Moving to New York [Archive] - Page 4

Front_Porch

December 14th, 2006, 10:53 AM

Whew! I've just finished going through all 51 pages.

Anyway, I'd be grateful for some help specific to my situation.

I'm an Indian, living in India, and have just got a job with a New York based company via campus placements. (I'm a fresh graduate)

I'll be starting off at a salary of 60k, with a signing on bonus of 10k, and an assured year-end bonus of 25%.

My office is two blocks from Grand Central, and I'd want a short commute, of less than 30 min.

I was looking for something in Queens, maybe in Forest Hills.

Here is what I would want in an apartment:
One bedroom or large studio
Rent: 1k to 1.3k
Safe area.
Close to the subway.
Preferably in house gym and laundromat

How realistic is this?
Also, how much extra rent can I expect to for a furnished apartment? How much would I need to spend to furnish it myself?
Also, how comfortable can I expect my life in New York to be?

Welcome! You're going to love it here.

A landlord will ask for an income of 40-50X rent -- my guess is that as a foreign national, you'll be held to the tighter 50x standard -- so your budget is perfect.

Forest Hills basically centers around Forest Hills Gardens -- a 1910s and 1920s middle-class/upper-middle class housing development that's got lots of Tudor homes and is very leafy, and now, very fashionable and expensive -- and radiates outward. The danger is that when you see Internet ads, you'll see things called "Forest Hills" that aren't truly in the neighborhood.

Terrace Realty at www.foresthillsrealestate.com is a pretty big broker in the area; I'm not sure they do rentals, but worth asking.

I also believe there are a number of luxury doorman buildings on the edges of the gardens. (can someone more local jump in here?) I've never lived in Parker Towers, but I've heard good things about it, and it is no fee: www.parkertowers.com

As far as renting furniture, like many brokerages my firm refers people to Cort Furniture Rental -- www.cort.com

Good luck!

ali r.
downtown broker

Lolita88

December 15th, 2006, 11:22 PM

Hi all!
I just finished reading this thread and Im so excited its funny. NYC has been a lifelong dream for me and while I know it will be a hard move for a 19 year old student on my own Im determined to make it work. I've applied and hopefully will be excepted to either Parsons, Pratt or F.I.T. :p for the fashion programs but im wondering do you all think its better for me to get my own place or put in for campus housing? I plan to live in NYC after i finish school as well and although the move wont be untill around august am really doing my research and trying to save every penny.

Also, once I get to the city what are some good places for me to sort of hang out?
Im from Dominican Republic and Miami and diversity is a HUGE plus for me, even with the job i have now im there because of all the diff people I meet daily. So I would like to know some places where I could really get to experience a little bit of everything.

And, I also wanna know if Lord forbid I dont get into the schools, should I move up anyways and maybe go to a community college or something? HELPPPPP (lol)

Anyways thanks in advanced to all.;)

Punzie

December 16th, 2006, 01:47 AM

Put in for campus housing ASAP. You may find off-campus housing that you prefer, but it's good to have a backup in case you don't.

In the beginning, go to the campus hangouts to network with the university folk and find friends who share your interests.

If you're absolutely determined to make it in New York City, move up here even if you don't get into your first choices of schools. Go to a community college, maybe even in one of the outter boroughs where the cost of living is usually lower.

Lolita88

December 16th, 2006, 12:42 PM

Thank you! And yes I am most definetly determined to make it in NYC. I wasnt sure wether to move or not if I dont get in. Since I know if Im not going up there to one of those schools my parents are pretty much not even gonna bother with me, so it'll just be me and housing would be a problem because I'd need a good job and to go to school. Anyways, if there is anymore info or input any one has plz feel free to let me know Im all ears and very intrested in all things NYC. Thanks again in advanced.:p <----btw I LOVE THIS THING (lol)

Lolita88

December 17th, 2006, 03:31 PM

Do you all think a personal assistant job would be a good job for me?

american dream

December 18th, 2006, 01:02 PM

thanx

ryan

December 18th, 2006, 02:34 PM

Lolita88, I'm not sure if I am following, but it sounds like you're asking if you should move here instead of going to school. If you, my answer is no.

It's a very expensive place to live comfortably, so unless you're prepared to pursue a professional job, you'll have a hard time making enough money to do anything but get by. Being broke in nyc is no fun. You need an education (or job experience, or specific, in-demand skills) - even to get a good personal assistant job.

Lolita88

December 18th, 2006, 03:02 PM

Lolita88

December 21st, 2006, 02:31 PM

Ok so are there anymore tips any one has? Please feel free to inform me. Oh and also pm me if your willing to answer "stupid questions" and provide just random tips. I love hearing about all things New York.

Thanks in advanced ;)

fishermb

December 23rd, 2006, 12:51 PM

I seem to be getting most of my stuff in check for moving up in a few months, and was looking for one last piece of advice. I am planning to move up to NY on March 1st. I'm going to make a 4-5 day trip up beforehand to look at apartments and eventually sign a lease. If that's the day I'm shooting to sign a lease for, when do you all think is the best time to go up there? I was thinking the week of January 26-February 2...too early? too late? 4-5 days not enough? Also, are there any particular days that are better to look at places than any other? Should I do weekdays or weekends? Thanks all.

Front_Porch

December 24th, 2006, 11:45 AM

What days of the week to look? find apartments in your price range and see when they seem to be showing.

I know that doesn't seem helpful, but when agents work actually depends on the price range: for starter apartments, Saturday is often a big rental day, whereas higher-end agents tend to work every day but Saturday.

If you just randomly have to pick any four days, I'd say Friday to look around a neighborhood, Saturday and Sunday for open houses, and Monday for special appointments to pick up anything you didn't see on the weekend.

Good luck!

ali r.
{downtown broker}

AMBITION

December 25th, 2006, 05:05 AM

wow, it's a nice advanced topic.

lilly62

December 27th, 2006, 12:09 AM

I'm a 22-year-old female, moving to nyc for the first time, alone, and I'm in the process of apartment hunting right now. I found one that sounds good in Bay Ridge in Brooklyn, and another in Upper Ditmars in Queens. I know almost nothing about NY neighborhoods and I just want to know if these two neighborhoods are safe. I want to be able to walk down my street by myself at night without feeling like I should be armed. Do you know anything about these neighborhoods? or any others that are safe, less expensive, and not in manhattan?

goldibabi

December 27th, 2006, 01:10 AM

Hello!

I'm interviewing for a job that would want me to start right away. The salary would be between $35-40k, which, while it seems like a lot to this Illinois gal, isn't so much in NYC. The job is located on Fulton St. I know that on this salary I can't afford to live in Manhattan, and based on the previous posts in the thread I was thinking maybe Queens? Would Brooklyn or the Bronx be better? I'm a 24 year old female with two cats, so I'd prefer to have a studio by myself. I know that I'd need to find a place that ran around 900-1000/month...is that even possible? If it's not too out of the question, it'd be nice to have a shorter (~30 minutes) commute, but if that's wishful thinking, I understand.

Thanks so much for all of your help! Any neighborhood suggestions would be great...I'm open to anything!

Mandi25

December 27th, 2006, 07:14 PM

I've read all of the information on this post about neighborhoods for people considering a move to NYC, but I'm surprised I haven't seen anything about Hoboken. I am a 25 year old professional who will work with clients located all over Manhattan when I relocate up there. I have planned on living in Manhattan when I move, but I've been recommended to look into moving to Hoboken, and I was hoping for some feedback on the area. Can anyone tell me the pros and/or cons to living in Hoboken rather than somewhere in Manhattan? Thanks in advance. :)

Schadenfrau

December 27th, 2006, 09:49 PM

If you search the forums for "Hoboken," you'll find lots of information and advice.

ablarc

December 28th, 2006, 12:08 AM

I haven't seen anything about Hoboken.
http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3786

Formula86

December 28th, 2006, 02:46 AM

Hello, all. I tried reading through this entire thread but only got to about page 20. I figured I would just ask my questions since a bunch could've changed over a few years anyways.

I'm a 24 year old female with a bachelor's degree in English - Technical Writing. I live in Texas and am going to try and get some experience in the magazine field here first (through an internship and possibly job).

When I decide to move to NYC:
*I want to live somewhere where I can have a small house with a fenced-in back yard.
*I want somewhere safe for me and my animals (2 dogs and a cat) because I like to let them go in and out with a doggy door.
*I own a house now and, if I sell it, I think I can get about 90-100 thousand for it. So that could be used for a big down-payment or maybe to pay for a house out-right.
*I'd like to be about 20-30 min from Manhattan by some sort of public transportation (subway, train, etc.).
*I don't mind living somewhere suburban-like. I just want to be close to the city (20-30 min).

Questions:
Where should I live? :)
How possible will it be to find a job working for a magazine (small or large) with a bachelor's degree in English - Technical Writing? Should I try and get my Master's before trying?

I'm not sure what else to put. I'm sure I left out info here and there. So just ask me if you need some more info to answer my questions. :D

Thanks in advance!

Punzie

December 28th, 2006, 05:51 AM

Recall the famous John Lennon quote:

"Life happens while you're making other plans."

Before you get a job in Texas, begin a graduate program in Texas, get a job promotion in Texas, get a beautiful new car, renovate your Texas house, find a partner in Texas who may want a committed relationship, begin wondering about motherhood.........

Get over to New York City!!

Formula86

December 28th, 2006, 06:20 AM

Haha! Very true. I'm just worried about going there with NO job experience in that field and with only a bachelor's degree. I mean, how possible is it I would get a job in the magazine field?

Also - if I go to grad school, I will probably have to go here - I don't think I can afford out-of-state tuition. Blah.

