Apartment Hunting for NYC big law Forum

[legends159]

http://streeteasy.com/for-rent/financia ... /beds%3C=1

They're around 2,300 - you can factor in the saved cost of having a metrocard but then you have to live in FiDi which is pretty dead at nights/weekends.

[Anonymous User]

2300 is pretty low for fidi. 1 bedrooms will be high 2000s, low 3000s.

The issue is that many listings that say "one bedroom" are actually flex studios that can be made into one bedrooms with curtains and stuff.

[Anonymous User]

OP - for cultural reasons (more specifically, religious reasons) I need to be on the UWS. I don't want to live in a shithole but the way I see it if I'm also 10 minutes from work office face time beats home time because it makes it seem I'm working harder if I'm there. Also, I really like the people I met at the firm last summer, and found I work best in a non-isolated setting. Working late at night alone in my apartment seems depressing.

[Anonymous User]

Suggest looking in Turtle Bay also. I've been living here in a 1BR, with a rather large living room (although a tiny kitchen). The location is awesome, as I'm a five-minute walk from my office on Park Ave and from Grand Central.

The list of things that poster a few above me laid out are all dead-on accurate. I was a little hesitant not to have laundry, but $1/lb wash and fold is actually really nice.

Rent for my apt has been $2500/month.

[jrf12886]

You can find a studio for that price probably in Morningside heights (check west side above 96 street) or Harlem. Not sure about avoiding a broker. That will require quite a bit of work on your part, arranging showing with landlords and such. It will be huge pain in the ass.

[krads153]

2300 is pretty low for fidi. 1 bedrooms will be high 2000s, low 3000s.

The issue is that many listings that say "one bedroom" are actually flex studios that can be made into one bedrooms with curtains and stuff.

Yeah....this.

It's usually a shitty little studio. This is what I call misleading advertisement. Only in NYC is a studio advertised as a one bedroom.

Fidi is super expensive these days. I'd say studios start in upper 2000s and one beds start at around 3400 and go til lower 4000s.

[Anonymous User]

Again, I have to be on the UWS for religious reasons. The whole reason I preferred to practice NYC is because I can have the religious community best suited for me here, which is on the UWS.

[Anonymous User]

^^id say that's about right (for no fee apts, which are easier to find in fidi, I never looked for fee apts)

Maybe a little less than what you're saying, and if you hunt enough you can find a decent 1br for low 3s/3000, but most will be around 3300+

OP we are talking about fidi in response to somebody else's question.

Uws for 2k, no broker is going to be a real dump and hard to find.

[Anonymous User]

I would try Washington Heights or Innwood west of Broadway.

[Anonymous User]

Based on the given info, I'm assuming you're Jewish and shomer shabbas: There are Jewish housing facebook groups. Maybe you can find someone moving out and take over their lease? If I assumed wrong sorry! Will delete.

[dixiecupdrinking]

I actually found a place for $1400 but it's basically a shack with a broker's fee (can probably negotiate down to one month). I'm viewing it later today. I figure with only 17k in rent a year, I could allocate 60k a year to loans easily. Another option is a luxury building with a gym and everything for $2300 with no fee. If the gym is free I wouldn't need to pay an extra 150 dollar/month for the company luxury gym so the price difference between the nice sized luxury apartment and dump will be more like $600 a month or $7200 a year.

Please report back on your experience with this $1400 apartment.

[kaiser]

Based on the given info, I'm assuming you're Jewish and shomer shabbas: There are Jewish housing facebook groups. Maybe you can find someone moving out and take over their lease? If I assumed wrong sorry! Will delete.

Walter, you're not even Jewish, man!

[krads153]

I actually found a place for $1400 but it's basically a shack with a broker's fee (can probably negotiate down to one month). I'm viewing it later today. I figure with only 17k in rent a year, I could allocate 60k a year to loans easily. Another option is a luxury building with a gym and everything for $2300 with no fee. If the gym is free I wouldn't need to pay an extra 150 dollar/month for the company luxury gym so the price difference between the nice sized luxury apartment and dump will be more like $600 a month or $7200 a year.

How was this $1400 place?

Best part of NYC - salary stays the same (or goes down, if you look at bonuses) since 2007, but rent goes up like 40%-50% since 2007

[Hutz_and_Goodman]

I would try Washington Heights or Innwood west of Broadway.

I thought about Washington Heights. It's definitely cheaper but the commute to any big law firm is pretty long, and when you do have time to do something fun people almost always want to meet downtown and there is more to do downtown.

[Anonymous User]

Washington Heights or Inwood have express trains so it is not that far from firms or downtown. You get the most for your money and their are religious options.

Spelling edit.

[5ky]

Washington Heights isn't in the UWS. Even with the express trains it is still a healthy ways away from most things.

[Publius25]

Washington Heights isn't in the UWS. Even with the express trains it is still a healthy ways away from most things.

That is why it called Washington Heights or Fort Washington not the UWS.

[5ky]

Washington Heights isn't in the UWS. Even with the express trains it is still a healthy ways away from most things.

That is why it called Washington Heights or Fort Washington not the UWS.

I'm just pointing out that OP has said stated multiple times the need to be in UWS

[Publius25]

Washington Heights isn't in the UWS. Even with the express trains it is still a healthy ways away from most things.

That is why it called Washington Heights or Fort Washington not the UWS.

I'm just pointing out that OP has said stated multiple times the need to be in UWS

But the UWS is much less affordable given the budget of the original poster. Better than Washington Heights or Inwood than Brooklyn or Queens, IMHO. at York and 77th.
I was very surprised at how nice it was and the subway commute is not that bad. Knew someone who lived on the UES worked at near Washington Square and had a long commute but moved to Washington Heights and commute was better. New York is not so large that socializing downtown is off the plate while living in a larger apt in Washington Heights. All is balance. I prefer no run down conditions or studio living.

[lonerider]

With a 2k/mo budget where do you find studios in Manhattan (don't want to venture to a different suburb) when you have little liquid cash so can't pay a broker? Is 2k realistic for a rundown studio?

Given all of the constraints that you've given, you're better off finding temporary digs on Airbnb until you save up enough money for a broker. It sucks, but actually August-September is the worst time to find a place in Manhattan, ESPECIALLY the Upper West, considering you're competing with all the Columbia students. So when you have some $$$ in November/December to get a decent place and pay a broker, you'll get a deal on your rent.

[Anonymous User]

FIDI has one of the highest rental prices in the city. You should be looking at Yorkville and Murray Hill.

[Anonymous User]

FIDI has one of the highest rental prices in the city. You should be looking at Yorkville and Murray Hill.

Isn't that a brutal commute if you're working in Fidi? How about the east village or LES?

[Anonymous User]

My old landlord, Jakobsen Properties, has a website nofeerentals.com. You can also physically walk around, look for larger buildings with management company plaques on the outside, and call those companies asking for vacancies. It's surprising how much cheaper a "bad" apartment can be (one that has only airshaft/wall views, etc.) and you can sometimes find those apartments in good neighborhoods for cheaper.

[IceManKazanski]

How necessary is it to have a home work station?

I just moved into a 3,800/month 2 BR with a roommate in the East Village. It is a great location but the place is very small. No chance I'm getting a desk and work station in here. Is this a serious problem?

[legends159]

How necessary is it to have a home work station?

I just moved into a 3,800/month 2 BR with a roommate in the East Village. It is a great location but the place is very small. No chance I'm getting a desk and work station in here. Is this a serious problem?

It is very helpful but not necessary. You can work fine on a laptop but just realize that if you're in corporate there will be times you need to print or scan something (i.e., a markup) and it's helpful not having to go into the office for that.