I’m on my way home from a very fun long weekend in New York. I stayed with my friend, Monica, in what I would consider to be my dream condo.
Monica just moved to Manhattan from Washington to work for the Corcoran Group. And she’s living on 65th Street and Second Avenue on the 34th floor. Her apartment is facing south and west, and through a wall of floor-to ceiling windows, you can see from the Central Park West skyline to the East River to downtown. The view is a total WOW, from the balcony and from every room in the place!
But it’s making her crazy.
It’s really, really sunny there – something I always thought was a good thing. So does she, except when she wants to sleep later than 6:00 am when the sun comes up.
Then, there is a solar heating system built in. This might be a great thing in February, but this was the 4th of July weekend. It’s not super hot - in fact, it’s been raining most of the weekend. But for most of the summer, Monica has been sweltering, even with the air conditioning running full blast.
All over Manhattan, and throughout Washington, too, there are bunches of gorgeous new condos that are fabulous in many ways, including south-facing walls of glass. When I fantasize about down-sizing and moving back to New York, these are the condos of my dreams.
So, after this weekend, should I rethink my housing fantacies?
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Pat Kennedy, author of "The Irreverent Guide to Real Estate" , has been selling homes in the Washington, DC area for over 25 years. She's licensed in DC, Maryland & Virginia
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Gives you some new criteria to include!
Hi Pat...Our windows have double pane (they make triple now) with Low-E and argon gas. You can also get remote push button screening that you can see through (got to keep that view) but cuts down on the heat transfer.
Never give up on your dream. Technology is on our side.
Kate
Sounds nice. I'd figure out a way to make it work. Easy for me to say, since it's almost always a sweltering 70 degrees in the summer where I live.
Condos are growing in popularity here. Many of them have a water view. It seems that, at some point in the future, that is the only way people will be able to afford a great view -- to share the cost with other dwellers.
Pat, maybe it all depends on which direction your windows face how ideal this romantic idea of yours is. Aren't the curtains made thick enough in Manhattan as an assist?
Pat - My friends have tinted their windows. This can be done without replacing them.
Isn't that why they invented "black-out" curtains and sleeping masks?
... to add to Gregory's comments.... and Gin.....
on that note.... I always wondered how HOT those floor to ceiling window lined condos fair in the HOT Summer sun.
About 15 years ago, I lived in a house that had a window that was facing the sun all afternoon long and when we moved in during the month of December we thought this was the greatest thing on EARTH! But, along comes July and like you said even with the A/C on it is still 140 degrees in the place! I will never do that again!
Pat - DC is fantastic - I would love to live there if you did not get that darn thing called SNOW! New York is for visiting!!!!! Never the twain shall meet! Be glad you live in DC!!!!!!!!!!