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I'm visiting the area again next month and while i'm there, i'm going to look at more apts. Does anyone have any thoughts/opinions on the following places:
Garrison Gate Apts
Creekside Apts
Boulevard Towers
Country Club Manor Apts
Also, my son and i visited a few apts while visiting last month and we really liked these 3 in order of preference:
Dannybrook Apts
Liberty Square
Londontowne Apts
I appreciate any feedback recd on any of these apts. I'm going to be on a tight budget since I'll be in school. These apts run from $845 - $910. $910 is as high as i can go, but i would prefer to go lower.
I'm visiting the area again next month and while i'm there, i'm going to look at more apts. Does anyone have any thoughts/opinions on the following places:
Garrison Gate Apts
Creekside Apts
Boulevard Towers
Country Club Manor Apts
Also, my son and i visited a few apts while visiting last month and we really liked these 3 in order of preference:
Dannybrook Apts
Liberty Square
Londontowne Apts
I appreciate any feedback recd on any of these apts. I'm going to be on a tight budget since I'll be in school. These apts run from $845 - $910. $910 is as high as i can go, but i would prefer to go lower.
have you looked at renting a flat in a private home? Just looking quickly in the homefinder right now i see in williamsville a one bedroom upper pool and tennis and centrail aire for $595 per month (thats a condo actually). If you look in the Buffalo News saturday home finder, you will find the number on page 27 under condos for rent. theres another in amherst by main and harlem, its one bedroom and is $540 includees hear and appliances....check out those and read through the homefinder
I made the opposite move. I'm a native Buffalonian who went to NYC about 20 months ago. I'm not one of the hipsters or yuppies that have invaded the city, however - I'm too old for that
CA mentioned a "flat" which is the local vernacular for an apartment - usually in a two family home. The area has lots of two family homes with a 2BR or 3BR "flat" on each floor. The owner will often live in one of the "flats" and rent the other. The units are listed as "Upper" and "Lower". This is more common in the city than the suburbs, although in Amherst you'll find a few in the older areas.
These homes are not like some NYC 2-family places. Each apartment is designed to be a separate living unit, and they are all legal.
Anyway, you have listed many of the major apartment complexes, which from what I have seen, tend to be more expensive than "flats" other small-landlord arrangements - but there are more amenities. You can probably find a 2BR for $750/mo or less from a smaller landlord. I own a 2BR house in a good area (Blasdell). I rent it for $700 (I have a tenant under lease now).
Here's a tip how to broaden your search: Go to The Buffalo News and click on "Classifieds" NOT "Apartments", then click on "Real Estate for Rent". When you click on "Apartments" it will only show the big complexes.
Another tip - You'll find that people list apartments by neighborhood or even a nearby street name - even in the suburbs. If you want to live near the UB campus, some keywords to use are "Amherst", but also try "Eggertsville", "Snyder" and "Williamsville" (all areas within Amherst). Tonawanda (the town, not the city) or Kenmore would be a good choice too.
Do you have a car? You'll need it, especially in the suburbs. Public transportation in Buffalo is pathetic compared to NYC.
Thanks for the suggestions. I'll start looking at the 2 family homes in the areas suggested. Question, though. I'm looking for an apt to start renting in August. Would private landlords have a problem w/me looking in Apr for an apt to rent in Aug? Would he/she hold the apt for 3 1/2 mos if i decide i want to rent?
Also, i'm going to be a student w/o a job for the 1st yr., so how flexible are these landlords as far as that? Would he/she be ok w/looking at my student loans as proof of income? or would i need a co-signer? (absolutely not an option for me)
You'll find Buffalo-area landlords to be more flexible than NYC ones. It's simple supply and demand. There isn't the kind of rabid demand for living space that exists in NYC. ...And isn't it great to get 2BRs for less than $1000 and to not have to pay a broker?
Also regarding flexibility, you are more likely to find it from a small landlord than from one of those big complexes.
I'll answer your questions from my own point of view as a small landlord. Of course, your mileage may vary:
I wouldn't hold a place for three months without a lease and rent payments coming in.
As far as your financial standing, renting to students is something that a lot of the area landlords are used to. You won't find a strict "40X rent" income rule. Again, my own personal approach would be to check your credit and former landlord reference. If both were positive, that would be enough for me. My last tenant was in a similar situation. Providing the loan info can't hurt, however.
If you can afford it, I'd recommend locking a place up earlier. There is more demand in the late summer when more students start looking for housing, especially near the campus.
