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I'll try to include all relevant information in this post, sorry in advance if I miss anything. My girlfriend got into a grad program at Columbia, and so we are about to move to NYC. We are looking at moving into the area around Columbia. While she has a stipend, I dont have a job lined up, and while I will try to find something before I get there, I have no idea how likely that is.
So important things:
Starting out we will have a little less than 30K a year, hopefully that will be better when I have a job.
We want to live within walking distance of Columbia if possible, and if not, somewhere where it is easy to use the subway to get there and where we (individually, alone) can walk to/from that subway at night.
We are a couple, have no children or dependents, and would prefer to live just by ourselves.
A studio apartment is fine, although a 1 bedroom would be great (I assume this will be out of our budget, I'm thinking no more than $1750/mo) preferably at least 450 sq feet or more...
We are both from a small town, but I would like to think we are not totally ignorant streetwise. However my girlfriend is petite and prone to being nervous so safer is better.
Those are the main things. My thoughts were Morningside Heights, Washington Heights, or West Harlem. One other issue we have is that we obviously dont make the 40x rent rule, and if we have a guarantor, they will be out of state. We have some money saved up however and could offer several months rent up front. Do you know how flexible landlords are about this? My only concern about paying so much upfront is that somehow we get swindled out of $9000 and don't have a place to stay or something. Any thoughts?
Somewhere on Convent, which is directly above Columbia - Manhattanville/Hamilton Heights.
I would stay west of the park and avoid St. Nicholas Terrace between 127th - 129th but consider a very good apartment there. It is changing. There is an okay building on the southwest corner at 128th, address might actually be 128th.
I would avoid 3333 Broadway and take places on Amsterdam and Broadway on a case-by-case basis.
I'll try to include all relevant information in this post, sorry in advance if I miss anything. My girlfriend got into a grad program at Columbia, and so we are about to move to NYC. We are looking at moving into the area around Columbia. While she has a stipend, I dont have a job lined up, and while I will try to find something before I get there, I have no idea how likely that is.
So important things:
Starting out we will have a little less than 30K a year, hopefully that will be better when I have a job.
We want to live within walking distance of Columbia if possible, and if not, somewhere where it is easy to use the subway to get there and where we (individually, alone) can walk to/from that subway at night.
We are a couple, have no children or dependents, and would prefer to live just by ourselves.
A studio apartment is fine, although a 1 bedroom would be great (I assume this will be out of our budget, I'm thinking no more than $1750/mo) preferably at least 450 sq feet or more...
We are both from a small town, but I would like to think we are not totally ignorant streetwise. However my girlfriend is petite and prone to being nervous so safer is better.
Those are the main things. My thoughts were Morningside Heights, Washington Heights, or West Harlem. One other issue we have is that we obviously dont make the 40x rent rule, and if we have a guarantor, they will be out of state. We have some money saved up however and could offer several months rent up front. Do you know how flexible landlords are about this? My only concern about paying so much upfront is that somehow we get swindled out of $9000 and don't have a place to stay or something. Any thoughts?
Thanks,
PotterBr
if you can find a place near Columbia, cool, but why do you have to live near there? You could live in a safe neighborhood in Queens and she can take the subway to Columbia. There are a ton of projects around Washington Heights, West Harlem, Morningside, etc. that are not exactly uplifting. Plus the noise can be through the roof. Just because an area is reasonably safe doesn't mean it is pleasant to live in. choosing the closest area to Columbia you can afford is not the way to go. Subways go every 5 minutes all over. Anyway, I think you should look for a short term rental like 1-2 months first like on airbnb or something. Bring as little stuff as you can and don't pay a whole number of months rent up front - this is a bad idea - the chances are you'll pay some guy this money then you'll soon realize that you HATE where you live but can't move. You won't REALLY know what a place is like until you're living there for a few weeks, so since you're new to NY, I say travel light and take it on a 1 month here, 2 months there basis til you find somewhere you like. It's not bad doing short term rentals in NYC because there are ALWAYS places available.
if you can find a place near Columbia, cool, but why do you have to live near there?
