Analyzing a Real Estate Listing

Ever found yourself looking through apartment listings and being confused what any of it actually means. Classic 6? 2/3 Converted BR? Dogs Okay - woof? Until I began trolling Craigslist ads (apt listings and personals both equally confusing and often deceiving) and spending time talking real estate with Postgrad, I had no idea that it was even possible for a non-artist to live in a studio apartment.

Here are some common things you'll see in real estate listings and what they actually mean.

• Classic 6 = living room, dining room, two bedrooms, kitchen, maid's room, 1-3 bathrooms
• Converted bedroom = One good-sized bedroom divided into two spacious closet-sized bedrooms with a faux wal
• As close as you can get to the country in the city = Staten Island
• Fun Neighborhood = You will never sleep because people are always out and being loud
• Easy Commute to NYC = Hoboken
• Cheap Townhouse in the West Village - Someone was murdered there and they can't sell it.
• Walk-up = no elevator and the promise of getting great quads
• Junior 4 = An apartment with an alcove that can be turned into another bedroom.
• Prewar = built before WW2 (not to be confused with building built before the Iraq war)
• Studio =  a large one room apartment that serves as a kitchen, living room, and bedroom all in one.