Why not stay for the summer! I'd argue that Buffalo has the best summer weather in the country. Much more comfortable and less humid than NYC. Temps are usually 75-85, rarely approaching 90. There is a lot to do, too.
i live in dannybrook now and i think it's decent...after the 1st year my rent jumped about 20 dollars, next year they are raising it 50 dollars...
country club manor I know of friends who lived there who said there was a fairly significant jump in rent after the first year so I would keep that in mind.
I looked all around the area and if you prefer the suburbs then Dannybrook may be decent for the price point.
You'll find Buffalo-area landlords to be more flexible than NYC ones. It's simple supply and demand. There isn't the kind of rabid demand for living space that exists in NYC. ...And isn't it great to get 2BRs for less than $1000 and to not have to pay a broker?
Also regarding flexibility, you are more likely to find it from a small landlord than from one of those big complexes.
I'll answer your questions from my own point of view as a small landlord. Of course, your mileage may vary:
I wouldn't hold a place for three months without a lease and rent payments coming in.
As far as your financial standing, renting to students is something that a lot of the area landlords are used to. You won't find a strict "40X rent" income rule. Again, my own personal approach would be to check your credit and former landlord reference. If both were positive, that would be enough for me. My last tenant was in a similar situation. Providing the loan info can't hurt, however.
If you can afford it, I'd recommend locking a place up earlier. There is more demand in the late summer when more students start looking for housing, especially near the campus.
Why not stay for the summer! I'd argue that Buffalo has the best summer weather in the country. Much more comfortable and less humid than NYC. Temps are usually 75-85, rarely approaching 90. There is a lot to do, too.
ABSOLUTELY!!! It's also going to be nice to have my own bedroom!! (I sleep in the living room now) It's ridiculous how much these old small apts cost here!.
I'm pretty sure I wont' be able to hold onto 2 apts at the same time, but I will look into the private homes the next time i'm in the area and i'll also ask for help from the school.
I have to stay until my son gets out of school and once he's out, I have to take care of some things here before we move. I would love to move up now though. Can't wait to leave the city. Oh and btw, i actually like 90 temp days, guess i have to get used to not so hot summers...
NativeNYCer,
I'm wondering how old your son is.. If he is already in HS or what not, I'd wonder if he can adapt to the sudden change in lifestyle. I'm born and raised in ny, came up here for undergrad, finishing up this semester.
Anyway, I remember the first year i came up here i was amazed at all of the space everyone had, the friendly people as well as the FRESH air.. it was defiantly a change from ny. I spent the summer up here and it was beautiful. not the hot and humidness of NY. Went by the various bike trails along the river here and honestly it was peaceful.. I picked up snowboarding which is amazing up here.. Quality of life is much different..
The first thing i started missing was the food. Don’t get me wrong, there are 'real' restaurants here, but be expected to become disappointed at the variety that ny had to offer. The next lacking thing came the nightly news.. there is no news.. While buffalo once in a while may get a shooting, it's nothing new to a new yorker. The issues with the Erie county gov gets repetitive fast.. casino/no casino bass pro/no pass pro? waterfront development.. Then the sports came.. sabres/bills.. who cares! in ny there was plenty of things to occupy yourself and sports while big, is not as big as it is in buffalo. It is rare to find someone who does not care about the sabres/bills frankly because there is nothing else to do.
I'm glad i had went away from school.. I'm sure many people would agree buffalo is similar to many other cities around the country.. but NY is unique and one of a kind..heck who knows, after my career is said and done and nearing retirement, i might be craving for something like amherst/buff again.. but not right now. Anyway, talk it over with your kid, UB law is great, and i just wished to pass on my experience with buff/ub/amherst..
btw, wny'ers have no idea what traffic really is. The merge from 290 onto 90 by the blue water tower is not traffic. (cut in the last minute.) niagara falls blvd nb is fine on weekends if you know what to do.. (stay on the left lane through the whole thing, when you get to the 290 interchange, cut all the way to the right where 290 exits onto northbound nfb, fly through the right lane past homedepot, walmart, and cut back left by the car dealerships when the right lane merges. Most WNY'ers dont know how to stop in the middle of the intersection to turn left also, they wait at the line, if you see that, simply pass them on the right and wait in the middle for the light to turn red. You will soon learn to love/miss/appreciate the timed red lights throughout ny. nohting is more irritating than flying at 50 down a major street when sooneone else in a one way pulls up and triggers the red light ahead of you.
On a serious note though, there is one danger about WNY driving that might sound a bit awkward. Many people refrain from using their horns at all costs.. This I feel is a major safety issue as ive seen plenty of times places where honking would have avoided near misses..
the spectrum (ub's student newspaper) also might have some leads.. but i dont think they post classifieds online.. The Spectrum Online: Home could give it a shot though..
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