should I stay in Pittsburgh or go to NY? (Florida: condo, house)

[jax78]

[quote=Henna;5230069]Yeah, I basically said the same exact thing as you are saying here in my first answer too. He did say something about commuting 30 to 45 minutes to Manhattan coupled with possibly being in an area with no amenities. Maybe it was just the way he phrased it that made it sound so crazy, but the two things (30 minute commute to Manhattan and no amenties) just don't match up.[/quote

Right. That didn't make sense to me. I read your first post after I posted and I totally agree. I should have said Western Queens.

[jax78]

Originally Posted by welder

I dont think you've ever agreed with not ONE single post that I've ever posted. I did mean to say the "people in Mannhattan forgetting" though. I mean how could over 2 million people forget about Queens when they live here. I type too fast and dont proof read good enough sometimes. And just cause YOU have everything that YOU want or need, it doesnt mean that someone who's never been here couldn't be let down by the outer boroughs. Like the 24/7 thing for example. That's one of first things that someone who aint from here will think of regarding NYC. Alot of Queens is alot like life elsewhere. Places like Astoria aint though.

Well, I live in Astoria. And I might have agreed with one of your posts, but overall I think we think differently. It's all good.

[welder]

Aint that the truth! LOL You're a school teacher ain't u? My misspelling of words and the butchering of the English language is probably enough to aggravate you! I never like school teachers anyway! LOL Astoria is DEFIANTELY a COOL neighborhood. But there are parts of Queens that Ive been in that look very suburban and I couldnt imagine living in without a car. The whole point from that guys post was, life outside of Mannhattan can be alot different in the outer boroughs. That's all he was trying to tell that guy. The guy is going to be living probably in Queens. And dont expect the 'Friends' type lifestyle or whatever. You atleast have to agree that the Queens experience in general, is going to be different than Mannhattan. Alot of people thinking of moving here REALLY dont know that. How about the kid wanting to work at Wal Mart and not be too far from BROADWAY. Now this OP is nowhere near that green. But he was just trying to give the OP an honest heads up. That's what the point of his post was. Not to throw digs or jabs at Queens like u took it.

[bmwguydc]

Originally Posted by Henna

Google's street view can save you some time! Of course it's not the same as being there, but at least you can usually see the storefronts from the pics.

An excellent tool! Yes, and you can get a sense as to what's there from the storefronts. Good point!

[Moderate Guy]

Like jax, I PREFER Queens to Manhattan and like jax, I've been in NYC a pretty long time. Guess this sounds weird to a bunch of Manhattan centric folks aboard who subscribe to the notion that celebrities and hot shots live in Manhattan so it's gotta be the place to be.

Well, maybe this poster is an idiot - I know many of you already concluded that before my self-admission - but I prefer Forest Hills, Queens and Queens in general to Soho or even the UWS where I presently live. Given x dollars to spend on purchasing real estate, guess what this idiot (me) would do? He would buy a house in Forest Hills and a condo in Florida and probably still have money left over vs buying ONE co-op in Manhattan.

I say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It's okay for you guys to be Manhattan centric but it's also okay for others to PREFER an oouter borough even though Sarah Jessica Parker and her fictional TV associates don't hang there and probably don't even know they're in Queens when they fly out of LaGuardia or JFK.

And you bet, I'll have access to supermarkets, drugstores, shopping, dining in many parts of Queens - without a car!

[welder]

Miles, I've only stayed in Mannhattan hotels. Never lived there myself. I would think that after awhile, some of the charm would were off. And even get on some people's nerves at times. The crowds, the extreme expense of it, etc. Especially the older you get. If I was rich and lived there, I still would have to have a place on LI or elsewhere just to get out of the city for peace and quiet once in awhile. If money wasn't an issue (which in life it always is), who knows what any of us would prefer. I mean some people in Mannhattan are living in Penthouse condos worth 50 million plus. I would think with that kind of sq footage and view, Queens wouldn't be as appealing to many. But realistically, how many of us could ever live like that. Money, and how much of it any of us have, it's the driven force behind alot of our personal preferences. If money wasnt a problem Miles, you might but a fancy condo in Soho, and a house in Forest Hills to spend the weekends at. Now choosing between a SMALL co-op in Mannhattan or a decent size home in Forest Hills, I'm going with Forest Hills too. But if I was loaded, I know I'd think different. But what you are saying, is the REALITY for almost everybody who lives here (and who visits this site). 5,000 sq ft condos in Soho are out of reach for most people.

[analyticalkeys]

Originally Posted by welder

Miles, I've only stayed in Mannhattan hotels. Never lived there myself. I would think that after awhile, some of the charm would were off. And even get on some people's nerves at times. The crowds, the extreme expense of it, etc. Especially the older you get. If I was rich and lived there, I still would have to have a place on LI or elsewhere just to get out of the city for peace and quiet once in awhile. If money wasn't an issue (which in life it always is), who knows what any of us would prefer. I mean some people in Mannhattan are living in Penthouse condos worth 50 million plus. I would think with that kind of sq footage and view, Queens wouldn't be as appealing to many. But realistically, how many of us could ever live like that. Money, and how much of it any of us have, it's the driven force behind alot of our personal preferences. If money wasnt a problem Miles, you might but a fancy condo in Soho, and a house in Forest Hills to spend the weekends at. Now choosing between a SMALL co-op in Mannhattan or a decent size home in Forest Hills, I'm going with Forest Hills too. But if I was loaded, I know I'd think different. But what you are saying, is the REALITY for almost everybody who lives here (and who visits this site). 5,000 sq ft condos in Soho are out of reach for most people.

