100 Apartments In 50 Days
Inside NYC's relentless real estate market—from 'Google Girls' to the rise of Brooklyn high rises. Plus, the finance bro comeback, lavender tea, and George Clooney on Broadway.
They will see us waving from such great heights,
Come down now, they'll say
But everything looks perfect from far away,
Come down now, but we'll stay… - ‘Such Great Heights’ by The Postal Service
It’s my first day of apartment-hunting in NYC. I recall how physically taxing the job was the last time I did it in my early 20s, so I prepare by doubling up my avocado toast at breakfast. I eat it rushed, partially because I have an apartment-viewing to get to, but mainly because there are a swarm of wasps buzzing around my head. The fire escape that adds that New York charm to my walk-up apartment is now home to a hive. Every morning they make their way inside to commence their day shift in my apartment as the roaches from the night shift retire. So as I embark on what will be a wild ride of seeing over 100 apartments in Brooklyn, my number one priority is no pests.
For most of my life, I’ve chosen the apartment with character over convenience. Growing up in a co…