Biglaw associates: What class year were you when you bought a house? How expensive of a house did you get? Forum

[Anonymous User]

Back on topic, here...

I'm a first-year at a firm with no in-office requirement. I have personal circumstances that have me living in a different state for the next two years. The place I live now is a secondary market, so I could probably get a 3bd/2ba, 1500ish square foot starter home for between $400k-$600k.

Since I make market, have no loans, and a decent enough amount of savings that I could probably put down 15% or so, I'm thinking about buying in the secondary market. Although the various partners and HR reps know I'm primarily remote, what the firm doesn't know is that I would like to move here permanently. I'm worried that if I buy a house, the jig will be up and I'll be first in line for any impending layoffs. My only defense is that there's a big university here in town, so I could realistically argue that it's an investment property that I plan to rent out once my time here is done (which, honestly, is part of the reason I'd consider buying since the rental market here would provide a bit of down-side protection). What do y'all think?

[johndooley]

Not in big law. I worked for a 10-20 attorney firm for five years and then founded my own with a partner, mostly medmal. Bought a house 8 years after law school at $3.4 mil. This was a couple years ago in Florida so this has markedly increased in appreciation. An appraiser put it at $4.3 mil, it is a 4BR on a lake outside Orlando with a dock.

[Anonymous User]

Not in big law. I worked for a 10-20 attorney firm for five years and then founded my own with a partner, mostly medmal. Bought a house 8 years after law school at $3.4 mil. This was a couple years ago in Florida so this has markedly increased in appreciation. An appraiser put it at $4.3 mil, it is a 4BR on a lake outside Orlando with a dock.

Cool story bro. This is unhelpful and off topic (or a troll), but glad you got to flex.

[johndooley]

Not in big law. I worked for a 10-20 attorney firm for five years and then founded my own with a partner, mostly medmal. Bought a house 8 years after law school at $3.4 mil. This was a couple years ago in Florida so this has markedly increased in appreciation. An appraiser put it at $4.3 mil, it is a 4BR on a lake outside Orlando with a dock.

Cool story bro. This is unhelpful and off topic (or a troll), but glad you got to flex.

Funny this upset you. I didn’t even max out my purchasing power.

[Res Ipsa Loquitter]

Not in big law. I worked for a 10-20 attorney firm for five years and then founded my own with a partner, mostly medmal. Bought a house 8 years after law school at $3.4 mil. This was a couple years ago in Florida so this has markedly increased in appreciation. An appraiser put it at $4.3 mil, it is a 4BR on a lake outside Orlando with a dock.

Cool story bro. This is unhelpful and off topic (or a troll), but glad you got to flex.

Funny this upset you. I didn’t even max out my purchasing power.

For the purposes of this thread, saying you made a bunch of money starting a medical malpractice firm is only slightly less relevant than saying you won the powerball and bought a penthouse on Central Park South

[johndooley]

Not in big law. I worked for a 10-20 attorney firm for five years and then founded my own with a partner, mostly medmal. Bought a house 8 years after law school at $3.4 mil. This was a couple years ago in Florida so this has markedly increased in appreciation. An appraiser put it at $4.3 mil, it is a 4BR on a lake outside Orlando with a dock.

Cool story bro. This is unhelpful and off topic (or a troll), but glad you got to flex.

Funny this upset you. I didn’t even max out my purchasing power.

For the purposes of this thread, saying you made a bunch of money starting a medical malpractice firm is only slightly less relevant than saying you won the powerball and bought a penthouse on Central Park South

Just giving another data point. We do take resumes. We only have one associate now and we usually have two. Partnership track.

[Anonymous User]

Not in big law. I worked for a 10-20 attorney firm for five years and then founded my own with a partner, mostly medmal. Bought a house 8 years after law school at $3.4 mil. This was a couple years ago in Florida so this has markedly increased in appreciation. An appraiser put it at $4.3 mil, it is a 4BR on a lake outside Orlando with a dock.

Cool story bro. This is unhelpful and off topic (or a troll), but glad you got to flex.

Funny this upset you. I didn’t even max out my purchasing power.

OMG this guy - too perfect. You are literally a caricature. This is where you start digging even more of a hole for yourself in an effort to get literally anybody to validate you.

