First apartment in NYC while job hunting.

[polm]

Moving to NYC this coming fall. I'll be moving to be close to friends who are living in the city now. One lives in the East Village and one lives in the Upper East.

I'll also be moving to look for work (IT). I may or may not find a job right away. I'll be sleeping on my friends couches for a few weeks at first, but my primary objective will be to find a single I can live in ASAP.

So...I've got about 50K saved up for this particular experience. Once that money is gone, if I haven't found a job in NYC I'll be coming back to my home town to regroup and try somewhere else.

Where would be a good place to start looking for just a single, simple, shoe-box that I can live in until I find a decent paying job? I'd prefer living solo over roommate, but I'm willing to consider.

 

[zoiks]

A better idea would be to find a job first and then move. You could save a lot of money that way.

 

[bigrash]

I hear the Bronx is a beautiful place this time of year.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: zoiks
A better idea would be to find a job first and then move. You could save a lot of money that way.

This X 100

 

[Connoisseur]

Consider that the smallest of shitboxes in manhattan will run you a minimum of $1400 a month. If you're incredibly lucky you might be able to rent a rat infested closet for around $1200 (i'm slightly exaggerating but only slightly). If you're hellbent on moving before finding a job, I suggest Queens, Jersey City area, Brooklyn. Places there will run a bit cheaper. Keep in mind that once you do find a job and if you want to live in New York, not only will you pay state/federal tax, but you'll also be paying City Tax for the privilege of living in NYC (that includes all 5 boroughs).

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: polm
Moving to NYC this coming fall. I'll be moving to be close to friends who are living in the city now. One lives in the East Village and one lives in the Upper East.

I'll also be moving to look for work (IT). I may or may not find a job right away. I'll be sleeping on my friends couches for a few weeks at first, but my primary objective will be to find a single I can live in ASAP.

So...I've got about 50K saved up for this particular experience. Once that money is gone, if I haven't found a job in NYC I'll be coming back to my home town to regroup and try somewhere else.

Where would be a good place to start looking for just a single, simple, shoe-box that I can live in until I find a decent paying job? I'd prefer living solo over roommate, but I'm willing to consider.

WAIT WAIT WAIT!

You're moving TO NYC without having a job? How about you stay where you are, find a job and then move?

Rent anywhere in manhattan will run you 1300+, food is expensive and figure in 80 bucks for metro card along with all the other expenses. Pretty stupid idea imo...

If you haven't noticed, the we're in a bear market which means the major employers in NYC are laying people off. You picked about the worst time to move there.

 

[oddyager]

Find a job first before you make the move. Having said that, you can choose to live in Manhattan (outrageous rent but puts you right in the nightlife) or the surrounding boroughs. Brooklyn is getting a little more expensive (the hot spots like Willamsburgh or any close to Manhattan are going to be expensive). Queens is a little cheaper. Staten Island is probably far cheaper but is a pain in the ass to commute.

 

[LegendKiller]

Live in Jersey City or elsewhere. City living = 4% city tax, 20% COL increase, 30% rent increase. I think the city is a waste of money and space.

 

[halik]

Originally posted by: LegendKiller
Live in Jersey City or elsewhere. City living = 4% city tax, 20% COL increase, 30% rent increase. I think the city is a waste of money and space.

But, but you're living the dream! :roll:

I'm heading to CT or Boston when I'm done with Grad school. Manhattan is made for born-in-boonies girls that want to live out their Sex and the City fantasies ... all while paying 50% of their pay checks for rent.


It's funny though how superficial that place is. I remember having a random chick talk down to me because I lived in jersey and she was in Manhattan, even though she was making 35K as an assistant at MTV and i was pulling 6 figures at a top ibank...

 

[imthebadguy]

hahahah.....dude get a job first....i live in a one bdrm/700sqft on wall st. (downtown is generally cheaper than midtown), and i pay $2700/mo

i know youve saved $50k, but no sense in wasting it....also if you really wanna do it....look on CL and get a sublet first....dont sign a lease

 

[Vonkhan]

Sublet or get a room in an apt - DON'T sign a lease unless you have a lease

Live in Jersey City / Brooklyn (Williamsburg, Ft. Greene, Prospect Pk. - avoid East Williamsburg/Bushwick) or Queens till you have a steady job

Accept any job offer that comes your way & keep looking for a better one

Buy a metro pass & cook at home if you want to save $

Network, network, network ...

 

[polm]

I realize in a perfect world I would have a job already lined up. I'm doing my best this summer to make that happen.

