dimbulb

I posted a similar thread about Boston a few months ago, but that job fell through. Now I'm on the verge of a job in NYC. (have the offer letter and all, and replied, now waiting for paperwork.)

After doing a quick look at online ads in the NYTimes, VillageVoice, craigslist, and various apartment rental sites, I've come to the conclusion that this must be one of the craziest rental markets ever. Cue the TFP to the rescue.

My situation:
1) 70-80 hour work week
2) Office is in Mid-town Manhattan (Near Grand Central)
3) Lots of travel (air travel)

What I want:
1) Close to the subway
2) maximum of 20 min commute (when I'm working 12 hours a day, I don't want to waste any more time than I have to)
3) Cheap. OK... no such thing here.... Cheaper then. I'll be getting a decent salary, but I want to save as much of this as possible. Hopefully a studio/ 1BR for less than $1000.
4) Safe neighborhood. Someplace where I can walk home after dark.
5) Amenities/groceries/nightlife nearby... but not a deal breaker....
6) Quiet is gooood. Family oriented isn't too bad either.


How you can help:
1) Share your story!! How did you find your apartment in NYC/NJ.
2) Any good brokers/websites to recommend?
3) Reviews and recommendations of neighborhoods where a young college grad can fit in. I'm thinking somewhere in Queens or Brooklyn.
4) Should I keep my car?

00111000

Brooklyn is great. I'd look on craigslist for apt searches. It's been the best way I've used to find an apt and usually much faster. Worse comes to worse, Hoboken kicks ass also, but it is in robot hell.

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hilbert25

no way you'll get 20 minutes for grand central for $1000. Park Slope in Brooklyn might be able to fit you for $1k, but it'd be 30+ minutes in the morning. Otherwise Sunset Park might work. Not altogether safe, but if you get near the W, it's 25-35 minutes to grand central, depending on the 7. It's really close to Bay Ridge (lot's of good little bars) and a really mixed neighborhood, with Jewish, Mexican, Asian, and White in pretty equal numbers.

Maybe somewhere near Columbia. (between broadway and amsterdam, 116 plus or minus 5 streets). Neighborhood isn't the safest, but you can find some great aparments for cheap. Just stay really close to the school. And a recent grad would fit in there.

Or check the upper east side, you might get lucky, maybe you'll be able to sublet for that much.

One last place to check would be Roosevelt Island. It's lot's of families, but really close to the city. And you could take a tram to work.

maleficent

I lived in Fort Washington for a bunch of years, 187th street and Fort Washington Avenue -- (181st street stop on the A Train) was 20 minutes from LaGuardia - 20 minutes in rush hour from Columbus Circle (57th and broadway)

I had a doorman building, river view in a very eclectic neighborhood

Dump the car, if you travel, unless you garage it, or have really good friend, alternate side of the street parking will kill you. You have to be home to move your car.

If you are near Grand Central - try also looking at Westchester county - it might be less pricey than manhattan, you could keep your car, and it's a quick train ride into the city. There's also westchester county airport as well.

Jersey City - stick to near the water - -Newport center is a gorgeous set of apartment complexes, luxuory type- -not super expensive, near the water. and the Path train from NJ to NY is right at your door.

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maleficent

are you opposed to roommates?

a two bedroom might be easier to deal with, if you travel a bit for work, you could negotiate paying less than half the rent - or find a share with someone else who travels a lot.

The village voice usually carries lots of ads for apartment shares.. (though there are lots of freaks as well)

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Ripsaw

If you are lucky, you may find a studio in Astoria that will be in your price range. W/N or R trains run to Grand Central in under 20 minutes from there. It fits all of your qualifications. Well lit streets, convenient shopping and laundry services, and busy at all hours.

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maleficent

Hoboken, these days, you'd be hard pressed to find anything for 1000 bucks a month, and parking is next to impossible. But if you can find something - it's got the nightlight, it's got great transportation to the city (path for the winter, ferry in the summer - it's a great way to travel) It's a pretty easy trip to Newark Airport

There's also Weehawken as well or Fort Lee, though due to convenience to the city - under a 1000 bucks is going to be tough to find/

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quadro2000

The NYC rental market is through the roof. As others have said, there is no way you'll get an apartment in the city, 20 minutes from work for $1000. You have to decide which is the bigger priority: price or commute. If commute is most important, you're looking at probably around $1500 or more for a studio anywhere near midtown. A friend of mine had a studio on 42nd and 3rd for $1600.

