Submitted by CvB, Jul 18, 2007 17:25

I previously lived in a $9000 a month apt in the West Village. It was large but noisy, super expensive, and I had to share it with others and rent it for photoshoots to make it affordable. My husband lived in lower Park Slope in a rent controlled 1 bedroom. It was only $950 a month but it was infested with cockroaches and prostitutes frequently urinated in the hallway entry. We got married and decided to buy a mansion in Staten Island and we have never looked back. We also have a blog about Staten Island. I list truly spectacular properties there (all under a million dollars and usually in the $400,000 - $800,000 range). We don't make money off this site. We do it to inform others about how great SI is. Also, my husband works long hours in midtown and commutes everyday and he still prefers it here. I commute to Manhattan a couple of times a week and I love the 20 min ferry ride. I drink Starbucks and work on my Mac. Check out at www.prodigalborough.com

Note: Comments are screened, and in some cases edited, before posting. We reserve the right to reject anything we find objectionable.