Thanks for the encouragment, though!! :D

Punzie

December 28th, 2006, 07:08 AM

Consider the City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate School. The tuition is reduced once you become a New York State resident. Here's the tuition page:

http://portal.cuny.edu/portal/site/cuny/index.jsp?epi-content=GENERIC&epiproxymethod=get&viewID=epiproxybanner&beanID=965289823&epiproxyrealurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww1.cuny.edu%2Fporta l_ur%2Fcontent%2Fadmissions%2Fgraduate%2Ftuition.p hp

Here's the main menu for the University:

http://portal.cuny.edu/portal/site/cuny/?epi_menuItemID=b288e5fe531bec864bef4d5178304e08&epi_menuID=a00e05b73704d3407d840d5541a08a0c&epi_baseMenuID=a00e05b73704d3407d840d5541a08a0c

CUNY Graduate School has a fine reputation and top professors. Although the student population is very diverse, most students seem to be in the same boat: smart, hard working, not quite financially established, and determined to make it in New York City.

I got my college and masters degrees out-of-state, so when I impart CUNY info to you, I don't have a "vested" interest.:)

Formula86

December 28th, 2006, 07:35 AM

Cool, thanks. I'll definitely check that out. :)

Any ideas on where I'd live based on my requirements/wants??

Thanks!!

Formula86

December 28th, 2006, 07:43 AM

Ok, I just checked that website out. I don't think the college offers a Master's degree in my field. But I really appreciate the link! Do you know of any other public colleges that are pretty good?

Schadenfrau

December 28th, 2006, 02:06 PM

There's absolutely no reason to get a Master's if you want to work in magazines, but you do need work experience.

Honestly, you're not going to find a house in this area for anything near that price. Also, publishing is a pretty low-paying industry. Before you get serious about moving to NYC, you should reconsider your housing plans.

bmc

December 28th, 2006, 02:37 PM

Take Schadenfrau's advice - moving to the City and buying a house for your said price that is only about 20-30 minutes away from the City is unrealistic - you need to reconsider your housing plans, definitely.

Mandi25

December 28th, 2006, 03:55 PM

Thanks Schadenfrau and ablarc for pointing me in the right direction.:D

Formula86

December 28th, 2006, 07:28 PM

Thanks, guys. That's why I'm here - to find out what's realistic and what's not.

The reason that I am so hung up on finding a house with a yard is because of my animals - especially my cat. He's indoor/outdoor and has to be allowed outdoors (or problems ensue...lol). I would, otherwise, love to live in a small apartment.

So how far away from the city would I have to be to get a house (with a down payment of about 80 thousand)? How much are houses in Long Island, etc?

I'm sure you can tell that even though I've been many times, I've never researched living there until now. So please excuse my naivety.

Would anyone recommend another city altogether? I've also considered Seattle and Boston. ???

Thanks, everyone!

fishermb

December 28th, 2006, 09:04 PM

lofter1

December 28th, 2006, 09:33 PM

Would anyone recommend another city altogether? I've also considered Seattle and Boston. ???

Not sure about the publishing industry, but look into Portland, Oregon for good liveability.

kimokao

December 28th, 2006, 11:33 PM

Hello again!
I'm writing again because i think my last post was lost among others, and because my plans have changed.

I'm a 19 year old male looking to move to manhattan late spring 2007. I was planning on moving with my best friend, but she just got a great gig at disneyworld so she's gonna be in florida for the next year :-S so now i'm looking at moving by myself. I didn't think that i would be able to afford to live in NYC by myself, but i've been looking everyday at stats and what I'm willing to live with.

I will be moving to NYC with no job, but a substantial savings before i move, enough to maintain me for three months while i get settled and find a job. $8000, which includes plane fare, and hostel living for a week.

I'm looking for a modest studio, or a room in a shared apt for $800 a month.
From listings on craigslist, this seems possible... am i correct?
I am planning on committing to a career in acting, so i would love to be somewhere near the theatre districts.
Also i plan to take classes at Cuny once the fall semester starts.

Can anyone give me any advice about how realistic my goals sound?
Esp. housing location, and my plan.
How realistic is finding and signing housing within a week?
And will a landlord let a 19 year old, jobless kid sign a lease?

Things dont seem to be working out they way i had hoped, but this is more than a dream for me, it's my goal. And i'm determined to make it happen. Any advice, is very much appreciated :)
Thanks for your time,
Kimo

lofter1

December 29th, 2006, 12:00 AM

Signing the lease could be problematic given your situation ... but hardly necessary to get started in NYC.

Move yourself into the hostel for a week or two and then find a roommate situation for a few months. Get to know the city and start to establish a structure that allows you to make some money while you figure out how to pursue your acting career. There are lots of opportunities when you're young and a new arrival with lots of energy & drive.

The most important thing when starting out in NYC (besides a little financial cushion, which you seem to have already figured out) is a strong passion to guide you.

Punzie

December 29th, 2006, 02:00 AM

Do you know of any other public colleges that are pretty good?

New Jersey's State University system, Rutgers:

http://www.rutgers.edu/

The Newark campus is ideal because it's so near NYC. The New Brunswick campus is not nearly as close to NYC, but a communte is "doable". The Camden campus is a short distance from Philadelphia, but far from NYC.

Definitely investigate the CUNY graduate programs some more. Maybe your major is embedded in an unexpected department/school or goes by another name. This has been known to happen with CUNY.

Schadenfrau

December 29th, 2006, 02:44 AM

Formula86, I think you really have to weigh the value you're placing on your desired career and where you're willing to live.

You could certainly purchase a house with an 80K downpayment, but you wouldn't be able to secure a mortgage with a publishing salary, especially at an entry level. At that point, you're looking at well under 40K a year, most likely far less. If you're looking at an internship, you'll probably be paid nothing at all.

People around here don't keep animals outside, whether or not they've houses or apartments. Even the most commutable areas of Long Island/New Jersey aren't friendly to outdoor animals, and with the hours that you'll be keeping, the idea of an indoor/outdoor animal just isn't feasible.

In NYC, people your age generally live in roommate situations, within the five boroughs, or in apartments immediately outside of the city.

If you want to work in magazines, you pretty much have to live in New York. But if you truly can't live in an apartment, there's really no point in even trying.

It's really up to you. I hate to be a downer, but life here, especially if you work in a creative industry, means a lot of sacrifices that many people aren't willing to make.

Schadenfrau

December 29th, 2006, 02:48 AM

Punzie

December 29th, 2006, 03:39 AM

Also, I feel that I should reiterate my previous statement that you don't need a master's to work in publishing. In fact, it's probably worse to have one than not to. Work experience is far more valued, and you would basically just be wasting time and money by getting the degree. It would be wiser to spend that effort on working in the field.

I second this.

I gave you links to CUNY and Rutgers because you asked about public graduate school education, but I too think you should work first. In fact, if you go back to school with quality work experience in the field, you will have a much greater chance of getting a good school graduate fellowship.

This advice applies whether you come here, move to another city, or stay in Texas for the time being.

bookgirl1974

December 29th, 2006, 12:52 PM

I am single, in my early thirties, and planning a move to NY. I'm looking for a studio in the $1100-$1500 range. What is a good hipster/artsy area? The suburbs are obviously not an option. Thanks!

VVNYC

December 29th, 2006, 06:12 PM

I just read through all 54 pages of this thread, so I figured I might as well register an account and make a post.

While the majority of this thread seems focused on housing and neighborhoods (a topic I don't have much insight on), I thought I would share my experience and comments thus far on making the move to NYC.

I've been hooked on NYC for a while now and this past summer I decided to make a run for it. In September I posted my resume online and over the next 4 months, after speaking with nearly 15 recruiters, having 10-15 phone/in-person interviews, and flying up there 4 times, I accepted a great job offer and will be moving to the city in a couple of weeks from Florida.

BTW, I'm 25, 2.5 years experience in the IT field. The one major factor in my situation which most of you will not have on your side is the fact that I have 2 relatives that live in the city and was able to stay with one of them each of the 4 times I visited, so my cost was only that of airline tickets (which cost a total of nearly $1,000)

Random notes:

- It's hard but possible to land a job in NYc without being located there. It's long-shot if you refuse to visit the city at your own cost (only one company I interviewed with - a top investment bank, would have paid to fly me up if I passed the phone interviews), but if you can manage to get up there on your own a few times, it makes almost as easy as living there.

- If you use a online job site, use a NYC address in your account profile so you will show up when recruiters/companies search for the NYC job-seeker pool. (e.g. my Moster account has a relatives NYC address, but my actual Monster resume states my real FL address) This confused a few people at first, but once I explained my situation and that I was traveling to the city periodically on my own, everyone understood.

- Use recruiting agencies, if they exist for your profession. There's tons in IT and I worked with many of them. I got interviews with some fantastic companies through them. Also, I did notice some firms who were willing and placed candidates just out of college w/o experience. I wish I knew that when I graduated.

- Expect a wide variety of experiences, so take everything with a grain of salt. I've had a recruiter basically tell me I couldn't get a job in NYC w/ only 2 years experience without moving there first (he declined to work for me) at the same time I had a recruiter getting me multiple phone interviews at Goldman Sachs, at the same time another recruiting agency routinely got me in-person interviews on <24 hours notice, provided they knew I was going to be in the city in advance.

- Salary survey's on salary.com were a good (and ultimately, accurate for me) guide if you have a fairly common profession and job title. Look at where you fall on the bell curve in your current town, then compare the same title in NYC and expect similar ranges. If you are an engineer making $50k in FL, you might see the same title at $60-65k in NYC. That's a lot more realistic than using the cost-of-living calculators and coming up with "hmm, NYC cost of living is 200% more than my current town, and I make $50k, so I'll need to be looking for salaries of $100k..."

- Live with a roommate(s).

- See above. Read it again. :)

- Visit the city and network and make friends. Through my 2 relatives and trips up there I now know a handful of people that I got help, advice, and potential living arrangement possibilities from.

- I sort of lucked out, but one of my relatives actually had a roommate leave and I got to take over that room. Upper West Side for under $1,000 (my share of rent). I also came across a studio for $1,400 in the same area through a friend. Broker fees would have applied, but it would have been a painless process since the vacating tenant had time to find the replacement before it went on the market.

- I know people living in Queens (Astoria, Long Island City - just as close to midtown as I'll be) for anywhere from $700-900 for a room share. Totally affordable, provided you can live with a roommate(s). Neither of those neighborhoods appealed to me compared to most Manhattan neighborhoods, but they say they love it.

