living in New York City - I need some advice

[project_c]

I will be relocating to NYC from London UK for around 6 weeks in August, and need a bit of advice. I want to rent an apartment for the time I'm there, and I'm wondering about a few things:

- Are there any areas of the city I should absolutely avoid, when looking for an apartment? I'm fairly easy going but I'll be working from home a lot of the time, so safety and a bit of peace / quiet is important. I know NYC reasonably well, but have never spent more than 5 days at a time there, so a bit of inside info would be great.

- What kind of price would you expect to pay per week for a decent, but not outrageous studio / 1 bed apartment? I've seen a big range of prices on CL and through agencies, and it's hard to make sense of it all.

- Is there anything I should be aware of when looking for a place that isn't obvious? (hidden fees, weird laws / rules or anything else you can think of..)

I'd really appreciate any advice you guys can give.
thanks!

[57pbass]

Most areas in Metro NY are pricey. You should get here and rent a room for a few weeks and check out the different areas before you sign a lease. Rooms are available on Craigslist. The outer boroughs are great and you can use the subway to get around town quickly and on the cheap...

The city has so much to offer and there are many great areas to live so you might regret not doing some research on your own.

Obviously - The cheaper rents are usually in the less desirable areas .....

I live in Forest Hills Queens and it's perfect for me..

[SurferJoe46]

project_c; - I will be relocating to NYC from London UK for around 6 weeks in August, and need a bit of advice. I want to rent an apartment for the time I'm there, and I'm wondering about a few things:

- Are there any areas of the city I should absolutely avoid, when looking for an apartment? I'm fairly easy going but I'll be working from home a lot of the time, so safety and a bit of peace / quiet is important. I know NYC reasonably well, but have never spent more than 5 days at a time there, so a bit of inside info would be great.

Hell's Kitchen comes to mind as a place to not live in unless you are a native. The Bowery has some nice areas, but the street people will be a bother. The safer areas are pretty expensive.

- What kind of price would you expect to pay per week for a decent, but not outrageous studio / 1 bed apartment? I've seen a big range of prices on CL and through agencies, and it's hard to make sense of it all.

I don't think you'll get a relatively inexpensive place by the week or month. Those rates are for tourists and they will gouge you pretty good. You might need a yearlong written contract to get a decent break.

Bring lots of money, but carry NO cash and don't look like a tourist and you might survive --- a while.

- Is there anything I should be aware of when looking for a place that isn't obvious? (hidden fees, weird laws / rules or anything else you can think of..)

You'll love NY City with the Sullivan Act keeping guns out of criminals hands just like Jolly Olde England. Well, criminals don't really obey the law - but it's on the books and it can be used against them. Not.

NYC has a lot of "Blue Laws" and it will behoove you to get familiar with them.

I'd really appreciate any advice you guys can give.
thanks!

I lived in NY a bunch of years ago and can only think it's gone a little further into the porcelain facility by now. Visit often, look around, spend money and get out of town by sunset.

Jersey is a little nicer in many areas, but NY STATE is nicer in the more northern areas.

Think more: Connecticut or Massachusetts. The Queens is nice as is Yonkers

[svtb15]

peace and quiet in NYC.. hahahha Lived there for 38 years...
maybe trump towers...
but Astoria or Greenpoint Brooklyn has apartments less than NYC.... I had a Loft in Brooklyn for many years and it was reasonable... while my friend had a 1 bedroom in NYC. he paid 2 grand a month .. his one bedroom was the size of my kitchen... Astoria or Greenpoint are only about 3 stops on the subway from NYC

[project_c]

I know 'peace and quiet' is relative.. London isn't exactly known for its' quiet and solitude either, and I've been to New York a few times so I know what to expect, but I'm hoping I can still avoid absolute mayhem. Last time I visited I stayed in Brooklyn and found it completely peaceful and nice.

[Joe Nerve]

I live in an incredibly peaceful, quiet and safe neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY. My building has a doorman. I live pretty much right on the Bay also, which is the closest you get round these parts to living on a canal, something I always wanted to do. I'm 2 blocks from the train, about 5 blocks from the beach, there's a post office, supermarket, drug store and several banks within a block. 2 blocks away is sheepshead bay road where there are lots of retaurants. 45 minutes by train to the city, 30 by car. Most beautiful women in the world live in my neighborhood, as it's mostly russian. Iffin ya like that kind of thing that is.

It's a 2 1/2 room studio (studio which was converted to 2 rms with a small kitchen).

It will be for rent in September as I'm moving in w my girl to a place she's buying, in the same neighborhood. $900 a month all inclusive except electric.

[Ed Fuqua]

Originally Posted by SurferJoe46

Hell's Kitchen comes to mind as a place to not live in unless you are a native. The Bowery has some nice areas, but the street people will be a bother. The safer areas are pretty expensive.

When was the last time you were here? Hell's Kitchen is called Clinton now, and it's pretty freaking pricey.

Originally Posted by ex-pat

I don't think you'll get a relatively inexpensive place by the week or month. Those rates are for tourists and they will gouge you pretty good. You might need a yearlong written contract to get a decent break.

