Searching for a home in NYC is unlike any other real estate experience. There’s different jargon, definitions, and financial requirements. And the same is true when trying to understand the types of apartments available. For instance, what’s a junior one-bedroom versus a traditional one-bedroom? Here we decode some of the most common terms used to describe New York apartments.
Brooklyn Rentals Under $3,000 on StreetEasy Article continues below
Dyker Heights
19 Battery Avenue
$2,900No Fee
4|
1
Bedford-Stuyvesant
235A Madison Street
$2,995No Fee
1|
1
Crown Heights
1310 Dean Street
$2,750No Fee
1|
1
Brighton Beach
230 Corbin Place
$3,000No Fee
2|
2
Stuyvesant Heights
119 Ralph Avenue
$3,000No Fee
2|
1
Bath Beach
155 Bay 29th Street
$1,899No Fee
1|
1
Midwood
1660 East 21st Street
$1,799No Fee
1|
1
Williamsburg
329 South 4th Street
$2,895No Fee
1|
1
Bay Ridge
74 Mackay Place
$2,300No Fee
2|
1
Prospect Park South
1620 Caton Avenue
$2,450No Fee
Studio|
1
Bensonhurst
8002 21st Avenue
$2,175No Fee
1|
1
Stuyvesant Heights
853 Halsey Street
$2,567No Fee
1|
1
Types of Apartments: What Is a Classic Six?
![The Common Types of Apartments Found in New York City (13) The Common Types of Apartments Found in New York City (13)](https://i0.wp.com/wp-tid.zillowstatic.com/streeteasy/2/Classic-six-apartment-type-5e4685.jpg)
In a nutshell, “classic” refers to pre-war architecture, and “six” refers to the six rooms. We’re talking REAL ROOMS, not spaces that perform double duty in an open floor layout. A classic six consists of the following:
- Living room
- Formal dining room
- Kitchen
- Two bedrooms
- One smaller bedroom off the kitchen (once referred to as a maid’s room)
If you’re wondering about the loo, have no fear. Classic six apartments usually have at least two bathrooms plus spacious closets and pantries not included in the “official” six rooms.
These types of apartments first gained popularity in the 1920s and are typically found in older buildings dotting the Upper East Side and Upper West Side. Many of these pre-war buildings pack additional perks, including oak floors, thick walls, spacious rooms, high ceilings, original moldings, and, if you’re lucky, a working wood-burning fireplace.
Manhattan Rentals Under $3,000 on StreetEasy Article continues below
Midtown
150 West 47th Street
$2,650No Fee
Studio|
1
Kips Bay
216 East 28th Street
$2,900No Fee
1|
1
Lower East Side
165 Attorney Street
$2,495No Fee
Lenox Hill
304 East 78th Street
$2,995No Fee
1|
1
East Harlem
167 East 107th Street
$2,175No Fee
1|
1
East Harlem
231 East 111st Street
$2,950No Fee
1|
1
Central Harlem
30 East 130th Street
$2,100No Fee
Studio|
1
Lenox Hill
237 East 59th Street
$2,495No Fee
Studio|
1
Fort George
612 West 182nd Street
$2,195No Fee
2|
1
Chelsea
206 West 21st Street
$2,613No Fee
Studio|
1
Kips Bay
220 East 29th Street
$2,795No Fee
1|
1
East Harlem
111 East 115th Street
$2,995No Fee
1|
1
Types of Apartments: What Is a Floor-Through Apartment?
![The Common Types of Apartments Found in New York City (26) The Common Types of Apartments Found in New York City (26)](https://i0.wp.com/wp-tid.zillowstatic.com/streeteasy/2/What-Is-a-Floor-Through-Apartment-c74d27.jpg)
This term describes a unit that takes up the entire floor of a building. Or, at the very least, it runs from the front of the building to the back.
These types of apartments are more common in brownstones where the unit may extend from the front to the back of the building, usually with windows in both the front and the back. More recently, new developments are building floor-through apartments. They tend to give more privacy and lots of space plus allow the elevator to open right into your apartment.
