To be clear: For most of us, this townhouse at 237 West 12th Street is a pure fantasy play, what with the high-seven-figure asking price—$8.395 million, to be exact.

But coveting someone else's fantastic real estate is a sport that we New Yorkers practice at Olympian levels, so we'll start with the basics: location, location, location. This three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath house is in the heart of charming West Village, near the Meatpacking District, far enough away from the touristy spots of the Village but close enough to all the pubs, bars, mom-and-pop stores, and restaurants that give the neighborhood its only-in-New-York feel.

The house, repped by Douglas Elliman and built in the 1840s, has enviable period touches like five fireplaces, wooden shutters, and hardwood floors, but has been updated for the 21st century, with a smart-home system that controls lighting and temperature, and a security system to keep intruders out.

The kitchen's equipped with all the modern conveniences, too. Bedrooms are airy, and a den leads to a garden.

Though it's not high up, a rooftop deck affords open-sky views.

The house itself is spacious but not massive at 2400 square feet. As always, it's easy to fall in love with pictures, so do your due diligence. But the dreaming doesn't have to stop—there's enough fodder here for justifiable townhouse envy.

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