The Art of Finding an Affordable Apartment in New York City
One thing people wonder is if it's possible to hunt for an apartment in NYC on a budget.
Considering headlines such as "Average rent in Manhattan was a record $5,000 last month" it is definitely easy for some people to become discouraged.
But let me set the record straight: while it is true that Manhattan is an expensive place to live, you're rewarded with the perks and privileges of living in a city that has everything.
Look, Manhattan isn't just a building of tall buildings and landmarks. It's a city of neighborhoods with diverse characteristics.
Not every apartment for rent is in a modern luxury building in the center of Manhattan. (Note that Manhattan is one among 5 boroughs in NYC.)
Failure to leverage these facts leads people to become defeated and give up trying to find the right place. On the other hand, the ability to leverage this can lead to awsome deals and surprises.
Take my luck finding a place in Elmhurst, Queens, located 30 minutes by train from the Port Authority.
I got lucky finding a 1 BR rent stabilized studio apartment a few blocks from the Queens Center Mall and Rego Plaza (home of a busy and bustling Costco, and within walking distance of a Marshalls, Bed Bath and Beyond, Dallas Steak, Applebees, Apple Store and even Daiso, Japan's insanely quirky dollar shop.)
I paid barely $1495 for the unit. True, you wouldn't be able to get a place that cheap nowadays, but Elmhurst still has amazingly great deals around the $2000 mark. If you don't believe me, call me and we can go look at some places.
So how did I get my own particular deal so cheap?
Well, in part because technically speaking it was listed as a spacious student apartment; however, it was actually the size of a 1 BR apartment. Since it didn't have doors and walls cramping up the space, it couldn't be called a 1 BR, but it was huge.
I'll admit it though... the building definitely had its downsides: It was old. The elevator was constantly breaking down and the superintendent was lazy as ****, still, 5 flights wasn't the end of the world.
It also had a story...
There had been a fire the year before and everyone had to move out. Many moved out for good. The building was renovated, and the restoration included gut renovations, meaning that all of the unit suddenly had luxury style conversations (stainless steel appliances.) The downside was that it was a big of a walk from the train station. On the other hand, that walk included a daily stroll through a J.C. Penney' and the famous Queen's Plaza shopping mall. There was also a Target and Macy's Backstage within walking distance. Had I been looking a few months earlier there's no way I would have found it. It just so happened it suddenly became available when I was looking for it.
Of course, I'm not going to lie. Those $6,000+ luxury apartments are worth it you have the dough, especially when they're gargantuan and in buildings that are basically self contained luxury resorts (how about a spa and fitness center 20 stories in the sky?)
Last month, I viewed one that was so big, I literally got lost in the recreation lounge and some how wound up on the high rise balcony which was not fun for me because I'm terrified of heights. Still, the place was a sight to behold!
But what if now's not the time for that in your financial journey?
No problem!
The fact is, NYC is a huge City, and with the right agent helping you search those nooks and crannies, something is definitely waiting for you. It may have a story, maybe even a trade off, but the point is that the right apartment is out there waiting for you. The question is whether you have the skill to find and land it. If you do, it'll be yours for the asking, and even if you don't, agents such as myself are here to help.
In the end, my ultimate advice is this: Be open minded, learn and explore. Your apartment hunt should be an educational experience that makes you know and love the city even more. The more you know and explore, the more options will open for you and before you know it you will find the right place that was meant for you all along.
I paid barely $1495 for the unit. True, you wouldn't be able to get a place that cheap nowadays, but Elmhurst still has amazingly great deals around the $2000 mark. If you don't believe me, call me and we can go look at some places.
So how did I get my own particular deal so cheap?
Well, in part because technically speaking it was listed as a spacious student apartment; however, it was actually the size of a 1 BR apartment. Since it didn't have doors and walls cramping up the space, it couldn't be called a 1 BR, but it was huge.
I'll admit it though... the building definitely had its downsides: It was old. The elevator was constantly breaking down and the superintendent was lazy as ****, still, 5 flights wasn't the end of the world.
It also had a story...
There had been a fire the year before and everyone had to move out. Many moved out for good. The building was renovated, and the restoration included gut renovations, meaning that all of the unit suddenly had luxury style conversations (stainless steel appliances.) The downside was that it was a big of a walk from the train station. On the other hand, that walk included a daily stroll through a J.C. Penney' and the famous Queen's Plaza shopping mall. There was also a Target and Macy's Backstage within walking distance. Had I been looking a few months earlier there's no way I would have found it. It just so happened it suddenly became available when I was looking for it.
Of course, I'm not going to lie. Those $6,000+ luxury apartments are worth it you have the dough, especially when they're gargantuan and in buildings that are basically self contained luxury resorts (how about a spa and fitness center 20 stories in the sky?)
Last month, I viewed one that was so big, I literally got lost in the recreation lounge and some how wound up on the high rise balcony which was not fun for me because I'm terrified of heights. Still, the place was a sight to behold!
But what if now's not the time for that in your financial journey?
No problem!
The fact is, NYC is a huge City, and with the right agent helping you search those nooks and crannies, something is definitely waiting for you. It may have a story, maybe even a trade off, but the point is that the right apartment is out there waiting for you. The question is whether you have the skill to find and land it. If you do, it'll be yours for the asking, and even if you don't, agents such as myself are here to help.
In the end, my ultimate advice is this: Be open minded, learn and explore. Your apartment hunt should be an educational experience that makes you know and love the city even more. The more you know and explore, the more options will open for you and before you know it you will find the right place that was meant for you all along.
