Top Law Schools

All the "NYC has so much culture" arguments kind of miss the point to me. If you value never having to drive anywhere, being able to walk out your door and do all your errands within a 5 minute radius, having every kind of cuisine imaginable delivered to your home at all hours of the day, being around people from all over the world; and if you don't need a big home, private outdoor space, etc., then you may be happy in NYC.

If you don't care about any of those positive things and care about the drawbacks, then, yeah, you should probably live someplace else.

The whole issue is just about personal preferences. The fact that you can buy a 4 bedroom house in a subdivision outside Dallas for the price of a one-bedroom in Manhattan is not going to convince anyone of anything; nor is being within walking distance of Lincoln Center going to be meaningful to someone who won't ever go.

I will say: when one is spending much of one's time timing to the minute how long it takes to get to and from dozens of different places in the city, one may not be focusing to the optimal extent on the things that will make him/her happy. This whole inquiry into what places in NYC are within 30 and not 35 minutes of the office seems so wildly to miss the point to me; you can always, everywhere find some marginal problem to obsess about and make yourself miserable over if you want.

I also lived in Atlanta for a long time, and will take 40 minutes on the 4/5 over 40 minutes on I-75 or GA-400 any day of the week and twice on Sunday; but, you know, different strokes.

seriouslyinformative wrote:
Actually, that post was a lie so I could avoid outing myself. But screw it. Dresden Doll, I've met you and, while I love you to death, you're not fashionable.

I admit I haven't really expended too much effort into shopping/dressing myself since college. Nonetheless, I enjoy fashion greatly and think I can tell the difference between well dressed and plain odd.

seriouslyinformative wrote:

paratactical wrote:

seriouslyinformative wrote: Haha. No offense, but when a non-NYCer tells me they're very into fashion, I'll usually need pictures to verify. The number of times I've heard people say that, while it not being at all true, is too high to count.

This is why I left NYC.

Actually, that post was a lie so I could avoid outing myself. But screw it. Dresden Doll, I've met you and, while I love you to death, you're not fashionable.

Well, she may not be fashionable, but she's still a doll, right? Right RIGHT?!?!?!?!?!

Does everybody arguing about how great Dallas/Houston/etc realize that note everyone has ties to Texas and that getting a firm job there is impossible for 95% of even T14 grads?

It's not *that* hard if you don't have ties.

seriouslyinformative wrote:It's not *that* hard if you don't have ties.

Explain please.

Anonymous User wrote:

seriouslyinformative wrote:It's not *that* hard if you don't have ties.

Explain please.

I just know people who had no ties and not-so-spectacular grades and managed to nab top Houston firms.

seriouslyinformative wrote:

Anonymous User wrote:

seriouslyinformative wrote:It's not *that* hard if you don't have ties.

Explain please.

I just know people who had no ties and not-so-spectacular grades and managed to nab top Houston firms.

School, rank, etc?

dixiecupdrinking wrote:All the "NYC has so much culture" arguments kind of miss the point to me. If you value never having to drive anywhere, being able to walk out your door and do all your errands within a 5 minute radius, having every kind of cuisine imaginable delivered to your home at all hours of the day, being around people from all over the world; and if you don't need a big home, private outdoor space, etc., then you may be happy in NYC.

This this this

I guess I'll ask for some help in here, since it seems like a lot of nycers here: anyone have any advice for finding an apt? I got streeteasy and nofeerentals so far, which kinda help.. anyone know other good places or have any tips to offer? Tyia

Find a good broker.

dixiecupdrinking wrote:If you value never having to drive anywhere, being able to walk out your door and do all your errands within a 5 minute radius, having every kind of cuisine imaginable delivered to your home at all hours of the day, being around people from all over the world; and if you don't need a big home, private outdoor space, etc., then you may be happy in NYC.

Aside from the "diversity" thing, you can do that in most major US cities: Chicago, DC, Portland, San Francisco, Philadelphia, etc. If the question in this thread is "why do people favor NYC firms" the ability to do things that one can do in many major metro areas is probably not the answer.

The fact that you can buy a 4 bedroom house in a subdivision outside Dallas for the price of a one-bedroom in Manhattan is not going to convince anyone of anything; nor is being within walking distance of Lincoln Center going to be meaningful to someone who won't ever go.

False dichotomy. A better comparison is a big-lawyer being able to afford a spacious modern 1BR in Gold Coast in Chicago versus being relegated to a pre-war walkup in Tribeca or SOHO.

This whole inquiry into what places in NYC are within 30 and not 35 minutes of the office seems so wildly to miss the point to me; you can always, everywhere find some marginal problem to obsess about and make yourself miserable over if you want.

So a basic reading comp idea is: main idea versus supporting details. The argument about 30 minutes versus 35 minutes is not a main idea. It's a supporting detail. Specifically, the reply to the complaint of "Manhattan housing is expensive" is usually: "just do outer boroughs bro!" Then someone inevitably chimes in "yeah, Flushing is just a 30 minute commute!" The excruciating debate about commuting time is just a response to the fact that people madly fudge commute times. If my current UWS commute which is only 11 minutes of on-paper subway time takes 30 minutes or more when you add up all the other elements of the commute, I think that's quite relevant when people suggest commuting from places that are even on paper almost 20 minutes away. The point is not that "NYC sucks because my commute will be 30 minutes rather than 35 minutes" but rather "if you honestly evaluate the commute from the nice parts of the outer boroughs it could definitely add up enough to cut into your precious limited free-time as a big-laywer."

