So I’m closing in on the big 30 next year and decided it was time to move out on my own. I made a budget of $2.5k for a studio/1br apartment…
The last time I looked at apartments for a solo dwelling in the city was like 5 years ago. Started looking again not too long ago and have found that even with what I think is a decent budget, I’m finding garbage. Just tiny, crappy places on the 5th floor. Adding insult to injury, brokers insist on this fee of 12-15% of the total rent just for showing me a $#%Thole at oddball hours during the day with an attitude that they gave me some divine service…
dont get an agent. decide what neighborhood u want to live in and walk around there a few times. any luxury buildings have lease offices on site and you can just walk in and talk to them. agents are good for finding stuff thats beings rented by private parties or smaller landlords. you can access those listings online as well on streeteasy or renthop.
I’m still astounded when I find out how much yall pay for rent in NYC. For $2500 a month here in Texas you can get yourself some of the nicest and most overpriced 2 and 3 br apts in the trendier parts of the city.
When my buddy told me he and his 2 roommates paid about $4k for their upper east side apartment, my first and last thought was WTF.
It hurts more, when people realize that their tough, challenging jobs keep them at work for so long, they never get to enjoy NYC for all it has. salt on wounds.
But it’ll probably be a walk up in upper east side (really upper), your bedroom is probably going to fit a small bed (and not muhc else), and generally old conditions
It still surprises me that Manhattan rents are at such a high premium over rents in areas just across the river - for instance, Long Island or Hoboken. In these other places, it seems like you can get almost twice as much space for the same price, in exchange for a short train ride. I believe it is very much related to the prestige factor. Manhattanites seem to regard other people as second class citizens. If you live in Hoboken, you cannot date girls from Manhattan. Perhaps the rent difference will decrease over time, as places like Long Island City get developed and become more trendy.
Up your budget by $300 per month and I’ll rent you a 4,600 square foot McMansion on 3.5 acres in southern NJ. It’s about 2 hours to NYC, but you’ll love it on the weekends.