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NYC apartment brokers

post #1 of 28
4/18/08 at 5:57pm
Thread Starter 
I'm moving to NYC this summer with a July 1 move in date. I'll be working in Rockefeller Center, and from what I've been told it would be a good idea to live in Midtown (to be close), the East/West Village, or the LES. I'm 22 and will be working a lot of hours. So I want to live somewhere convenient but also fun. I'm planning on spitting a 1BR with my girlfriend who will be attending Fordham Law School next fall, which I believe is on the NW side of Midtown, which is also a consideration.

First of all does anyone have any comments about moving to NYC/where I would want to live? I've received a bit of advice, but any more stories/comments about particular areas and where I should be looking would be helpful. Depending on how they recognize my income and her loans, we will probably be able to afford around 2500 a month max.

Second of all, does anyone have any recommendations about brokers, or specific people at specific brokerages that they've heard are good or used in the past? I've heard that there is a lot of bait/switch out there - i.e. people showing you stuff you really don't want, trying to get you to move in on June 15 even though you want July 1, so I'm thinking it is best to use someone you know is going to be good. I've got a few names off of Yelp, but was hoping some people here would have some personal experiences to share.

Thanks a lot for any help.
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post #2 of 28
4/18/08 at 6:04pm
Use any reputable large broker and you'll be fine. I used Citihabitats. Go to curbed.com and check out the neighborhoods on your own because I wouldn't trust other people with picking out neighborhoods for you. Also check this out: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/realestate/20COV.html
Quote:
Originally Posted by raley View Post
I'm moving to NYC this summer with a July 1 move in date. I'll be working in Rockefeller Center, and from what I've been told it would be a good idea to live in Midtown (to be close), the East/West Village, or the LES. I'm 22 and will be working a lot of hours. So I want to live somewhere convenient but also fun. I'm planning on spitting a 1BR with my girlfriend who will be attending Fordham Law School next fall, which I believe is on the NW side of Midtown, which is also a consideration. First of all does anyone have any comments about moving to NYC/where I would want to live? I've received a bit of advice, but any more stories/comments about particular areas and where I should be looking would be helpful. Depending on how they recognize my income and her loans, we will probably be able to afford around 2500 a month max. Second of all, does anyone have any recommendations about brokers, or specific people at specific brokerages that they've heard are good or used in the past? I've heard that there is a lot of bait/switch out there - i.e. people showing you stuff you really don't want, trying to get you to move in on June 15 even though you want July 1, so I'm thinking it is best to use someone you know is going to be good. I've got a few names off of Yelp, but was hoping some people here would have some personal experiences to share. Thanks a lot for any help.
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post #3 of 28
4/18/08 at 10:37pm
I have a good friend who works at citihabitats. PM me if you want to be put in touch with her. She is completely trustworthy and will do right by you.
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post #4 of 28
4/19/08 at 3:33pm
Having lived in NYC a few years ago, I def wouldnt recommend living in Midtown...Midtown is a complete mess with tourists everywhere. If money is not an issue, Id opt for Greenwich Village for the cultural diversity as well as the rest., nightlife, and shopping opportunities. However, your rent will be outrageous, around $2500 for a 450 sq. ft. apt.
You will def get more bang-for-your-buck by opting for either the Upper East or West side. The UE and UW sides have more of a quiet neighborhood feeling, if there is such a thing in Manhatten. While there are a lot of restaurants, expect few options for nightlife other than small dive bars. Fyi, I lived on the Upper East Side and used the broker, ArdorNY.com (I think).
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post #5 of 28
4/19/08 at 3:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lpresq View Post
Having lived in NYC a few years ago, I def wouldnt recommend living in Midtown...Midtown is a complete mess with tourists everywhere. If money is not an issue, Id opt for Greenwich Village for the cultural diversity as well as the rest., nightlife, and shopping opportunities. However, your rent will be outrageous, around $2500 for a 450 sq. ft. apt. You will def get more bang-for-your-buck by opting for either the Upper East or West side. The UE and UW sides have more of a quiet neighborhood feeling, if there is such a thing in Manhatten. While there are a lot of restaurants, expect few options for nightlife other than small dive bars. Fyi, I lived on the Upper East Side and used the broker, ArdorNY.com (I think).
IMO the UES is more "neighborhood-ly" than the UWS. I think the 80's/Madison is the nicest area.
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post #6 of 28
4/19/08 at 5:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lpresq View Post
Having lived in NYC a few years ago, I def wouldnt recommend living in Midtown...Midtown is a complete mess with tourists everywhere. If money is not an issue, Id opt for Greenwich Village for the cultural diversity as well as the rest., nightlife, and shopping opportunities. However, your rent will be outrageous, around $2500 for a 450 sq. ft. apt.
You will def get more bang-for-your-buck by opting for either the Upper East or West side. The UE and UW sides have more of a quiet neighborhood feeling, if there is such a thing in Manhatten. While there are a lot of restaurants, expect few options for nightlife other than small dive bars. Fyi, I lived on the Upper East Side and used the broker, ArdorNY.com (I think).

Midtown is a large stretch and encompasses a lot of neighborhoods. Go to midtown east and you'll find quiet living unless you're next to the bars in sutton place. Go to midtown west and you'll find quiet living. The busy parts are filled with business people, not tourists unless you're next to a major attraction. And what is greenwich village if not filled with tourists, college students, and any lack of cultural diversity. Also greenwich village is cheap to live in. You're probably thinking of west village. And west village is still not 2500 for 400sf.

