I NEED AN AP in a NICE Safe area HELP!!! (Bedford: real estate, apartments)

[traceme25]

Im a college grad moving to the nyc metro area because i will be working in midtown. I need to know some nice areas that are very close to port authority transit and in safe areas as I will be using only public transportation. I need to know what areas are decent and a close commute to midtown... I need to know what pats of nyc are safe and liveable i here brooklyn and queens are ok but i dont know which neighborhoods. Im used to living in upper middle class suburbs so i cant go to an extremely urban area i just wont feel safe. Plus I know with my hours i will be getting home fairly late so i need to know i can get from a stop to my house with minimal chances of having an unwelcome encounter. Also are there other decent places to apt shop besides craigslist that dont involve realtors/brokers. HELP PLEASE

[jjbradleynyc]

In terms of pricing, I don't know what your budget is, but Williamsburg is in Brooklyn, located about 15-20 mins from midtown and is loaded with "hipsters," college-age and recently out-of-college kids, and the "northside" of the neighborhood by the Bedford Avenue L train stop (subway) is literally like a grown-up college campus with hip and trendy stores, bars, restaurants, galleries, concert venues, boutiques, coffee bars, and loaded with new and under construction condo/apartment buildings. Check it out if you are able to visit before moving. I lived there (and now live further out in the neighborhood--the second L train stop) for 4 years and the place is super safe for any young male or female.Most residents are now (with the good and the bad...) upper middle class to lower wealthy class caucasians. Throw in some current and recent college graduates, a few parents-pay-the-bills "artists" (think film, music, theater, dance, bands) and you have the "northside" neighborhood. Other suggestions of mine would be Brooklyn Heights (pricey), Tribeca (super $$$), West Village (super $$$), or anwhere in Manhattan really, below 90th Street. Anywhere above 90th Street is still spotty for safety and is gentrifying quickly--so some areas are very safe while others are still drug and crime corners.

[jjbradleynyc]

ps, it's very hard to find a legit apartment in NYC without a broker. I'll recommend some good brokers who won't give you the sleezey feel or ********* (I have some RE contacts): Select Real Estate in Williamsburg and Corcoran or Douglas Elliman. Just so you know--and you probably do--99% of apts in NYC require 1st mos rent, 1 mo security deposit and last mos rent. Some even require an additional one month (or greater) fee. So budget yourself to include FOUR months' rent initially. It ain't cheap here. Good luck.

[cyntmac]

What is your price range and are you planning on a roommate? If you are working often at night and need to be very close to good transit hopefully you are willing to narrow your search quite a bit. Trains would probably be better than buses and you don't want a long commute. Post a little more info and you will get better responses.

Check out the areas near the first few train stops in Queens. As far as Brooklyn goes I would rec the areas nearer to Park Slope such as Ft Greene, Windsor Terrace and Park Slope itself. Also areas like Carroll Gardens and Boerum Hill would be great with a roommate(a little more $$). Williamsburg and Greenpoint in Brooklyn I think are just really expensive now and the trains are actually much better in the other parts of Brooklyn I just mentioned. More lines which is good for late night travel. I lived in Greenpoint and also in Williamsburg in the early 90's when it was much cheaper and I wouldn't pay what they are asking now.

[traceme25]

my budget its about 950 month but i will be sharing with a friend most likely so im looking for a 2 bedroom at around 1500. I want a short ride into midtown...i know ill be getting hoe around 7-8ish so i dont want any sketchy neighborhoods. i plan to be very close to a bus that could take me to where i can hop on a train into the port authority. give me the names of cities and neighborhoods within these cities so i can narrow my search please.

[mead]

I'm a little bit confused here, perhaps you can clear this up for me.

Are you going to be working directly near the Port Authority in the city? The Port Authority is a large bus terminal in NYC.

If you want, you can easily find express buses from NJ that go directly to the Port Authority. This is the final stop that all of these buses make. NJ Transit runs a lot of buses, as do a bunch of private companies like Lakeland.

I think the trendy neighborhoods in Brooklyn might be a little out of your reach for $1,500 a month. I'm not that familiar with that particular area though, so somebody else will have to help you out with that.

Alternatively. you might want to think about taking a train into Penn Station from NJ, Long Island, or Queens and either walking or taking the subway up one stop to 42nd st.

If you are ok with doing this, towns that you might like are neighborhoods in Queens like Bayside, Douglaston, & Little Neck or towns in New Jersey like Rutherford.

[cyntmac]

The neighborhoods I mentioned would be good to check out. Very convenient and lots to do. If you want less expensive you might want to try a nabe like Jackson Heights. It is very ethnic with good restaurants and reasonable rents. The train would take you to midtown and you should not have to deal with buses at all. This will be an advantage if you come home late. I think the commute time on the train would be under 25 minutes. I don't remember anymore. Long Island City is more convenient but more $$ for a 2 br - you might find something there. Keep in mind that long commutes with bus rides included are not late night friendly. If you are young you will surely have many late nights.
Many trains do run underneath times square which is next to the Port Authority and all the areas I mentioned are fairly quick commutes.

[eslteacher]

You should look in Astoria/Long Island City on the N and W train line stops between 36th Ave and Ditmars.

[Hustla718]

Williamsburg, Brooklyn for someone from a wealthy suburb. No way. Area is run down looking to anyone outside NYC, plus it's close to some ****ty areas.

Try Queens, you will love it. Astoria is a denser part of Queens, more city like. Jackson Heights is dense with lots of immigrants, will be a change.

Only parts of Queens to really avoid would be Far Rock, Hollis, Jamaica, East Elmhurst and Corona. The rest is doable.

Also try Staten Island, just stay away frm the PJ's. That right there leaves you a lot of choices.

[jjbradleynyc]

Originally Posted by Hustla718

Williamsburg, Brooklyn for someone from a wealthy suburb. No way. Area is run down looking to anyone outside NYC, plus it's close to some ****ty areas.

Try Queens, you will love it. Astoria is a denser part of Queens, more city like. Jackson Heights is dense with lots of immigrants, will be a change.

Only parts of Queens to really avoid would be Far Rock, Hollis, Jamaica, East Elmhurst and Corona. The rest is doable.

Also try Staten Island, just stay away frm the PJ's. That right there leaves you a lot of choices.

From 2002-2005, I rented apartments in Williamsburg/Grnpt--then sold some property in the areas. People from wealthy suburbs are just the type of kids/fresh outta college types that are moving to Williamsburg-Greenpoint! These locations are ideal, due to the straight shot & super short commute to Manhattan. What "shi**y" areas are you referring to? I would tell her that Jackson Heights is probably not what she's looking for--new to the city, fresh out of college. It is a very pretty 'hood, but a hike to the city, compared to other Brooklyn and Queens waterfront hoods.