Besides the general lack of space, a common problem buyers run into with NYC studios is a lack of light. (How many listings have you seen that are just one long, single room—with a lone little window at the end?)

In addition to its coveted Central Park West address (the building is between 68th and 69th streets), this $699,000 studio stands out for its abundant windows—most notably, this corner of floor-to-ceiling windows in the main living area (just picture yourself setting up a cozy reading nook there for sunny weekend mornings):

The separate sleeping area has a window, too—a relative rarity in the realm of sleeping alcoves. (Often, areas that are labeled as "alcoves" or "nooks" instead of bedrooms are called that precisely because they don't have a window, an important stipulation for a legal bedroom in this city.)

The kitchen gets good light, though you'll likely want to do some renovations to update the tiles and cabinets to something more sleek and modern:

We're willing to bet that the bathroom needs some updates, as well; it's not pictured in the listing, which is often a red flag that it might be in less-than-stellar condition. As you can see from the floorplan below, the bathroom is located through the sleeping nook:

As for the buiding itself, you'll have access to a garage and roofdeck, and the building is full-service, with a doorman as well as concierge service. Pets and pied-a-terres are allowed, which is an added bonus, given the stringent policies of many similar co-ops in the area.

At nearly $700,000, it certainly isn't anyone's idea of cheap, especially for a studio, but with its relatively spacious layout and amenities, it could easily become a comfortable long-term residence—as well as a likely solid investment.