I live in Queens, and visit certain parts of the city on weekends because of some of the things available there that aren't accessible to me here, but seriously, I understand what you're saying about the crowds, because I absolutely hate them! But then again, this isn't just a Manhattan thing, it's crowds in general.. I don't like walking down 82nd street in Jackson Heights anymore than I do walking around 42nd street in Manhattan.. It's a hassle for me to be navigating around so many people when I just want to do one thing. On the other hand, if I had the money.. I wouldn't mind living in a quieter part of Manhattan, as I've seen some people's houses that would just boggle your mind..

[Moderate Guy]

Originally Posted by welder

Miles, I've only stayed in Mannhattan hotels. Never lived there myself. I would think that after awhile, some of the charm would were off. And even get on some people's nerves at times. The crowds, the extreme expense of it, etc. Especially the older you get. If I was rich and lived there, I still would have to have a place on LI or elsewhere just to get out of the city for peace and quiet once in awhile. If money wasn't an issue (which in life it always is), who knows what any of us would prefer. I mean some people in Mannhattan are living in Penthouse condos worth 50 million plus. I would think with that kind of sq footage and view, Queens wouldn't be as appealing to many. But realistically, how many of us could ever live like that. Money, and how much of it any of us have, it's the driven force behind alot of our personal preferences. If money wasnt a problem Miles, you might but a fancy condo in Soho, and a house in Forest Hills to spend the weekends at. Now choosing between a SMALL co-op in Mannhattan or a decent size home in Forest Hills, I'm going with Forest Hills too. But if I was loaded, I know I'd think different. But what you are saying, is the REALITY for almost everybody who lives here (and who visits this site). 5,000 sq ft condos in Soho are out of reach for most people.

I tell you, welder, let's agree to disagree on this one. That's okay, buddy, we aren't all alike. If we all were, the planet would be boring.

You talk about what YOU would do if you were loaded. Here's what I would do - buy a HOUSE In Forest Hills, Queens as my PRIMARY home over that gigantic condo in Soho. Then if I stll have dollars left, I'd get a winter condo in Florida. Now, LASTLY, if money's still left, I'd buy a pied -a terre on the UWS as my office to come in a few days and write my novels/get away from my main home, enjoy a sit in Central Park on a beautiful day.

Does that make me weird if I PREFER Queens to Manhattan - even if I were a famous writer who could afford Manhattan? If it does, well I'll wear that label and enjoy my main home in Queens.

There's a saying that all great artists have arcane habits or are weird or difficult to comprehend. If my borough preferences are diificult to understand then by that logic I'll one day be a great artist. In the meantime, I'll get back to my day job in accounting, my evening pursuits as a teacher - and wait for that grand day when I can move to Queens as a famous writer. And in so doing there's one less person to drive up that Soho condo price.

Hey welder, when you write your short stories or hit the jackpot as a travel agent or move up in your presnt occupation, I'd love to vist with you in Soho to have a Corona with you, if you'll still be drinking that type of beer.

And excuse me if I get there to your 5,000 square foot condo a little late. I'll be coming from an outer borough - you know, I got bridges and tunnels to cross.

[welder]

Take it easy Miles, calm down. If you reread what I wrote, you'll see that I said " If money wasnt an issue, who knows what ANY of us would prefer". And I also said that "Queens wouldnt be as appealing to many". I didnt say that it wouldnt be appealing to "NOBODY". I will never live in Soho. Im a very level headed kinda of guy. I know that something like that will ALWAYS be out of my reach (not that living in Mannhattan has every been a big dream of mine anyways). My job is a dead end job. Im a 'welder in the gang'. That's all Ill ever be. I still make a decent buc and I'm ok with that. If I hit the lotto for millions, the Seattle area is where Id be living. Not Soho, Tribaca, or UES. I would say off the top of my head though, that the majority of NYC'S ultra wealthy live in Mannhattan, not Queens. So when I said that "Queens wouldnt be as appealing to many (meaning the ultra rich)", I think that's pretty much general knowledge. That's not to say there aint no money in Queens. And if you were really LOADED, a condo in Fl would not be a problem either. People with BIG money own homes all over the world. I dont think money would ever change the type of beer I drink either. If that were the case, I'd order a Bud or Miller instead of an import like Corona which cost more. I said " You MIGHT buy a condo in Soho, and a house in Forest Hills for the weekends". You dont have hundreds of millions laying in the bank do u? This is ALL hypothetical talk that I was doing. Of course you could by a home in Forest Hills. But having hundreds of millions of dollars one day is unlikely. Unless you become the next Steven King. In which case you'll end up moving to Maine anyways! LOL

[Moderate Guy]

welder, let's stop arguing and grab a few Coronas.

Wonder if Corona in Queens was named after the Corona beer or vice versa - well better not start another contentious thread on that topic. i prefer to never know the answer.

cheers to you, buddy.