The Appraisal

New York’s Bald Spots: Missing Roof Decorations Are Being Restored and Recreated

By MATT A.V. CHABAN

Many ornate cornices and pediments had decayed, and then were removed to avoid accidents and the expense of maintenance.

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The Upshot

A $90 Million Condo Flip Shows What’s Wrong With Financial Capitalism

By NEIL IRWIN

The purchase of one of the most costly apartments in New York for speculative purposes is a good example of a deal that does nothing for the economy.

Making Room for Rentals in Lincoln Square

By ALISON GREGOR

Several new rental towers will bring nearly 2,000 apartments to the area by 2016.

Datapoints

An Extra Cost in American Home Sales

By ANNA BERNASEK

The average real estate broker commission is far higher in the United States than in some other countries.

Big Ticket

Central Park Vistas for $21.39 Million

By ROBIN FINN

A three-bedroom condo near the pinnacle of the south tower at the Time Warner Center is the sale of the week.

Exclusive

In a Privileged Setting

By ROBIN FINN

A duplex in the south tower of the River House, the opulent Art Deco enclave perched above the East River, is poised to enter the market at $14.75 million.

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Streetscapes

Refined in an Era of Superlatives

By CHRISTOPHER GRAY

The Mail & Express Building, built in 1892, was not the tallest, biggest or first skyscraper, but it was certainly the lightest, the most refined.

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Ask Real Estate

Property Tax Envy

By RONDA KAYSEN

Property tax disparities between single-family homes and apartments, tax abatements and how affordable housing works.

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The Hunt

A Chelsea Apartment With a Bedroom for Baby

By JOYCE COHEN

Mark Hannon and Sarah Briegel found a stair-free home with a bedroom for their baby in Chelsea.

Mortgages

Cheaper to Buy Than to Rent

By LISA PREVOST

New Trulia research finds homeownership less expensive than renting in the largest metropolitan areas, but the advantage narrows when F.H.A. loans are used.

• The Upshot: Is It Better to Rent or Buy? 7:02 PMNYT Now
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Big Developer and Boutique Firm Join Forces

By JULIE SATOW

The Related Companies, one of New York’s most prolific developers, makes its first foray into brokerage services with a 50 percent stake in CORE.

The Hunt

A Chelsea Apartment With a Bedroom for Baby

By JOYCE COHEN

Mark Hannon and Sarah Briegel found a stair-free home with a bedroom for their baby in Chelsea.

Living In

Affordability in Danbury, Conn., Just Over the Border

By LISA PREVOST

A smallish city of around 80,000, Danbury, Conn., just across from the New York border, is less expensive than most surrounding towns and far more diverse.

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No Picket Fence: Younger Adults Opting to Rent

By DIONNE SEARCEY

Those in their 20s and 30s, who often cannot afford or do not want a mortgage, are looking for appealing rental housing, and developers are responding.