Need info on moving to NYC (Murray: construction, landlord, community college)

[Viralmd]

You should also consider Washington Heights, in the area of the hospital, but finding a one-bedroom for that price could be a challenge... How about a studio?

[Tungsten_Udder]

Originally Posted by WilliamsXev

. . . What do you guys think? Which Bronx neighborhoods would be a good bet? Obviously, there are some neighborhoods in Manhattan which would be convenient as well. I have a good friend in Washington Heights (I think she pays around $700 for her apartment if I'm remembering correctly), and I'm going to ask her to keep an eye out for open apartments. If I could get into Inwood, Washington Heights, Harlem, or Morningside Heights, that would be great (both for proximity to work and proximity to my friend), but from looking online it looks like apartments there are usually more expensive than what my friend pays. . . .

While it's possible, I think you're going to have a hard time finding something in New York City, including the Bronx, in an area you're comfortable with, for $1000-1200 per month. The reason your friend pays less is the rent control laws. Landlords are only allowed to raise your rent something like 3% per year. So if you got into a place years ago, your rent will be relatively cheap. I've known people in lower Manhattan paying less than $500 per month, because they've been there forever. Once someone moves out, however, the apartment is fair game, and the landlord can jack the price up to the current market value. Studios tend to be hotter properties in New York City than one bedrooms--probably because so many more people look for studios assuming they're going to be cheaper. The average purchase price for studios has been higher than the average purchase price for one bedrooms recently.

I haven't been apartment hunting much lately, but I know that as of a couple years ago, it was still possible to get a decent apartment in Jersey City (that's where I am now) for about $900 (a friend found it while apartment hunting). I haven't seen anything less than that for awhile, and I'm sure those prices have gone up more in the last two years. Also note that when cheaper properties go up for rent or purchase in the New York City area, the competition to get them can be pretty intense--even if they're not in what's considered a great part of town, and even if they're not in great condition. I've recently seen rooms to rent advertised for $500-$600, but it's just a room, not 400 square feet, they might not take pets, and you've got to share a kitchen and sometimes a bathroom.

Also, most properties in Manhattan, even apartment rentals, are only gained through real estate agents, and they usually won't even talk to you until you pay a fee. So make sure you research them a bit before you work with one.

So, while it's not impossible that you'll find something with your requirements, I think it's unlikely, and chances are you're going to have to deal with a longer commute time (heck, even just being a neighborhood away in Manhattan can be a longer commute time than 15 minutes--it could be a longer walk than that, the subways are achingly slow sometimes, and traffic can always be a problem). I'd look further out--any direction, towards Upstate NY (anything north of the Bronx), Long Island, Staten Island or in Jersey. There are trains and/or ferries, buses, etc. from all of those locations. The average commute time for people needing to go to locations in Manhattan is probably closer to 45 minutes or an hour--many people commute from even a couple hours away. Living in Jersey City, I frequently have to go to lower midtown and above, and that takes me about 40 minutes from door to door. I can get downtown faster, though. But even an hour commute shouldn't be considered bad--and it's dedicated time for reading, etc.

[WilliamsXev]

Originally Posted by Viralmd

You should also consider Washington Heights, in the area of the hospital, but finding a one-bedroom for that price could be a challenge... How about a studio?

A studio would be fine, although I wouldn't want one of those tiny 300 sq foot ones. 400 square feet and up would be okay. I don't have that much stuff, and my stuff fit fine into the 425 sq foot studio I had in PA. It does definitely seem like finding a one bedroom in that area for that price would be challenging, unless I happened to get really lucky.

[WilliamsXev]

Originally Posted by Tungsten_Udder

While it's possible, I think you're going to have a hard time finding something in New York City, including the Bronx, in an area you're comfortable with, for $1000-1200 per month.

Well, if the apartments on sublet.com are any indication, there are at least *some* apartments that may fit my specifications. They are definitely studios or 1 bedrooms, and not rooms. There's no way to know whether those apartments are still available however, or if they get snapped up immediately by brokers.

The reason your friend pays less is the rent control laws. Landlords are only allowed to raise your rent something like 3% per year. So if you got into a place years ago, your rent will be relatively cheap. I've known people in lower Manhattan paying less than $500 per month, because they've been there forever.

Well, she has only lived there about 2 years or so (or possibly less- I'd actually have to ask her). Before that she was in Brooklyn. She actually grew up in Westchester like me, so she's lived in NYC for only the past 6 years, in a number of different apartments. So I guess it depends on how much rent in her area has gone up in the last couple years.

So, while it's not impossible that you'll find something with your requirements, I think it's unlikely, and chances are you're going to have to deal with a longer commute time (heck, even just being a neighborhood away in Manhattan can be a longer commute time than 15 minutes--it could be a longer walk than that, the subways are achingly slow sometimes, and traffic can always be a problem). I'd look further out--any direction, towards Upstate NY (anything north of the Bronx), Long Island, Staten Island or in Jersey. There are trains and/or ferries, buses, etc. from all of those locations. The average commute time for people needing to go to locations in Manhattan is probably closer to 45 minutes or an hour--many people commute from even a couple hours away. Living in Jersey City, I frequently have to go to lower midtown and above, and that takes me about 40 minutes from door to door. I can get downtown faster, though. But even an hour commute shouldn't be considered bad--and it's dedicated time for reading, etc.

