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Not sure of rents in Williamsburg. I didn't put it on my list because I used to live there and if I could move back to Brooklyn, I would not choose Williamsburg due to the over-the-top hipsterfication of the place. I prefer all the other neighborhoods I listed over Williamsburg.
Check out the Bedford Ave area of Brooklyn. First L stop after the East River, and 3 stops from Union Square where you can catch the 4,5 express to Wall St (3rd stop) or Fulton/WTC (2nd stop).
Trendy, convenient, tons of places to eat. Reasonable.
Not sure of rents in Williamsburg. I didn't put it on my list because I used to live there and if I could move back to Brooklyn, I would not choose Williamsburg due to the over-the-top hipsterfication of the place. I prefer all the other neighborhoods I listed over Williamsburg.
I have heard the same thing about Williamsburg. I want to check it out but I don't think I want to live in an over the top hipster place.
Out of all the Brooklyn places, are Cobble Hill and Park Slope the best choices?
Forest Hills is worth the visit if you haven't been, but by the sound of things and your experience in Chelsea and UES, Brooklyn is what you're looking for. Plus LIC is becoming more pricey for what you're looking for and Astoria as you mentioned is too far out - so Forest Hills/Rego Park/Kew Gardens will be more so, and probably as distant for you as Jersey.
The Brooklyn neighborhoods quoted previously (Cobble Hill, Fort Greene, Boerum Hill, Park Slope) are all nice. In general, anywhere west and north of Prospect Park command better rents. Attached links as starter-guides to rental rates and neighborhood reviews. Park Slope is probably the best choice and is considered the premiere neighborhood for young families - Williamsburg is more trendy (costly) and Fort Greene a little more mixed, Cobble Hill a bit closer to the city and pricier as well. I really like the neighborhood around Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights also and Prospect Heights as well, in general north of Eastern Parkway is more up-and-coming, and less expensive than Park Slope and still a bit more mixed in feel, but accessible and worth spending some weekend days in the city to explore.
I'd give Long Island City another look, especially the Hunter's Point part. It's a pretty big neighborhood, and it really takes actually spending some time going around the blocks rather than just speeding by it on a highway to get a real sense of the place.
Given that you have a job in the financial district, I would rule out most neighborhoods in Queens, just due to the long commute to work that you would have and the resultant quality of life issues. Unless of course, you're okay with 1 hour plus commutes to work....
I lived in the financial district and my job is in Queens and it really was a drag. It took me about 1 1/2 to work.
I think that the advice about Brooklyn is really great, but some of the "nicer" areas that are being recommending are probably pushing your price range. In your original post, I think you mentioned 2,200 - 2,700 for 1 or 2 bedroom. I think you can definitely rule out two bedrooms in most of these locations (e.g. Brooklyn Heights, DUMBO, Clinton Hill, etc.), one-bedroom seems doable. I also wonder about car space for $200/month near anywhere that is desirable to live.
I have heard the same thing about Williamsburg. I want to check it out but I don't think I want to live in an over the top hipster place.
Out of all the Brooklyn places, are Cobble Hill and Park Slope the best choices?
Living in Williamsburg is like living in a 24 hour theme park...a hipster theme park.It is god awful and will drive you crazy.I know,I lived there.It was once( up until about 2005) a decent neighborhood with real people but it has been destroyed.They should airlift the whole neighborhood to Orlando.
Wow.... no one is accusing the OP of looking for the "Sex and the City" lifestyle or looking to "live on the set of 'Friends' ".
What nationality is your wife? You may want to take that into consideration, especially if she doesn't speak English well enough to get around herself. You may consider some of the ethnic neighborhoods where there will be plenty of people, store-owners, etc that are from her native country. There are plenty "Little _____" in Queens. (Meaning Little (whatever country she's from). Just a thought.
Naah - I am not looking for Sex and the City or Friends lifestyle. Most of that lifestyle is fake anyways - most people in NY don't live that out. Plus I have lived in Manhattan (UES and Chelsea) in my single days and it was a good experience but I don't want that lifestyle anymore.
My wife is Iranian but living in different countries for a while. I am Indian - lived in the US and Europe most of my life. Both of us speak very good english etc. and really don't want to live in a Little ________ (there is no Little Persia in NY unlike LA anyways).
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