Queens Vs. Brooklyn (Ridge: sublet, apartments, rental)

[mizdezigner]

Which neighborhoods are best for a young early 20's couple? I looked into Sunnyside, Astroria, and Woodside and they all seem nice and close to Manhattan. How about Brooklyn though? Any other ideas? Lets just say space is not a concern nor is anything luxurious....a studio around $1200 would be nice. Or maybe a one bedroom in an "okay" neighborhood...I don't know if $1200 is enough....But yeah just close to the subway is fine.

But pretty much I will be fresh out of college so I am used to not having too many amenities, etc....My love will be attending school full time though. Anybody around the same age as me? haha

Also, I know in Manhattan you have to go through a broker but what about Queens and Brooklyn? I have the first month, last month, security, broker fees in savings now plus good references from our past landlords but I won't be able to verify income because I will be new to the city with a new job ....Will that mean we have no options for finding a decent apartment? And my boyfriend is a full time student therefore he won't have a full time job. My parents make money but they live way out of state and the guarantors have to live in the tri state area.

Any help would be great So what we want:

* Studio
* <$1200
* Close to subway
* Somewhat convenient neighborhood in terms of grocery, drug stores, etc...
* Minimum violence
* Diverse neighborhood (we're an interracial couple)

Thanks!

[Elvira Black]

Those three Queens areas are nice. Probably cheaper than Brooklyn overall for comparable areas. Have you seen any decent looking listings for studios in that price range? Studios can be very small, depending.

The guarantor thing will be trickier with a broker, I think. Maybe a sublet or a rental by owner situation would be easier for you. There's also local Queens papers like Astoria Times etc online (one company owns them all) that may have apt listings for rent, plus other info on the different Queens neighborhoods.

[BOOARISKY]

You will do better in Queens being that you don't have full time jobs.You might can find apartments inside homes as opposed to buildings with landlords and such. Interracial couples, Astoria, Ridgewood, a lot of areas in Queens and Brooklyn are very diverse, however your going to pay for that diversity too.

[Elvira Black]

Here's the link...lots of Queens apts in your price range. At first glance all look like safe areas, but you can always ask here. Some are through brokers, some through owners. Click under apts for rent.

Times Ledger - News - Western Queens (http://www.timesledger.com/site/news.asp?brd=2676&pag=460&dept_id=551069 - broken link)

[mizdezigner]

Yeah and we wouldn't mind living in a two bedroom with a roommate but it will just be tough to know if the person looking for a roommate minds couples. Now we live with a roommate and it works out great and saves ton of money I have seen lots of roommate ads on craigslist though.