[johndooley]

Not in big law. I worked for a 10-20 attorney firm for five years and then founded my own with a partner, mostly medmal. Bought a house 8 years after law school at $3.4 mil. This was a couple years ago in Florida so this has markedly increased in appreciation. An appraiser put it at $4.3 mil, it is a 4BR on a lake outside Orlando with a dock.

Cool story bro. This is unhelpful and off topic (or a troll), but glad you got to flex.

Funny this upset you. I didn’t even max out my purchasing power.

OMG this guy - too perfect. You are literally a caricature. This is where you start digging even more of a hole for yourself in an effort to get literally anybody to validate you.

If I was looking for someone to validate me here would I brag about how I have a bigger, more expensive house than most of you and work significantly fewer hours since I’m paid on contingency?

[Anonymous User]

Not in big law. I worked for a 10-20 attorney firm for five years and then founded my own with a partner, mostly medmal. Bought a house 8 years after law school at $3.4 mil. This was a couple years ago in Florida so this has markedly increased in appreciation. An appraiser put it at $4.3 mil, it is a 4BR on a lake outside Orlando with a dock.

Cool story bro. This is unhelpful and off topic (or a troll), but glad you got to flex.

Funny this upset you. I didn’t even max out my purchasing power.

OMG this guy - too perfect. You are literally a caricature. This is where you start digging even more of a hole for yourself in an effort to get literally anybody to validate you.

If I was look for someone to validate me here would I brag about how I have a bigger, more expensive house than most of you and work significantly fewer hours since I’m paid on contingency?

Yes.

[johndooley]

Not in big law. I worked for a 10-20 attorney firm for five years and then founded my own with a partner, mostly medmal. Bought a house 8 years after law school at $3.4 mil. This was a couple years ago in Florida so this has markedly increased in appreciation. An appraiser put it at $4.3 mil, it is a 4BR on a lake outside Orlando with a dock.

Cool story bro. This is unhelpful and off topic (or a troll), but glad you got to flex.

Funny this upset you. I didn’t even max out my purchasing power.

OMG this guy - too perfect. You are literally a caricature. This is where you start digging even more of a hole for yourself in an effort to get literally anybody to validate you.

If I was look for someone to validate me here would I brag about how I have a bigger, more expensive house than most of you and work significantly fewer hours since I’m paid on contingency?

Yes.

Pretty disingenuous answer. “I want people to like me! Let me brag to internet strangers!” isn’t exactly the intelligence that gives you the eight figure net worth I enjoy.

[Lacepiece23]

Not in big law. I worked for a 10-20 attorney firm for five years and then founded my own with a partner, mostly medmal. Bought a house 8 years after law school at $3.4 mil. This was a couple years ago in Florida so this has markedly increased in appreciation. An appraiser put it at $4.3 mil, it is a 4BR on a lake outside Orlando with a dock.

Well, I’m not going to pass up an opportunity. How did you achieve that much success? Did you have cases when you made the jump?

I started my own firm doing employment law. Cash flow has been tough although I have a pretty decent case portfolio for my practice area.

[johndooley]

Not in big law. I worked for a 10-20 attorney firm for five years and then founded my own with a partner, mostly medmal. Bought a house 8 years after law school at $3.4 mil. This was a couple years ago in Florida so this has markedly increased in appreciation. An appraiser put it at $4.3 mil, it is a 4BR on a lake outside Orlando with a dock.

Well, I’m not going to pass up an opportunity. How did you achieve that much success? Did you have cases when you made the jump?

I started my own firm doing employment law. Cash flow has been tough although I have a pretty decent case portfolio for my practice area.

Truth is there’s not much to medmal from a legal aspect. The cases fit half a dozen “boxes” and you have the same roster of expert witnesses to call upon. What most people do not master is (1) marketing which is saturated in Central Florida and (2) financial viability of a medmal claim. You cannot get enough viable cases through word of mouth. If you are not on radio, billboards, and internet ads you will not be exposed enough. An embarrassingly high percentage of our annual outlays goes to advertising. Assessing whether a potential defendant has deep pockets, whether the claim will unlock those assets, and the probability of a friendly jury is never fully mastered. I do think between me and my partner that we had a firm enough grasp after five years and we left our former firm. We have no institutional clients so it is not like we left with a Rolodex. Very few medmal clients are repeat.