The fact that you have asked that means that you are not qualified to reply.
Moreover, in no particular order ...
Subways do not go "every five minutes" from anywhere.
I would strongly caution the OP against "airbnb" and similar, less because of the scamming, which is there, but more due to the fact that such situations are not legal and/or can be "busted" on a moment's notice by actual landlords.
You will meet many people in your situation in the areas I mentioned - important for doing well at the beginning. The areas just above Columbia have become a kind of extension of Columbia, and will literally become so in the coming few years.
In the areas I mentioned, especially Convent, noise is scarcely "through the roof." Perhaps the responder is confused, thinking about Washington Heights or East Harlem, which are vastly different areas.
Try to avoid instability at this point ! probably the best advice someone who has been there will give you.
Last edited by Harlem resident; 07-11-2013 at 08:54 AM..
I know the area you speak of very well. In fact, I just moved from there a couple of months ago (to JC, NJ which I am kicking myself for doing but that woe is for another thread). However, remember the poster said that he and his girlfriend are from a small town (if I'm speaking of the same poster situation you responded to). Convent is a VERY nice area but it's insulated. You have to get to it from adjourning areas that aren't as nice and quiet as Convent. Broadway, 125th Street near St. Nicholas, and 145th street have police zooming up the street with sirens blaring at different times of the day and night due to "police activity". This is the area the guy and his girlfriend will have to walk to/from the train station or the bus to reach the oasis of their apartment in the Convent area. They will walk amidst the people, who don't look like this couple, who are walking/standing around that populate the area at whatever time of the day and night. And yes it is loud: talking, yelling, arguing, and loud music because it is the ghetto. For some NYers, they'll deal with the noise and riff raff as long as they know they'll escape it soon once they get inside their nice apartment which is cheaper than if they were further down in Manhattan. But for this small town couple to live like this may too much for them -- too far out of their comfort zone.
I know the area you speak of very well. In fact, I just moved from there a couple of months ago (to JC, NJ which I am kicking myself for doing but that woe is for another thread). However, remember the poster said that he and his girlfriend are from a small town (if I'm speaking of the same poster situation you responded to). Convent is a VERY nice area but it's insulated. You have to get to it from adjourning areas that aren't as nice and quiet as Convent. Broadway, 125th Street near St. Nicholas, and 145th street have police zooming up the street with sirens blaring at different times of the day and night due to "police activity". This is the area the guy and his girlfriend will have to walk to/from the train station or the bus to reach the oasis of their apartment in the Convent area. They will walk amidst the people, who don't look like this couple, who are walking/standing around that populate the area at whatever time of the day and night. And yes it is loud: talking, yelling, arguing, and loud music because it is the ghetto. For some NYers, they'll deal with the noise and riff raff as long as they know they'll escape it soon once they get inside their nice apartment which is cheaper than if they were further down in Manhattan. But for this small town couple to live like this may too much for them -- too far out of their comfort zone.
Except that ... being close to the university should be at the top of the list.
It's not about the "Convent area," but about being graduate students at an adjacent university.
There are many graduate students living around, something that will increase. This is the case because they have easy access to the library and to the Columbia community, which is desirable especially in the first years.
My advice, as was the case for another student, is not as a resident of the area but as an academic with some understanding of that process.
There is little riff-raff on Convent, perhaps lower but it is being dealt with every day.
Oh, and, the people "who do not look like them" ? Do you mean black people ? Because some of them are graduate students at Columbia. If you mean poor or indigent people - they will see them everywhere.
Hi
I am planning to move to NYC upper east side. Got a job at mount Sinai. My salary would be 65k. I am looking for studio or 1 br with a Max budget of $1500. If I cannot find any in manhattan, wouldn't mind living in suburbs with 30 min car commute. Pls suggest places.
I think it is safe. It is primarily a Hasidic Jew and Hispanic neighborhood, although this could all be changing soon.
Ok thanks! I'm actually headed there later today to check out a place
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But they're from a small town
