Forest Hills (Hillside: real estate, neighborhoods, buy)

[krichton]

30 minutes to manhattan on the express train.

[IceCold]

Originally Posted by Classicalguy

It doesn't take an hour to get from FH to the City by subway. More like 20 minutes on the E or F train. When I lived in the bay area, it took me an hour and a half on the subway to get into work, so FH would be a dream commute.

If you work on Lexington or 5th. There is a big difference if you are going all the way downtown. Yes, in the 50 minute range, but for me it's also a 20 minute walk TO the station in FH.

[keith talent]

I'm moving to FH in a couple of weeks, but I'm in a major family way, and I'd agree it's probably not ideal for a twentysomething looking for excitement. I do like to hit a bar now and then, though, and when I was over there the other day, I had to look hard to find a few! Does Dirty Pierre's still exist? That sounded like an OK place from what I've read on Web, but when I was in Station Sq the other day, it didn't jump out at me.

On the other hand, what about Sunnyside? It's on the edge of getting trendy now, prices going up but not crazy yet ... plenty of bars and short hop into the city.

[TheBoros]

Forest Hills is far better than Astoria.

Concentrate your apartment search near Austin Street, Queens BLVD, (from 75th ave to Parker Towers). Even 108th Street has some Gems. You might also want to check out Rego Park and Kew Gardens as well.

Pros: Safe, Residential, Clean hood with plenty of amenities, easy commute to the city

Cons: Really Old People, lots of co-ops, not as trendy (in 20 year old life) as other neighborhoods.

Transportation options: E,F,V,R trains at 71st and Continental Avenue. Express E,F. 20-25 minutes to manhattan, LIRR (15 minutes to manhattan, with a stop sometimes at woodside. Multiple express bus lines (QM4 at Jewel and queens blvd, QM12 on Yellowstone Blvd, QM11 and QM18 on Queens blvd) that go deeper into midtown and downtown (35 minute ride) if you hate the subway.

Overall A great hood! Much, MUCH better than astoria (amenities and streetscape wise)

But if your looking for extreme trendy... Queens isnt there yet. You might want to check out Brooklyn. Williamsburg, Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Greenpoint, etc. There are tons of bars in those hoods, if thats what you like....

[eddiemcg9683]

Hi -

I am also looking to rent in Forest Hills. I'm wondering how the border parts of the town are - specifically, north near the LIE/Corona border (an exact address would be 64th Ave. & 110th St), south near Parkside/Kew Gardens, and west near Rego Park. I'd like to find a studio right in Forest Hills, but because of the market and price limitations, I may have to venture near borders. Can anyone enlighten me on these areas - specifically, how quiet they are/safe compared to Forest Hills proper?

Thanks, Ed

[apvbguy]

Originally Posted by eddiemcg9683

Hi -

I am also looking to rent in Forest Hills. I'm wondering how the border parts of the town are - specifically, north near the LIE/Corona border (an exact address would be 64th Ave. & 110th St), south near Parkside/Kew Gardens, and west near Rego Park. I'd like to find a studio right in Forest Hills, but because of the market and price limitations, I may have to venture near borders. Can anyone enlighten me on these areas - specifically, how quiet they are/safe compared to Forest Hills proper?

Thanks, Ed

those areas aren't extremly bad they're just not as desirable as the area closer to austin st/ QB. 64th and 110 would be the least desirable, close to corona, and the pjs, and those garden apts have become real shabby also you need to take a long bus ride to a subway

[IceCold]

Originally Posted by eddiemcg9683

Hi -

I am also looking to rent in Forest Hills. I'm wondering how the border parts of the town are - specifically, north near the LIE/Corona border (an exact address would be 64th Ave. & 110th St), south near Parkside/Kew Gardens, and west near Rego Park. I'd like to find a studio right in Forest Hills, but because of the market and price limitations, I may have to venture near borders. Can anyone enlighten me on these areas - specifically, how quiet they are/safe compared to Forest Hills proper?

Thanks, Ed

You would have to consider commute. You will pretty much be FORCED to wait for a bus, and they are often packed to the limit, going on 108 street. Austin street is expensive, so you can try somewhere along 108 within a reasonable walking distance from the transportation hub.

[eddiemcg9683]

Is it unlikely to find a studio in the immediate Forest Hills area for $1,000 - $1,100? That's been my goal ever since I zeroed in on Forest Hills as the neighborhood I'd like to move to.

[Classicalguy]

Forest Hills has a lot going for it. I ended up buying a studio in one of the 7 story structures on 113th street.

I don't agree that the co-ops near austin are necessarily "better." That area is busier, noiser - especially as you get closer to Rego Park (I would add dirtier). I really like my building and location - two blocks to the subway, very clean, quiet and leafy. If you want more "action" then you want to be closer to Austin. But what is "better" for one may not be "better" for another.

I also agree with the comment about measuring distance to the location of your choice. It's 20 min to the first stop in midtown, but a lot further to downtown or uptown. There may be other areas that have a shorter commute to certain parts of the city.

I didn't look at rentals, but I saw studios in the $1,000 to $1,200 range. I think you might be able to buy a studio and lower your payments, but you'll need 20% down.

[klliopatra]

How much is a street parking permit in Forest Hills? I know that you can park for $68 per year in Forest Hills GARDENS, but what about the rest of the city? How tough is it to find a space on the street?