Roommate living conjures images of messy kitchens and cramped bedrooms—but it doesn't have to be that way. Take, for example, this four-bedroom in Hamilton Heights listed for $4,500 a month.
The apartment is a sizable 1,600 square feet and has two bathrooms—always a plus for students or young professionals living together. Plus, it has features you wouldn't normally associate with budget living, like big windows, 10- to 12-foot ceilings, and stainless steel appliances (including a dishwasher!) and granite countertops in the kitchen.
Of course, its price tag matches the luxury flourishes: other four-bedrooms in Hamilton Heights are currently on the market for an average of $3,729 a month, according to StreetEasy.
It's in a pre-war building known as the Westbourne, which was built in 1920 and more recently converted to 38 rental apartments spread over six stories. The block-long structure has "a European touch," boasts a description on StreetEasy, and comes with an elevator, laundry room, bike room, on-site superintendent and building manager, and virtual doorman.
At 611 West 137th Street, between Broadway and Riverside Drive, it's around the corner from the 1 train (two stops from Columbia University) and within walking distance of the A, B, C and D trains.
One caveat: this place has been on the market for 42 days—an amount of time that in today's fast-paced rental market should raise an eyebrow. Best to see it before you commit to anything.