how much of my paycheck should I save each month? (Hope: apartments, to rent)

[pierrepont7731]

Originally Posted by RadeonHD4250

Which is why they should just go off of the net and save everyone the extra headache and torture. I'm sure there is some political reason to go off of gross, but to the average Joe, it's worthless.

Yes, but some people pay more in taxes than others, so I think the idea is to ensure that people who you want to get in can afford the rent. When I originally got my first apartment in the States, my credit score was around 720 or so. Now I've seen places that want that or more with more than 40X the rent, and some places are fine with a credit score in the 600s. I guess it's always safe to have more rather than less where possible.

[safina1]

Originally Posted by mathjak107

fidelity had a nice gauge

50% - 15% - 5% ?

that is total of 70%. so where is the rest? am I missing something?

[Kefir King]

I think most people are crazy to pay 30% of their gross income to a landlord. That is something I would NEVER do, and indeed, have never in my life done. Lowest I have even done was 9%...long ago.


Right now I am paying about 25% of my NET income in maintenance and that is more than I ever paid. But that includes all utilities except cable.

[safina1]

This is a tough decision. I don't really know what to do.
he is asking for first, last and security. Then there is a 12% broker fee.
Apt is in a very old building, I will have to hire a professional to do some work in the bathroom. reglazing the bathtub and the sink. I can't touch those without some major work.
but if I don't take this, I don't know where to go.
The nice thing about it though is that it is in my favorite neighborhood and very close to the subway. I can feel safe there.

[pierrepont7731]

Originally Posted by safina1

This is a tough decision. I don't really know what to do.
he is asking for first, last and security. Then there is a 12% broker fee.
Apt is in a very old building, I will have to hire a professional to do some work in the bathroom. reglazing the bathtub and the sink. I can't touch those without some major work.
but if I don't take this, I don't know where to go.
The nice thing about it though is that it is in my favorite neighborhood and very close to the subway. I can feel safe there.

How are you going to hire a professional? Did they give permission to do so in advance in writing? If not, the lease will likely strictly PROHIBIT you doing any work or changes to the apartment. I know that's what my lease says. In my new bathroom, the new toilet that was installed prior to me moving in had a leak, so I called the super and told him I needed a new one. He came and installed the new one and it still leaked, so they hired a plumber to come in and get it right the third time. I haven't had a problem since.

[safina1]

Take a look at this:

$1600 rent +utilities
$112 metro card
$800 food
$ 55 phone bill
$100 cleaning products, soaps, toothpaste, etc..
$ 430 ( something I have to pay every month)
$ $60 internet ( not sure if it would cost more than that. I don't need cable.
$ ?? some digital subscription to some websites that I like (netflix or amazon prime or Lynda.com)
$45 gym
$40 meds
$40 salon
$50 laundry

Am I missing something here?

[safina1]

Originally Posted by pierrepont7731

How are you going to hire a professional? Did they give permission to do so in advance in writing? If not, the lease will likely strictly PROHIBIT you doing any work or changes to the apartment. I know that's what my lease says. In my new bathroom, the new toilet that was installed prior to me moving in had a leak, so I called the super and told him I needed a new one. He came and installed the new one and it still leaked, so they hired a plumber to come in and get it right the third time. I haven't had a problem since.

I can't touch the filthy bathtub and the sink, they are so disgusting. broker said I can have them reglazed. he said it is fine as long as I am not touching the floors or electricity, etc..

super will fix the cracks in the floor and the wall. It is a very old building.

[pierrepont7731]

Originally Posted by safina1

I can't touch the filthy bathtub and the sink, they are so disgusting. broker said I can have them reglazed. he said it is fine as long as I am not touching the floors or electricity, etc..

super will fix the cracks in the floor and the wall. It is a very old building.

Yeah I almost got into a problem going off of "what the broker said..." Luckily I had everything via e-mail, so I forwarded it to the landlord. I mean it's not like I had direct contact with the landlord at the time, so I asked him (the broker) if it was okay for me to have my cable and internet installed and I was told yes. Then DirectTV comes and says they need the landlord's signature, so I had to call the office and deal with the cranky landlord to get the sign off on something I had already been told was fine by the broker.

I don't know... Supers rarely do a good job fixing things, so be prepared for those cracks to open right back up again. We have these fancy lights outside of the building and the super has been trying to fix the timer on them for I don't know how long. The lights come on during the day and go out at night.

[pierrepont7731]

Originally Posted by safina1

Take a look at this:

$1600 rent +utilities
$112 metro card
$800 food
$ 55 phone bill
$100 cleaning products, soaps, toothpaste, etc..
$ 430 ( something I have to pay every month)
$ $60 internet ( not sure if it would cost more than that. I don't need cable.
$ ?? some digital subscription to some websites that I like (netflix or amazon prime or Lynda.com)
$45 gym
$40 meds
$40 salon
$50 laundry

Am I missing something here?

$800 in food? Do you eat organic too? I have Hulu and the cost for that will vary but I have HBO and Showtime with it, so it was about $53 dollars with the promotion. If I were you I'd try to get it free for as long as you can.

$1600 for a place that is old and has cracks everywhere? What neighborhood is this? I think you can do better.

[safina1]

Originally Posted by pierrepont7731

$800 in food? Do you eat organic too? I have Hulu and the cost for that will vary but I have HBO and Showtime with it, so it was about $53 dollars with the promotion. If I were you I'd try to get it free for as long as you can.

$1600 for a place that is old and has cracks everywhere? What neighborhood is this? I think you can do better.

UWS. It is close to the subway. You can't beat the location. But it is a very old building and I am worried that the cracks in the wooden floor are hosting unwanted guests. The bathroom is disgusting.
You make a good point. But what if I reglaze the bathtub and the sink without the landlord's knowledge? It is not like I am changing the main structure of the apt.