Though apartments on NYC’s most classically desirable blocks will always be a good investment, some neighborhoods have been stealing the spotlight in recent years.

Downtown Brooklyn
In addition to winning the 2011 “Curbed Cup Neighborhood of the Year” blog laurels, DoBro has been making news for its newly-recognized historic skyscraper district, the new Barclays Center arena and an impressive selection of apartments in buildings like Toren and Belltel Lofts with some of the best views in the city.

Financial District
Lower Manhattan’s Financial District is getting high marks for growth. The former workday-only zone has been gaining attention for being one of downtown Manhattan’s emergent residential stars with the addition of top buildings like The Cocoa Exchange at 1 Wall Street Court and William Beaver House at 15 William Street.

Greenpoint
Mentioned in New York Magazine’s “Best Places to Live in NYC” and taking the #1 spot in The L Magazine’s “Brooklyn Neighborhood Power Rankings,” park-filled Greenpoint is as green as the name suggests, and it’s a super-hot destination spot. But the neighborhood’s newly-minted apartment buildings along McCarren Park (like Northpoint Towers at 76 Engert Avenue), with more to come along its prime waterfront area, may be the best reason to take notice.

Upper West Chelsea
Art galleries, restaurants, live theater and the High Line park have made Upper West Chelsea a new favorite neighborhood to visit, but there are just as many reasons to live here. New condo developments like Highline 519 at 519 West 23rd Street have won awards for their innovative architecture and top-notch amenities.

Yorkville
While the Upper East Side’s classic apartments have long been associated with luxury, its eastern reaches have been getting a new kind of attention (NYObserver). As more NYC neighborhoods become prohibitively pricey, the area retains its value. The Second Avenue subway line will make living here even more convenient, and pretty Carl Schurz Park along the East River is among the many perks for residents of buildings like the Philip Johnson-designed Metropolitan at 181 East 90th Street.