Umm... I think I'll leave it at that for now. I hope some of these comments can be of help to someone. And, lastly, just as a disclaimer, this is only my experience and I know it could vary widely based on your particular situation.

I move to NYC in 2 weeks! Good luck to everyone!

VVNYC

December 29th, 2006, 06:27 PM

I'm considering a sublease of 1-br in a 2-br in the 99 John Street building on Gold and John in the financial district. Just curious if anyone has any opinions on the building and specific location. There's a gym and doorman in building, and I've heard there's a good supermarket close by with a good organic food department (all fairly important stuff to me).

It would most likely be a temporary situation of 3-9 months while I get situated in the city and decide exactly where I'd like to live as I'll be moving up from Miami. They're asking $1450/mo fully furnished including utilities.

I've stayed with a relative a few times at 33 Gold St, just around the block from there. I can't speak for your specific building, but overall I'd say I would have no major issues living there. I'd say on the positive side, there's tons of restaurants, shops and people around during the day time. The price and amenities (gym, doorman) are nice. On the negative side, the area dies down after work-hours and Gold/John kinda feels more like an 'alleyway' than a nice street you'd like to live on. There also seems to be a lot of noise in that area, but maybe that is more a result of being across the street from a garbage area on Gold where trucks came by 24/7.

Overall, particularly for just 3-9 months as you get acclimated to NYC, I'd have no problems living there assuming your roommates are decent and the building isn't any worse than 33 Gold St.

ChasingBliss

December 29th, 2006, 08:34 PM

Hi All,

I just landed my dream job in NYC and am hoping to find an apt. in Brooklyn by Feb. 1. I've read through lots of information regarding about moving, apartment hunting, etc. However, I've seen lots of conflicting information about rent guidelines, I've seen 30% of your income, 40x -70x the annual rent, etc. What's the most realistic rule of thumb? For someone moving to brooklyn making about 75k, what's a reasonable range for a good sized one bedroom in a decent neighborhood?

bmc

December 29th, 2006, 09:32 PM

I am single, in my early thirties, and planning a move to NY. I'm looking for a studio in the $1100-$1500 range. What is a good hipster/artsy area? The suburbs are obviously not an option. Thanks!

You should definitely check out apartments in the East Village - it's definitely artsy and hip there, and you can find apartments there closer to the $1400 range.

akqjt

December 29th, 2006, 10:37 PM

Is there an online resource that has an overview of the various neighbourhoods of NYC? Rather than saying my budget is x and I like this and that about a neighbourhood, I would like to read all about the neighbourhoods and decide from the author's description which I would like the most. I'm not looking for anything too comprehensive, just a snapshot of each neighbourhood. Perhaps something like [ http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/104758/the_best_neighborhoods_of_manhattan.html ] but far more extensive. Anyone seen anything like this?

Lolita88

December 29th, 2006, 11:38 PM

I would like to read all about the neighbourhoods and decide from the author's description which I would like the most.

I wouldnt recommend you do this and I dont even live in NYC. You might wanna make the trip and see first hand. I mean someone could say the neighborhood is lively and really mean its extremely loud and that may or may not be a problem for you.I dont know though, to each its own.

akqjt

December 30th, 2006, 12:33 AM

Well, it's not like I wouldn't research the person's comments and just take them for granted. I figured if I could get a brief overview of the various neighbourhoods that I could narrow down the search to a select few and research those ones more in-depth.

Formula86

December 30th, 2006, 02:13 AM

Formula86

December 30th, 2006, 03:37 AM

Punzie

December 30th, 2006, 10:19 AM

Really quickly - what did you mean by New Jersey and Long Island not being friendly to outdoor animals? And why would my hours of work matter? Because people don't leave doggy doors open there (I'm assuming they don't)?

I can't speak for the other boroughs, but a lot of Queens is dog-friendly.

Queens has a good number of house rentals. Almost all allow cats, and many allow dogs. The houses have yards that are not like the ones where you live, but the dogs seem happy.

My recommendation is to rent a house with a housemate. If the house is very large, rent it with two housemates.

I would try to find a housemate(s) with a dog(s). The ideal would be for you and your dog-owning housemate(s) to pool the dog walking and chores. You and your housemate can let the dogs out in the yard when the other is not home, giving the dogs more outdoor time.

NYC has laws about dogs that are left alone in yards for long periods of time, but a lot depends on your neighbors. If they have dogs that stay outside all day without a problem, then you can probably keeps yours outside all day, (provided that there are no barking matches). Otherwise, you will probably have to keep your dogs inside when you're not home.

Everything I said applies even moreso to Nassau County (Long Island), but it's a longer commute to Manhattan.

My recommendation to share a house rental is only until you're established and ready to buy your own house.

Lolita88

December 30th, 2006, 11:58 AM

Would my small dog be a problem? She's a poodle and chihuahua mix and is chihuahua sized. She doesnt require much outdoors time, she just does her bussiness and thats that. How hard is it going to be to get a apartment or studio for me, my boyfriend, and my doggy or maybe just me and my doggy (we'll see how that goes).

Formula86

December 31st, 2006, 12:58 AM

I can't speak for the other boroughs, but a lot of Queens is dog-friendly.

Queens has a good number of house rentals. Almost all allow cats, and many allow dogs. The houses have yards that are not like the ones where you live, but the dogs seem happy.

My recommendation is to rent a house with a housemate. If the house is very large, rent it with two housemates.

I would try to find a housemate(s) with a dog(s). The ideal would be for you and your dog-owning housemate(s) to pool the dog walking and chores. You and your housemate can let the dogs out in the yard when the other is not home, giving the dogs more outdoor time.

NYC has laws about dogs that are left alone in yards for long periods of time, but a lot depends on your neighbors. If they have dogs that stay outside all day without a problem, then you can probably keeps yours outside all day, (provided that there are no barking matches). Otherwise, you will probably have to keep your dogs inside when you're not home.

Everything I said applies even moreso to Nassau County (Long Island), but it's a longer commute to Manhattan.

My recommendation to share a house rental is only until you're established and ready to buy your own house.

Really? Ok, well that's something to think about. Are cats allowed outside like they are here? Will they get picked up by animal control or hurt by neighbors? Will people deliberately hurt him (my cat)?

I can keep the dogs inside when I'm not home and let them out when I get back home. I'm not really worried about them. Just the cat mostly.

Is it unsafe to leave a doggy door open into a yard? Are the yards community yards? Mine just basically go in and out all day. I don't think anyone would think they were left outside for long periods of time (cause they'd see the doggy door). But if I'd have to share the yard, then that's different.

Thanks so much. :)

Formula86

January 1st, 2007, 06:37 AM

Bump! :)

Lolita88

January 1st, 2007, 07:19 PM

About how much do you pay in rent and utilities monthly? You dont have to be too specific, but I am trying to get a good idea of how much I would need a month.
THanks in Advance:o

haloperi

January 3rd, 2007, 10:37 AM

^ wouldn't that greatly depend on which part of the city you're going to live in?

Anyway, I'm planning on moving to NYC in about a year :D

I'm gonna rent a room (hopefully) somewhere in the central~lower part of Manhattan

Lolita88

January 3rd, 2007, 02:06 PM

^ wouldn't that greatly depend on which part of the city you're going to live in?

Yeah I guess your right Um....Either Chelsea, The Village, Soho, Tribeca, or Somewhere like Washington Heights or Morningside Heights. Just a general description is fine.

lofter1

January 3rd, 2007, 06:49 PM

I know someone in SoHo who is paying ~ $5K / month for a one bedroom loft @ 1500 sq ft.

That is the current market rate level.

You might luck out if you know womeone and get a Rent Stabilized sublet for much less than that ... but chances are slim.

ManhattanKnight

January 3rd, 2007, 07:03 PM

In my West Village building, a rent-stabilized 1-BR sublet would go for $1,300-1,400/month. An identical non-stabilized apartment in the building now rents for $4,000/month. The smallest studio goes for $2,800 and the largest apartment (3-BR with a miniscule garden) $10,500. So, while rent-stabilized sublets are rare, they are worth the time and effort needed to find one.

Punzie

January 3rd, 2007, 11:47 PM

You might luck out if you know womeone and get a Rent Stabilized sublet for much less than that ... but chances are slim.

Chances are slim if you are not a "networker"...

If you network, network, network, chances are good. Network, network, network. I would bet that at least one active member on WNY knows about a rent stabilized apartment in Manhattan. Network, network, network. Be proactive about PMs. Network, network, network. Join every website dedicated in some way to New York City. Network, network, network...

ThisIsntMyRealName

January 4th, 2007, 12:09 AM

ManhattanKnight

January 4th, 2007, 01:02 AM

^It's apartments, not tenants, who "qualify for" rent stabilization. Lots of buildings in NYC have both stabilized and non-stabilized apartments. Some of those existed during World War II, when "rent control" went into effect. When those apartments become vacant, they become "rent stabilized." There are numerous ways in which a building, including those built today, can have a mixture of stabilized and non-stabilized apartments. Often those involve a landlord's being granted a tax or other financial benefit by the City in exchange for having some apartments being subject to rent stabilization.

LawJen07

January 4th, 2007, 02:56 AM

Hi,

I've been reading all the posts and they've been extremely helpful, but I figured I'd ask a few questions specifically tailored to my situation.

I'm a 25y/o female currently finishing up my last semester of law school in Cleveland and have a job lined up with a Big NY law firm. Starting salary will be $145k. I'll be moving probably after I take the bar exam in July, around August 1st. I'm thinking that I'll go apartment hunting in early July.

I'm trying to figure out a good fit for a neighborhood and am having trouble as many sound good to me. My firm is located in the World Finanacial Center downtown. An easy commute would be nice but I don't mind a longer commute if I can get more bang for my buck so to speak in other areas. I've thought about looking in Battery Park City and areas near my office, but have heard that it gets rather deserted at night. I lived in the Village this past summer for a few months while doing a summer job with my firm and loved it, but felt it was a little too much of a college area for me (I was living in NYU summer housing). I've tossed around the idea of looking outside of Manhattan as well (i.e. Queens, Brooklyn, Jersey, etc.).

