what type of issues?
low light, 1BA in 3BR, long distance to subway, facing avenue instead of street (louder), lower floors (louder), floors that aren’t level, no doorman, no elevator, etc etc
Yeah, there’s a lot of compromising to be done.
The noise takes a while to get to used to but you learn to block out the street noise and as long as your neighbours keep reasonable hours you’ll be fine.
my first place in NYC had previously had really cheap AC installed where part of the living room windows had been taken out and replaced by plastic so it was basically like the windows were always open. it was on the 2nd floor
In general, I find NY apartments to be quite efficiently priced, since there is so much volume and price discovery. So, if a unit looks more expensive or cheaper than it should be, then there is probably a reason for that. The one thing you can control, of course, is location. So, you can find some value usually, by going to places that are a couple blocks out of the way, or are in less socially vibrant areas.
“Quick question, what type of apartment is the most quiet/built the most solid, specifically noise that comes through the ceiling, like footsteps? Pre-war? High-rise? New vs older?”
In general from my experience, new buildings and very old buildings are better. The middle age 1980s sort of buildings do not have the insulation of newer buildings, nor the thick brick wall construction of pre war buildings. It depends on the place though. Avalon might build a new high rise and skimp on noise insulation, or a prewar building owner might subdivide the floor into subunits with thin walls.
Its loud, get earplugs. Solves that problem.
Make sure you have good sight lines to at least a dozen other apartments and a good place to put your telescope.
Creeper level: 50th floor + telescope
50th floor is no good, since the steep angle means you cannot spy on the internals of other apartments. Most other units are lower than that. I’d say the sweet spot is like 10th floor.
when I moved to the west coast i was soooo very glad to quit paying those outrageous upper east side NYC rents!
Ya’ll so crazy haha
Renting a condo vs. renting a rental unit… what’s renting a condo like? Any good/bad experiences?
How many places have you looked at so far - it must not be that many condos, right?
Maybe it’s my search but I’ve screened down to neighborhood, price range, studios, and it’s half condos, half rental units (which I assume is not condo?) got it down to <10 listings on streeteasy. I also selected doorman and no fee, maybe that’s why it’s coming up like that?
Which neighborhood are you looking to stay in brah? I’m guessing Hell’s Kitchen or LIC if you’re getting a lot of rental buildings in the search. Then again, the fact that you chose “no fee” probably influenced the results, since big rental buildings tend to run their own office.
^ Sent a PM, and I agree, the no fee thing is cutting the search down. The market really does seem efficient, I’m looking at a broker’s website and there are definitely some units that would be comparable on an all-in basis. Will definitely negotiate either way.
why is everyone here so big on having a doorman/concierge desk? They basically only exist in my sphere of perception in order to judge me.
Nowadays, it’s for packages. Since no one has a car, it is easier to just buy everything online and have it delivered. Also, online shopping means you pay the same price as everyone else in the US, which is beneficial when you live in the most expensive place in the US. A couple of decades ago, doormen were probably useful for security, but nowadays, there is so little crime in Manhattan that it’s not that much of a difference.
Also, when you consider a doorman building, keep in mind that you’re going to have to tip them. I’d say I gave about half a month’s rent last year. However, they deserve a tip for receiving all my huge bags of pet food and other bullshit.
Market is pretty efficient so the cost of the broker is generally included in the rent. So, you’re probably better off going with the broker since the cost will be absorbed in the first year and the following years will have a relatively reduced rent. Of course, they’ll likely increase rent but the increase will be based on the your original, cheaper, rent. Listed no fee apartments are just apts that the landlord promises agents a month’s rent if rented.
Only time it makes sense to go no broker fee is if you either know a landlord or an actual apartment that’s not on the market.
i dont have a doorman, building has a little buzzer thing you tap to let you in if you live there. USPS & UPS have the key to get in the building so I never miss a package from them (however FedEx is hit or miss) its much better as I dont have to tip a bunch of guys who just receive packages for me and I dont have to make small talk every day
Didn’t know you have to tip a doorman!