Use SUBLET as a search term when you look at CL, there are PLENTY of folks who leave NYC in the summer but still have to carry their rent, so they rent out the apartment while they're gone.

Originally Posted by Film Buff

Bring lots of money, but carry NO cash and don't look like a tourist and you might survive --- a while.

Sounds like you watch too many movies, I've lived here for 23 years with no problems.

Originally Posted by film buff

You'll love NY City with the Sullivan Act keeping guns out of criminals hands just like Jolly Olde England. Well, criminals don't really obey the law - but it's on the books and it can be used against them. Not.

See above, there've been more murders in the little Georgia town I moved here from. Again, too many movies.

Originally Posted by out of touch

NYC has a lot of "Blue Laws" and it will behoove you to get familiar with them.

Hmmm, other than alcohol in open containers, I'm not sure what you're talking about. The only "blue laws" I'm familiar with have to do with purchase of alcohol on Sundays, and you can DEFINITELY do that here.

Originally Posted by The Out OF Towner

I lived in NY a bunch of years ago and can only think it's gone a little further into the porcelain facility by now. Visit often, look around, spend money and get out of town by sunset.

Given your answers, I'd hazard a guess that it was over 30 years since you've lived in the city. But it ain't for everybody, that's for sure.

But yes, Hopeful Ingenue, bring money. EVERYTHING is more expensive here. But why are you coming here?

[RayG]

+1 on less rent out of NYC. I used to live in Jackson Heights Queens and liked the rent and neighborhood. Good Indian and South American grub.

Six weeks is not a long time and the tube (subway) is a flat fare not by by zone like in the UK.

Best part is you can make the TB NYC International GTG this year!

Regards------

[Arnold]

I live in Astoria queens. It's anywhere from 3 to 6 subway stops to NYC, is filled with places to eat and drink and has a few music venues. It's reasonable rent wise to live here, and I think we really have it much better than NYC. We have nice parks, places to hangout on the east river, the beer gardens, and a serious mix of people. I like it here, my parents like to come here, and people in my building who are 20 like it here. It is so safe, I can almost forget that the 80's in NYC ever happened.

[project_c]

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

But why are you coming here?

Well, believe it or not, I find New York a very inspiring place artistically (my day job as an illustrator), as well as musically of course (not to mention Sadowsky HQ is right there too) - and as I work freelance and mostly from home, I thought it would be great for me and my girlfriend to 'live' there for a short while, instead of just trying to cram everything into a 5 day visit. We're willing to spend a bit of money and we've saved up for this, so we don't have to be on a very tight budget.

Originally Posted by Joe Nerve

It will be for rent in September as I'm moving in w my girl to a place she's buying, in the same neighborhood. $900 a month all inclusive except electric.

I may drop you a PM about this nearer to the time Joe, if you're willing to let it out for just a few weeks.

Queens also sounds cool, I've never spent time there but I'll look into it. Thanks for the replies, it all helps.

[Ed Fuqua]

The question was mostly to steer you, since being part of the milieu is important (very inspiring place artistically), my recommendation would be to find a place in the city (that is to say, the borough of Manhattan) rather than getting too far into the boroughs. Putting up with a small, maybe noisy place is going to be easier when all you have to do is fall out your front door. Getting on the train for half an hour to an hour each way can get old quick. Village and East Village is a destination and will be VERY NOISY unto all hours of the day or night. But on the borders of Tribeca, SoHo, GV way west, Flatiron district etc. or upstate Manhattan (Washington Heights or up by the Cloisters), you can find sublets.

In Brooklyn, both Park Slope and Williamsburg/Greenpoint have enough of a scene that you can fall out your front door and get what I think you might be looking for, so check those out too.

I live in Jackson Heights and I dig our apartment and there's lots to like about the neighborhood, but it pales in comparison to Park Slope where we lived for 16 years before moving here. You want to do something, you gotta hop on the train.

Drop me an e-mail when you get here, we'll grab a beer.

[Ed Fuqua]

http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/sub/1792135727.html

http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/sub/1792128114.html

http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/sub/1792108782.html

http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/sub/1792082621.html
http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/sub/1792090313.html

http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/sub/1792077610.html

Like that...

[PaulNYC]

There are lots of great places in Harlem to check out also.

[project_c]

Excellent, thanks for those links and the beer offer, Ed - I'll definately do that.

[pasta4lnch]

nice to see a lot of Queensfolk here. . . I'm in Elmhurst. it's a hop skip and jump on the subway to nyc AND I HAVE A GARAGE! makes it all worth it!!

Some areas in Brooklyn def have a "vibe" and will be much cheaper. I actually prefer Queens though, but renting a room is easy anywhere, then you can scope the areas for yourself.

There's also Hoboken too - mostly single cube workers there and isn't that much cheaper than Manhattan . . . and it's Jersey but you might like it.

Good luck!

[ausf]

Staten Island (30 minute ferry ride) or Brooklyn is your best bet.

If you need to stay in Manhattan, sublet is your only way.

NYC is very safe these days, just be smart like any city.