Basically, what I'd ideally like is the following:

Rent for under $2500/month is possible, but the lower the better (have to pay back a bunch of student loans)

Preferably a 1 br

A neighborhood that's got lots of young professionals like myself, has easy access to the subway, grocery stores, movie theatres, etc.

A doorman building with an elevator would be a plus, but that's negotiable.

Basically, I'm trying to figure out where I could best get my money's worth (biggest, nicest, apartment that won't cost me an arm and a leg) in a neighborhood with a lot to do. Any recommendations? Hopefully this is coherent. If not, I apologize and I'll clarify later. Thanks so much!

Punzie

January 4th, 2007, 06:15 AM

Really? Ok, well that's something to think about. Are cats allowed outside like they are here? Will they get picked up by animal control or hurt by neighbors? Will people deliberately hurt him (my cat)?

Speaking for Queens and Long Island: If you live in a single-family house, letting your cat outside is allowed and is usually not a problem with neighbors. He will be more welcomed if he's neutered and wearing a collar with an ID tag.

The collar is so that people know that he is a cared-for pet with an owner, not a stray. The collar should be visible from a distance, rather than blend in with the cat's fur.

The ID tag wouldn't be one of those chunks of metal dogs wear; it would be small and have the minimal amount of information needed to contact you. This way, if your cat gets lost and is found, he will likely be returned to you.

When your cat first goes outside, there's a possibility that he may search for his old home. Missing cats that were moved from a nearby area are sometimes found at their old house. Since this isn't possible in your case, it's especially important that your cat wear a collar and ID tag when you first move in. (I actually recommend this for all people who move a cat anywhere!)

Animal control is underbudgeted and understaffed, and the last thing they want to do is pick up somebody's pet cat. They are in "reactive" mode for immediate or very serious problems.

Your cat has about the same (low) chance of being abused by humans in NYC as anywhere else in the U.S. It's one of those risks of letting a cat outside.

Your cat's biggest enemies in NYC are moving vehicles. If your cat crosses streets in your area, I'll write more about it.

Formula86

January 4th, 2007, 06:19 AM

Speaking for Queens and Long Island: If you live in a single-family house, letting your cat outside is allowed and is usually not a problem with neighbors. He will be more welcomed if he's neutered and wearing a collar with an ID tag.

The collar is so that people know that he is a cared-for pet with an owner, not a stray. The collar should be visible from a distance, rather than blend in with the cat's fur.

The ID tag wouldn't be one of those chunks of metal dogs wear; it would be small and have the minimal amount of information needed to contact you. This way, if your cat gets lost and is found, he will likely be returned to you.

When your cat first goes outside, there's a possibility that he may search for his old home. Missing cats that were moved from a nearby area are sometimes are found at their old house. Since this isn't possible in your case, it's especially important that your cat wear a collar and ID tag when you first move in. (I actually recommend this for all people who move a cat anywhere!)

Animal control is underbudgeted and understaffed, and the last thing they want to do is pick up somebody's pet cat. They are in "reactive" mode for immediate or very serious problems.

Your cat has about the same (low) chance of being abused by humans in NYC as anywhere else in the U.S. It's one of those risks of letting a cat outside.

Your cat's biggest enemies in NYC are moving vehicles. If your cat crosses streets in your area, I'll write more about it.

Thanks for the reply. I was beginning to think you'd forgotten about me. Haha!

As for my cat...he is neutered and he's always ID'ed. He is also microchipped. He always has a collar, etc. I even have back-ups at home just in case he loses his outside.

He does cross the street here, but I don't live on a dead street either. So he's used to cars, etc.

What about the yard(s) and the doggy door thing?

Thanks!!

NYatKNIGHT

January 4th, 2007, 10:02 AM

Chances are slim if you are not a "networker"...

If you network, network, network, chances are good. Network, network, network. I would bet that at least one active member on WNY knows about a rent stabilized apartment in Manhattan. Network, network, network. Be proactive about PMs. Network, network, network. Join every website dedicated in some way to New York City. Network, network, network...This is essentially my advice too. My most valuable information has come from bartenders. They talk to a LOT of people. Of course, you'll have to put in some time....

Lolita88

January 4th, 2007, 10:57 AM

Chances are slim if you are not a "networker"...

If you network, network, network, chances are good. Network, network, network. I would bet that at least one active member on WNY knows about a rent stabilized apartment in Manhattan. Network, network, network. Be proactive about PMs. Network, network, network. Join every website dedicated in some way to New York City. Network, network, network...

Well Hello! Im Paola or Lola to most a future fashion designer and a nice girl about to move to Manhattan in a few months. How are you doing? LOL

No but seriously I see what you mean. And I am a very friendly person who loves to meet new people (oh Lord I sound like this is a personals ad LOL) but I think Im good at networking. Hopefully I get that slim chance!:p

Lolita88

January 4th, 2007, 11:03 AM

This is essentially my advice too. My most valuable information has come from bartenders. They talk to a LOT of people. Of course, you'll have to put in some time....

And time is something I will definetly be willing to put in. I dont know if this lets you get a better idea of me, but I work at an airport and although the pay isnt the best, part of me staying is how many people I meet daily and the conversations I get to have are amazing. Also I'll be in the fashion field and I know if you dont network, you wont go anywhere.

ASaint763

January 4th, 2007, 10:47 PM

So I've come across an apartment share that I would share with two other actors. One is a friend of a friend, and our personalities would really be a good fit. The only problem?? The room doesn't have a window. Is this commonplace in NY? Is it safe? legal???

lofter1

January 4th, 2007, 11:00 PM

Legally -- per the NYC Building Code for light & air -- a bedroom must either have a window that opens or an operable skylight (or partitions that allow light / air into the sleeping area).

However you will find places all over NYC where building owners have allowed the insertion of -- or constructed themselves -- partitions within dwelling units to increase the number of "bedrooms". Interior "offices" with no windows (the unscrupulous developers' way of squeezing in another "bedroom" while skirting the Building Code) are often used as bedrooms.

Just be extra familiar with fire exits it the building ... :cool:

Schadenfrau

January 4th, 2007, 11:04 PM

It's pretty common to divide a space like that for roommate situations.

Like Lofter said, it's not technically legal, but it is very common.

ASaint763

January 4th, 2007, 11:06 PM

Thanks. Now, this place, is at W.40th and Ninth...I know the area has some nice restaurants and even a dance studio nearby. I was totally sold on the idea until I found out that there was no window in the bedroom...just finally got a lead on fellow actors that I could get along with that would allow a cat.

Should I still continue to look??

Schadenfrau

January 5th, 2007, 01:56 PM

If it's a good price, I'd take it. You can always move, and it's not very likely that you'd find a situation with a 3-bedroom apartment in Manhattan and in your price range.

Punzie

January 6th, 2007, 10:32 AM

Should "Moving to New York" should be a sub-forum?:)

Is it unsafe to leave a doggy door open into a yard? Are the yards community yards? Mine just basically go in and out all day. I don't think anyone would think they were left outside for long periods of time (cause they'd see the doggy door). But if I'd have to share the yard, then that's different.

If you own or rent a private house, you will have a private yard. (As least in Queens and Nassau County, L.I.) I'm sure there are exceptions to this, but I can't think of any at the moment.

The property may already have a fence or short gate enclosing it. If it doesn't, and you own the house, you would be legally allowed to put one up and would probably be eager to do so; it would be the only way your dog would have free roam of the yard. If you own the house, of course you could install one or more doggy doors.

In terms of renting, your dog is so accustomed to the freedom of a yard that you should only look at houses with enclosed yards. For you, whether or not the house has one (that's intact) is a "deal-breaker". Luckily, great many houses in many different areas have enclosed yards.

The question of a doggy door on a house rental is tough because there's little chance that there will be one. Most dog owners improvise once they move in.

I underlined "private house" in the first paragraph because with a multi-family house rental, you need to ask prospective landlords if the yard is yours or if you're sharing it with the other family(s).

Formula86

January 6th, 2007, 06:03 PM

Ok, cool. :) Even if I'm renting, I could always just replace the back door temporarily so I don't put a hole in their door. :)

Is it SAFE to have a doggy door, though? I mean, I have small dogs and so no one should be able to fit through the door, but is it still safe to have an unlocked doggy door open even when I'm not home? I would have multipul locks and a steel bar lock at the very top.

Thanks so much!

lofter1

January 7th, 2007, 11:17 AM

Is it SAFE to have a doggy door, though?

One thing springs to mind: Rats???

(Or maybe that's just in the horror-movie version)

Punzie

January 7th, 2007, 01:50 PM

One thing springs to mind: Rats???

(Or maybe that's just in the horror-movie version)

Her cat will take care of those.:D

But of the people I know who have doggy doors and don't have cats, I haven't heard of a rat problem.

I think that the discussion of doggy doors is very specific and should be taken to the "Dogs in NYC topic." I'll find it and post it here.

Punzie

January 7th, 2007, 02:02 PM

One thing springs to mind: Rats???

(Or maybe that's just in the horror-movie version)

Her cat will take care of those.:D

But of the people I know who have doggy doors on houses and don't have cats, I haven't heard of rat problem with the doors. (Doesn't mean the problem definitely doesn't sometimes exist, just means I haven't gotten word.)

The discussion of doggy doors is sufficiently specific that it should probably be taken to the topic of moving/living with pets:

http://wirednewyork.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10745

Formula86

January 7th, 2007, 04:28 PM

Ok, I just posted that question in the thread you gave me. Thanks. :)

I am completely freaked out now. I cannot deal with rats. And my cat goes outside, so he might not be here to catch them.

Isn't there some sort of pest control that can help? Ok, I may be reaching...

ChasingBliss

January 8th, 2007, 11:00 AM

Hi All,

I will be in NY this weekend looking for apartments in Brooklyn, and I want to make I'm fully prepared to put in a full application for a place if I find the right one. So far, I have the following items prepared: Last 4 months' bank statements, letter of reference from my landlord, credit report, and offer letter from my new job stating salary. Is there anything else I need?

