FINDING HOME
Where Do You Belong in New York?

Amanda and Aiden loved living on the West Coast, but their return to New York was their decision to come home. They opted to rent in Williamsburg while they figured out where they wanted to land — but from the start they knew that buying a home was the goal.

They’re both in tech, both lifelong New Yorkers, and they came into the search with clarity — one eye on the emotional details, the other on the fine print.

Aiden treated the process like an investigation. He devoured offering plans and building records and wanted to understand every layer of a home before moving forward.

Amanda’s priority was simple but non-negotiable: sunlight. She wanted a home that felt alive, bright, and full of possibility. But the real question wasn’t just which home - it was where.

For Amanda and Aiden, choosing a neighborhood wasn’t about commute times or resale value. It was about identity. Were they ready to move back to the Upper West Side, where Amanda had grown up? Did Brooklyn Heights feel like a romantic compromise? Was Williamsburg actually their scene, or just a temporary stopover?

Their priorities were minimal, but firm:

• 2-3 bed / 2 bath

• Ample sunlight

• Move-in ready

With a wide net cast over the map, here were their options:

No. 1:
The Upper West Charmer

This 2 bed / 2 bath felt familiar. Amanda grew up just blocks away. The apartment had Central Park views, massive bedrooms, beautiful prewar windows, and the kind of sunlight that stopped them in their tracks. But it also carried symbolic weight. Choosing this home might feel like moving back to your hometown to “grow up.” Beautiful, yes. But was that the story they wanted to write?

No. 2:
The Brooklyn Heights Flex

The 2 bed / convertible 3 bed was stunning. The building was classic. Huge bedrooms in this one, too. The promenade, the trains, the easy walk to Cobble Hill — everything about it was appealing. But Brooklyn Heights felt quieter than expected. Beautiful, yes, though not quite bustling. Amanda and Aiden wondered if they’d feel a little too tucked away.

It’s a good reminder that people live in New York for wildly different reasons — and sometimes, a fifteen-minute walk to shops and restaurants is just too far. Don’t tell the suburbanites I said that.

No. 3:
The Williamsburg Wildcard

They were already renting nearby and loved the energy of the neighborhood. This apartment - a sleek new development - checked a lot of boxes. But new development also meant unknowns: punch list delays, permit weirdness, possible building complaints. The bedrooms were tighter than the two other pre-war units, but that was par for the course with new dev condos. Most notably, Williamsburg seemed to offer a sense of excitement unlike the other spots they explored.

*Specifics have been changed to protect client privacy

Which Home Do You Think They Chose?

AMANDA & AIDEN’S HOME:
THE WILLIAMSBURG WILDCARD
You can’t deny that the energy in Williamsburg is a world apart from the Upper West Side or Brooklyn Heights, and this new development condo was a complete departure from the two pre-war co-ops we toured.

The bedroom sizes didn’t compete, but the low monthly fees, all-new finishes, self-managed building, and private roof space made a compelling case. Kickstarting a boutique condo felt natural to them, almost like building a startup from scratch.

Of course, new developments don’t come with decades of board minutes or building history, so surprises are part of the package. Aiden read the offering plan cover to cover, and we paired them with an attorney who could go beyond the standard due diligence and dig into the developer’s track record.

In the end, it wasn’t just about the unit. It was about building something new in a neighborhood that felt full of possibility.

MARKET INDICATOR
Manhattan

Prime Brooklyn

SNEAKY PEEK
250 Mercer Street

250 Mercer Street #B706-707
2-3 beds / 2 baths
$4,200,000
Greenwich Village

This is one of my favorite homes I’ve ever sold. My clients snatched this charming space 3 years ago, and have since had to move out West.

It’s an industrial loft with 14ft ceilings and natural finishes throughout that make it feel beyond warm and welcoming. Think: concrete columns, reclaimed wood floors, venetian plaster walls - the works.

When I first walked through this home, I felt as though I was entering a spa. Down the serene foyer, the great room will welcome you with the most jaw dropping corner views of Broadway.

It’s not staged yet, so once Hovey works their magic the home will really shine.

If you’d like to see the floor plan or get a sneak preview over LDW, shoot me a line and we’ll make it happen.