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Moving to NYC

post #1 of 38
6/7/07 at 1:06pm
Thread Starter 
It looks like I just landed a new job in the big city! Time to start the apartment search... a grueling process from what I hear.

Im moving from NJ and am somewhat familiar with NY and what neighborhoods are where and general price ranges, amenities of each (well, the major neighborhoods, anyway). Not as familiar with the outer boroughs.

So, what are the good neighborhoods in your opinion? What is up-and-coming? Any insights from the real NYers out there? Any tips on how to find good deals?

Technically, I should be able to afford up to $2,000-2,200 per month, given my anticipated salary. Given all the other expenses that the city entails, I would prefer to be conservative, till i get a hang of the city life.

So, Im thinking of something $1,000-1,200 with a roomie or $1,400-1,800 without. Can this be done in Manhattan? If not, what is best in the outer boroughs?

Thanks!
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post #2 of 38
6/7/07 at 3:24pm
Is it important that you live near (a) your work or (b) where you would like to go out? As for outer boroughs, you definitely should look at some of the Brooklyn neighbourhoods.
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post #3 of 38
6/7/07 at 3:39pm
Thread Starter 
good point.

work: 23rd and 7th Ave (most likely)

play: Meat Packing, Village, LES

i hear red hook is cool but havent been
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post #4 of 38
6/7/07 at 3:52pm
This might be worth reading:
http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=34244&

I would not go to Red Hook. If I were you, I'd try to get a room on the LES or East village. F/D train gets you relatively close to 23rd and 7th, and if you get a roomate, you should be within your budget. You might be surprised how much the little things add up in NYC, so why overspend if you don't need to.
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post #5 of 38
6/7/07 at 3:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by yeayea View Post
good point.

work: 23rd and 7th Ave (most likely)

play: Meat Packing, Village, LES

i hear red hook is cool but havent been

Find a place in chelsea.

That was easy!
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post #6 of 38
6/7/07 at 5:19pm
Thread Starter 
chorse - good thread .. thanks! - based on what im reading, it seems bk is out

gdl - i think you may have it there.. walking to work would be a ny dream come true..
im still going to consider east villager or LES as they seem more affordable..

but thinking about it, my life will be chelsea centric - work, play (ju jitsu, training) and nightlife so might as well live there
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post #7 of 38
6/7/07 at 5:23pm
I live in Chelsea and love it. It is much more than what people think it is
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post #8 of 38
6/7/07 at 5:38pm
Thread Starter 
what should i expect to pay? (cringing)
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post #9 of 38
6/7/07 at 5:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by yeayea View Post
what should i expect to pay? (cringing)

For a no-frills place, I'd say $1500-1750 for a studio, $2000-2500 for a 1BR, $3000-4000 for a 2BR. Just a guess...
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post #10 of 38
6/7/07 at 5:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by yeayea View Post
chorse - good thread .. thanks! - based on what im reading, it seems bk is out

gdl - i think you may have it there.. walking to work would be a ny dream come true..
im still going to consider east villager or LES as they seem more affordable..

but thinking about it, my life will be chelsea centric - work, play (ju jitsu, training) and nightlife so might as well live there

LES is a really cool neighbourhood with lots going on in terms of night life. I think the F train, stops at 23rd and 6th, so your commuting needs should be met.
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post #11 of 38
6/7/07 at 5:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by yeayea View Post
good point.

work: 23rd and 7th Ave (most likely)

play: Meat Packing, Village, LES

i hear red hook is cool but havent been

Agree with a previous post on Red Hook. I wouldn't live there (yet, at least). It's too out of the way for you and far from subways.
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post #12 of 38
6/7/07 at 6:00pm
Thread Starter 
thats about what im seeing on craigslist

pricey but i think i can swing it..

i can commute from where i live now, so i have time on my side

anyone have tips on finding a place?

obviously, no fee preferred. is craigslist a reliable resource? what else is out there for finding a place?
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post #13 of 38
6/7/07 at 6:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by gdl203 View Post
For a no-frills place, I'd say $1500-1750 for a studio, $2000-2500 for a 1BR, $3000-4000 for a 2BR. Just a guess...

A very common thing for those Chelsea one bedrooms is to rent a wall and split the living room into a small LR and a small second bedroom. Rental is pretty cheap, and your rent then is reasonable.
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post #14 of 38
6/7/07 at 6:04pm
Streeteasy is not a bad aggregator of brokers offerings. You could use that to supplement your Craigslist search
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post #15 of 38
6/8/07 at 12:56am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jleeo225 View Post
LES is a really cool neighbourhood with lots going on in terms of night life. I think the F train, stops at 23rd and 6th, so your commuting needs should be met.

There's a reason the 'F' is 'Forevah.' If you're relying on the F train to get to work, you're going to hate it.

Are you going to use a broker, or try and find your own place? If you use CL or backpages, only do searches for 'by owner only.' If you use a broker, make sure you realize that you're effectively upping your monthly rent; so if you have $1500 allotted as your monthly rent, and you're using a broker, the rent you should be looking at should be around 1300-1350.

LES and E. Village are very expensive and you get tiny places. A lot of this really depends on your age, and the age of people you'd like to be around. Both of those neighborhoods have become overrun with 20-something financial types. Sounds like you might be in a similar demographic, so maybe you'll like that, but if you like those neighborhoods because you want to be around artists/musicians/old school New Yorkers, there aren't a lot of those.

Considered Hell's Kitchen?

For the money you are willing to spend, you can find a very roomy place in Harlem, if you'd prefer just having space.

You'll also find cheaper and better deals with sublets, in case you want to try out a neighborhood first. And the market for sublets is significantly less pressured than that for free market apartments.

Lastly: when going to look at apartments, bring all your paperwork with you. Everything: last year's tax return, pay stubs (since you're newly hired, get your employer to give you a letter indicating your salary), and a credit report. Get your own credit report online, and you won't have to pay those ridiculous credit check fees. Also be ready to pay money right there. Chances are, if you find a place you really dig, it'll be gone ASAP. Having all paperwork ready will entice landlords and brokers to work with you.

Be aware that an apartment over $2000/person and/or built after 1972 will be rent stabilized, which means yearly rent increases will be no more than 7%.

Good luck. I'm helping a friend now, and it's not fun stuff...
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