Front_Porch

January 8th, 2007, 02:27 PM

I have said this before on this thread, so forgive me if I'm repeating myself, but:

wear a shirt and tie (or a blouse and slacks if you're female).

Obviously you want to wear comfy shoes, and sneakers are fine, but if you're up against other applicants, I cannot stress enough what a statement being slightly dressed-up makes.

ali r.
{downtown broker and suburban landlady}

LawJen07

January 8th, 2007, 03:12 PM

Hi (I posted this message before, but have a feeling it got buried in all the doggie dog posts),

I've been reading all the posts and they've been extremely helpful, but I figured I'd ask a few questions specifically tailored to my situation.

I'm a 25y/o female currently finishing up my last semester of law school in Cleveland and have a job lined up with a Big NY law firm. Starting salary will be $145k. I'll be moving probably after I take the bar exam in July, around August 1st. I'm thinking that I'll go apartment hunting in early July.

I'm trying to figure out a good fit for a neighborhood and am having trouble as many sound good to me. My firm is located in the World Finanacial Center downtown. An easy commute would be nice but I don't mind a longer commute if I can get more bang for my buck so to speak in other areas. I've thought about looking in Battery Park City and areas near my office, but have heard that it gets rather deserted at night. I lived in the Village this past summer for a few months while doing a summer job with my firm and loved it, but felt it was a little too much of a college area for me (I was living in NYU summer housing). I've tossed around the idea of looking outside of Manhattan as well (i.e. Queens, Brooklyn, Jersey, etc.).

Basically, what I'd ideally like is the following:

Rent for under $2500/month is possible, but the lower the better (have to pay back a bunch of student loans)

Preferably a 1 br

A neighborhood that's got lots of young professionals like myself, has easy access to the subway, grocery stores, movie theatres, etc.

A doorman building with an elevator would be a plus, but that's negotiable.

Basically, I'm trying to figure out where I could best get my money's worth (biggest, nicest, apartment that won't cost me an arm and a leg) in a neighborhood with a lot to do. Any recommendations? Hopefully this is coherent. If not, I apologize and I'll clarify later. Thanks so much!
http://www.wirednewyork.com/forum/images/misc/progress.gif

Front_Porch

January 8th, 2007, 03:46 PM

Your budget is a little low for your salary (general rule of thumb is 25%; I understand about the student loans, but unfortunately, your peers are helping set the market prices.)

You will end up compromising on something. If I were you I would either:
1) compromise on space and get a really nice studio like www.elliman.com #827687. That puts you in a dollhouse, but in a nice part of the Village with a part-time doorman, and laundry in the building, and to the extent it feels "student-y" you'll be able to go south to go out.

or
2) live in a fun but inconvenient neighborhood. I would pick Kip's Bay for you because there's lots of different restaurants and lots of singles (it's near the hospitals, so you get a bunch of doctors and residents). This raises the hairy possibility of a three-train commute, but it's still probably only half an hour to the WFC, and a building like 230 East 30th will rent you an alcove studio with a nice marble bath and a view for that price. (This is a direct rental building, so I don't have a listing to show you.) No doorman but video security, laundry, etc.

ali r.
{downtown broker}

fishermb

January 8th, 2007, 06:16 PM

Getting close to making a trip up to the city to try and sign a lease on a place, will be looking for a small studio somewhere as I have indicated in earlier posts. Because of my salary, I know I will need a guarantor, and my mom is going to make the trip with me to sign (and subsequently, will help out with the rent as well).

What I'm wondering is, considering that she is an out-of the tri-state area guarantor, is there anything specific that I should know about this situation, and what exactly do she and I need to bring with us? I won't be starting my job until 2 weeks after I move in, and I just graduated college so I don't have any pay stubs or anything of that sort, but obviously my parents are able to provide all of that stuff I guess (though my dad runs his own business.)

Thanks all-

ManhattanKnight

January 8th, 2007, 06:17 PM

LawJen07, on your budget, your chances of finding a 1-BR in a desirable Manhattan neighborhood are very slim, but as Front Porch says, you should be able to find a decent studio apt. If that's where you wind up, I'd suggest that you then take some time to get to know the City better and grab a better opportunity when you spot one.

Anyhow, as a 1st-year associate at a big NYC lawfirm, it's not like you're going to be spending much time at home or seeing movies or dining at nice restaurants.

ASaint763

January 8th, 2007, 08:38 PM

I have a potential roommate situation that might fall through, and considering other options. I'm from out of state, but make a decent salary (roughly $40K) and wondering if I would qualify for a simple studio or 1 bedroom?? If they go by 40 x rent =annual salary, looks like I could afford something between $800-1000. Is this realistic? Or would I still not be able to rent? Hard to fathom since anywhere in CA (even SF!) I would qualify with my excellent credit and steady income (I'm transferring with my job.)

Advice??

If so, what neighborhoods, in addition to Astoria, do you reccomend??

Thanks!!

Schadenfrau

January 8th, 2007, 09:26 PM

Sorry, but I wouldn't count on being approved for an apartment with that income.

Not that it's unlivable, but rather it's not wise to jump into a lease in neighborhoods with studios available in that price range if you're not familiar with the city. Many apartments in that range won't require the 40x income standard, and you'd do well to see how much city grit you can live with before committing to a lease.

If you're just starting out, it's really better to have roommates, anyway. Move here on a sublet, then narrow your options.

ASaint763

January 9th, 2007, 02:43 AM

...why is NY housing so difficult??

I mean, really.

So I have this potential sublet. They want a deposit, but I'm uncomfortable paying the deposit straight out without signing at least some written contract to protect my interests. I mean, after all, a sublet shouldn't require you to pay a contract. Even realtor friends of mine state that I shouldn't go into a deposit situation without being on the lease or signing some sort of contract. But the situation is ideal, the people seem great (I know them through friends) and the area is ideal for an actor with a corporate america day job like me...

But for future reference...areas in Queens or Brooklyn? Is it completely out of reality for someone with an income of $40-60K to not have their own place?? I won't earn more than that until I get a few acting gigs (and in tv/film nonetheless...) How do people do it on their own???

antinimby

January 9th, 2007, 03:05 AM

^ Simple: not enough supply to meet the demand.

Schadenfrau

January 9th, 2007, 03:16 AM

I hate to say it, but you're not likely to find a place of your own in Queens or Brooklyn with the income you're talking about, especially if you're factoring in freelance work as part of the income.

If you're looking to move in with roommates, a deposit is standard. If you want to come up with a contract, that's something that you need to work out with the individuals involved, and the landlord shouldn't be needed there.

I don't mean to be mysterious, but things will become much more clear once you've lived here for a bit. You'll hear of neighborhoods you might be interested in, and you'll find ways around income requirements.

However, none of the landlords who would rent an $800 a month studio are going to be available to people looking online- you've really got to do footwork with those types. Honestly, just move here and sort things out from there. Asking about neighborhoods where you could rent your own apartment in in Queens/Brooklyn is putting the cart before the horse.

Really, people "do it on their own" through experience. You'll pay your dues with roommates, and you'll learn from there.

Front_Porch

January 9th, 2007, 10:40 AM

Asaint763,

If you like the people you're subletting from, and you somehow know them, you should be able to exchange a deposit for a written sublease -- you can print a standard lease from the Internet (google Blumberg and lease as search terms).

Just make sure they have an actual lease on the property, and you're not being scammed.

Otherwise, on your budget, you might want to look into The Bronx. The commute to the east side isn't all that bad.

ali r.
{downtown broker}

Schadenfrau

January 9th, 2007, 11:56 AM

Parts of the Bronx even have quick commutes to the west side- primarily the area around Yankee Stadium.

ryan

January 9th, 2007, 03:38 PM

A little blunt honesty from Consumerist (http://www.consumerist.com/consumer/howto/how-to-move-to-new-york-city-sane-and-not-broke-226540.php). I think the first and the last are particularly good points.

HOW TO: Move To New York City Sane And Not Broke (http://consumerist.com/consumer/howto/how-to-move-to-new-york-city-sane-and-not-broke-226540.php)

First, ask yourself...
DO I REALLY NEED TO MOVE TO NEW YORK? Answering no to this is the easiest way to avoid the inevitable hassle and heartache of. New York City is a glittering emerald slut, full of potential and promise, but it can also be a total bitch. Nightlife is down ever since they enacted that cabaret law. The city's conduits of power are increasingly rusty and incestuous. Parts of the city are becoming, or already are, Disney versions of themselves, like the Lower East Side and Times Square, respectively. There's lots of other great cities in the world. The Bay Area has nicer weather. Philadelphia has dirt cheap rents. Even so, New York is awesome and is still the capital of the world for many a human endeavor. Let's move!

TAP PERSONAL CONTACTS. The easiest way to move to NYC is to have a friend, or a friend of a friend, who will let you crash in their apartment until you get your shit together. Be cool and offer to help out with rent as much as you can. If you're broke, maybe offer to clean up the apartment really nice all the time.

SCOPE OUT THE RENTAL MARKET. Determine where you would like to live and how much you can pay. Personal finance gurus recommend spending no more than 25% of your expected salary on rent. Realistically, you may have to spend up to 50%. But if you lock yourself into a high rent so you can live in "the cool spot" you may end up spending all your time inside your stupid little apartment cause you can never afford to go out. Think smaller and cheaper.
On this note, Brooklyn is a nice, cheaper-than-Manhattan place. Fort Greene and Carrol Gardens are good spots to look at in Brooklyn. Rents are relatively affordable, amenities are there, it's not too far from Manhattan, and they're fairly safe. Living near but not next to housing projects is a sure way to get more apartment for your money.
If you must live in Manhattan, Upper Upper West Side (past the 100's) has become affordable. There's places to be found on the more easternly points of the Lower East Side.
Cruise Craiglist for the going rates in your desired area(s) for 2+ roomies. Hone in what rent you think you're going to be paying each month. This number will rule your life.

