Moving to New York

**walkietalkie** · August 21st, 2005, 02:21 AM

A few quick questions. I'm starting a job in midtown in October, pay is around 40k a year.

I've started looking into apartments, but the whole system of paystubs/credit checks/guarantors has me confused. I just got out of school so I have no real paystubs(other than summer jobs/part-time jobs during school), my credit is shaky and I don't have any guarantor who can sign onto an apt. Can anyone give me some general tips about dealing with the apt hunt? must i use a broker? do all apts have the insane 3 month security deposit? any help would be appreciated.

oh and if it helps, I'm not looking for anything fancy, just a basic studio in Manhattan. I'm currently in Boston and doing apt hunting over the internet, but I am gonna head down there soon enough.

**HarlemRep** · August 21st, 2005, 12:41 PM

Originally Posted by walkietalkie

A few quick questions. I'm starting a job in midtown in October, pay is around 40k a year.

I've started looking into apartments, but the whole system of paystubs/credit checks/guarantors has me confused. I just got out of school so I have no real paystubs(other than summer jobs/part-time jobs during school), my credit is shaky and I don't have any guarantor who can sign onto an apt. Can anyone give me some general tips about dealing with the apt hunt? must i use a broker? do all apts have the insane 3 month security deposit? any help would be appreciated.

oh and if it helps, I'm not looking for anything fancy, just a basic studio in Manhattan. I'm currently in Boston and doing apt hunting over the internet, but I am gonna head down there soon enough.

A few things... I'll start off with "it's going to be very hard for you to find a place in Manhattan". It really will be borderline impossible. A broker is going to be the only person who can probably help you, and that will have to be with a small landlord that they likely have an exclusive listing with, as they're usually easier to deal with. No "apt. by owner" will be willing to work with you probably as they'll have many more qualified people with an interest in their place.

To address your question about an "insane 3 month security deposit", that just sounds made up. That's not normal or a regular occurance. Also, you can't "apartment hunt" over the internet unless you're willing to take something sight unseen (and they would be willing to take you as a tenant, which seems unlikely). GOOD apartments rarely sit around more than a day or two. If somethings around for a week or more, there's a reason.

I think your best bet, if you MUST live in Manhattan, is Central Harlem or Washington Heights or Inwood. It still may be kind of tough for you to get in though. My real recommendation would be Queens or Brooklyn or BX.

**walkietalkie** · August 21st, 2005, 03:09 PM

thanks for the help, and for the straight answers. Guess I'll most likely be heading down to go apt hunting in Brooklyn in a couple weeks then. Once I'm in town whats the best way to go? local newspapers? craigslist? brokers?

and the 3 month security deposit was on a few listings I saw(1st month rent+ last month's rent+ security deposit) and someone else mentioned it earlier in this thread. Glad to hear its not standard since I don't have that kind of cash.

**HarlemRep** · August 21st, 2005, 05:57 PM

Yeah, I don't think I'd call last month's rent or extra security "standard" by any measure. I'd recommend using craigslist, see if there are any outer borough listings either "By owner" that doesn't look to tough or "apt broker no fee". in a place like brooklyn, I don't think fees ever go over a month on most places if you do have to pay one (that's just a guess though).

Unless you're really weird about living with someone, I'd also recommend checking out the roommate route. Usually don't need as many qualifications, and you get more for your money... people always need roommates.

**Ninjahedge** · August 22nd, 2005, 10:15 AM

I would also reccomend areas of Jersey City as well. Hoboken is too expensive.

There are also areas like Fort Lee that might have decent rent prices with a commute that will not kill you.

Don't let the demon of NJ Rumor make it so you don't even consider it....

**ryan** · August 22nd, 2005, 11:17 AM

The commute to midtown east would be shortest from North Brooklyn or Queens. NJ is closer to downtown or midtown west. Follow harlem rep's advice and you'll find owner occupied buildings with far less restrictive credit qualifications. I paid 1 month's security and had no credit check at all, plus my landlord gave me a tour of the neighborhood.

A lot of people move into nyc into a share situation, then after they have a job, some credit and their bearings, they get their own place.

