Need a place...work near Union Square (apartment, neighborhood)

[MiamiGuy08]

Hey everybody,

I just moved here and am staying with a buddy in Manhattan who rarely travels to any other borough.

With that in mind, I'm looking for a place to live that can get me to Union Square (door to door) in under 40 minutes. The worst part is that my budget for an apartment is $800/mo. with or without roommates.

I don't really have a preference as to what type of room it is, big or small, as long as it's safe and close to work.

I've heard that Brooklyn is my best bet and places like Williamsburg and to avoid places like Bushwick and Stuy.

I'd appreciate any advice you could give me that would be within my budget. I know it's a pathetic budget, but that's all I can afford to work with.

[Viralmd]

With that budget you should consider a roommate - or two. And you'll do better in Queens or Brooklyn.

[MiamiGuy08]

Yeah...sigh*

Any ideas for a neighborhood?

[Viralmd]

I'm not that familiar with Brooklyn, so I'll leave that information for those who are. In Queens, you might want to consider Jackson Heights, Astoria. Also check the sticky at the top of the board about information for moving to NYC.

[Henna]

I have a neigbhorhood suggestion for you - Ditmas Park in Brooklyn and make sure you are in the part that is by the Q train. If you look by the Newkirk stop on the B/Q you can surely find a place within your budget for a roommate situation and the commute to Union Sq is super easy - it's a straight shot and shouldn't be more than 30 minutes on the train.

Not a great many amenities there but some; it's a quiet neighborhood. You could also look one and two stops closer to Manhattan on the Q - Cortelyou Rd. and Beverly. Church Ave Q stop is a bit sketchier.

Also try looking in Astoria, Queens. A straight shot to Union Sq provided you are on the N/W line. This is a much livelier area than Ditmas Park.

There may also be options in the Bronx on the 4/5/6 trains but I don't know the Bronx at all.

[Moderate Guy]

Miamiguy, no need to sigh because you might have to move to an outer borough. They all make up NYC and you'll be paying NYC taxes whether you live in Staten Island or midtown Manhattan.

Those taxes allow you to enjoy the full range and scope of the 5 boroughs of NYC and from any outer borough it's a faster ride to the "prized" borough of Manhattan than it would be from Miami.

[MiamiGuy08]

Thanks Hanna, really good information. I checked out Ditmas park on Craigslist, unfortunately no options for a guy! Anyway, that kind of information is extremely valuable to me. Thanks again.