This one’s kooky but intriguing: If owning property in the city is your ultimate dream, and you don’t have any plans to sell anytime real soon, or even live in it, this one-bedroom in a full-service, doorman building in the West Village could be what you’re looking for. Priced at $449,000,
175 West 13th Street is definitely a deal — maybe even 25 percent less than market rate — for the area. But here’s the catch: You’ll have to be game to play landlord, and for an indeterminate amount of time. A rent-stabilized tenant’s in place, and it’s unclear if what that tenant’s paying will cover your monthly mortgage and maintenance nut. The Prudential Douglas Elliman listing suggests that the “enormous pot of gold comes in the future,” but what that actually means is you’re free to swoop in when the tenant doesn’t want it anymore. Or, let’s face it, dies. There are some fancy tax advantages too, but check in with a lawyer or an accountant to clarify whether this deal is good for you. —
S. Jhoanna Robledo
