Help! Moving to NYC! (Ridge, Boston: rentals, loft, condo)

[NewtoNYC]

Hey everyone - I'm moving from Boston to a new job located in the World Financial Center. I really could use some help and advice regarding WHERE TO LIVE! My budget for rent is going to be absolute max $1400 and I want to live alone (I do realize this is a very tight budget!). I have been looking in areas of Brooklyn, and was wondering if anyone has advice of the good vs. "bad" places to live. I'm a female in my mid-20's so living in a safe neighborhood is my #1 concern. Thanks in advance!!

[Henna]

Try Bay Ridge. It's safe and has nice restaurants. It's right by the water. The commute to WFC shouldn't be too too bad (maybe 45 minutes?) but you'll have to check the trip planner on mta.info to check actual time involved.

[Futcha]

The first place to look is Battery Park City. That's next to the World Financial Center, literally. If you find a place there, that'd be PERFECT for you. I know somebody who got a studio there for about $1,200 a month.

[NewtoNYC]

Ohhh really - that would be amazing? Do you have any more details by any chance??

Thanks so much

[Jdawg8181]

Originally Posted by FutureCop

The first place to look is Battery Park City. That's next to the World Financial Center, literally. If you find a place there, that'd be PERFECT for you. I know somebody who got a studio there for about $1,200 a month.

Jeez...that's expensive for a studio.

[Calibound-Yorkiemom]

Originally Posted by Jdawg8181

Jeez...that's expensive for a studio.

Not for Battery Park City. I dated a guy that had a place in Battery Park City in the 90's. He was paying about $2500 a month for a closet! It was a nice closet though! I didn't know you could get a studio for tha amount. That isn't my favorite part of the city but you could literally role out of bed and get to work.
Another option is to live in St.George, Staten Island. You can walk to the ferry, take it to Manhattan and depending on where you work in the financial district you can be to work in in another 5 mins. The whole commute should not be more than 35-45 mins and Staten Island is not expensive compared to other parts of the city.

[Henna]

I really don't think you can find a studio apt. in Battery Park for $1200 or even $1400 a month. Guess I could be wrong, but I think rents in this area run more around $2000 for a studio. A quick search on craigslist either for "battery" or "financial" will tell you pretty quickly.

For the person who said that $1200 is expensive for a studio -- what forum do you think we are on? This is the NY CITY forum. $1200 is not expensive for a studio in Manhattan!

In fact it is probably unheard of for a *new* rental, and not one that someone has been in for years, or got from someone who was in it for years. (I have the same kind of friends-- the ones with a huge loft in the Village for $1500 a month -but this is not something available to the general public looking for a place today).

To the OP- I don't know anything about Jersey, but I think quite a few people who work in the financial district live in Jersey City and maybe Hoboken, because of the Path train. I had friends who worked in the WFC and lived in a (pricey) condo in Jersey City but they were both making tons of money and could afford it. I suspect there are some pretty reasonable rentals there - but you would have to check the neighborhood because some of it is undesirable.

[mead]

Yeah these are all pretty good selections

The areas I would look into for $1,400 a month

- Jersey City (perhaps Hoboken if you are lucky). In JC stay close to the Grove St or Exchange Place PATH stations. From Jersey City you can get to the WTC in 10-15 minutes.

- Staten Island is decent because of the somewhat close commute (30 minutes on the ferry), but a lot of people hate Staten Island

-Brooklyn, but you'll probably have to look for something in Southern Brooklyn because the nice areas of Northern Brooklyn are really pricey nowadays. However it can take a while (45 minutes) to get to downtown Manhattan from Southern Brooklyn.

Originally Posted by Henna

I really don't think you can find a studio apt. in Battery Park for $1200 or even $1400 a month. Guess I could be wrong, but I think rents in this area run more around $2000 for a studio. A quick search on craigslist either for "battery" or "financial" will tell you pretty quickly.

For the person who said that $1200 is expensive for a studio -- what forum do you think we are on? This is the NY CITY forum. $1200 is not expensive for a studio in Manhattan!

In fact it is probably unheard of for a *new* rental, and not one that someone has been in for years, or got from someone who was in it for years. (I have the same kind of friends-- the ones with a huge loft in the Village for $1500 a month -but this is not something available to the general public looking for a place today).

To the OP- I don't know anything about Jersey, but I think quite a few people who work in the financial district live in Jersey City and maybe Hoboken, because of the Path train. I had friends who worked in the WFC and lived in a (pricey) condo in Jersey City but they were both making tons of money and could afford it. I suspect there are some pretty reasonable rentals there - but you would have to check the neighborhood because some of it is undesirable.

[Calibound-Yorkiemom]

Originally Posted by mead

a lot of people hate Staten Island.

Aint that the truth! I hate that Island but it is pretty affordable &* close to the financial center.

[NewtoNYC]

Some of the places in Brooklyn I've been looking at are Williamsburg and Park Slope. Any thoughts on these sections?