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Hello folks, I am moving to NJ from VA next month and was hoping someone here could guide me in the apartment hunting process. I would be working in Midtown, so I was thinking that somewhere in Northern NJ would suit me better. I would prefer a safe(ish) neighborhood with decent apartment sizes. I am trying to save some money for grad school, so my budget for rent+utilities would be in the 1300-1550 range for a 1 BR apartment. The less the commute to Midtown, the better. Also, I would be prefer to live close to public transportation as I won't have a car. Any suggestions you guys can give me? Which neighborhoods should I focus on? Any websites where I can find decent deals? Here are the details:
Where are you coming from? VA
Why are you moving? New Job
Where will you be working ? If NYC, what part of NYC? I'll be working in NYC - midtown to be precise.
Will you buy or rent? Rent
What is your budget ? 1300-1600 including utilities
What kind of place are you looking for ? Safe neighborhood with close to public trains/buses.
Will anyone (spouse, children, pets) be moving with you ? No, I am single with no pets.
Do you need/want good public schools? Doesn't matter
Briefly describe the kind of neighborhood you'd like to live in
(examples: families with young children, young, mature, artsy, diverse, safe, close-knit, block parties, etc) Not too fussy - but the more closer it is to the city, the better.
List three things that are important to you in order of importance.(examples: nightlife, outdoor activities, rural/urban, safety, downtown area, charming, new construction, proximity to XYZ, family oriented, easy parking, short commute, etc) Short commute, urban, good amenities and close to public transport
I'll appreciate your input. Thanks a lot!
P.S: Do you think it would be a good idea to search somewhere in NY as well? Of course, for that budget, I won't be able to stay in Manhattan, but some other areas in NY?
Rutherford/ East rutherford would be a good fit. If you are looking for a more laid back suburban feel. 30 minute commute. (Train or Bus)
If you want urban then I would recommend Hoboken, Newport, or Downtown Jersey City(Paulus Hook, VanVorst Park, Grove St areas). All have great public transport and can get you to midtown in as little as 20 minutes. (PATH Train(Jersey subway), bus or ferry)
If you want Urban NY you can look at Brooklyn( Park Slope, Gowanus, dumbo, Williamsburg) although your budget will be tested there. Astoria in Queens. Hope that helps.
yeh C-list sucks but it's really all there is for NYC, Hoboken and JC. 95% of the listings are rental brokers fishing for clients. There is nothing wrong with using a broker, in fact if you can afford it I'd recommend it. You will be responsible for paying the broker for their service the equivalent of 1 months rent when you sign your lease. That means you'll need 3 months rent up front( 1st month's rent, 1 month security and 1 month fee).
Your budget is a little low for the high rises but you can always check what's available:
This place is literally next door to the train and across the street from 2 bars. Much bigger and nicer than what you will get in NYC, Hoboken or JC but you are farther from the city and its a totally different vibe with not as much access to "fun".
Also...you could check out Bayside in Queens. Stick to the areas within walking distance to LIRR and Bell Blvd. I think commute to penn station is about 30-40 minutes)
Another question - Do you think I can survive without a car if I live in the areas mentioned above? Or is it absolutely needed?
If you stick to Hoboken, Jersey City, Astoria, or Brooklyn you will not need a car, in fact a car is a huge headache due to parking. I lived in those areas for over a decade without a car. The farther out you go the more of a hassle it is not to have a car. For instance if you chose East Rutherford/Rutherford or Bayside I would strongly recommend getting a car or your kind of trapped.
Rutherford...405 Park Ave...nice apts. I believe there's a resident mgr. NYC bus at door.
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