M
argy Waller, 65, joined a weekly Zoom call with her closest friends from Northwestern University during the pandemic. The calls made her think seriously about being closer to these people, who are her very best friends in the world. With her career as an advisor for national arts organizations becoming mostly remote, she had more flexibility and long dreamed of living in New York City.

    She set up an alert on StreetEasy for prewar apartment listings in Manhattan priced under $400,000 and decided to spend a month in the city to make sure it was a place she really wanted to live. She stayed at a hotel in Harlem and soon knew that she wanted to make the move. Her friends were close by, and she enjoyed exploring the city's art, architecture, theater, and concerts.

    As she scoured listings, she prepared to sell her rowhouse in Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, which she'd bought for $85,000 and fully renovated. The house sold last spring for $470,000. Ms. Waller began her hunt with some open houses but had a bad experience with one viewing. She then reached out to Erin Whitney, a licensed salesperson at Bohemia Realty Group, whom she'd met at an open house in Inwood.

    Ms. Whitney helped her identify potential issues with the buildings, such as layout problems or outdated electrical panels. Ms. Waller also considered city laws that affect buildings and can lead to costly upgrades. Her friends suggested that she look for a building with a doorman and consider its energy rating, which can impact costs. With a $425,000 budget, her options were limited to one-bedroom co-ops in Northern Manhattan or studios on the Upper West Side.

    One weekend, while staying with a college friend, another friend suggested they meet for a walk in Central Park. Ms. Waller realized that if she lived in Inwood, this wouldn't be possible. This sealed the deal: it would be the Upper West Side. She sought a prewar building with an elevator and laundry room, and the studios she saw had around 500 square feet.