The firm makes us a lot of money but I have also invested well. Not just the house but short term rental single family houses near Disney. I also did a little crypto aside from index funds. I did leave crypto about a year ago.

You seem like a smart person, unlike everyone else you’re actually asking questions. I’m sure with your grit that the success you want will come your way.

[BLPartner]

Always amazing to me to see people try to argue that biglaw people aren't "rich." Ok, middle class 6-figure guy.

And yeah, I'm a partner. But I was an associate just like others are (and got paid meaningfully less than associates get paid now, even accounting for inflation). I was rich too. Jeez. "Poor person's concept of rich" More like silver spoon out of touch concept of what it takes to be "rich."

So much depends on your point of comparison. BL folks often don't feel rich because they are constantly exposed to people with quite a bit more wealth than them. Associates are comparing themselves to partners. Partners are comparing themselves to executives they work with.

If you are the manager of a Walmart making $150k, you are mostly surrounded by people making near minimum wage, and you probably feel pretty well off. If you are Jr. Biglaw associate making $215k, almost every other attorney you work with makes more than you.

I'd also note that class is more than just how much money you bring in annually. A lot of fairly wealthy people think of themselves as "middle class" because they were raised and perceive themselves as such. "Rich" is often thought of as something for people born with trust funds large enough to make income optional and who grew up using "summer" as a verb.

Eh, I do not subscribe to the theory that being rich is a purely subjective--and relative--construct. There are absolutely different gradations of rich--partners are lower on the ladder than many clients, associates are lower than partners, and I'd even grant that perhaps the most junior biglaw associate is fairly a HENRY because of student loan debt and similar. And while I do agree that there is more to being rich than income level, one doesn't get to call themselves middle class because they blow the unbelievable amount of money that comes to biglaw folks in a way that prevents them from accumulating significant wealth.

[Res Ipsa Loquitter]

Always amazing to me to see people try to argue that biglaw people aren't "rich." Ok, middle class 6-figure guy.

And yeah, I'm a partner. But I was an associate just like others are (and got paid meaningfully less than associates get paid now, even accounting for inflation). I was rich too. Jeez. "Poor person's concept of rich" More like silver spoon out of touch concept of what it takes to be "rich."

So much depends on your point of comparison. BL folks often don't feel rich because they are constantly exposed to people with quite a bit more wealth than them. Associates are comparing themselves to partners. Partners are comparing themselves to executives they work with.

If you are the manager of a Walmart making $150k, you are mostly surrounded by people making near minimum wage, and you probably feel pretty well off. If you are Jr. Biglaw associate making $215k, almost every other attorney you work with makes more than you.

I'd also note that class is more than just how much money you bring in annually. A lot of fairly wealthy people think of themselves as "middle class" because they were raised and perceive themselves as such. "Rich" is often thought of as something for people born with trust funds large enough to make income optional and who grew up using "summer" as a verb.

Eh, I do not subscribe to the theory that being rich is a purely subjective--and relative--construct. There are absolutely different gradations of rich--partners are lower on the ladder than many clients, associates are lower than partners, and I'd even grant that perhaps the most junior biglaw associate is fairly a HENRY because of student loan debt and similar. And while I do agree that there is more to being rich than income level, one doesn't get to call themselves middle class because they blow the unbelievable amount of money that comes to biglaw folks in a way that prevents them from accumulating significant wealth.

Median rent in Queens is approaching $3000, median rent in Manhattan has passed $4000, and partners are demanding associates return to office. How exactly are junior associates “blowing” that money when just existing in the city costs more than half their take-home?

[thisismytlsuername]

Always amazing to me to see people try to argue that biglaw people aren't "rich." Ok, middle class 6-figure guy.

And yeah, I'm a partner. But I was an associate just like others are (and got paid meaningfully less than associates get paid now, even accounting for inflation). I was rich too. Jeez. "Poor person's concept of rich" More like silver spoon out of touch concept of what it takes to be "rich."