People that talk about bang for buck in NYC are peculiar creatures. You don't come to NY for bang for buck. If you did, you're crazy. Location drives up the price. If you want "bang for buck" go live by Harlem, go by the cloisters, heck leave manhattan. The UES has a million bars along 3rd and 2nd and so does the UWS and they aren't dive bars.
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post #7 of 28
4/19/08 at 9:31pm
Unless you only take cabs or want to transfer trains I would not live on the UES, I hate it there.

You could live in the west 60-80s and be close to your GF's school and easy to get to work at Rock Center. I think the UWS has a nice mix of places to go and the neighborhood laid back aspect of it. It isn't all go go go go 24/7; but, with 3 major train lines you can get anywhere easily.
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post #8 of 28
4/19/08 at 10:13pm
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Originally Posted by Connemara View Post
IMO the UES is more "neighborhood-ly" than the UWS. I think the 80's/Madison is the nicest area.

That's a weird thing to say.
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post #9 of 28
4/20/08 at 12:17am
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Originally Posted by grimslade View Post
That's a weird thing to say.
+1, especially for someone the age of Connemara... Conne, is that where your botox specialist is?
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post #10 of 28
4/20/08 at 11:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SoCal2NYC View Post
You could live in the west 60-80s and be close to your GF's school and easy to get to work at Rock Center. I think the UWS has a nice mix of places to go and the neighborhood laid back aspect of it. It isn't all go go go go 24/7; but, with 3 major train lines you can get anywhere easily.

Yeah, this is a good suggestion. Fordham Law is around W. 60th and this would be the prime location for her. You'd be on the B and could get to Rockefeller Center easily.

You could also live anywhere on the F and it'd be easy for you to get to work and simple for her to get to Fordham (F @ 57th). So that starts to open up Union Square and the LES. I love the LES but hate Union Square.

It's going to be about your girlfriend's convenience. You can take the N, R, W, B, D, F, V, and E to work and it's a little trickier for her.
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post #11 of 28
4/22/08 at 10:20pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for all of the replies. I'll have to start looking a little more in depth at subway maps and the like, and also weigh that with what we actually like when we go and check out the different neighborhoods.

I've been told that it is good to live as close as possible to work, especially in my first year on the job. I'll be working ridiculous hours, so if I get the extra sleep and cut down on the commute it will serve me well. Is hopstop.com pretty accurate with how long it takes to get places? And will I really notice the difference between it taking maybe 10-15 min to get someplace (i.e. if I live close and walk), or if I have to get on the train and the time listed is around 30 minutes? I'm a bit skeptical of the listed times, since if you are walking it is always going to take the same amount of time, but if you are riding maybe the train doesn't show up for 10 minutes, or there are a ton of people, etc.

Any thoughts on this?
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post #12 of 28
4/22/08 at 10:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by raley View Post
Thanks for all of the replies. I'll have to start looking a little more in depth at subway maps and the like, and also weigh that with what we actually like when we go and check out the different neighborhoods.

I've been told that it is good to live as close as possible to work, especially in my first year on the job. I'll be working ridiculous hours, so if I get the extra sleep and cut down on the commute it will serve me well. Is hopstop.com pretty accurate with how long it takes to get places? And will I really notice the difference between it taking maybe 10-15 min to get someplace (i.e. if I live close and walk), or if I have to get on the train and the time listed is around 30 minutes? I'm a bit skeptical of the listed times, since if you are walking it is always going to take the same amount of time, but if you are riding maybe the train doesn't show up for 10 minutes, or there are a ton of people, etc.

Any thoughts on this?


Banking or consulting, perhaps? If so, maybe you get to order a car on late nights.
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post #13 of 28
4/22/08 at 10:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SoCal2NYC View Post
Unless you only take cabs or want to transfer trains I would not live on the UES, I hate it there

+1

You might want to look at apartments in the West 40s and 50s between 9th and 10th Avenue (between 8th and 9th is a possibility as well, but closer to Times Square/Tourist Hell). This would mean both you and your lady would have a simple, easy 10-minute walk to work/ school. Take it from me: You do NOT want to have to go into the Subway in a suit and tie when you start work in July and August if you can help it-while 90% of the cars are air-conditioned the stations are hot, sticky and disgusting and can run between 100 and 145 degrees.

One drawback to apartments in that area is the fact that many of the older ones are tenements with no cross-ventilation and horrible layouts. Check this out before you bother to look.

Also, 9th Avenue has great restaurants and bars. And on weekends, you can have easy access to the Upper West Side and Central Park, and it's a quick trip to the Village, SoHo and TriBeCa (cheaper to play in the past three 'hoods than LIVE there). SoCal's advice about the West 60s/ 70s is also very good.

(memories of moving here in my early 20's twenty years ago...)
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post #14 of 28
4/22/08 at 11:41pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Concordia View Post
Banking or consulting, perhaps? If so, maybe you get to order a car on late nights.

The first, so I'll get a car home at night. But I imagine the mornings are going to be pretty miserable if I stumbled in at 4 am the night before. Again these comments are really helpful, if anyone else has advice I'd appreciate it.
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post #15 of 28
4/22/08 at 11:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by raley View Post
The first, so I'll get a car home at night. But I imagine the mornings are going to be pretty miserable if I stumbled in at 4 am the night before. Again these comments are really helpful, if anyone else has advice I'd appreciate it.

I would personally give the opposite recommendation. The extra 10-15 min per day spent in the subway are well worth the feeling of being far removed from work in the rare weekend and evening moments when you're not in the office. Pick a fun neighborhood, this in New York, please don't settle for midtown.

Not to mention that your girlfriend will be spending a lot of time without you at home or with her friends, so think about her too when you pick a neighborhood. Nobody wants to be lonely and in a depressing neighborhood...
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