Calling all New Yorkers...?

Question

I will be relocating to NYC for work and am looking for any tips on making the transition. I am coming from a decent sized city in the Midwest. Is apartment hunting as big of a nightmare as it sounds? What neighborhoods should I steer clear of?

Any thoughts or suggestions would be much appreciated! :-)

Thanks for these tips! More info on me... I am 27/F working in the media. I have been to NY tons of times for work, but am still a little nervous about actually living there. All your help is appreciated!

Answer 1

Ok, moving to NYC from the Midwest (even a decent sized city) is still going to be something of a culture shock.

Apartment hunting is only a nightmare if you're trying to live above your financial means. Don't try renting in Manhattan unless you can truly afford it. Try some of the places close to Manhattan like Astoria or Long Island City in Queens or Brooklyn Heights.

I would stay clear of the following neighborhoods: north of 155th Street in Manhattan, large portions of the Bronx (stick with Throgs Neck, Pelham, Riverdale), Bedford-Stuyversant, East New York and Brownsville (which are all in Brooklyn), So. Ozone Park, Hollis, Rochdale Village, Rosedale, Cambria Heights, Laurelton, So. Jamaica, parts of Queens Village, Far Rockaway (all in Queens).

Don't know much about Staten Island.

Answer 2

The apartment hunt is less of a competitive nightmare than it was a few years ago, but it still sucks. Many apartments can only be rented "through a broker" which means you pay a month's rent or more as a broker's fee. You'll not only pay a lot more for a "one bedroom" (or whatever) apt. than you did in the Midwest, it will be smaller and older, and probably 3-4 floors up with no elevator. :) But it may well turn out to be a very pleasant living space when all is said and done.

Manhattan has a lot of disadvantages, including but not limited to the extremely high cost of living. You probably want to start off living in Brooklyn, Queens, or perhaps Hoboken/Jersey City (in NJ but very convenient to Manhattan by train).

Go on newyork.craigslist.org and look at prices. It's kind of impossible to suggest neighborhoods without knowing your age/personality/price range/etc. Since you already have a job here, you can start by investigating the neighborhoods along the most convenient subway line for your commute. (www.mta.info) Once you're narrowing in on a neighborhood that looks affordable and convenient, call the local police precinct and ask what crime is like there -- you'll get a bluntly honest answer. Also look for neighborhood blogs that will help you sense the personality of a particular area.

Good luck!

Answer 3

I moved to New York from the midwest a couple of years ago. You might want to check out Queens. Long Island City and Astoria are the closest to Manhattan. There are some nice apartment buildings coming up in Long Island City. However, parts of Long Island City are shady and deserted, especially at night.
Forest Hills is a little farther from Manhattan, but it's a nice neighborhood. There's a shopping area on Austin Street- lots of restaurants, movie theater etc. It's very accessible by train- express, local and LIRR. I'd consider it a safe neighborhood. Lots of young professionals and old people.
I have friends that live in Bayside. It has a more suburban feel. The problem with Bayside is that you really need a car to get around. There's bus service but no subway service.
The above poster who listed shady neighborhoods was spot on. If you're interested in checking crime statistics for neighborhoods throughout the city, you can check the nypd's website.
Good luck!

Answer 4

I lived in East Village, Manhattan for 10 years. It's tough to find a decent sized place for a decent price. It's incredible.
If you get discouraged in downtown Manhattan,
way uptown in the narrow tip of Manhattan is somewhere, but I'd look around some of the first few subway stops in Queens, like in Long Island City, Sunnyside, (46th St. on 7 train)Woodside, Astoria.
Then there's Brooklyn, if you can afford it Cobble Hill and Carroll Gardens are all right, and Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights would be my first choice if I were to move back.
Then there's Hoboken, NJ.. Great views, just a quick trainride to the West Village.
And I hear Williamsburg, Brooklyn is cool, and where the L train and G trains cross in Brooklyn, or The L train stop Bedford Ave. is convenient to downtown & village.
It is almost a waste of time to call ads in the papers for Manhattan. They're already rented the night before the ad comes out.
If you're a car person, it's difficult to deal with that in manhattan unless you're rico rico.
If you'd consider a share, and answer an ad for a roommate, try up in the Upper West Side, then Upper East Side.
It's nice to be near Central Park and one of the rivers.
If money were no object, I'd probably live on E. 10th St. between 2nd and 3rd Avenues.
Good Luck

Answer 5

Yes, apartment hunting does really suck. Try Craigslist (link below) either for apartments or to find a roommate or find a broker to help you out, but if you get a broker, you will have to pay a hefty fee.

I'd stay out of living in Manhattan just because it's more expensive and there are more people. I live in Brooklyn and I think the pace is a little slower, there are fewer people around (relatively). My roommates and I pay $2100 for a 3 bedroom, so affordable situations are available.

I'd stay out of the South Bronx, Crown Heights or Bedford/Stuyvesant in Brooklyn, or any of the really far neighborhoods in Brooklyn or Queens. Affordable places to look: Astoria, Queens or Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, maybe Greenpoint, Red Hook, or Bay Ridge in Brooklyn.

My parents are both midwestern originally, they transitioned to the area well. :-)

Answer 6

rents : $2500.00 per month..( brokers fees..first month &security)
manhattan is expensive.
upper east side is the best.
one good hint: when you do look at a neighborhood..also see it at night..many times neighborhoods look very different at night.
take care.