Queens Rentals for Under $3,000 on StreetEasy Article continues below
Astoria
36-10 Astoria Boulevard S
$2,800No Fee
2|
1
Jamaica Estates
177-16 87 Drive
$2,500No Fee
1|
1
Astoria
25-70 32nd Street
$3,600No Fee
1|
1
Astoria
30-58 14th Street
$2,750No Fee
2|
1
Jamaica Estates
177-30 Wexford Terrace
$3,300No Fee
2|
1
Jamaica Estates
177-30 Wexford Terrace
$3,400No Fee
2|
1
Arverne
648 Beach 69th Street
$3,618No Fee
3|
2
Ridgewood
1743 Norman Street
$4,000No Fee
4|
2
Long Island City
38-27 32nd Street
$3,650No Fee
1|
1
Astoria
40-02 Broadway
$2,995No Fee
1|
1
Long Island City
38-27 32nd Street
$3,050No Fee
Studio|
1
Ditmars-Steinway
22-44 29th Street
$3,500No Fee
2|
1
Types of Apartments: What Is a Railroad Apartment?
![The Common Types of Apartments Found in New York City (39) The Common Types of Apartments Found in New York City (39)](https://i0.wp.com/wp-tid.zillowstatic.com/streeteasy/2/What-is-a-railroad-apartment-f1df90.jpg)
A railroad apartment is an apartment where all the rooms line up and you must pass through one room to get to the next (kind of like subway cars). Typically the bedrooms occupy the front and back rooms (for privacy), with the kitchen, bathroom, and main living area smack in the middle.
Queens Rentals Under $3,000 on StreetEasy Article continues below
Astoria
27-17 21st Street
$2,650No Fee
1|
1
South Jamaica
165-08 Linden Boulevard
$2,800No Fee
3|
2
Elmhurst
42-42 Judge Street
$2,850No Fee
2|
1
Brookville
145-49 222nd Street
$2,750No Fee
2|
1
Ditmars-Steinway
23-90 29th Street
$1,950No Fee
1|
1
Forest Hills
111-45 76 Drive
$2,395No Fee
1|
1
Forest Hills
111-45 76 Drive
$2,600No Fee
2|
1
Woodhaven
94-15 85th Avenue
$2,800No Fee
3|
2
Flushing
143-10 38th Avenue
$1,890No Fee
1|
1
Astoria
26-28 18th Street
$2,907No Fee
1|
1
Astoria
31-40 30th Street
$2,380No Fee
1|
1
Glendale
72-30 67th Street
$2,800No Fee
3|
1
Types of Apartments: What Is a Garden Apartment?
![The Common Types of Apartments Found in New York City (52) The Common Types of Apartments Found in New York City (52)](https://i0.wp.com/wp-tid.zillowstatic.com/streeteasy/2/What-is-a-Garden-Apartment-a5a948.jpg)
In NYC, the term “garden apartment” applies to an apartment located at the ground level that features direct access to an outdoor space like a backyard or patio. Neighborhoods like Harlem, Bedford-Stuyvesant, and Park Slope are known for tree-lined streets with rows of brownstones and pre wars, many of which offer garden apartments. One good to know, garden apartments tend to be one-bedrooms.
Hoboken Rentals Under $3,000 on StreetEasy Article continues below
Hoboken
322 Madison Street
$3,000No Fee
1|
1
Hoboken
403 1st Street
$2,500No Fee
1|
1
Hoboken
328 Monroe Street
$2,200No Fee
1|
1
Hoboken
504 4th Street
$2,750No Fee
2|
1
Hoboken
1033 Washington Street
$2,350No Fee
1|
1
Hoboken
450 7th Street
$2,800No Fee
Studio|
1
Hoboken
415 Jackson Street
$2,995No Fee
1|
1
Hoboken
812 Grand Street
$3,000No Fee
1|
1
Hoboken
78 Jackson Street
$2,700No Fee
1|
1
Hoboken
500 Monroe Street
$2,750No Fee
1|
1
Hoboken
461 1st Street
$2,850No Fee
2|
2
Hoboken
327 Jackson Street
$1,900No Fee
1|
1
What Is a Junior One Apartment?
Out of all the different types of apartments, this one is arguably the most confusing. A junior one apartment is a studio that has converted some space into a designated and walled-off bedroom. It is not considered a standard one-bedroom because of its original studio floorplan.
“This is often achieved with alcove studios where there is already a designated sleeping area separate from the living spaces and can more comfortably accommodate a walled-off bedroom,'” said agent Jeremy Kamm of Warburg Realty. “Furthermore, the sleeping area might be smaller in dimension than what is considered a bedroom in legal terms.”