So much depends on your point of comparison. BL folks often don't feel rich because they are constantly exposed to people with quite a bit more wealth than them. Associates are comparing themselves to partners. Partners are comparing themselves to executives they work with.

If you are the manager of a Walmart making $150k, you are mostly surrounded by people making near minimum wage, and you probably feel pretty well off. If you are Jr. Biglaw associate making $215k, almost every other attorney you work with makes more than you.

I'd also note that class is more than just how much money you bring in annually. A lot of fairly wealthy people think of themselves as "middle class" because they were raised and perceive themselves as such. "Rich" is often thought of as something for people born with trust funds large enough to make income optional and who grew up using "summer" as a verb.

Eh, I do not subscribe to the theory that being rich is a purely subjective--and relative--construct. There are absolutely different gradations of rich--partners are lower on the ladder than many clients, associates are lower than partners, and I'd even grant that perhaps the most junior biglaw associate is fairly a HENRY because of student loan debt and similar. And while I do agree that there is more to being rich than income level, one doesn't get to call themselves middle class because they blow the unbelievable amount of money that comes to biglaw folks in a way that prevents them from accumulating significant wealth.

Median rent in Queens is approaching $3000, median rent in Manhattan has passed $4000, and partners are demanding associates return to office. How exactly are junior associates “blowing” that money when just existing in the city costs more than half their take-home?

You need a new accountant if your monthly take home on a $215K salary is less than $6-8k.

[Res Ipsa Loquitter]

Always amazing to me to see people try to argue that biglaw people aren't "rich." Ok, middle class 6-figure guy.

And yeah, I'm a partner. But I was an associate just like others are (and got paid meaningfully less than associates get paid now, even accounting for inflation). I was rich too. Jeez. "Poor person's concept of rich" More like silver spoon out of touch concept of what it takes to be "rich."

So much depends on your point of comparison. BL folks often don't feel rich because they are constantly exposed to people with quite a bit more wealth than them. Associates are comparing themselves to partners. Partners are comparing themselves to executives they work with.

If you are the manager of a Walmart making $150k, you are mostly surrounded by people making near minimum wage, and you probably feel pretty well off. If you are Jr. Biglaw associate making $215k, almost every other attorney you work with makes more than you.

I'd also note that class is more than just how much money you bring in annually. A lot of fairly wealthy people think of themselves as "middle class" because they were raised and perceive themselves as such. "Rich" is often thought of as something for people born with trust funds large enough to make income optional and who grew up using "summer" as a verb.

Eh, I do not subscribe to the theory that being rich is a purely subjective--and relative--construct. There are absolutely different gradations of rich--partners are lower on the ladder than many clients, associates are lower than partners, and I'd even grant that perhaps the most junior biglaw associate is fairly a HENRY because of student loan debt and similar. And while I do agree that there is more to being rich than income level, one doesn't get to call themselves middle class because they blow the unbelievable amount of money that comes to biglaw folks in a way that prevents them from accumulating significant wealth.

Median rent in Queens is approaching $3000, median rent in Manhattan has passed $4000, and partners are demanding associates return to office. How exactly are junior associates “blowing” that money when just existing in the city costs more than half their take-home?

You need a new accountant if your monthly take home on a $215K salary is less than $6-8k.

There are more living costs than just rent

[BLPartner]

Always amazing to me to see people try to argue that biglaw people aren't "rich." Ok, middle class 6-figure guy.

And yeah, I'm a partner. But I was an associate just like others are (and got paid meaningfully less than associates get paid now, even accounting for inflation). I was rich too. Jeez. "Poor person's concept of rich" More like silver spoon out of touch concept of what it takes to be "rich."

So much depends on your point of comparison. BL folks often don't feel rich because they are constantly exposed to people with quite a bit more wealth than them. Associates are comparing themselves to partners. Partners are comparing themselves to executives they work with.

If you are the manager of a Walmart making $150k, you are mostly surrounded by people making near minimum wage, and you probably feel pretty well off. If you are Jr. Biglaw associate making $215k, almost every other attorney you work with makes more than you.

I'd also note that class is more than just how much money you bring in annually. A lot of fairly wealthy people think of themselves as "middle class" because they were raised and perceive themselves as such. "Rich" is often thought of as something for people born with trust funds large enough to make income optional and who grew up using "summer" as a verb.

