Did you luck or crap out with your first NYC apt?

[imageWIS]

I'm in the latter half. After only a month and a half in this dump, I need to move again. Good thing the Warranty of Habitability exists; too bad there is no way they are going to give me my deposit back (******* slumlords).

How was your first NYC apt experience?

 

[norcaltransplant]

Once you live in NYC and attend a few house parties, coversations will inevitably drift into "where do live, how much do you pay, how long have you lived at such-n-such, and did you use a broker...". I've used brokers on all my places in Manhattan and Brooklyn though we managed pretty discount rates of approximately 0.5-0.8 months rent on average. Finding a good place takes luck and/or a lot of looking. Be prepared to look at places until 8-9 at night on the weekdays or early on Sat mornings. The best places are only seen by one or two people before a lease is signed.

 

[gdl203]

We lucked out on our first place. Buddy and I were moving to NYC at the same time - spent a few days going through many Village Voice ads which were all dumps. Then a local friend introduced us to his broker who specialized in Park Slope and she took us to a place that was exactly what we were looking at exactly the rent we were looking topay. Going through the ads is a ginormous waste of time IMO.

 

[83glt]

Looking in the right neighborhood is key as well. And by right neighborhood, I mean where everyone else isn't looking.

 

[LabelKing]

Originally Posted by 83glt

Looking in the right neighborhood is key as well. And by right neighborhood, I mean where everyone else isn't looking.

Thus young people may want to look in the UES.

 

[83glt]

UES is illegal sublet city.

 

[Cool The Kid]

Lucked out somewhat on my first place. New bldg in Prospect Heights, somewhat desperate to fill rooms. Cheap parking + awesome view

2nd place was the same complex but old bldg, bigger bedroom

3rd place was an old brownstone in Crown Heights... sucked but was cheap

4th place is place in UES w/my girl. Only downsides are price & pests

Best strategy is to pick a good time to look and to really do research on neighborhoods + transit etc. Not a bad idea to work w/brokers too, it's worth it

 

[poorsod]

I think I lucked out. My first place was a rent stabilized apartment on 75th and Columbus.

 

[ama]

I lucked out with an affordable (relatively, at least) two bedroom on the UWS some years ago. Used a no fee broker.

 

[Cool The Kid]

What are we considering lucking out

I'm in a 700 sq ft corner 1BR walkup in the UES for 1950/mo, I think it was no fee. I think that was a decent deal

 

[Manton]

I wouldn't say I lucked out but I got what I paid for.

 

[gdl203]

Originally Posted by Manton

I wouldn't say I lucked out but I got what I paid for.

When did you move here ?

 

[redzapper]

Lucked out.

Bought a 1BR loft on Hudson St when I first moved to Manhattan and sold it for 3 times the price years later.

 

[Manton]

Originally Posted by gdl203

When did you move here ?

I have moved here three times. 1st two times into rentals in Manhattan. 3rd time straight to the burbs.

 

[gdl203]

Originally Posted by Manton

I have moved here three times. 1st two times in to rentals in Manhattan. 3rd time straight to the burbs.

I meant when did you first move to NYC? (you grew up in California, right?)