Moving to Manhattan for school. Need Advice (Amsterdam, Mexico: sublet, apartment)

[columbiaguy]

Hi everyone. First post on this forum here. I was hoping you all could give me a little advice. I am starting graduate school at columbia in a couple of months and was wondering what rent usually runs for around the upper west side and Morningside heights neighborhood. I have been looking at craigslist but am unsure if those prices are actually accurate.

What im looking for:

Anything above 96th and below 128th. I can even go a little lower than 96th but dont want to be too far away from the university or a line that will take me directly there since my classes will be held at the university in addition to the hospital way up on 168th at presbyterian.

Basically, I am not looking for my own place, looking for a room only...I guess that is called a "share"? where everyone rents thier own room but share the common areas like the kitchen, bathroom, etc.. Ive been finding rooms in the range of 850-1100 on the upper west side. Is this accurate? Thanks. and are these great deals? what should I be expecting..I would like to be as close to broadway rather than central park as possible.

Thanks!

[cydlivre]

Have you looked into Columbia grad apartment shares? The rooms are generally decent and cheaper than market...I think they run about 700-900 for a room in a two or three bedroom shared apartment. Also, there is a daily shuttle that runs to the hospital from the Columbia campus during the day and the 1 train runs on all the way up with a stop right by the hospital. In terms of craigslist apartment pricing, that range is pretty accurate. Columbia housing also maintains apartment postings that might be worth checking out.

[maryh1977]

Hi, Columbiaguy -
My husband will be applying to NYC law schools later this year to start in Fall '10, so we share your excitement/puzzlement/frustration about relocating to NYC. We'll be moving there from New Mexico and are considering a move this fall so that there's plenty of time to get settled before my husband starts school again next year.
Since you'll be starting school in August, where will you stay while you find an apartment or share? This is our dilemma. Staying in a hotel can get expensive and we're anticipating that it will take us at least a couple of weeks to find an apartment. What are you doing with your stuff while you find a place?

[columbiaguy]

Originally Posted by cydlivre

Have you looked into Columbia grad apartment shares? The rooms are generally decent and cheaper than market...I think they run about 700-900 for a room in a two or three bedroom shared apartment. Also, there is a daily shuttle that runs to the hospital from the Columbia campus during the day and the 1 train runs on all the way up with a stop right by the hospital. In terms of craigslist apartment pricing, that range is pretty accurate. Columbia housing also maintains apartment postings that might be worth checking out.

Thanks for the info! I have been attempting to look into the columbia housing website, but I have not yet received my student information to log onto the site. Honestly though, id rather not live in the immediate vicinity of the university, and rather live a little further away, so im unsure if columbia owns much of the property south of morningside or a little further away from the university.

Originally Posted by maryh1977

Hi, Columbiaguy -
My husband will be applying to NYC law schools later this year to start in Fall '10, so we share your excitement/puzzlement/frustration about relocating to NYC. We'll be moving there from New Mexico and are considering a move this fall so that there's plenty of time to get settled before my husband starts school again next year.
Since you'll be starting school in August, where will you stay while you find an apartment or share? This is our dilemma. Staying in a hotel can get expensive and we're anticipating that it will take us at least a couple of weeks to find an apartment. What are you doing with your stuff while you find a place?

Hi! well, im moving from california, so we're both coming from a long distance. Since im single and moving alone, I face fewer obstacles than you and your husband do. My plan is to stay in a hostel ( the wanderers inn west is only about 25 a night and has recieved wonderful reviews) on 113th for a few days. During this time, i am planning on finding a place to sublet for a month so that I dont make the horrible mistake of signing a year lease in a horrible place because I am rushed due to not having a place to live. I plan on spending the month that I am subletting to shop around and find a permanent place to live. As for my luggage, I plan on packing VERY lightly for my initial arrival. I will pack the rest of my belongings such as clothes, etc and have a family member or friend ship it to me as soon as I find a place to sublet. Lots of uncertainty upon my initial arrival, but I am sure everything will work out.

[cydlivre]

Columbia generally owns property between about 104th and 125th streets between Riverside Drive and Manhattan Ave...pretty spread out, but if you're interested in being further, then you'd be on your own. The Morningside area isn't too bad though, so I wouldn't write it off too quickly. Not much of a problem with noise from the undergrad campus, but if you're concerned, simply avoid the streets immediately in the vicinity (114th to 116th between Broadway and Amsterdam).
If you want to be further away, you should be able to find a decent room share or studio in the UWS around the craigslist price range.

If you have more specific questions, feel free to pm me.

As to finding an apartment, it can be done in a week of constant looking. Definitely should plan on doing a lot of research ahead of time to figure out where/what you want and to make viewing/signing appointments. Having a broker takes some of the gruntwork off your shoulders, but the current rental market isn't too bad for going it alone either.

maryh, if your husband is still applying for schools, you might want to consider holding off on the move until you have a better sense where in the city you will be. Law school is a tough schedule, and he may want to be close to campus to avoid a long commute cutting into study time plus family time. Avoiding nyc rent while you can never hurts either.