What is a Junior 4 Apartment Layout in NYC?
A Junior 4 apartment is a one bedroom unit that has a different and much larger layout compared to a traditional one bedroom apartment. The unique layout of the Junior 4 makes it one of the hidden gems of NYC real estate.
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What makes a Junior 4 layout unique?
A Junior 4 has four rooms, hence the name. Actually, technically speaking a Junior 4 has 3.5 rooms compared to a traditional one bedroom which has just 3 rooms. A Junior 4 has a bedroom, living area, kitchen and an extra alcove space usually right off the kitchen, used either as a separate dining area, private office space or extra bedroom. This extra space is where that extra half of a room comes from.
The size of a Junior 4 is bigger than a regular one bedroom but smaller than a two bedroom. Therefore it follows that the average price would fall between the price of an expensive one bedroom unit and a cheap two bedroom. Looking at our average rent guide for the price ranges of one beds and two beds, the average price range for a Junior 4 would be $3,500 to $5,000.
Benefits of a Junior 4 Apartment
You should consider renting a Junior 4 if you are choosing between a one bedroom and a two bedroom. Here’s why:
• The Junior 4 layout gives you the flexibility to convert the extra space to another room at a later time, such as creating a room for the new baby or you need to set up a private office. More flexibility means you can “grow” into this apartment without having to move!
• A Junior 4 is one of the cheapest ways to get a two-bedroom in NYC. Rent a Junior 4, put up a wall and convert the dining area into a second sleeping area.
What You Need to Know Before Renting a Junior 4 Apartment
Finding a Junior 4 in NYC can be difficult. First of all, there are are not that many of them. Second, even locating the available existing ones can sometimes be difficult. This is because many agents and landlords will advertise the units under the “one bedroom” section, not the “two bedroom” section of rental websites. For this reason
This is why you will need to search the one bedroom section as well as the two bedroom section so that you don’t miss any Junior 4’s that meet your criteria! Make sure you read the listing’s full description.
Another idea is to ask the person responsible for the ad (The “lister”). However, note that usually the lister would at minimum mention the Junior 4 layout in the description in order to maximize the exposure for the listing.
If you are going to rent a Junior 4 with the intent of converting it to a two bedroom, make sure you have permission from the landlord first. If the landlord allows it, make sure you confirm who would pay for the wall that has to be. Note that usually the tenant pays for it. Leasing a wall should set you back $1,000 to $2,000.
In sum, a Junior 4 is a practical and versatile option for those who need more space than a traditional one bedroom unit but can’t afford two bedroom prices.
For more NYC rental tips, please go to frele.com/learn.
This article was written by:
Phil Horigan, NYC Real Estate Veteran
Founder, Frēlē, the free and honest NYC rental marketplace
Producer, Phil’s NYC Rental Tips [YouTube Channel]
Blogger: flowfreely.com
Instagram: @philiphorigan
Phil has been a licensed NYC real estate agent since 2004 working for some of the top real estate brokerage firms in the industry. He founded Leasebreak.com in 2013, and Frēlē in 2017. Frēlē and Leasebreak are free and transparent rental marketplaces to search for or post apartments for rent in NYC
Go to frele.com to search for NYC apartments (free service).