If price is more important, look at Brooklyn or Queens. I live in Astoria. A few years ago I had a one bedroom there for $1200.

Also, if you are working near Grand Central, you might want to look at Brooklyn - the 4 and 5 trains go there and stop right at Grand Central. I don't know too much about the area.

I would say to look at Craigslist more to get a real good idea of the market - then go visit the Housing Forum there and ask for more advice. They can be a little snarky at times but were very helpful when I needed advice.

Good luck!

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Rubyee

Holy shit. I hope you all get paid well.

2 bed, 1 bath, basement, kitchen, living room, dining room, sun room, 2 foyers, 2 entrance duplex for $565/month.

Council Bluffs, IA.

The commute would be horrendous, but the price would make up for it.

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You don't know from fun.

maleficent

If commute is not a huge issue, and price is, you don't want to throw all your money away on rent, you want to save some money.

THink New Jersey - New Jersey Transit has very good service, trains and busses into the city, and there are a bunch of private bus companies as well - that go into the Port Authority (41st and 8th - and easy walk to Grand Central)

You can get within 45 minutes to an hour of the city, and get a nice big place, with a reasonable rent. Some area's I'd consider the Brunswicks (North or East I think -- lots of golf courses in the area - property values are not out of sight yet, so the demographic in that area is mid 20s - and not all families. Princeton is a bit further out, but still commutable to the city though the downside is -- you 'd really need to keep your car and car insurance in NJ is not exactly reasonable.

CHeck out www.rentnet.com to see what's available.

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nowthen

reminds me of the days when i lived in london... still brings me out in a cold sweat just thinking about it.

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"People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them."

George Bernard Shaw

kutulu

Damn I don't understand how people can put up with paying $1500 for a fucking studio. I understand that wages are higher in places like NYC but are they that much higher?

Fearless_Hyena

I was doin the same thing a month or 2 ago but i decided to stay in DC. If you don't mind Harlem you can get a place for like $750/month. Or look at the west side around 57th street, I think it's a decent area and apt's start at like 1200 or so. My new job is a ton of travel too, and I cut my bills in half by taking on a roommate. Maybe consider that too, saves a ton of loot!

EDIT: Those places are close to the train, and if you look at the neighborhoods in Brooklyn near the A & C line I hear rent prices are a lot cheaper than Manhattan. And not that much father away either, it's like a train stop or 2 away from Manhattan. Oh yeah, get rid of your car, if you live in the city it's real expensive to keep a car and it's not necessary either. Your mileage may vary but that's what I found out....

quadro2000

Blah blah blah. I had almost the same thing in Buffalo for $375. You live in IOWA. Your job would get you probably around $6 more an hour in NYC. So it's somewhat relative.

I think it depends on where you're working. I think that it's half higher wages and half just a dumb status thing. If my chosen business wasn't based in NYC, I wouldn't be here.

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You have to laugh at yourself...because you'd cry your eyes out if you didn't. - Emily Saliers

Random Kordie

Holy crap. My family used to rent our house a few years ago. It was a 2 story, 5 bedroom, 3 bathroom house with amazing ocean views, with a train station, a major shopping centre and a marina all within walking distance, and it went for $400 AU (thats about $250 US off the top of my head) a month. You can have NYC.

Although, for comparison, what is the average wage over there?

maleficent

Salary Comparisons for US Cities

International Salary Calculator

Not sure how accurate they really are, but it's interesting to see anyhow....

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dimbulb

I think that I will try to focus on Long Island City and Astoria.

Any other nice neighborhoods along the 7-line? That would mean a direct ride to Grand Central for me.

Astoria seems to be the nicer of the two, but Long Island City is the closer.

Paywise, I'm just getting the typical salary for an fresh college grad of 50-60 thousand a year. After my calculations, it'll just barely get me by. (especially since i want to save at least 15k a year.)

Paq

Yeah, dump the car. I'm looking for a place in manhattan for a short term and i think i came across a few on craig's list that fit my budget/locational whims and they actually sound like yours as well.

