3 ms·

Living in NYC is an amazing experience. If you are relocating, I recommend staying in the city first, before moving into Brooklyn, Astoria or NJ for example. Wi

by richsin 13y ago

Living in NYC is an amazing experience. If you are relocating, I recommend staying in the city first, before moving into Brooklyn, Astoria or NJ for example. Williamsburg is hot right now, but don't expect to pay less to live in the good parts. I have seen others cut corners and live outside of the popular pockets and it's the equivalent of me moving to the Sunset - close but no cigar. Commute: Within Manhattan your travel will be 5-25 minutes depending on how far you're going. Cabs are cheap when your in a hurry. If you enjoy walking, even better. Bicycles are taking over NYC, it's been an amazing transformation as of recent and if you enjoy riding, thats a bonus. Work: I do freelance development and there is alot of business in the city, ALOT. I get calls every week for developer roles. Another great part of being in the city is the diversity across all boards. You will meet people from all over the world, working in so many different industries...it will give you an amazing perspective. Rent: Expect to pay at least $1800 for a small studio or a room share in a nice 2 bedroom apartment. You can definitely find cheaper places in the city, but where you live in the city defines you and your lifestyle to an extent. Areas to consider: (without knowing much about you) East Village, West Village, Lower East Side, Chelsea, Hell's Kitchen, Union Square, Murray Hill, Upper West Side, Upper East Side, Midtown (East and West). Great food, convenient, always busy. Meeting people: There are many meetups and networking events, but your work will be your gateway to expanding your circle. If your single, NYC is a huge dating market. Get some good pics, throw it up on Tinder, Match, Howaboutwe and have fun. Also there are great places like 3rd Ward in Williamsburg which is just a few stops away on the L Train and they have an amazing creative community. Going back to my emphasis of staying in the city, it's 100X easier to meet people while living there than commuting into it.

throwmeaway2525 13y ago
Do you have any advice for getting a (good) place without knowing anyone there, and without giving an arm to a broker? I tracked Craigslist ads daily for all of those neighborhoods a couple of years ago when I was considering relocating, and it looked _brutal_. (I suppose an employer or potential co-workers might be able to help, but it just seems so competitive I'm not sure what can really be done.)
throwaway1979 13y ago
Minor nit: I believe 3rd Ward shut down in a sad, spectacular way :( All your advice seems spot on. One problem I had was distinguishing between neighborhoods. While I lived in midtown east, I was oddly in a restaurant blackhole. All my favorite restaurants and hangout places were around 33'rd, st. marks, etc. There are some bad spots in Manhattan ... one should be aware of that.
- richsin 13y ago
  That's sad to hear about 3rd Ward, thank's for pointing that out. You are right about the dead spots around the city, like Midtown East and Battery Park, there are a few dead spots where it is really lively during work hours but in the evening you have to travel a stop or two to find some action and good grub. @throwmeaway2525 : streeteasy.com has alot of listings and you can always negotiate with the agent in regards to fee. I just found my cousin one in Hell's Kitchen for $1900 and it's a studio. Also take a look at Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village, they are renovating all of the apartments and you can get a 1 Bedroom in a 2 Bedroom share for around $1600. They are larger apartments and it's a great size room for the price and location.

by richsin 13y ago

throwmeaway2525 13y ago

Do you have any advice for getting a (good) place without knowing anyone there, and without giving an arm to a broker? I tracked Craigslist ads daily for all of those neighborhoods a couple of years ago when I was considering relocating, and it looked _brutal_. (I suppose an employer or potential co-workers might be able to help, but it just seems so competitive I'm not sure what can really be done.)

throwaway1979 13y ago

Minor nit: I believe 3rd Ward shut down in a sad, spectacular way :( All your advice seems spot on. One problem I had was distinguishing between neighborhoods. While I lived in midtown east, I was oddly in a restaurant blackhole. All my favorite restaurants and hangout places were around 33'rd, st. marks, etc. There are some bad spots in Manhattan ... one should be aware of that.

richsin 13y ago
That's sad to hear about 3rd Ward, thank's for pointing that out. You are right about the dead spots around the city, like Midtown East and Battery Park, there are a few dead spots where it is really lively during work hours but in the evening you have to travel a stop or two to find some action and good grub. @throwmeaway2525 : streeteasy.com has alot of listings and you can always negotiate with the agent in regards to fee. I just found my cousin one in Hell's Kitchen for $1900 and it's a studio. Also take a look at Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village, they are renovating all of the apartments and you can get a 1 Bedroom in a 2 Bedroom share for around $1600. They are larger apartments and it's a great size room for the price and location.