Take in river views and the sunset in this high floor one-bedroom co-op in Morningside Gardens, currently on the market for $615,000. In addition to loads of natural light in the spacious living room and throughout, this renovated apartment features an extra-large bedroom—big enough to accommodate a king-size mattress with room to spare—and two closets.

The unit's newer eat-in kitchen includes stainless steel appliances (LG dishwasher, Samsung self-cleaning gas range with convection oven), white cabinetry and quartz counters. The gut renovated bathroom features glass subway tiles in the shower.

Nice little extras include new A/C units in the living room and bedroom, custom wood blinds on the windows, and a pet-friendly policy.

The $1,208 maintenance fee gets you a lot for you money, too. Residents of this community of six buildings on eight acres between enjoy landscaped grounds, 24/7 security, storage and parking options, laundry and fitness facilities, playroom and playground, a game room and event room. (There's even a theater group and craft workshops!)

This could be a prime spot for academics; around the corner from Columbia University's new Manhattanville campus, it's also close to several other educational institutions, including Barnard, Columbia Teachers College and the Manhattan School of Music. For culture and shopping, Central Harlem's stores, theaters and restaurants are nearby. The closest train is the reliable 1 line, with the nearest station being 125th Street.