It's tough finding an apartment in New York City at any price.You might think snagging a place with plenty of potential for under $500,000 can't be done, but with some effort and a little bit of luck, it is possible. And when you own your home there are lots of creative ways to make it great. Below are some recently-listed apartments-some of which are in the city's priciest neighborhoods, to boot-for a rare low-six-figure price.

24 Cornelia Street, #12 

Price: $450,000

When it comes to location, it's nearly impossible to beat pretty Cornelia Street in the West Village. With this find of a studio, you also get lots of light, high ceilings, large windows, a working fireplace, exposed brick, a large bathroom and great closet space. All this, in a well-maintained co-op building with a live-in super, a huge private garden, and laundry. We have a feeling that "this one will go fast" actually applies here.

The Robert Livingston, 85 Livingston Street, #16O

Price: $479,000

Now that Downtown Brooklyn is hot, this extra-large alcovestudio with a new renovation and a great layout is looking like quite a catch.A kitchen built to please any picky cook is complete with stainless steel SubZero and Fisher Paykelappliances; the bath gets the high-end treatment too. Abundant storage spaceand custom closets keep clutter at bay. This full-service building sits at theborder of Brooklyn Heights and Cobble Hill, a short stroll from world-classrestaurants, cafes, and subway lines.

424 East 77th Street , #1D

Price: $399,000

This lovely, renovated and surprisingly spacious Upper East Side one bedroom co-op has high ceilings, a modern kitchen (there's even a wine fridge), a big bedroom and, wonder of wonders, your very own large backyard. If you don't mind first-floor living, this Lenox Hill home on a quiet street near John Jay Park sounds almost perfect.

305 West 150th Street, #710

Price: $482,000

Perhaps you're looking for a brand-new interior in a luxurious condo conversion? This seven-story prewar elevator building offers elegantly renovated one-bedroom apartments with high ceilings, solid oak flooring, caesarstone countertops, and bathrooms with Duravit deep soaking tubs. Just adjacent Jackie Robinson Park, the apartments here are a thoughtful mix of vintage and modern, with plenty of convenient shopping and other amenities nearby as well as a veritable alphabet soup of subway lines.