Eh, I do not subscribe to the theory that being rich is a purely subjective--and relative--construct. There are absolutely different gradations of rich--partners are lower on the ladder than many clients, associates are lower than partners, and I'd even grant that perhaps the most junior biglaw associate is fairly a HENRY because of student loan debt and similar. And while I do agree that there is more to being rich than income level, one doesn't get to call themselves middle class because they blow the unbelievable amount of money that comes to biglaw folks in a way that prevents them from accumulating significant wealth.

Median rent in Queens is approaching $3000, median rent in Manhattan has passed $4000, and partners are demanding associates return to office. How exactly are junior associates “blowing” that money when just existing in the city costs more than half their take-home?

Even taking this at face value, you honestly think it is "middle class" for someone to have half or more of their take-home pay left after paying to live in Manhattan? I granted that the most junior biglaw folks might fit into the HENRY category. If you don't think this is the HENRY category, I honestly don't know what to say to you, other than, try to develop a broader perspective of what living means to the overwhelming majority of people.

[The Lsat Airbender]

So much depends on your point of comparison. BL folks often don't feel rich because they are constantly exposed to people with quite a bit more wealth than them. Associates are comparing themselves to partners. Partners are comparing themselves to executives they work with.

If you are the manager of a Walmart making $150k, you are mostly surrounded by people making near minimum wage, and you probably feel pretty well off. If you are Jr. Biglaw associate making $215k, almost every other attorney you work with makes more than you.

I'd also note that class is more than just how much money you bring in annually. A lot of fairly wealthy people think of themselves as "middle class" because they were raised and perceive themselves as such. "Rich" is often thought of as something for people born with trust funds large enough to make income optional and who grew up using "summer" as a verb.

Eh, I do not subscribe to the theory that being rich is a purely subjective--and relative--construct. There are absolutely different gradations of rich--partners are lower on the ladder than many clients, associates are lower than partners, and I'd even grant that perhaps the most junior biglaw associate is fairly a HENRY because of student loan debt and similar. And while I do agree that there is more to being rich than income level, one doesn't get to call themselves middle class because they blow the unbelievable amount of money that comes to biglaw folks in a way that prevents them from accumulating significant wealth.

Median rent in Queens is approaching $3000, median rent in Manhattan has passed $4000, and partners are demanding associates return to office. How exactly are junior associates “blowing” that money when just existing in the city costs more than half their take-home?

If you're paying $4k for rent as a first-year then you've deliberately chosen to live beyond your means. NFL players do the same thing with bigger numbers. Doesn't make one middle-class.

[Anonymous User]

So much depends on your point of comparison. BL folks often don't feel rich because they are constantly exposed to people with quite a bit more wealth than them. Associates are comparing themselves to partners. Partners are comparing themselves to executives they work with.

If you are the manager of a Walmart making $150k, you are mostly surrounded by people making near minimum wage, and you probably feel pretty well off. If you are Jr. Biglaw associate making $215k, almost every other attorney you work with makes more than you.

I'd also note that class is more than just how much money you bring in annually. A lot of fairly wealthy people think of themselves as "middle class" because they were raised and perceive themselves as such. "Rich" is often thought of as something for people born with trust funds large enough to make income optional and who grew up using "summer" as a verb.

Eh, I do not subscribe to the theory that being rich is a purely subjective--and relative--construct. There are absolutely different gradations of rich--partners are lower on the ladder than many clients, associates are lower than partners, and I'd even grant that perhaps the most junior biglaw associate is fairly a HENRY because of student loan debt and similar. And while I do agree that there is more to being rich than income level, one doesn't get to call themselves middle class because they blow the unbelievable amount of money that comes to biglaw folks in a way that prevents them from accumulating significant wealth.

Median rent in Queens is approaching $3000, median rent in Manhattan has passed $4000, and partners are demanding associates return to office. How exactly are junior associates “blowing” that money when just existing in the city costs more than half their take-home?

If you're paying $4k for rent as a first-year then you've deliberately chosen to live beyond your means. NFL players do the same thing with bigger numbers. Doesn't make one middle-class.

