Help i want to stay in harlem :( (Hope: apartment, rental)

[southerncitygirl]

Hey all,
The first week in January my roomie and I got news that we had to be out of our Apt by March 1st. The abbreviated version of why this happened is that we sued our sleazy slumlord and the Bldg was turned over to the city to be managed with the intention of repairs being made and later the high likelihood that out bldg would have become co-op. The city had the bldg for a 1 and 4 months and did absolutely nothing to it so the judge turned it back over to the landlord.
I couldn't start looking a place until this week cause of cash flow issues and i did my taxes last week. My credit is excellent but over the last 2 yrs my income has dropped due to the economy ( i'm a hourly employee). My income last year was $3,000 less than the previous year and before that i think it had dropped another $3,000. This may be an issue with finding a new place because even thorough I have great credit last years income could potentially stifle things. My job finally started to pick-up towards the end of last year and I know it will be super busy starting in March plus I am working on other streams of income ( website, promotional modeling, etc.). I love Harlem and don't want to leave.

I started to look at the possibly of getting another roommate and its almost as much to get a roommate as it would be to be in a studio. Many of the rooms of these shares are tiny and I don't want an extra bill by having to put extra stuff in storage. I also don't want to end up with a crazy *** roomie, my old roommate has decided she wants to get her own place too.
I have the money to pay a broker fee, first months, last months and security but am worried about being snuffed out because of my prior years income which I know will increase. I am more than capable of paying $825 or less a month and have a excellent rental history.
A friend suggested getting a letter from my job on company letterhead stating how long i've worked there and my status ( pt, ft or on-call) to help with things.

I've lived in the Bronx and hated it and I'm not a big fan of Queens either. Brooklyn is cool but the neighborhoods I love I'm priced out of and living on the outermost edge of Middle Earth is not an option (meaning deep in Brooklyn,lol). My heart is in Harlem and in the next 2-3 yrs I planon buying property here (co-op or condo), I also don't want to do a temporary move only to have to move again in another 3-6 months cause its expensive to move even when its done cheaply.

I'm stressed out and at my wits end and times a ticking.....what should I do what suggestions do you have? I'm in place of being stressed, angry and overwhelmed help!!!
__________

[bluedog2]

You are not likely to find a studio,even in The Bronx or Brooklyn for 825 so forget it.You have to find a roommate situation whether you like it or not ,so start looking.
Unless there is something bad between you,you should probably try to stay with the current roommate and find a new place that the two of you can afford until things improve.Hope that's an option,otherwise you have to find someone else.

[vitalove]

Check CL. I found a renovated studio there in your price range in Harlem, near Bradhurst.

There was also a room with kitchenette for about 725 near Central Park.

You do have some options as rents are coming down, and you are employed. But it may not be the largest apartment or the best blocks in Harlem, so you may want to be mindful of that. Sending a DM to you as well.

[Lancet71]

Do a search on www.realtor.com Click on rent and then add nearby areas(neighborhoods),price range,pets if you have any.More options for adding nearby.