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My husband and I have been looking at a condo located around 123rd and Madison but don't really know too much about the area. I'm a NYer but haven't really spent much time north of 86th Street (I'm a sh***y NYer, sue me). We live in one of the outer boroughs and work in midtown. Anyone have any experience with the area? Thanks in advance for any insight.
If you never spent time past 86st then that means you probably think anything above 86st was violent, ghetto, poor, nothing to do etc.
With that said you half the people on this board like myself will tell you its nothing wrong, the other half will tell you avoid at all costs. It really is up to you on what you are comfortable with and if its a great apt at a great price.
My husband and I have been looking at a condo located around 123rd and Madison but don't really know too much about the area. I'm a NYer but haven't really spent much time north of 86th Street (I'm a sh***y NYer, sue me). We live in one of the outer boroughs and work in midtown. Anyone have any experience with the area? Thanks in advance for any insight.
Think carefully before BUY into into any neighborhood in which you've "never" spent any time.
The apartment may be gorgeous ... with the most space for your buck ... in a great building ... and the best "deal" you've been able to find anywhere in the city. But keep in mind you're not just buying the apartment; you're also buying the NEIGHBORHOOD. And I guarantee that if you don't love the neighborhood, you're going to grow to hate your new home.
I've seen this happen time and time again to friends who've moved from their beloved downtown neighborhoods into Uptown "deals" -- and yes, they were great deals -- only to eventually sorely regret their decisions because frankly neither their work nor social lives ever took them into East Harlem, and they now find themselves stuck in a neighborhood they have no interest in ever calling home, having turned themselves into "commuters"; using their apartment only as a place to eat and sleep, and jumping on the subway or into a cab every chance they get in order to live their lives.
Spend some time around 123rd and Madison. Frequent some restaurants. Hang out. Invite your friends to have an outing up there. If you find the idea a bit ridiculous, I think you have your answer.
Those condos on Madison have come under fire for not being constructed properly, so I say proceed with caution. If you're gonna buy, do your homework on whatever building you're gonna move into.
Think carefully before BUY into into any neighborhood in which you've "never" spent any time.
The apartment may be gorgeous ... with the most space for your buck ... in a great building ... and the best "deal" you've been able to find anywhere in the city. But keep in mind you're not just buying the apartment; you're also buying the NEIGHBORHOOD. And I guarantee that if you don't love the neighborhood, you're going to grow to hate your new home.
I've seen this happen time and time again to friends who've moved from their beloved downtown neighborhoods into Uptown "deals" -- and yes, they were great deals -- only to eventually sorely regret their decisions because frankly neither their work nor social lives ever took them into East Harlem, and they now find themselves stuck in a neighborhood they have no interest in ever calling home, having turned themselves into "commuters"; using their apartment only as a place to eat and sleep, and jumping on the subway or into a cab every chance they get in order to live their lives.
Spend some time around 123rd and Madison. Frequent some restaurants. Hang out. Invite your friends to have an outing up there. If you find the idea a bit ridiculous, I think you have your answer.
Those friends probably pretty much knew the deal before they moved.
The bottom line is you will live where you can afford to live. Those people are free to move back downtown whenever they want to, provided they can afford it. Can't afford it? Well East Harlem is not far from midtown or downtown.
Most New Yorkers only use their apartments as places to eat or sleep, and look how crowded the trains and look how many cabs there are.
Those friends probably pretty much knew the deal before they moved.
The bottom line is you will live where you can afford to live. Those people are free to move back downtown whenever they want to, provided they can afford it. Can't afford it? Well East Harlem is not far from midtown or downtown.
Most New Yorkers only use their apartments as places to eat or sleep, and look how crowded the trains and look how many cabs there are.
These are friends who had options.
They could continue renting downtown, or own uptown.
I've seen this happen time and time again to friends who've moved from their beloved downtown neighborhoods into Uptown "deals" -- and yes, they were great deals -- only to eventually sorely regret their decisions because frankly neither their work nor social lives ever took them into East Harlem, and they now find themselves stuck in a neighborhood they have no interest in ever calling home, having turned themselves into "commuters"; using their apartment only as a place to eat and sleep, and jumping on the subway or into a cab every chance they get in order to live their lives.
I would think this happen to everyone. You wouldn't have gentrification in the outer boroughs if upper middle class people could afford to live comfortably in the area they desired in Manhattan. People moving to outer boroughs, don't necessary do it because they want to but because they want to be financially responsible.
I know people who bought in Manhattan in their desirable neighborhood who live paycheck to paycheck and are also miserable because they can't save as much money as they like and feel poor.
They could continue renting downtown, or own uptown.
So renting downtown on a long term basis would have put their finances in poor shape. They bought uptown as an investment (likely they couldn't afford to buy downtown).
I would think this happen to everyone. You wouldn't have gentrification in the outer boroughs if upper middle class people could afford to live comfortably in the area they desired in Manhattan. People moving to outer boroughs, don't necessary do it because they want to but because they want to be financially responsible.
I know people who bought in Manhattan in their desirable neighborhood who live paycheck to paycheck and are also miserable because they can't save as much money as they like and feel poor.
Agreed. And it's dumb to live paycheck to paycheck just because you're in a hot area. Suppose you lose your job or get sick and you have no savings?
It's the street or the shelter for you. What do you do in old age with no savings, limited income, and rent increases?
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