Right and let's not turn this number into something it's not - it represents the median rent per apartment, not per person. As we all know, most in NYC have at least one roommate (or a working spouse). If you can rent what it normally takes two incomes to afford, you're rich even by NYC standards.

[Anonymous User]

Honest question: is $4k/month on rent living beyond one's means as a Big Law junior? I don't think it's unreasonable if you're single and prefer to portion some greater part of your paycheck to rent in order to live alone rathe than with some random roommate.

$215k is the annual salary, right? After taxes, if that's around what, half your paycheck? The traditional "rule" or guideline is that you should spend 30% of your paycheck on rent, and in Manhattan, in 2022, I don't think it's "living beyond your means" to nudge that up a bit. Am I missing something?

[Res Ipsa Loquitter]

Always amazing to me to see people try to argue that biglaw people aren't "rich." Ok, middle class 6-figure guy.

And yeah, I'm a partner. But I was an associate just like others are (and got paid meaningfully less than associates get paid now, even accounting for inflation). I was rich too. Jeez. "Poor person's concept of rich" More like silver spoon out of touch concept of what it takes to be "rich."

So much depends on your point of comparison. BL folks often don't feel rich because they are constantly exposed to people with quite a bit more wealth than them. Associates are comparing themselves to partners. Partners are comparing themselves to executives they work with.

If you are the manager of a Walmart making $150k, you are mostly surrounded by people making near minimum wage, and you probably feel pretty well off. If you are Jr. Biglaw associate making $215k, almost every other attorney you work with makes more than you.

I'd also note that class is more than just how much money you bring in annually. A lot of fairly wealthy people think of themselves as "middle class" because they were raised and perceive themselves as such. "Rich" is often thought of as something for people born with trust funds large enough to make income optional and who grew up using "summer" as a verb.

Eh, I do not subscribe to the theory that being rich is a purely subjective--and relative--construct. There are absolutely different gradations of rich--partners are lower on the ladder than many clients, associates are lower than partners, and I'd even grant that perhaps the most junior biglaw associate is fairly a HENRY because of student loan debt and similar. And while I do agree that there is more to being rich than income level, one doesn't get to call themselves middle class because they blow the unbelievable amount of money that comes to biglaw folks in a way that prevents them from accumulating significant wealth.

Median rent in Queens is approaching $3000, median rent in Manhattan has passed $4000, and partners are demanding associates return to office. How exactly are junior associates “blowing” that money when just existing in the city costs more than half their take-home?

Even taking this at face value, you honestly think it is "middle class" for someone to have half or more of their take-home pay left after paying to live in Manhattan? I granted that the most junior biglaw folks might fit into the HENRY category. If you don't think this is the HENRY category, I honestly don't know what to say to you, other than, try to develop a broader perspective of what living means to the overwhelming majority of people.

Biglaw partners would not be my first choice to consult for a broader perspective on life.

[The Lsat Airbender]

Honest question: is $4k/month on rent living beyond one's means as a Big Law junior? I don't think it's unreasonable if you're single and prefer to portion some greater part of your paycheck to rent in order to live alone rathe than with some random roommate.

$215k is the annual salary, right? After taxes, if that's around what, half your paycheck? The traditional "rule" or guideline is that you should spend 30% of your paycheck on rent, and in Manhattan, in 2022, I don't think it's "living beyond your means" to nudge that up a bit. Am I missing something?

The person I was replying to said it ate up "over half" their take-home, which implies student debt or some other burden. Even without that consideration, $4k/mo is a bit of an extravagance when (I see now on StreetEasy) it's not hard to find an 1BR for well under three grand in a number of Manhattan neighborhoods.

The 30% rule is worth sticking to if at all possible. Biglawyers need to save more aggressively than their peers because their careers start later and the majority take paycuts to leave firm life. You don't want to be the seventh-year associate living paycheck to paycheck with no savings except their 401(k) and a collection of cufflinks.

[bretby]

Honest question: is $4k/month on rent living beyond one's means as a Big Law junior? I don't think it's unreasonable if you're single and prefer to portion some greater part of your paycheck to rent in order to live alone rathe than with some random roommate.

