What New York City Apartment Hunters Can’t Live Without

Sure, the apartment has leaky windows and an ancient fridge from 1988. Yes, it’s on the fifth floor of a Manhattan brownstone; no, there’s no elevator. But when Colleen Kelly, 64, got the one-bedroom, $4,500-per-month unit two years ago, it felt like the “find of the century.”

“Anybody outside of New York City wouldn’t understand that at all,” she said.

What made it so alluring? A window on one side, where Ms. Kelly could see a slice of the sky and the East River, and a tiny outdoor deck with a view of the Chrysler Building.

“I go in and out all day long,” she said.

It can seem like a miracle that anybody finds a place to live in New York City, which is enduring its worst housing shortage in nearly 60 years. Rents and home prices remain staggeringly high.

What’s even more surprising is that people are able to find places they actually like.

We asked New Yorkers to tell us what they were looking for in this punishing housing market, seeking insight into their needs, wants and deal breakers. Price was a vital issue, though curiously not always the most important. Many people said they had to be close to mass transit, or in a safe neighborhood, or have space for their children to play and grow. Amenities like washers, dryers and dishwashers were, of course, often cited as needs.

Ms. Kelly’s story illustrates one of three broader themes that shaped the more than 160 responses.

First, the expectations of many New Yorkers were what could be considered incredibly low, as they grasped for things as simple as a closet, the sound of birds chirping outside or having enough counter space for a dish rack. Second, despite their love of the city, many wanted to also feel like they were in suburbia, prioritizing outdoor space or quiet. Finally, the hunts were often guided by niche desires, like being close to a Colombian bakery or not living on a parade route.

Low Expectations

The features that are often commonplace in other cities — air-conditioning, full-size appliances, even floors, ample power outlets, freedom from rodents and insects — can seem aspirational in New York City.