What is a Junior 4 Apartment in NYC?

March 14, 2021 by Georges Benoliel

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Understanding real estate terminology in NYC can be tricky. For example, let’s say you’re looking for an apartment and come across a property marketed as a junior 4-apartment layout for rent or sale or a J4 apartment. Your first thought might be, what exactly is that apartment? This guide will teach you everything about Junior 4 apartments in NYC. So what are they? How are they listed for sale or rent? And what advantages are there to living in a J4? What is a junior 4 apartment layout?

‘Junior Four’ implies that a one-bedroom apartment has an additional room that may be enclosed and used as a home office, formal dining room, or function as a second sleeping area.

What is a Junior 4 Apartment in NYC?

It is a one-bedroom apartment with an extra alcove or living space that gives it an additional (fourth) room, hence the “4”. What is a junior 4 apartment layout? The four rooms include a bedroom, kitchen, living room, and an additional fourth room. This extra room is most often a dining room or alcove.

The fourth room can be converted into a second small bedroom or used as a nursery or home office.

Similar to rentals listed as “convertible” (meaning there’s space to create an extra room), when people refer to a one-bedroom as a “junior 4,” it means it’s got some extra space to play around with—just not a full-fledged second bedroom.

Junior four apartments used to be pretty standard in NYC. Still, landlords will often convert those apartments into two-bedroom apartments whenever possible, as they can get higher rents that way. Although it’s easy to understand what a Junior 4 apartment is, you must remember there is no legal definition.

Can I List my Junior four as a Two-Bedroom Apartment?

As no single definition explicitly describes what a J4 is, it can be difficult for sellers and landlords to know how to list their apartments. You want the apartment to be seen by the most buyers possible, and you want to get the most out of the unit as you can, so you might want to list it as a two-bedroom.

But then you likely don’t want to mislead buyers into thinking they’re looking at an actual two-bedroom unit, so you may end up listing it as a one-bedroom and missing out on potential buyers or value. Working with a broker is recommended, as you’ll benefit from their expertise.

There is no correct answer to whether you should list your J4 as a one or two-bedroom apartment.

Choosing how to represent your apartment is essential, and talk to your listing agent and real estate attorney. No single, authoritative definition of a Junior 4 apartment in NYC exists. However, those apartments are usually more valuable than standard one-bedroom apartments, and this is because they have more configuration options.

Suppose you have a J4 apartment in NYC that you want to put on the market. Marketing it as a two-bedroom apartment can attract more interest and get you a better price. But a J4 won’t be a legal two-bedroom apartment in most cases. So your broker will likely recommend that you market it as a convertible two-bedroom apartment.

No matter how you decide to market the apartment, be sure you’re upfront and honest about it being a Junior 4!

What are the Benefits of Buying or Renting a Junior 4 in NYC?

Now that we’ve explained a Junior 4 apartment and how brokers list them for sale in New York City, let’s look at some of these apartments’ benefits.

Benefits of Junior 4 Apartments (table of contents)

1. More affordable than a 2-bedroom apartment
2. More functionality
3. Better resale value than 1-bedroom apartments

a) Junior 4’s are More Affordable Than Two Bedroom Apartments

The main benefit of a Junior 4 is that they are more affordable to rent or buy than comparably sized two-bedroom apartments. Real estate prices are sky-high in NYC, and the difference between one and two-bedroom apartments can be significant.

That’s why finding a Junior 4 can be of great value. Junior four apartments are much more affordable than similarly-sized two-bedroom apartments while providing the same functionality if set up correctly.

b) More Functionality and Customization

What makes Junior 4 apartments so highly desirable in NYC is the flexibility and functionality that they give you. Some people live in a Junior 4 and don’t need to turn the extra space into a second bedroom, and they have the perfect space for a dining nook or a home office.

But then, if you ever need a second bedroom, it’s easy to convert the extra space into a small one.

c) More Resale Value than a One-Bedroom Apartment

Junior four apartments are more affordable than two-bedroom apartments and more expensive than one-bedroom apartments.

If you own a J4 apartment in NYC, you will be able to get significantly more value out of it when you list it for sale or rent than a typical one-bedroom. Due to their desirability, those apartments are always in high demand.

Does it matter if I buy a Junior 4 instead of a two-bedroom apartment?

Buying a Junior 4 apartment is an excellent decision if you do not have the means to buy an actual two-bedroom apartment in NYC. Junior four apartments are more versatile and can be reconfigured over time to support your changing lifestyle and growing family. This means you can hold onto a Junior 4 apartment more extended than a one-bedroom one before you need to sell and upsize.

Can Condos in NYC also be a Junior 4 Unit?

The short answer to this question is yes, condos in NYC can also be Junior 4s. However, it’s rarer to find junior four apartments for rent in a condo than in a co-op building. Most condos are newer construction, and developers want to maximize profits. So they’d always build a two-bedroom apartment over a Junior 4. For this reason, most Junior four apartments in NYC are in older co-op buildings.

But that doesn’t mean you cannot find junior four apartments for rent in a condo building. Just be prepared to pay a bit more, as apartments in condo buildings are generally newer and more expensive than comparable apartments in co-ops.

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