back on the real estate hunt

Remember those stories a scant year and a half ago of visiting dozens of overpriced, run-down apartments and begging 2 Lincoln to please please please let us sign a lease?

We're going back into the real estate market. Though thankfully this time around we've got much longer to look and we know the city better.

We got a letter this week detailing our apartment building's plans for renovation, including working on ours by next summer. The building has been making improvements, then boosting rent, so this didn't come as a total surprise. But it's our confirmation that we need to find a place to live when our lease is up in June.

We're really hoping the who-you-know ways of New York help us find the perfect place. We've asked dozens of friends to keep their ears open for us -- if someone hears of a friend who needs a subleasor because she's getting married or getting transferred, or has a landlord friend who needs to find a responsible professional couple to fill a vacancy, we want to know.

I'm a big believer in the power of personal connections and referrals, so we're turning to our friends to help nudge us in the right direction.

We are looking for a quiet place in a good neighborhood in Manhattan -- we have several favorites, including the stretch from the Flatiron through Union Square to the Village, most of the Upper West Side, Tribeca, the east 50s ... we are pretty open if it's a vibrant, safe area with an easy commute for me to the Penn Station area.

We have a detailed wish list for our apartment but I'd rather hear about places that don't quite work than have our eyes and ears self-censor themselves from passing along the perfect place.

Finding our current place was excruciating work, even with the help of a broker who busted his behind to help us. (Shout out to Brett)
People routinely lie in real estate listings, we got stood up and shut out of several walk-thrus, and the good places got snapped up before we ever had a chance. Since we have a few months' notice and we're more settled in with good friends who know the city, we're looking forward to a much easier search this time. And no offense to friends who make their living in real estate, but maybe our long lead time can help us avoid paying a broker fee?

The perfect apartment in New York would be the perfect gift.