SAVE Five times your expected monthly rent. To move into a lease, you will probably have to put up two month's rent + security deposit (usually another month's rent). There may even be a broker's fee, which is at least another month's rent. You will need the rest of the money to feed yourself and not feel like a loser. Stuff it in a high-yield online savings account, like HSBC (http://www.hsbc.com/) or INGDirect (http://www.ingdirect.com/).

DUMP YOUR JUNK. You probably don't need about 90% off what you own. Hold a yard sale. Donate. Digitize everything you don't need a real-world copy of. Put stuff in local storage. Throw it away. Whatever you do, just get rid of it. A good goal is reducing your belongings to an essential wardrobe, books, and your "tools of the trade." For most people this means a computer. For you it may be a welding torch. Shipping costs. Space in NYC is at a premium. Less stuff means less stuff you don't have room for.

LINE UP JOB PROSPECTS. Send out feelers and resumes before you arrive. Tap those personal connections. Let people know you're coming. If you went to college, call up the alumni office and see if they can hook you up with former students in New York. Monster.com has never done anything for us. Craigslist (http://newyork.craigslist.org/jjj/) has. Don't get discouraged if people don't initially seem that interested in you. Tons of people say they're going to move to New York but never do, so NYC veterans learn to take a policy of, "I'll see it when I see it." That's okay, just start cranking the wheel on getting a cash flow going as early as possible.

MOVE. Go Greyhound. Fly coach. Drive yourself. U-Hauls and the like can be expensive over long distances, so its cheaper to ship your stuff freight with a trucking company like ROADWAY (http://www.roadway.com/) and then get to NYC by other means. If you've already reduced everything to two pieces of luggage, bonus.
Once you're here...

DO MASLOW. Take care of your pyramid of needs, working from the bottom up. If you have a choice between doing something at the top of this pyramid, versus something at the bottom, do the thing at the bottom. Not taking care of your needs at the bottom will thwart your attempts to do the ones at the top.
http://www.consumerist.com/assets/resources/2007/01/maslows.jpg
At the same time, maybe you will have to eat only one box of pasta a day so you can afford to go out for social drinks. That's fine, just don't make it a habit, or you may end up begging for quarters in Union Square.

GET A JOB. Even if it sucks. You need to make money just to tread water. Our first job was as a bike messenger. In winter. Saner folk go the temping route. Atrium (http://www.atriumstaff.com/) is a fantastic temping agency. Tell them Ben Popken sent you. If you refer people to them who stay on for a few months, you get a small finder's fee.

LEARN TO ENJOY SOLITUDE. It's easy to feel lonely in a city of a gazillion people. That's because you are alone and no one wants to talk to you. Be prepared to have no new friends for at least a year. Be prepared for people who say, "Oh, we'll totally hang out once you're here," and then stand you up even after you set a date. Everyone's got crazy schedules here so "hang out with the new guy" may rank pretty low. Be glad people do this, so you can scratch 'em off your list before they have time to really disappoint you.

BECOME AWESOME. Whatever your deal is, be it your job or your hobby, get really good at it. You will have lots of free time to work on this because you have no friends. Socializing is often centered around people who have "your thing" in common, so it helps to be dedicated and skilled in it. This is for both personal satisfaction, and that other people will take you seriously if you're taking your thing seriously.

TUNNEL. Use the resources of your current crappy job to get you your next, better job. With the money from bike messengering, we bought clothes that made us look presentable for the temp agency. Between directing phone calls at the temp job, we blasted out hundreds of resumes that eventually landed us a job at an online marketing firm. While at the online marketing firm, we started an advertising blog on the company's behalf that ended up getting us a job with Gawker. Now we're tunneling towards building a six-month emergency cushion and doing more personal creative projects.

DON'T MOVE BACK. A lot of people quit New York less than a year after moving. That's a personal choice, but if you're trying to be in New York, obviously leaving it is not a viable solution. If things get so hard you want to move back, ask for help from family and friends. Evaluate the choices you're making, the things you're buying, and see where you can cut back. Realize you're not going to get that super-star job right off the bat (see: BECOME AWESOME). Stiffen that upper lip. Or cry. Whatever you need to do, just don't move back. Life is hard. Welcome to it.

— BEN POPKEN

haloperi

January 9th, 2007, 06:27 PM

I really don't care how small the place I live in is..
As long as I can sleep and wash..

Anyways, that said, you know those $500/month ads on Craigslist (for renting a room/ apt. share).. are they legit?

Do $500/month rooms actually exist in NYC? (no matter how small) :P lol

lofter1

January 9th, 2007, 10:10 PM

GREAT advice :

First, ask yourself...

DO I REALLY NEED TO MOVE TO NEW YORK?

Answering no to this is the easiest way to avoid the inevitable hassle and heartache ... New York City is a glittering emerald slut, full of potential and promise, but it can also be a total bitch.

And yes, $500/month rent for a roommate situation can be found (gotta add on to that for utilities, etc.) ...

Just remember: You're looking for a place to live -- and it will be temporary. Although it would be great to live with some folks that turn out to be friends the important thing is to get yourself a foothold in the City -- if it isn't perfect or what you want you can always move on. But it is always a really good idea to have some clear groundrules in any roommate situation.

melissamango

January 10th, 2007, 02:47 PM

Hello...

I'm planning to move to New York City within the year and would like to meet other people from the San Francisco Bay Area who are aspiring to relocate as well. I'm the only one of my friends that's doing so, thus far, and it would be ideal if I can plan a move with someone else.

A little bit about me: 28 y/o Financial Analyst ready to start a new and see if I can make things happen in the East Coast.

Any information or help would be greatly appreciated. And if you know anyone from over my way who's moving.. that'd be ideal.

Thanks!

Lolita88

January 11th, 2007, 11:19 AM

OK so whats the average amount of money I can plan on spending a month on rent If Im moving with room mate. We dont mind sharing a room. Also we would like to live in Manhattan. (I think any part as long as there is plenty of life and is safe is ok) I wanted to know how much per person? Thanks in advance:p

conezone

January 11th, 2007, 11:22 AM

fishermb

January 11th, 2007, 01:25 PM

repost as my original seems to have been lost...

Getting close to making a trip up to the city to try and sign a lease on a place, will be looking for a small studio somewhere as I have indicated in earlier posts. Because of my salary, I know I will need a guarantor, and my mom is going to make the trip with me to sign (and subsequently, will help out with the rent as well).

What I'm wondering is, considering that she is an out-of the tri-state area guarantor, is there anything specific that I should know about this situation, and what exactly do she and I need to bring with us? I won't be starting my job until 2 weeks after I move in, and I just graduated college so I don't have any pay stubs or anything of that sort, but obviously my parents are able to provide all of that stuff I guess (though my dad runs his own business.)

Thanks all-

Front_Porch

January 11th, 2007, 02:11 PM

Fishermb: I didn't reply to your original because I thought I would be a downer, but since you reposted: I think you're going to have a hard time.

Would love to hear the experience of others on this board, but from my point of view (a real estate agent, therefore closely allied with landlords) you don't have money. You don't have an income, you don't have a history of having an income, and you effectively don't have a guarantor.

The easiest route -- since you do have a job -- is to lean on your company here, and get placement assistance from them. The second route is to have your mom pay several months rent up front. The third route -- the one you may be stuck with -- is to find a roomie who has already guaranteed their lease, and do a sublet/share.

Think about it from the landlord's point of view: even if you showed up February 1 with a suitcase full of cash that would cover February, March, and April, you're still a rental risk. What's the landlord's recourse if you're in the apartment and you don't pay May? Nothing.

I feel like it may take a personal connection to get you an apartment -- maybe your school has an alumni network you can send an email blast out on?

ali r.
{downtown broker}

Lolita88

January 11th, 2007, 02:29 PM

$847.63

Really I thought it would be more? Is that anywhere in Manhattan?

Kitty-london

January 11th, 2007, 03:29 PM

Hey guys. Hope this is in the right place, its just a general wonderment. How much would you expect to pay per month, for a one bedroom appt in the following areas: Tribeca, greenwich village Soho, gramercy and chelsea?? xx

lofter1

January 11th, 2007, 06:52 PM

There are two non-regulated 1 bedrooms in my building in SoHo ...

Recent prices for leases signed:

1 BR / ~ 1500 sf: ~ $5K / Month
1 BR / ~ 1,000 sf: ~ $3.5K / Month

Mandi25

January 11th, 2007, 10:35 PM

Very funny, conezone...that one made me laugh out loud. :D

webskare

January 12th, 2007, 04:34 AM

Hey all, this thread has a lot of great info!

About me: I'm a 21 year old guy, graduating from an out-of-state college in May. I have a job offer doing IT at a bank in the Financial district, paying $60,000 a year.

I've found it very hard to figure out what neighborhoods are good to live in. So if anyone could point me to some good neighborhoods, I would be really greatful! Here's what I'm looking for:

- Per-person rent of $1500 or less (I've given up on not having a roommate!)
- Within 30 minutes of Fulton St./Broadway-Nassau station, preferably without transferring if possible (lines: 2, 3, 4, 5, A, C, J, M, Z)
- Relatively 'tame' neighborhood; low crime; quietish (for NY anyway)
- Conveniences: good subway service, nearby stores, etc.
- Lots of young professionals; good single scene for 20-somethings

If I can't get all of this on my budget, the list is ordered with the more important stuff at the top. So what neighborhoods should I be focusing on?

One final question, if I want to move in in mid-to-late June, when should I start calling brokers and looking at places?

Oh also, I've never lived in a city before (grew up way out in Suffolk County on Long Island, went to school in rural Pennsylvania), so will this be total culture shock for me? (I tend to be introverted and shy, it's been worrying me a little bit...)

Thanks for reading!

NameGirl

January 13th, 2007, 03:41 AM

Darren

January 13th, 2007, 12:18 PM

I was wondering if their is any Agenceys that could help me on my move to NYC

wiredgirl445

January 13th, 2007, 06:12 PM

A friend and myself are planning on moving to New York in August. We don't particularly want to live in Manhattan, we are open to the boroughs or Jersey city, etc. We are planing a trip in March to go look around some different areas. What are some suggestions of places that are near/close that are safe and affordable (less then 2300 a month)? How would you suggest we get started with this move?