**sarahsmile** · August 23rd, 2005, 08:17 AM

I own real estate that I don't live in (not in NYC) so in the city I sublet. It seems to be the best deal. I found my place on sublet.com and also had good luck on craigslist. You might want to sublet before you sign a lease. They usually don't ask for first/last/security with a sublet and you can come to the city and look around and get the know the neighborhoods before deciding where you want to live.

**NewYorkYankee** · August 28th, 2005, 08:14 PM

As you all know this Sunday Ill be living in NY. Im wanting a part time job, I dont know what to look for. I would prefer something at a desk. I know that being only a high school grad this limits my areas. What jobs/positions do you all rec. for me to look for? I DO NOT work with food, I hate it, and will never do it. Also, where should I look for jobs? (Besides Craigslist) Is the Times a good source? Thanks guys!

**BPC** · August 28th, 2005, 09:52 PM

Try a temp agency. At a law firm (I work at one), about the only job you can get with a hs diploma is mail room.

**ryan** · August 29th, 2005, 03:11 AM

Yankee, your school should have some resources for you - there's probably a career center where you might find job listings or advice. You might find a part time office job out there, but most often they require a full day's work during regular business hours, which is not great for a student's schedule. There's always retail...

**HarlemRep** · August 29th, 2005, 02:26 PM

Originally Posted by NewYorkYankee

As you all know this Sunday Ill be living in NY. Im wanting a part time job, I dont know what to look for. I would prefer something at a desk. I know that being only a high school grad this limits my areas. What jobs/positions do you all rec. for me to look for? I DO NOT work with food, I hate it, and will never do it. Also, where should I look for jobs? (Besides Craigslist) Is the Times a good source? Thanks guys!

Why would you move here if not for a job or not with a job? Do you have tons saved up or something?

**BrooklynRider** · August 29th, 2005, 02:44 PM

Originally Posted by HarlemRep

Why would you move here if not for a job or not with a job? Do you have tons saved up or something?

It has been done by hundreds of thousands of people before him. New York, in and of itself, is something that people aspire to. Getting here is easy. Making it here is a matter of determiniation. It's available to anyone from anywhere and, yet, not everyone can do it.

**HarlemRep** · August 30th, 2005, 09:25 PM

Originally Posted by BrooklynRider

It has been done by hundreds of thousands of people before him. New York, in and of itself, is something that people aspire to. Getting here is easy. Making it here is a matter of determiniation. It's available to anyone from anywhere and, yet, not everyone can do it.

Yeah I know it's done before and I've never gotten it. I could see if you even LINED UP a job. I wasn't implying people should only come if they were being transferred or something. It just seems ignorant to move anywhere, especially somewhere as expensive as here without at least a job offer; unless you already have plenty of money, which was my next question.

**NewYorkYankee** · August 30th, 2005, 09:25 PM

Im going to college HarlemRep. I hope that clears some things up for you. Brooklyn, your right. If I can make it here, I can make it anywhere.

**Tom63376** · August 30th, 2005, 10:48 PM

My lease is up in 2 months and I would like to move to Manhattan
and so I need some help picking the right neighborhood.

I would like to spend $2600-$3400/mo for a 1 bedroom apt
in a very new/luxurous Hi-rise.

I am a straight male, late 20s, preppie/yuppie looking for
a fun and vibrant area with a good dating pool of women.

I have read that the Upper East Side is the preppie area but
when I visited NY, I seemed to really feel an energy around the
Time Square area. It was just full of life and I liked that.
The excitement or "Energy" seemed cented from 38th street
up to about 48th street. When I walked North of 48th it seemed
like everything died. Maybe it's just me.. When I left and
returned home, the feeling I had was that I needed to live
somewhere very close to Times Square. But since it was just
a short visit, I wanted to ask the people who acually lived
in Manhattan for advice before I make any moves...

I'm a single guy so I eat out almost all the time and I like
all the "cheap eats" and take-out places. Resturants get
too expensive for a guy who eats out 80% of the time.

So to summarize, what area would best fit my needs of
being the most fun, high energy, lot's of cheap eats,
with a good pool of single women for a single preppie-like
guy to move to?

Thanks in advance..
Tom (in St. Louis)