Info on NYC apartments?

Question

This is going to sound very stupid to some (or most) but I'm an aspiring writer considering jobs in NYC. I've been looking up apartments located in NYC but I'm very confused on how the city is divided up. Yes, I've looked at a map but what would be considered the areas to avoid? And what is a broker's fee on apartments up there?

Considering I've spent my life in small towns across the U.S., I find the idea of living in a big city a little intimidating and I want to make sure I live in a decent part of town.

Thanks!

I would like to know what area is most affordable or what areas are ridiculously expensive so I can avoid those areas.

Answer 1

new york has five borough manhattan, brooklyn, queens, bronx and staten island. staten island is a great place to live because it gives you that small town but it's not that close to manhattan you would have to take the ferry to the city which is free or take the express bus which is not that cheap. your choice.
manhattan is pretty expensive all around but mainly downtown, upper and lower east side and extremely expensive. harlem and washington heights are not as expensive but i don't know about the neighborhoods. the bronx have some places like castle hill and pelham parkway areas that are very nice and some that are horrible and wouldn't recommend it. queens is a pretty good borough some place might be alittle worse than others but kew gardens and areas around is great but much farther of the city. brooklyn i couldn't give you any info because i don't know that much about it.

Answer 2

Your best bet is probably Astoria, Queens or the part of Brooklyn called "South Brooklyn" which includes the neighborhoods Brooklyn Heights, Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Park Slope, Prospect Heights, Fort Green, Clinton Hill, and Red Hook. You might also be able to find an affordable apartment in Benshonhurst or Bay Ridge, which are further from Manhattan and hence a little less expensive (but a longer commute should you get a job in Manhattan). You could also try the northern part of Manhattan (Washington Heights and Inwood are the neighborhoods there), which is more affordable than the rest of Manhattan, but still developing. I would think that if you're used to small towns, Brooklyn might be a better fit for you, as it has more of a friendly, community-oriented, neighborhood-y vibe.

I'd stay out of Bedford-Stuyvesant and Crown Heights in Brooklyn, and I'd stay out of the South Bronx. I don't know much about other parts of Queens, so I'm not helpful there.

Broker fees are large and scary. Typically 10-15% of a YEAR's rent. The fee is sort of a finder's fee for the broker. It's possible to find apartments without a broker, but apartment hunting in New York is difficult and frustrating even for those of us who have been in New York for a long time, so you might be better off putting some money aside and going with a broker, who can also get you a better deal sometimes. Stay away from some of the bigger brokerages (like Manhattan Apartments or Citihabitat) and try to pick a smaller firm in a neighborhood you're interested in.

Or else just try craigslist: http://newyork.craigslist.org

Answer 3

Its hard to say. First, anything that sounds too good to be true probably is. Anything under 1000 a month is probably a scam or in a really bad neighborhood. Its really tough to tell you what bad neighborhoods are and what good ones are. In NYC that can cange from block to block. You're best bet is to see the area both during the day and again at night.

Answer 4

consistent with danger you ought to look into rooming with somebody. that stands out as the only way which you are going to have the skill to have the money for something superb in a good section. i understand that that isn't any longer ordinary to stay with somebody once you're used to residing on your very own...yet believe me as quickly as I say that for the period of NYC it may be better to have somebody which will assist you once you get there. A roommate could have the skill to a minimum of teach you around the section and inform you the places to stay removed from. long island is a beast all in itself in case you do no longer understand a thank you to navigate it. stable success!

Answer 5

would you like to live in Manhattan? or in any of the other 4 NYC boroughs (Queens, Brooklyn, Bronx, Staten Island)?

Answer 6

try craigs list in NY
also on yahoo or aol do an apartment search on the tool bars.
I got my place in Nevada that way and was out of state when I picked the place. then did a visit to check it out and moved.