.
Brooklyn New Build: The “Bowling Alley and Golf Simulator” Building
The most memorable segment is the Brooklyn new build that is still under construction, with a promise to open by April 1st. They tour three one-bedrooms with net effective rent around $4,000, with slight layout differences like a bigger kitchen island or a larger overall footprint. Chandler is visibly drawn to one unit for filming potential and light, but the bedroom size is too small and one unit is listed around $4,149, pushing it higher. Then the amenities list hits like a punchline: karaoke room, screening room, arcade, private workspaces, golf simulator, massive gym, zen garden, child’s playroom, and even a bowling alley, all included in rent. Their reaction is excitement mixed with skepticism because the building is scrambling to launch and is behind schedule, even though people were apparently meant to move in that same day. Still, they make a key point: compared to Manhattan pricing, $4,000 net effective for that amenity stack is hard to ignore, especially when you factor in broker fees elsewhere.
Brooklyn New Build With a Pool: Great Hardware, But Still Over Budget
Next they tour another Brooklyn new build where the hardware and appliances feel higher quality than the under-construction building. They love the natural light in amenity spaces like the gym, lounge, and co-working areas, which matters because those spaces become a real extension of your apartment. The headline feature is a pool, which is rare, but it is not finished yet and it costs extra. The rent numbers still land around $3,969 to $4,018, and they note they would need the larger unit for their lifestyle. That leaves them stuck on the same issue: unless they can get it below $4,000, it does not work for their plan. They also express a real emotional downside, which is that places like this are not showing up in their ideal Upper West Side zone. The building is impressive, but the experience becomes a reminder that “perfect amenities” often require a neighborhood compromise.
Williamsburg Luxury: “Glorified College Dorm” Vibes at $4K to $4.4K
Their final building is in Williamsburg, where they tour three different one-bedroom layouts ranging from $4,000 to $4,400 net effective. One unit that looked exciting online ends up being impractical because the curved building shape creates a layout with no real place for a living room. They mention that unit has been vacant for two years, which is a red flag and explains why it has not moved. Another layout feels standard but has weaker views than what they saw earlier in the day, and the third layout is their favorite because it is spacious and even has a balcony. Even with the better layout, they do not feel it justifies $4,400, especially after seeing a building with far more standout amenities earlier. Their final verdict is that the building feels cookie-cutter, and the shared spaces remind them of a college dorm, especially the co-working area. That comparison is useful because it captures a very real category of NYC luxury that looks good on listings but feels generic in person.
The Deadline Pressure: April 1 Move-Out or Extend Six Months
By March 6th, the search becomes urgent because they either need to move out by April 1st or extend for six months to October. Their landlord needs to sell the apartment they are currently living in, which introduces another twist: they might consider buying it. In the meantime, they are negotiating with the first two Brooklyn luxury options to get the rent down, but they have not succeeded yet. The video ends like a true NYC apartment story: no clean ending, just pressure, options, and a cliffhanger. That is honestly accurate, because most NYC apartment hunts end with compromise and timing rather than a perfect “dream apartment” moment. The most valuable part is the transparency around budget and decision-making, because it mirrors what real renters are juggling. Credit again to the original creator video:
NYC Apartment Hunting Takeaways for 2025
Broker fees can make a “cheaper” apartment more expensive than a “higher rent” no-fee building once you run the numbers. Walk-ups are tolerable in your early NYC years, but they become a dealbreaker fast when you are planning for long-term comfort. A usable kitchen is one of the most underestimated requirements, because it directly affects daily life and whether an apartment feels livable. First-floor units can be quiet and convenient, but street-level windows can bring privacy concerns and pest anxiety that many renters do not expect until they tour. Luxury buildings can be worth it when the amenities replace outside spending like gym memberships and coworking, but only if the building feels like adult living and not a dorm. If you are shopping in the $3,000 to $4,000 range, the biggest battle is not finding something “good,” it is finding something good that does not come with one fatal compromise.