$215k is the annual salary, right? After taxes, if that's around what, half your paycheck? The traditional "rule" or guideline is that you should spend 30% of your paycheck on rent, and in Manhattan, in 2022, I don't think it's "living beyond your means" to nudge that up a bit. Am I missing something?

The person I was replying to said it ate up "over half" their take-home, which implies student debt or some other burden. Even without that consideration, $4k/mo is a bit of an extravagance when (I see now on StreetEasy) it's not hard to find an 1BR for well under three grand in a number of Manhattan neighborhoods.

The 30% rule is worth sticking to if at all possible. Biglawyers need to save more aggressively than their peers because their careers start later and the majority take paycuts to leave firm life. You don't want to be the seventh-year associate living paycheck to paycheck with no savings except their 401(k) and a collection of cufflinks.

The problem is that a lot of juniors seem to want to live in certain expensive neighborhoods (mostly Chelsea/West Village/Upper West Side/Williamsburg/Fort Greene/Long Island City) and they end up paying what to me is an exorbitant amount for apartments that aren't that nice. I attribute that to a lot of juniors being new to the city though and not knowing the other neighborhoods/not being willing to travel to them/feeling like they have to live where all their perceived peers are living. I have lived in every borough other than Staten Island and there are nice places that are not bad commutes all over, but they fly (comparatively) under the radar. Although the rental market now is a total shit show so maybe it will inspire people to be more creative than just plunking down $4.5k for a dingy place in Chelsea and calling it a day.

[Anonymous User]

The problem is that a lot of juniors seem to want to live in certain expensive neighborhoods (mostly Chelsea/West Village/Upper West Side/Williamsburg/Fort Greene/Long Island City) and they end up paying what to me is an exorbitant amount for apartments that aren't that nice. I attribute that to a lot of juniors being new to the city though and not knowing the other neighborhoods/not being willing to travel to them/feeling like they have to live where all their perceived peers are living. I have lived in every borough other than Staten Island and there are nice places that are not bad commutes all over, but they fly (comparatively) under the radar. Although the rental market now is a total shit show so maybe it will inspire people to be more creative than just plunking down $4.5k for a dingy place in Chelsea and calling it a day.

Can you give any examples of these neighborhoods under the radar? I would love to look into them as my lease is about to expire, I'm single and don't want to live with rando roommates, and all I'm seeing is ~$4k rents/month all over NYC for even basic 1 bedrooms that are reasonably close to my office (midtown).

Yes, studios are cheaper, but I need a somewhat functional workspace and would prefer not to cram that, my bed, and my TV all in one room. So a true 1-bedroom is worth paying some extra. I don't care about living in a "trendy" or "hip" neighborhood, I care more about functionality / day-to-day livability through high-stress work tasks.

[thisismytlsuername]

The problem is that a lot of juniors seem to want to live in certain expensive neighborhoods (mostly Chelsea/West Village/Upper West Side/Williamsburg/Fort Greene/Long Island City) and they end up paying what to me is an exorbitant amount for apartments that aren't that nice. I attribute that to a lot of juniors being new to the city though and not knowing the other neighborhoods/not being willing to travel to them/feeling like they have to live where all their perceived peers are living. I have lived in every borough other than Staten Island and there are nice places that are not bad commutes all over, but they fly (comparatively) under the radar. Although the rental market now is a total shit show so maybe it will inspire people to be more creative than just plunking down $4.5k for a dingy place in Chelsea and calling it a day.

Can you give any examples of these neighborhoods under the radar? I would love to look into them as my lease is about to expire, I'm single and don't want to live with rando roommates, and all I'm seeing is ~$4k rents/month all over NYC for even basic 1 bedrooms that are reasonably close to my office (midtown).

Yes, studios are cheaper, but I need a somewhat functional workspace and would prefer not to cram that, my bed, and my TV all in one room. So a true 1-bedroom is worth paying some extra. I don't care about living in a "trendy" or "hip" neighborhood, I care more about functionality / day-to-day livability through high-stress work tasks.

Here are 133 1BRs under $3k in Midtown East and the Upper East Side: https://streeteasy.com/1-bedroom-apartm ... ea:139,123

Enjoy.