Moving from NYC to Queens for a Bedroom? (Paris: sublet, apartments)

[BellaNote]

Hi everyone.

I wanted to get some input from NYers who have made the move and either love or regret it. I've been living in my little manhattan box for years, and now that I've turned 40, I'm really feeling the need to be a little more domestic and have an actual kitchen and bedroom, and just overall some living space!
I have a terrific little studio on the UES, close to the park and dog run - both important to me. I dont want to give them up, but I also can't afford the exorbitant costs of renting a one bedroom in manhattan. My job is in LIC, so it's easy for me to live in either place. I'm just struggling now with making the decision to go for it....Has anyone else found it really hard to leave this crazy island? I see myself writing this and realize I'm the nut since Queens is literally 15 mintues away!

Thanks for your input!

[likeminas]

I'm in my early 30's and I feel exactly the opposite as you.
I feel like I wouldn't like to live in a shoebox in Manhattan paying a ridiculously high rent just for the sake of it.
I don't know how much you pay over there but be assured that you'll get more bang for your buck in Queens.

Perhaps, you should come visit some Queens neighborhoods and see for yourself if you could live here.
Sunnyside, Astoria and parts of LIC are all good and convinient neighborhoods worth a look.

[skilldeadly]

To me, it's a waste to spend that much money to live in a small little place. You can find a place that is within 10-15 minutes of the city and pay probably half or so and enjoy a kitchen, bedroom, and living room. Will you lose a bit of the city feeling? Maybe. But you will be able to stretch out and enjoy the space instead of feeling like you are getting by in a place that doesn't have nice sectioned off areas. I've learned too that Queens sometimes makes commutes easier given where you work.

Like likminas said, you should visit Astoria, Sunnyside and LIC and make a judgement yourself. See if you can handle living a commute away from the city as opposed to living in the city itself.

[Henna]

If you can arrange it, you could sublet your place for a year while you get a sublet in Queens. It would be a hassle and involves an element of risk with subletting, but it could save you from making a mistake that you later regret. I would only suggest doing this if your Manhattan rent is significantly below market rent.

[barkomatic]

A few thoughts:

It's pretty much a given that you'll find a bigger apartment for a cheaper price in Queens -- and if you are not happy in your current apartment then it can't hurt to look at places there. Do you have a lot of friends in Manhattan? As frustrating as it is, that would mean you'd be travelling into city to hang out--since it will be less often that they will come to you. It's not fair, but just the way it is.

Are you paying significantly below market rate for your apartment? If you are, I'd be really picky about any other apartment you'd move into. Once you are out, you'll lose it forever.

You mentioned that turning 40 started this whole idea that you should be in a different living situation now. What does your age have to do with the issue? You weren't feeling cramped at 39 but suddenly at 40?

[BellaNote]

Great responses...Thanks for the thoughtful comments. My lease is up in October so I plan on going to visit Sunnyside, Astoria/LIC, Jackson Heights & maybe Woodside. I've been to Astoria before but awhile back and dont remember it well. I dont know how far off the prices are from what I pay now. I've moved around a bunch in Manhattan but have managed to stay under 2k. I pay 1800 for a small studio, about 300 sq feet. I would be willing to spend the same - although would prefer less - to have more space. I have a dog though and need to be next to somewhere green - preferably a park - if not a dog run which would be optimal. And of course, not being far from the subway would be great.
Barkomatic, I laughed at your "40" comment. I've been feeling this way for awhile but every year pushed it off thinking I'd be lonely if I moved. I have a decent amount of friends who still live in the city but we don't go out as much. Or if we do, it's mostly afterwork and I'm home by 10! I used to go out several nights a week until I got a dog - kinda like a kid I suppose - and he keeps me grounded!

[jcoltrane]

Originally Posted by barkomatic

You mentioned that turning 40 started this whole idea that you should be in a different living situation now. What does your age have to do with the issue? You weren't feeling cramped at 39 but suddenly at 40?

Age has a LOT to do with it!

At some point one realizes it is time to put "...childish things away...." and to start conducting oneself fully in an adult mature manner. Otherwise, you'll be forever stunted.

Maturity does not include extended 'dorm life' forever. Adulthood requires one to make the necessary decisions and actions, and facing of reality, which allows one to mature beyond the small box of simple survival.

Survival at 20 is one thing. Survival living at 40, often means a survivalist life at 60!! A place no one really wants to be. So, there comes an age when it is time to make changes.

It appears the OP is at that point. Now, it is about making the proper choices.

****

I haven't had to decide from Manhattan to Queens, but I have made similar decisions. FL v NYC, Brooklyn v Queens, Park Slope v Astoria, etc. I had a house share upon my return to NYC, soon got a 1 bedrm in a coop, another 1 bdrm in a 3 family, moved to Astoria in a crappy 1 bdrm (much cheaper and not my full choice) to a 2 bdrm semi luxury, and have come to the decision that it is time for more, not unlike your own thoughts.

Never bougtht in NYC because I never felt rooted enough, but now it is time. Either a house or a large 3 bdrm with all the amenities. For me it is a matter of space to spread out and space to make my own. At some point the expansion of your mind should demand more space. That is your personal activities, interests and mind space simply demands more physical space.

A cramped space, cramps the mind, cramps your development.

Think about it. Say you live in 400 sq ft. How confining that is. Then think of 1000 sq ft, how will that alter your life, your style. How much more you can do with that space. That feeling is your mind expanding.

Now, think about those things you can't do, or aren't doing, because you don't have the space. That feeling is your mind contracting, being stunted!

****

Btw, more space for the dog is got to be a good thing. Might try finding an apt in a house in queens, first floor with backyard access (for the dog!).

Luck!

[Kefir King]

Bella,

Echoing barkomatic, long term residency in NYC pays big dividends. I presume your studio is rent stabilized and you will be tossing that advantage away and going into market rates.

Of course, if you can go into Queens and double your space at the same rent, then that is a different story.

There are MANY people in apartments smaller than they like for one reason only, the deal is TERRIFIC.

[Henna]

Originally Posted by Kefir King

Bella,

Echoing barkomatic, long term residency in NYC pays big dividends. I presume your studio is rent stabilized and you will be tossing that advantage away and going into market rates.

Of course, if you can go into Queens and double your space at the same rent, then that is a different story.

There are MANY people in apartments smaller than they like for one reason only, the deal is TERRIFIC.

In some of the neighborhoods in Queens that OP is interested in, she could triple her square footage for the same rent she's paying now. In Jackson Heights, a 900 square foot one bedroom apartment should rent for $1800, or maybe even less. One bedrooms for around $1450-$1700 would probably be more like 600-750 square feet.

If the 300 square foot Manhattan apartment is sunlit, in good condition and rent stabilized and doesn't have aggravating problems with neighbors or noise, I would think long and hard before moving out, if you've never experienced living in an outer borough.

I thought of another way for you to get the experience without the hassle of subletting your place for a year, and that would be to rent a Queens apartment for a week on airbnb. It would give you the experience you need to be able to make a better decision and would only cost you a week's rent.

[Kefir King]

I'm sorry, I missed the $1800 for the Manhatttan studio.
That changes things becasue there is no rent advantage in paying THAT for 300 square feet, except maybe in Paris.

Get more space in Queens.