ManhattanKnight

January 13th, 2007, 06:36 PM

How would you suggest we get started with this move?

http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/787/searchmc9.jpg

Formula86

January 14th, 2007, 04:43 AM

Okay, I did a search in this thread, but I didn't find anything.

Just a quick question -
What does "railroad style" mean? I come across it a lot while searching for places to live.

Thanks in advance!

ManhattanKnight

January 14th, 2007, 07:46 AM

^
http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/4216/googlepc4.jpg

Formula86

January 14th, 2007, 07:52 AM

You know, everything can be answered elsewhere. Is there even a purpose for this thread?

The only real information I've gotten from this forum is from ONE single member through PM's.

I asked here because I wanted to know whether or not a "railroad style" apartment is a good or bad thing. Every real estate ad can spin it one way or the other. And if I read the definition for myself, I may not know whether or not whatever it is, is a good idea in real life. Maybe they are usually cheaper, etc.

So stop being such an ass. I asked here for a reason.

Punzie

January 14th, 2007, 01:53 PM

I asked here because I wanted to know whether or not a "railroad style" apartment is a good or bad thing. Every real estate ad can spin it one way or the other. And if I read the definition for myself, I may not know whether or not whatever it is, is a good idea in real life. Maybe they are usually cheaper, etc.

In a "railroad style" apartment, rooms are attached together like railroad cars, one after another. The advantage is that the rent/price is usually less expensive than a non-railroad place of comparable square footage in a comparable location.

For a single person, this is just fine. Two people sharing one bedroom together occasionally get in the way of one another, but it usually works out.

If housemates have separate bedrooms: one housemate can only get to her bedroom by walking through the bedroom of her housemate. (Think railroad.) This situation can probably be worked out by reasonable people.

The big problem with railroad apartments: three or more people living in one. No privacy, people bumping into one another... what a nightmare.

My friend owns a 2-family house in Queens, and he resides on the first floor, which is a (quite large) modified railroad. The two full bathrooms are off to the sides of the "front car" and "back car"; one does not have to walk through bathrooms. The "cars" themselves are much wider.

He paid a considerably lower price for the house because of the first floor's design. He knew when he bought the house, however, that he would definitely not be raising children in it. With regard to pets, he owns rabbits and they enjoy running up and down the "railroad stretch".

wiredgirl445

January 14th, 2007, 01:55 PM

I appreciate your help with sending me through the thread to find some information. And while I did find some good places to start a search on the internet, most of the information was related to apartments in NYC. I am more trying to get some advice from those who know about or live in places such as Jersey City, Hoboken, Yorkville, or Brooklyn, Bronx. Just wanting to see what people have to say about these areas i.e, safe, affordable, close commute to the city. Thank you.

Schadenfrau

January 14th, 2007, 01:56 PM

Formula86, you've been given plenty of advice by many forum members- just not the advice you're looking to hear.

If you had performed the basic Google searches ManhattanKnight is suggesting, you wouldn't need to ask so many redundant questions. Though, the more questions you ask, the more apparent it becomes that it wouldn't be wise for you to move to NYC.

I have never heard of a single person in NYC, or even on Long Island, with a "doggy door." The aforementioned Google search should have made you well aware that most people here live in apartments, and they certainly don't have yards. If you can't familiarize yourself with the most basic information like that, you're wasting everyones' time, including your own.

milleniumcab

January 14th, 2007, 06:35 PM

I live in a railroad apartment, all 450 sqft of it.. When you enter, you are in the kitchen. Walk through the kitchen to the living room, then to the first bedroom and then to the second bedroom. But I have separated the entrances to each bedroom from the living room ( it took a lot of imagination and a small fortune ). ..So I can now say my apartment is a semi-railroad apartment...:D

wiredgirl445

January 14th, 2007, 09:35 PM

I also have a question on when a good time would be to try and sign a lease. If we are looking to actually move in to a place like Brooklyn at the beginning of August, when would be the best time to plan a trip there to sign a lease? What's the earliest or latest date we should do this on? Thanks

kalki

January 14th, 2007, 10:13 PM

Ok, so it's late and I can't sleep because I'm trying to work this all out in my head and it's not working. What better way to figure out this stuff then to ask the people who know? :) (I'll try to give as much information as I can, so bear with me if this seems wordy)

We are in the process of selling our home in Maryland and moving back to NYC after being away for 8 years. I'm trying to figure out the logistics of it all and it's literally keeping me awake at night.

Step 1 is obviously to sell the house. (ie, get a contract signed and start the closing process, which takes about 30 days)

Ok, so say this happens and we're ready to proceed with getting a place in NYC. My husband's job allows him to work from home, so he won't be changing jobs. I, on the other hand, will be going from part-time (kinda interning) work here in Maryland to working full-time in NYC. And making much more than I make now. (I'm in school now here and will be concentrating more on working when I move, hence the large jump in pay.)

I read a link (http://www.homesteadnyc.com/index.cfm?page=Renter) that kinda outlines what you need to rent in NYC. Now my husband makes great money alone, but for the kinds of places we're looking, he doesn't make 40 to 50 times the monthly rent. (Is that the common number used? I guess I should make sure of that to begin with)

The last piece of backstory is that when we sell our house, any debt we have will be completely paid off. (Aside from student loans) But this will only happen on the day that we officially close on our house (ie, the day we move out) and get the check. Will this effect our chances of getting an apartment with having debt before we sell the house? (The link mentions that they do credit checks. And while the credit is fine, there is debt there)

So here are some of my questions. I need to get a job for us to then get an apartment. We have a couple friends in the city that we can stay with for a few days here and there to find these things, but I'm confused on the order and any sort of obstacles we might come across. (I'm a planner and like to at least have some idea of what we're getting into!)

What order do these things need to happen in? I'll be looking for full-time administrative assistant positions (with hopefully something more to them than just outlook and filing!), but am completely flexible on where in the city and the only hang up would be a decent salary. I have been looking on Craigslist and have found tons of jobs that I would qualify for and would fit the salary requirements for me. So it doesn't seem like it would be hard for me to get and find a job.

But the link above said that they want a letter from your employer stating how long you've been working there, the salary you make, pay stubs, etc. How does that work if you aren't living in the city yet? I could provide that from the job I'm at now, but it will be significantly lower than what I'll be making in NYC. (Getting this letter from my husband's employer is no problem)

So my original plan was this. Say we sign a contract on our house Feb 1. Feb 2-4 I go into the city and go on interviews I have set up in advance. Get job, come home, go back a week later and find an apartment. But now I doubt this will work for a few reasons. One, will I be able to get an Admin Assist job that didn't start for a month? And if so, will they write a letter stating that I'll be working for them starting March 1 and will a future landlord accept this as proof of salary? Two, is it feasible to find an apartment 2 weeks before you want to move into it? Or is it like other places where you need to look 30 days out? Or even worse, would we get the keys that day for the place and start paying rent right then? (That's probably the case, which actually isn't that big of a deal if it's only two weeks)

I guess I thought that I had done a lot of research and kinda had a plan, but as time gets closer, I'm starting to panic some. Can anyone point me to some good resources (maybe even a breakdown of the steps one can take) for moving to NYC? It's been a long time since we've lived there and the last time either of us had to look for a place was 93! So I apologize for being so long-winded, just wanted to make sure I got it all out there the first time :)

Front_Porch

January 14th, 2007, 10:58 PM

Congratulations of moving back, the city is very different from when you left, but most people think it's nicer.

Don't worry so much about the sale of your house and your mortgage debt -- the way that will show up on your credit report, it shouldn't bother a potential landlord.

But you probably do need to make 45 times your monthly rent to sign a long-term lease. What you might want to do is to look into a short-term one or two month sublease, so you have some place to crash for a couple of months while you look for a job, and then you can get a longer-term lease based on both incomes.

ali r.
{downtown broker}

kalki

January 14th, 2007, 11:13 PM

Thanks Front Porch! Oh yeah, completely different from when we lived there. We've been back to visit at least 4 times a year for the last 3 years, so we have a good sense of it some.

We have some friends there we can stay with, so we're going to try to go up and have me get a job before we rent an apartment. Is it unrealistic to think we could find a place looking for a week about 2-3 weeks before we would want to move in?

Also, I see you are a downtown broker. Are there good places to be had for $2500 and under there? We're interested in moving to the Fin Dist, Battery park, etc.

Thanks again for the info!

fishermb

January 15th, 2007, 12:28 PM

Also, I see you are a downtown broker. Are there good places to be had for $2500 and under there? We're interested in moving to the Fin Dist, Battery park, etc.

From what I've seen, a 1-br in a new luxury hi-rise in the financial district is going for closer to $3000, which will have a fulltime doorman, gym, lounge, decks, often concierge servivces, and other nice amenities.

Front_Porch

January 15th, 2007, 04:03 PM

Kalki, I think you could get a one-bedroom for $2,600 if you don't need new new.

Your best bet is to come up and trot around Battery Park City -- many of those buildings will deal directly with you and allow you to skip the brokers' fee.

Bring a copy of your last year's tax returns and some recent pay stubs.

ali r.
{downtown broker}

melissamango

January 15th, 2007, 04:16 PM

fishermb

January 15th, 2007, 07:46 PM

Hello....

So I'm planning to move to NYC within the year and have decided that I want to sublet first and try things out before I find a permanent place. Does anyone know of someone who sublets their studio/apartment/room in the summer in or around Manhattan?

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

There are always tons of sublets on craigslist. My advice is to put up a post in the "sublet/temp wanted" section giving a general idea of your situation, when you want to move, and areas you are looking in. While there are a lot of people who post ads for their available sublet, I happened to find mine by having someone contact me because I put up a "wanted" post. The majority of people listing sublets right now are for places available ASAP, or for the 1st of the upcoming month, but occasionally there's people posting availabilities for months in advance, so check it out.

melissamango

January 16th, 2007, 02:28 AM

Thanks for the advice FisherMB! I'll check out Craigslist ASAP.