I have a friend in manhattan and her first apt was 92nd and west end at a low low price of just $1200/month, but you pay 6 months up front...that was a 390 sq ft loft bedroom. 1 room, your bed was above the bathroom and you access it via a ladder beside the bathroom door.

Roommates make the price a bit cheaper. $800 for a reasonable room with a couple ecclectic people and you're set. normally, they are on the subway lines, so it's 2 blocks to subway, not a big walk.

Dump the car. $70 metro pass right now, unlimited subway and bus rides per month. $2 for each subway trip otherwise. believe it or not, that is cheaper than my gas right now in SC for my little 30mpg car....

Ummm. as for salaries, yeah, money is like water there. Kinda flows quickly. generally, though, it's out of your pockets before it's in...

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Live.

Chris

DEI37

Wow...I don't make but $1400/mnth. If you're renting at $1600/mnth, then your yearly salary has to be $60,000 or better. Wow...cities suck even bigger balls than I'd EVER thought. I'll take the country.

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Generally speaking, if you were to get what you really deserve, you might be unpleasantly surprised.

Esen

Well in my neighborhood and I'm in Queens rents for 2 bedrooms are betwenn 1400- 2400 a month

SO any wher e ya go its screwed.

You may want to check out Jersey City, Parts of it are not worth living in, but you may be able to find a studio around the grove st path station in your price range.

You can take the path train right into the 34th and its actually cheaper $1.50 compared to $2.00 each way then the subway.

It will get you there in about 20-25 minutes.

And If you wanted to go downtown you are looking at 10 mins to the world trade center from Jersey city.

Astoria / Jackson Hights may have something close to what you want.

If you are Gay or Gay friendly you can probably gat a pretty decent share in Harlem for $1000 a month for your own room.
(big gay population in Harlem now and they look for the same to share pads with)

When you ask people about Bklyn , they gonna mention N Williamsburg -forget it, matter of fact dont even dare step foot into that town or anywhere near. Because once you do you are going to fall in live with the place and beat youself up every stinking day because there is no- way you can afford it.

I grew up in Bushwicjk Bklyn and you used to be able to get somewhat affordable rents there but I heard that even there the rents are going through the ceiling, and If you are afraid to fight then it is not the place for you either same with Fort green and east NY but who knows.

You may also want to check out Yonkers, some decent areas up there for ok rents.

Or If you are willing to have 45 min to 1- 1/4 commutes check out richmond hill / lower Glendale/ ridgewood/ Jamaica/Maspath/Cypress Hills
But then again you can't be scared walking down the streets either. I'm not saying anything will happen to you. but it can get kind of seedy with all the crack heads and they feed upon the weak.

Good Luck

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~Esen
What is everyone doing in my room?

Cynthetiq

I live in the Lower East Side (Grand and FDR), commute time to midtown is 35 minutes...it's a very safe neighborhood and there are lots of kids and families.

where I live you can find rentals for $1500 for a large 1 bedroom. Parking is available on the street, but I opt to be in a garage as I hate the alternate side parking shuffle every couple of days.

www.lohorealty.com

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Rubyee

Phhhhffffttttt!

(cartoon speak for raspberries!!!!)

wallace1

The rents are high and unless you can afford a garage cars aren't even worth it, but I'll say this, there is no where in the world like NYC. If you get the opportunity to live there than take it, even if it's just for a year or two. The experiences will be wonderful and the contacts that you can make will be invaluable. There are places in the city that are "affordable" but you have to forget all that you have ever known about renting and realize that NYC is it's own world. And for those of you who get hostile about the way things are there, remember, nobody is asking YOU to move there.
Good Luck!
p.s. I am rather fond of the lower west side, it has all of the qualities you were looking for (except being cheap)

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Rubyee

Yes, YOU are asking us to move there.

subz

I thought NYC was rent controled...?

Cynthetiq

some apartments are rent controlled, some are rent stabilized and the rest are free market.

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I don't care if you are black, white, purple, green, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, hippie, cop, bum, admin, user, English, Irish, French, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, Buddhist, Muslim, indian, cowboy, tall, short, fat, skinny, emo, punk, mod, rocker, straight, gay, lesbian, jock, nerd, geek, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, driver, pedestrian, or bicyclist, either you're an asshole or you're not.