I also lived in Atlanta for a long time, and will take 40 minutes on the 4/5 over 40 minutes on I-75 or GA-400 any day of the week and twice on Sunday; but, you know, different strokes.

Sure, different strokes, but I have trouble fathoming this. You would really prefer to stand up crushed against a bunch of sweaty people for 40 minutes rather then sit in a nice air-conditioned car? Especially on GA-400 where it's not like you have to deal with traffic lights or pedestrians or anything.

seriouslyinformative wrote:Find a good broker.

How much does one charge? I've heard two months rent, but my firm only covers roughly one month.

seriouslyinformative wrote:Find a good broker.

Suggestions?

Broker will typically charge a fee of 15% the annual rent, but you can typically negotiate it down to 11%-12%.

Law firms typically cover the fee as part of their relocation package, and also typically have their preferred brokers.

And yes, brokers are essential. They find stuff you don't see online. The unit I'm renting is part of a co-op and the owner decided that he had to be in some other part of the country for two years, so he needed to rent his unit out. My broker found the place and we jumped on it. I wouldn't have found that place on craigslist, streeteasy, citihabitats, etc.

Those sites tend to advertise genuine rentals. The thing with condo units or co-ops that go for rent is that typically the owner of those units tend to invest more energy into the place. They typically improve the fixtures, the appliances, and install washer-dryer units in the apartment itself. The financial structure is such that they're incentivized to do that because any improvement they make causes the property to appreciate. Rentals operate on a different incentive structure; fixtures tend to be poorer because the tenants are more short-term, tenants have no incentive to invest money or energy into the unit because it's wasting money to do so. That's why I try to avoid pure rental properties when I can.

A note regarding "no fee" rentals: There's no such thing as a no-fee broker. The broker has to get their fee from somewhere. If they're not getting it from you, they're getting it from the owner. And the owner isn't simply going to absorb the cost. He's going to put it in your rent. In such situations, however, a two year lease is preferable because the "fee" will be spread across more payments. The con of that proposition is that you have to lock yourself into a two-year lease, which might not be the best idea if you're not completely familiar with the apartment.

The only real way to avoid the fee is to approach the management of the building personally, or the owner of the unit directly. This, of course, assumes that they're not represented by a broker. Moreover, this is a little harder to do. Building managers tend to be managers of pure rental buildings, providing for the not-so-ideal incentive structure I described above. But they tend to be good deals and it's more of a personal preference than something that's objectively better or worse. Approaching owners directly is, of course, significantly more difficult.

Here are some rental companies I was referring to above:
--LinkRemoved--
http://www.avaloncommunities.com/new-york-apartments/

I'm sure you can find others through some diligent googling.

As you can see, the MiMA one is fairly stupidly priced. You're seeing an alcove studio going for something like $3.8k. My 1BR is in the same area and is wayyyy cheaper. And It's probably nicer--the owner decked the place out. Presumably, what's covered in the $3.8k is the amenities: You probably get a full doorman, a pool, game room, gym, etc. Those add up I guess, but it's just not a worthy value proposition for me.

thecilent wrote:I guess I'll ask for some help in here, since it seems like a lot of nycers here: anyone have any advice for finding an apt? I got streeteasy and nofeerentals so far, which kinda help.. anyone know other good places or have any tips to offer? Tyia

Just use craigslist & look under "by owner" so you don't have to pay a broker fee.

MODS.

Seriouslyinformative, thanks dude

New Yorkers are like people in abusive relationships. Check out this idiot:

--LinkRemoved--

"They also installed blinds, however, the windows are single pane and somewhat drafty. This is to be expected in an older building, but I will go into why it is a problem later."

Sure, to be expected...

"The first three days I spent in my apartment, I had my heater on only at night (high) and was still cold--especially when I was more than a few feet away from the source. It sounded and felt like I was using a blow-dryer for heat. Then, I get my first electricity bill...for $82."

Hmm...

"Then, I get my first electricity bill...for $82. If it costs that much for THREE DAYS, then imagine what it would be for a month!"

Well that's gotta be a mistake...

"consulted a friend who also lives in Gateway. The bill for his 2-bedroom is $500 per month. After speaking with management, he discovered that the units are not designed for heating and they are indeed like inefficient blow-dryers."

He moved out right?

"'I'm pretty happy with this place. Compared to the 3 apartments I've had in Midtown, Gateway is definitely cleaner, nicer and much more serene."

Wait wut?

Score: 4/5.

Reading some of the responses, they seem to take pride in putting up with third-world problems in a $2500/mo apartment:

"My gf and I turned on the heat in our apartment ONCE this winter - and it was a cold winter. our Elec bills were about $50 a month. not bad. but maybe we are from hardier stock. "

Are the roaches up there huge?
I...can't stand roaches

FantasticMrFox wrote:Are the roaches up there huge?
I...can't stand roaches

Everything is bigger in NYC, except the men.

Warroad wrote:

thecilent wrote:I guess I'll ask for some help in here, since it seems like a lot of nycers here: anyone have any advice for finding an apt? I got streeteasy and nofeerentals so far, which kinda help.. anyone know other good places or have any tips to offer? Tyia

Just use craigslist & look under "by owner" so you don't have to pay a broker fee.

Again, see above for why "no fee" really doesn't mean much

rayiner wrote:

FantasticMrFox wrote:Are the roaches up there huge?
I...can't stand roaches

Everything is bigger in NYC, except the men.