Rachel Maddow Buys Michael Stipe's West Village Apartment

MSNBC host Rachel Maddow once described her New York apartment, which she moved into in 2004, as "the size of a van" at about 275 square feet. But Maddow's star has risen, and now she and partner Susan Mikula have invested in an apartment that could fit at least a few vans?two combined units at 130 Jane Street, which they purchased at the end of June. The seller is none other than R.E.M. lead singer Michael Stipe. A tipster points us to the deal, which closed for $1.25 million, less than Stipe's $1.325 million listing price. Our tipster asks, "I wonder if it's the same apt. where he and his friend took some revealing photos they posted to the internet... If so, the bathroom kind of needs a renovation!" Which could explain the discount. Or maybe he was tired of all the shiny happy people stumbling out of the Jane Hotel's ballroom every night.

· Listing: 130 Jane Street [Corcoran]
· Recorded Sale for 130 Jane Street [StreetEasy]