What is good advice for someone moving into an apartment in NYC?

New York is the safest place in the country or atleast one of the safest places in the country. I read that on yahoo news maybe 2 weeks ago im sure you could still find the article if you google it, maybe you should read why.

Brooklyn!

There are many nice areas to live in Brooklyn, and many parts of it are cheaper than in the city. I’d look in Carroll Gardens, Fort Greene, Boerum Hill, Cobble Hill, Prospect Park and Kensington. If you can afford it, Williamsburg, DUMBO and Brooklyn Heights are lovely, lively areas. All these areas are ~½ hour or so to Wall Street via the trains.

@life_after_2012 I grew up in a neighborhood and im constantly hanging around one that pretty much is the opposite of what you said.

@aprilsimnel The range i was looking at now for studios/1bd room is like $500–900 found some in city, wasnt too sure of the good parts of BK or the affordable ones, i only know the ones to avoid.

While I think Brooklyn is more desirable you may be able to save some money and look at Staten Island as the Ferry goes right into the financial district, not a bad way to commute

@softtop67 – This is true. St. George is nice.

@life_after_2012: You’re getting confused. According the FBI, New York City is the safest big city to live in. Big difference.

especially with the budget you’re working with, you may want to also look at Jersey places (Hoboken, Exchange Place, Journal Sq, etc), near the PATH train that stops at WTC. The trip is sometimes quicker than inter-Boro travel and the fare is cheaper. You also save on NYC City Income Tax being a non-NYS resident, and Sales Tax in NJ is less than NYC, plus No tax on clothing.

@njnyjobs Jersey is pretty much out of the question, that price range im only throwing out there because im not too sure how much ill be actually working, somewhere between 30–60hours a week depending on my work load so i dont want to overshoot anything, also accounting for Utilities – other bills.

I’m actually looking to step out on my own for the first time but I know my lifestyle’s pretty particular. I live in NYC btw. I need to know who and how many people I wish to accomodate and what size of living space i’d be happy with. I’ve been looking on craigslist and have found some nice, affordable places. Ideally, I’d want something in an apartment building just for more privacy. I also want something close to the train I need to take to get to work. So those are the options I’m considering.

@JesusWasAJewbot is Jersey not an option because it’s Jersey? or is it something else?

Let’s review the factors you already enumerated:
1. near work – Wall St., or near train station.
2. currently in the Bronx
3. 30–60 hours work week
4. $500–900/mo rent budget

My opinion:
You’ll be hard pressed to get a studio in your price range for yourself, let alone a 1 bedroom apt without roomies, anywhere in Manhattan, Queens or Brooklyn that is close to the subway.

Staten Island has rooms to let in your price range, with shared kitchens, bathrooms, living rooms. You take the SI Ferry which is free, but in SI, you will need to ride the bus or train if your’e not within walking distance of St. George Ferry Terminal.

Commute between BK/Qns & WS area could be as much as an hour during rush hours.

Craigslist is not the best place to look for apartments/rooms in NYC, just about every listing there is either too expensive or too far or undesirable… not to mention the scam artists that prey on gullible transplants.

Your best bet is to sign-up with a reputable broker (of course they charge fees for this service), referrals from your co-workers or the NY Daily News or NY Post Ads.

You need to get your security deposit and 2 months’ rent ready and a pretty decent credit score.

@njnyjobs Yeah, thats the thing im not trying to go into a shared situation, im happy with a studio with a kitchen, bathroom, living area. I dont need much would just be myself. Ive also been applying for places through the lottery system of section 8 listings in the newspapers.

Im looking for something for myself, thats it. No crazy accommodations or living space, just enough for a TV, Bed, PC is necessary. Craigslist could be rather confusing as most places there are like weekly rentals or “vacation rentals”.

Are there any other sites which are more reputable? My mother works in the housing industry (Load Officer for a community preservation company) and is helping me with the search. I just began this job im at now so im only looking ahead and trying to figure out what to stay away from and whats good to look out for. I plan on saving from my first pay check and selling my car to pay off some debt.

I suggest you look in Jersey City, across the river. A nice up and coming neighborhood, safe, and becoming trendy. Nice electric train for in city travel – and two PATH trains that are one stop into Manhatten. One comes out in the WTC. A lot less expensive than NYC.

@Eureka did you read the earlier posts?

@njnyjobs Yes, I did. However, Jersey City is basically NYC. You could throw a basebaal from one to the other. But, since you see fit to chastize me, I will leave you to it.

@JesusWasAJewbot what’s your timetable for moving into your own apt? you may have better luck around May or June when schools are out and college kids graduate or move out of dorm/apts, but you have to do the footwork now. Search around NYU, Pace U, East Village, Flatiron, Chelsea.

@Eureka I wasn’t chastizing you . . .I already suggested JERSEY and OP didnt care for that answer. I even included advantages of a Jersey address . . . you must have quite an arm to throw a baseball across the Hudson, whoever can do that, have the Mets look them up.

@njnyjobs Im looking to save up for about 6–9 months from starting work this week, dont have too many expenses right now living at parents house. If i sell my car looking at another $8–10g’s to put towards savings, really dont see the point in keeping it and have a family member who wants to buy it.

@JesusWasAJewbot Here’s my advice, ...sell the car ASAP; you’ll save on insurance and eliminate risk of losing value.

Put the money in a 6–9 month CD.

Subway ride from, BX to WS should be a breeze on the Express lines, get yourself a monthly Metrocard so you can use it without limit for stops in between work and home.

Even though you’re living with your parents and don’t have too many expenses, you should contribute $$$ towards food that you eat, cost of electricity for your TV/computer, cost of laundry, and some value of the room you occupy. By doing this, you will be able to better manage your finances once you are out there on your own.

Good Luck!

@njnyjobs Thanks a lot for the advice! Whats a CD? And would i just deposit money INTO a CD or put the money total into a CD?

You’re welcome. Glad to be of service. I once was a transplant in NYC some 25 years ago . . .

A CD is short for Certificate of Deposit. It is a form of savings account at your local neighborhood bank. You deposit the money to your account on the premise that you will not withdraw it for the time you commit: 3, 6, 9, 12 or however many months, in exchange for a guaranteed interest payment at the end of the term.

@JesusWasAJewbot $500— $900 for a studio or one bedroom? I live in DC, which is way less expensive than New York, but the bare minimum for housing here is about $500 for shared housing and $800 for a studio. And I’m not talking good places; this is the price for places in bad areas or with no central AC and mice infestations. For nice shared housing here it’s more like $700 plus utilities, and a small apartment half an hour from downtown starts at maybe $1100. Again, where I live is a lot less expensive than New York, but still more money than you’re looking to pay. The market in big cities like New York is really going to be a lot more expensive than you’re used to. Commuting an hour to work is really not that hard; why not just look for a nice place across the river? What’s so bad about New Jersey?