DOUGLASTONQUEENS

January 16th, 2007, 10:35 PM

What are the best areas to live in Westchester? (Public Transportation, Affordable Apartments, Safe Neighborhood [Nightlife not required])

ryan

January 16th, 2007, 11:20 PM

Tuckahoe sounds really funny...but seriously a good friend of mine shopped all of Westchester and decided it was the best cheap/access to transportation/safe compromise for her. She had a nice apartment with a garden. I've been told Tarrytown is the most city-ish.

Schadenfrau

January 16th, 2007, 11:39 PM

Tarrytown/Tuckahoe are nice, but I'd definitely go for something in the Bronxville PO before that. It's a shorter train ride, and you can find apartments on the Yonkers/Mt. Vernon side for a really fair price.

If you're not looking to be in the Bronxville school district, the apartments are affordable. Also, the Fleetwood section of Mt. Vernon is great. Both of these stops are 20-25 minutes from Grand Central, and you get a lot of apartment for the money.

These places are commuter havens, and any apartments you find will be within easy walking distance to the MetroNorth, unlike much of Westchester. I'm stupidly versed in southern Westchester knowledge, so please, ask away.

DOUGLASTONQUEENS

January 17th, 2007, 02:29 AM

Wondering about the Westchester area because I might attend school there (Purchase).

ryan

January 17th, 2007, 11:00 AM

Great school. It's best to live on campus, but if not, most people live in Port Chester. I would avoid White Plains.

lerobsing

January 18th, 2007, 09:14 AM

Good morning y'all -

Think i may have put this question in the wrong place yesterday - sorry.
Are there any New York City public school teachers out there who were hired in another state before moving to NY?
I have a guaranteed job but i don't know at what school yet -
Would like to hear from anyone who's experienced this -

So - we're moving up in early July and would like to find short-term housing (1,2,3 months) somewhere kinda central as to accommodate a relatively reasonable commute if i were to teach in Brooklyn, Queens, or Manhattan. We would like a 1 bedroom at around 2000 a month -
The question here is how soon is it reasonable to look for a short-term place?
We're coming up in march to visit and i'm thinkin' that's probably too early?
So....April, May?
Also, what would be the best "central" location? Maybe East Village? We don't care about nightlife, no nightlife, young, old, whatever!

Please advise -
Thanks y'all -
lerobsing

DOUGLASTONQUEENS

January 18th, 2007, 12:36 PM

Great school. It's best to live on campus, but if not, most people live in Port Chester. I would avoid White Plains.

Why would you avoid White Plains?
How about Rye?

dvs_devil

January 22nd, 2007, 02:37 PM

Hi there, kind of new here, im actuallyt posting from the UK. I'm hoping to move to the US in a couple of years and was wondering what life is like in the New York, and is there a lot of jobs, since im magering in IT Computers. Also is the people there prejudice and racial tension since i'm a non-religious Pakistani muslim.

ryan

January 23rd, 2007, 07:38 PM

Why would you avoid White Plains?
How about Rye?

Personal preference. I've pretty much said all I know.

milleniumcab

January 23rd, 2007, 11:53 PM

Why would you avoid White Plains?
How about Rye?
My sister in law lives in Rye...Rye is an excellent city.. But it probably is not the best choice if money is a concern...

TarAldarion

January 24th, 2007, 02:19 PM

Hello evryone
ok posted this before but need some more answers
My name is Aldarion im 22 yrs old and live in Oslo, Norway.
Im planning on moving to NY and live a couple of years(Maybe forever) and have some (many) questions.:confused:

1.What is the average rent prize on a appartment in NY.(about 40-50Squaremeters). is Queens close to manhattan. sounds like a nice place there.i pay about 1200$ in oslo

2.How much to buy an appartment in same size.(Costs about US700.000-800.000$ in Oslo)

3. And if i want to buy can i get a loan in US or do i have to take up a loan in Norway.

4. How is the job market in NY? is it easy to get jobs there as a chef or cook (is educated cook).

5.Whats the average salary per. month.(i earn about 3500$a month wich is 20$an our)

6. Were do i apply for an work permit. (US embassy?)

7. How much does it cost too live in NY (food, taxi, subway, electrisity, etc.) in average a month.

8.and lots of other questions.......

plz just give me whatever info you have, that you think i should know about because i know pretty much nothing.

Thank you......

Aldarion:)

And also, im sorry for my bad writing. talk much better then i write.
And how about taxes?

ManhattanKnight

January 24th, 2007, 02:27 PM

^I and at least one other person responded to your first posting, and you would have found answers to most of your questions if you'd followed the advice that you received.

kliq6

January 24th, 2007, 04:44 PM

I can answer one question for sure, TAXES are HIGH!!!!!!!!!!!!

milleniumcab

January 24th, 2007, 11:55 PM

This thread is a good one for people who needs some serious information about New York City but it has become a broken record as far as questions that are being asked...It seems nobody has the patience to search for answers before asking the same questions over and over again...:p

lofter1

January 25th, 2007, 12:07 AM

Agreed ^^^

But it must be said that the search function here isn't the friendliest one around :cool:

milleniumcab

January 25th, 2007, 12:11 AM

^^^ Hiiiiiimm, maybe then that might need some fixing before we fix the people...:D :D :D

Schadenfrau

January 25th, 2007, 12:25 AM

I really do think the search function works just fine.

So many times in this thread, you're just dealing with people who want you to post magical answers to their impossible questions. A $500 a month loft in Tribeca? Sure, right this way!

I understand that people have specific questions, but in the time it takes someone to type, "I don't want to read all of these pages," they could probably have breezed through at least two pages. If someone can't take the time to do that, NYC is better off without them.

lofter1

January 25th, 2007, 12:46 AM

I'll drink to that ^^^ :D

ryan

January 25th, 2007, 01:44 AM

When someone asks if Queens is close to Manhattan, they should be directed to the search capabilities of google.com.

Lolita88

January 25th, 2007, 11:02 AM

One of my co-workers (which lived in NYC for a while) told me the best time to visit Chinatown is ater 5? Is this true?

lofter1

January 25th, 2007, 01:10 PM

Depends what you're going down there for ---

If you're shopping for foodstuffs to cook for dinner better to go earlier.

If you want to see Chinatown in it's full craziness go mid-day ...

Lolita88

January 25th, 2007, 08:56 PM

Thanks... :P

milleniumcab

January 26th, 2007, 12:31 AM

Buy me one too Loft, my choice of drink is Cape Cod...:D

ManhattanKnight

January 27th, 2007, 03:06 PM

On the importance of networking (and, of course, being gayer than gay), in finding affordable apartments in NYC:

January 28, 2007
Habitats | Lower Broadway

In the Right Place at the Right Time

By FRED A. BERNSTEIN

IT was shortly after he appeared on the television show “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” that Jeff Berman decided he couldn’t continue sharing an apartment near Battery Park with four roommates.

He still liked his roommates, but suddenly, he didn’t trust them with his furniture. The apartment’s fraternity house atmosphere, he said, hadn’t worried him “when we had a couch that cost $140, which we had split five ways.”

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/01/28/realestate/23habi.1.600.jpg

But now that “Queer Eye” had furnished the place with stylish pieces from Desiron in SoHo, Mr. Berman started feeling protective. “It is really nice stuff,” he said, pointing to a zebra-wood desk and a dining room set that could be on the cover of House & Garden. “I felt like the nagging mother,” he said.

So he was happy when a friend, Lauren Reece, asked him to share her 1,400-square-foot loft on Lower Broadway.

Ms. Reece, an owner of Billy’s Bakery, a 1950’s-style Chelsea institution, had also been on “Queer Eye,” not as a contestant, but as a dessert maven. At the time, she was Billy Reece and had not yet begun the transition from man to woman.

For Mr. Berman, a young lawyer who had met Ms. Reece — then Billy — at a bar in Chelsea two years before, moving in with a transsexual required a leap of faith. He was worried that a host of changes, physical as well as psychological, would make the perky Ms. Reece “a bit unstable.”

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/01/26/realestate/28habi.2.190.jpg

As it turns out, domestic tranquillity reigns. The two roommates could pass for a suburban couple: Mr. Berman, 26, in workout pants and a T-shirt, Ms. Reece, 28, in a pink cardigan and pearl necklace.

Home from work, Mr. Berman drinks a beer while Ms. Reece, who is perfecting her feminine figure, eyes a protein bar (not one of the cupcakes for which Billy’s Bakery is famous).

Mr. Berman’s bedroom is enclosed, at one end of the loft; Ms. Reece’s is reached by a stairway and sits atop the bathroom and laundry room, at the other end. The space separating them, with 14-foot ceilings and large, south-facing windows, is filled with the “Queer Eye” furniture.

“It was a boondoggle,” said Mr. Berman of his appearance on “Queer Eye.”(He is gay; his episode was about making a gay man “gayer.”)
Ms. Reece, too, has received free furniture from a television show. In 2005, “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” rented the loft for two days of shooting and in the process built a large storage unit, which the producers were glad to leave behind. These days, the shelves hold part of Ms. Reece’s collection of jadeite dishes, mostly from the 1940’s.

Against another wall is a large collection of American cookbooks, including a rare second edition of “Joy of Cooking.” Cookbooks “trace social history,” Ms. Reece said, reflecting every change in society, from the Depression, to shortages in wartime, to new technologies.

She also has every issue of Everyday Food magazine, published by Martha Stewart, one of her idols. In fact, she appeared on Martha’s TV show last May; at the time, she was introduced as Billy, though with long hair and a somewhat feminine appearance as a result of hormone treatments.

“Martha was cool, but some of the stagehands were a little surprised,” said Ms. Reece, who added that more recently, she had been rejected by TV shows after explaining that Billy no longer exists.

All of which intrigues the mild-mannered Mr. Berman, who came to New York in 2002 from Philadelphia to attend Columbia Law School. Before that, as an undergraduate at the University of Pennsylvania, he said, he was completely closeted, but by 2002 he was ready to explore life as a gay man in Manhattan.

During law school, he first lived in