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I'll be graduating soon and making the move to NYC over the summer. To get a head start on finding a place, I figure I'll visit the city over spring break to get a feel for the different areas and apartments within my range (My range is between $1200-1800, either with or without a roommate). Also, I'll be working in Midtown East, so something relatively close would be ideal (a commute less than 20 minutes).
Does anyone have tips on how I should go about this process? Should I make appointments with brokers or just walk around the city and go directly to management offices for buildings I'm potentially interested in? Also, what areas would fall within my price range and be close to Midtown East?
I've heard Midtown East itself, Murray Hill, Midtown West, Hell's Kitchen, and FiDi might be potential living areas with lower than average rents (relative to Manhattan) and short commuting times to Midtown East.
I would suggest that you get a broker you should be able to give them the parameters and they should be able to find you something; the only bad part is that they may say that you're in one neighborhood and you aren't.
The areas that you mentioned are not really cheap at all- You can probably find a studio in Hells Kitchen for that price range, but not much else. In your range you should definitely be looking for roommates or outer boroughs. Astoria/Long Island City is a quick commute to midtown.
Edited to add: That price range is really big. How much can you actually afford to spend?
All the neighborhoods you've mentioned are pretty different... You should first decide what's important to you in a neighborhood. Do you like going out for drinks or dinner? Are parks important? Greenmarkets? Do you want to be surrounded by young college grads or more established professionals?
You could get a studio in most Manhattan neighborhoods for the top of your budget, but you'd have more space/neighborhood options if you found a roommate.
I can give you my broker's information if you DM me. He can show you apartments in FiDi in the upper end of your range. These would be studios in luxury buildings with stainless steel appliances, concierge, doormen, on-site gym, etc.
I haven't considered Astoria until recently. But being able to walk to work since I'll be getting in early and leaving late would be a huge plus. How much of a commute is Astoria to Midtown?
Yea, I enjoy drinks/dinner/going out on weekends. Parks would be nice, but really aren't necessary. Nightlife and having the amenities of a big city nearby (dry cleaner, restaurants for a quick lunch, pharmacies, bars/clubs, gym, etc) are more important. I'll be 22 once I move in, and would prefer to be surrounded other young professionals. I'd like to feel like I'm with people closer to my age, but at the same time, don't want to feel like I'm still in college.
I'll be working for a well-known financial services firm, but would rather save $ on rent until I know the city better, which is why the price range may seem rather large.
Thanks everyone, keep the advice coming! I need to be ready when I head to the city in 2 weeks!
I can give you my broker's information if you DM me. He can show you apartments in FiDi in the upper end of your range. These would be studios in luxury buildings with stainless steel appliances, concierge, doormen, on-site gym, etc.
Why would you need a broker for those types of buildings? Just walking up to the leasing office might be better
Why would you need a broker for those types of buildings? Just walking up to the leasing office might be better
If you do not know where they are you need a broker. A lot of the buildings he showed us do not advertise much. We did a ton of research before meeting with him and still did not find some of those buildings with online searches.
If you do not know where they are you need a broker. A lot of the buildings he showed us do not advertise much. We did a ton of research before meeting with him and still did not find some of those buildings with online searches.
Yeah, I've noticed that a lot of the buildings with management offices in them are not heavily advertised online unless you know the building's name or management company.
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