Westchester rents are much more expensive than the areas I am looking at in NYC (*anywhere* in Westchester- I've checked even in the poorest areas). I'm not sure about other areas like Long Island or Staten Island though. I'm not really interested in living there though, as I would like to live near my friend. Plus I have to take into account that a commuter pass into the city would cost a couple hundred a month (from Westchester at least), so I would bump my budget up to at least $1200 before considering that. I do have some time to look for apartments, as I can stay with my parents as long as I need to (I'm a good cook, so they're not complaining), and with a friend in my desired neighborhood, I'm hoping I might hear about some open apartments there early (if landlords advertise locally that is). I'm really hoping that with these advantages, I will able to get an apartment I can live with within what I consider a reasonable commute. Again, I am fine with a 45 minute commute (I had a 60 minute *driving* commute to my internship in PA), although I would prefer a commute closer to a half hour.


Thanks for the advice, everyone! Keep it coming!

[kirstenranee]

I was wondering if anyone knew the best junior/community colleges in New York, NY for theatre, musical theatre. Any suggestions?

[floyd777]

Hi everyone,

I just got a couple of job offers in NYC - and I am pondering taking one of them (one is very secure, less hours, great benefits but pays 110K and the other one is not that secure, a lot of hours and ok benefits but pays 133K).

Now, I really would like to move to NYC, it has been a dream for me for the past 8 years but somehow I just kept ending up in central/south jersey or delaware

I am 33, single and would like to take in the NYC experience before I settle down and (possibly) move back to the suburbs.

What I am looking for:

A studio or a smallish 1 BR - I will need to commute to the financial district - commute time of about 45 mins to 1 hour is fine.

Decently safe neighborhood - as a single guy, maybe my tolerance level might be high - just not looking for really unsafe place.

And lastly, the big question, on a salary of 110K, can I afford to live okay in manhattan (I plan to max out my retirements etc. but also would like to save just a little bit monthly).

What do the experts here think?

Floyd

[bmwguydc]

Originally Posted by floyd777

Hi everyone,

I just got a couple of job offers in NYC - and I am pondering taking one of them (one is very secure, less hours, great benefits but pays 110K and the other one is not that secure, a lot of hours and ok benefits but pays 133K).

Now, I really would like to move to NYC, it has been a dream for me for the past 8 years but somehow I just kept ending up in central/south jersey or delaware

I am 33, single and would like to take in the NYC experience before I settle down and (possibly) move back to the suburbs.

What I am looking for:

A studio or a smallish 1 BR - I will need to commute to the financial district - commute time of about 45 mins to 1 hour is fine.

Decently safe neighborhood - as a single guy, maybe my tolerance level might be high - just not looking for really unsafe place.

And lastly, the big question, on a salary of 110K, can I afford to live okay in manhattan (I plan to max out my retirements etc. but also would like to save just a little bit monthly).

What do the experts here think?

Floyd

You can find a place to live on $110k that is in a decent area. You should check into Murray Hill, Kips Bay, Midtown East, Gramercy Park, or even the UES. Landlords generally require 40x income, but you could potentially find 1BRs in some of these areas less than $2750, especially since you're fine with a smaller 1BR. Definitely a nice studio can be had for that price and less, and some 1BRs are also in that range. It's an easy commute to the Financial District from there.

Also, Brooklyn Heights/DUMBO is within reach of your budget, and that's just across the river from the Financial District. It's very convenient via subway, walking (across the bridge), or riding a bicycle (across the bridge). You could likely find what you want in this area for less than the maximum for which you'd qualify, so that would help to save a few hundred dollars a month.

[floyd777]

Originally Posted by bmwguydc

You can find a place to live on $110k that is in a decent area. You should check into Murray Hill, Kips Bay, Midtown East, Gramercy Park, or even the UES. Landlords generally require 40x income, but you could potentially find 1BRs in some of these areas less than $2750, especially since you're fine with a smaller 1BR. Definitely a nice studio can be had for that price and less, and some 1BRs are also in that range. It's an easy commute to the Financial District from there.

Also, Brooklyn Heights/DUMBO is within reach of your budget, and that's just across the river from the Financial District. It's very convenient via subway, walking (across the bridge), or riding a bicycle (across the bridge). You could likely find what you want in this area for less than the maximum for which you'd qualify, so that would help to save a few hundred dollars a month.

Thanks bmwguydc - that was very helpful.

Do you or others on this forum have advice on where I should look besides craigslist?

Floyd

[bmwguydc]

Originally Posted by floyd777

Thanks bmwguydc - that was very helpful.

Do you or others on this forum have advice on where I should look besides craigslist?

Floyd

I would check the New York Times real estate section as it has some good listings in the city.

Here's a link to the New York Times: NY Times Advertisement

There are also management companies in the city that have buildings where you do not have to pay a broker's fee, since you are renting from their associates on-site. These do tend to be larger buildings, however, so if you are looking for a smaller building in Manhattan/Brooklyn, or a converted brownstone in Brooklyn, they won't be listed that way.

[Gardier]

New York Times. Sublet.com