What Is a Junior Four Apartment?
A junior four apartment is a one-bedroom apartment with four separate rooms, most commonly a bedroom, kitchen, living room, and dining room. These types of apartments are sometimes marketed as two-bedroom units, in which case the fourth room is designated as a smaller bedroom.
“A junior four apartment is a one-bedroom apartment that easily converts into a two-bedroom by transforming the dining area off of the kitchen,” said Kamm.
Heads up! If the fourth room or “second bedroom” doesn’t have a window, it’s not legally a two-bedroom.
Types of Apartments: What Is a Loft?
![The Common Types of Apartments Found in New York City (65) The Common Types of Apartments Found in New York City (65)](https://i0.wp.com/wp-tid.zillowstatic.com/streeteasy/2/What-Is-a-Loft-47275b.jpg)
Raw lofts have open floor layouts without designated spots for a bedroom, dining room, or living room. The kitchen is also open to the entire apartment typically, and the only separated spaces with doors are bathrooms. Many renovated lofts have been subdivided into different rooms or zones with designated functions,” said Kamm.
In pre-war buildings, these types of apartments were originally industrial spaces for making things like clothing or even pianos. Later they became living spaces with some of their original features like high ceilings, visible structural beams, and large windows intact.
What Is a Micro Apartment in NYC?
Micro-units became a thing in NYC when the minimum square footage for an apartment was no longer 400 square feet in 2016. Small spaces like these are typically between 260-360 square feet with a sitting space, sleeping space, bathroom, and kitchen. These types of apartments officially debuted in Spring 2015 as an NYC pilot program.
According to broker Rebecca Blacker of Warburg Realty, “They often feature big windows and lots of creative storage space.” Don’t get these units confused with SROs, which are roughly 225 square feet with communal bathrooms.
What Is a Studio Apartment?
![The Common Types of Apartments Found in New York City (66) The Common Types of Apartments Found in New York City (66)](https://i0.wp.com/wp-tid.zillowstatic.com/streeteasy/2/What-is-a-studio-apartment-e87637.jpg)
A studio apartment is usually 400 square feet or larger and has a bathroom. “Everything is in one open space: living room, bedroom, and usually the kitchen too, although there are a lot of studios in NYC with separate kitchens,” said Blacker. “There are a few variations on the studio floor plan, such as the alcove studio, which has an extra nook where you can squeeze a bed or a desk.”
What Is a True One Bedroom?
A real one bedroom features at least two distinct rooms with a door that separates the bedroom from the living area. To qualify as an actual “bedroom,” typically, the room must be at least eight feet wide, and eight feet tall plus have a window that opens to the street, a garden, or a courtyard. The same is true for any number of bedrooms. If there’s no window, then it’s not a real bedroom.
What Is a Pre-War Apartment?
When it comes to types of apartments, this one can be a little confusing. In NYC, a pre-war apartment is an apartment built before WWII, typically between the years 1900-1939. These types of apartments tend to have decorative features like patterned floors, plaster, moldings, etc. Other features can include high ceilings, too, and sometimes larger windows.
“Some buyers prefer pre-war apartments because the apartment layouts look and feel different — not the usual cookie cutter’ experience where a handful of layouts define most of the apartments,” said agent Mihal Gartenberg of Warburg Realty. “On the con side, pre-war apartments tend to have smaller bathrooms and smaller closets. If you find a pre-war with large closets and bathrooms, it’s a keeper.”
Types of Apartments: What Is a Walk-up Apartment?
As the name implies, a walk-up apartment is in a building with no elevator. “Living in one of these buildings means you need to walk up a flight or more of stairs to get home if you’re not on the first floor,” said agent Mihal Gartenberg of Warburg Realty.
These types of apartments are located in buildings with less than six floors. Buildings with more than six floors must have an elevator.
Other Types of Apartments in NYC
There are more types of apartments to know. And lucky for you, there are more explainers that dive in:
- Duplex:Aduplex apartment is a two-story unit.
- Penthouse:Apenthouse unitis located near the top floor of a building.
- Pied-à-Terre: The French phrase means “a foot on the ground.” But in NYC real estate terms,a pied-à-Terremeans an apartment where the owner uses it as a “non-primary residence.”
Happy apartment hunting!