Am I wrong to assume that I will have a much better chance at finding work when I'm actually living there?

 

[gotsmack]

Originally posted by: polm
I realize in a perfect world I would have a job already lined up. I'm doing my best this summer to make that happen.

Am I wrong to assume that I will have a much better chance at finding work when I'm actually living there?

if you get a job in NJ or NY state, you can always go to NYC on the weekends and you can keep your car. Car insurance in NJ is expensive.

Stay away from Flatbush in Brooklyn. if you really want to live in Manhattan try to find something by 125th st, but not much above that.

 

[slayer202]

dumb idea. it sounds like you have no problem risking and losing that 50k if things don't work out. why would you do that?

 

[EvilYoda]

Originally posted by: slayer202
dumb idea. it sounds like you have no problem risking and losing that 50k if things don't work out. why would you do that?

I know, experiencing life is so stupid. He's trying to do research, he's asking for help and he's aware that he could spend it all and have nothing to say for it other than the experience. I see nothing wrong here.

It's not like he's the typical young-adult "I'm going to move to NYC on a whim and hope I can make it big!".

 

[aceO07]

I've been looking to move into Manhattan the last month to get closer to work. Here are some things I've learned in my process on craigslist..

1. On craigslist if it's too good to be true, it is most likely a) an autoreply email directing you to visit a rental website, 2) a nigerian scam (out of country, wire money), or 3) no reply
2. Upper east/west side as listed on craigslist is not what the actual locations are supposed to be. People on CL use UES/UWS to mean way way up past 140th street.
3. A loft bed is just an cubby hole that's above the kitchenette (or elsewhere) that you can put your mattress on. So any hole with high ceilings can be made into a studio.
4. Finding a decent place with a proper kitchen is going to cost you an arm and leg. Most places are old stove next to sink next to frig with no countertop space. Not great if you cook.
5. $1400 can get you a studio in a decent area, but it will be the size of a 12x10 bedroom or smaller. This is only if you're lucky enough to find one.

If you really really want to move to NYC, it's your money. I suggest East Harlem if you don't want to pay a lot for rent and want to be in Manhattan. There's also Sunnyside and Astoria in Queens. You can also look into Brooklyn.

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: polm
Moving to NYC this coming fall. I'll be moving to be close to friends who are living in the city now. One lives in the East Village and one lives in the Upper East.

I'll also be moving to look for work (IT). I may or may not find a job right away. I'll be sleeping on my friends couches for a few weeks at first, but my primary objective will be to find a single I can live in ASAP.

So...I've got about 50K saved up for this particular experience. Once that money is gone, if I haven't found a job in NYC I'll be coming back to my home town to regroup and try somewhere else.

Where would be a good place to start looking for just a single, simple, shoe-box that I can live in until I find a decent paying job? I'd prefer living solo over roommate, but I'm willing to consider.

wow, youre smart enough to save 50k and stupid enough to be willing to piss it away for no good reason?

i wish i had half your brains.

and i might, but theyre the wrong half.

 

[polm]

Originally posted by: EvilYoda
I know, experiencing life is so stupid. He's trying to do research, he's asking for help and he's aware that he could spend it all and have nothing to say for it other than the experience. I see nothing wrong here.

Thanks EvilYoda. It's nice to know someone appreciates where I am coming from.

Truth is, I've had the easy route for a while now. I'm more than willing to shake things up a bit. If I walk away from NYC in 6 months or a year and I've not landed a job at least I will have the experience of trying.

As another plus, two of my closest friends live there and I would really love to be closer to them. They both live on the island and are going to be incredible resources I'm sure.

I could milk their couches until I find a job but that's really not my style. I'd rather just start right away with something tiny (but definitely on the island) to get started. Once I land a job I'll upgrade.

 

[AccruedExpenditure]

Originally posted by: polm

Originally posted by: EvilYoda
I know, experiencing life is so stupid. He's trying to do research, he's asking for help and he's aware that he could spend it all and have nothing to say for it other than the experience. I see nothing wrong here.

Thanks EvilYoda. It's nice to know someone appreciates where I am coming from.

Truth is, I've had the easy route for a while now. I'm more than willing to shake things up a bit. If I walk away from NYC in 6 months or a year and I've not landed a job at least I will have the experience of trying.

As another plus, two of my closest friends live there and I would really love to be closer to them. They both live on the island and are going to be incredible resources I'm sure.

I could milk their couches until I find a job but that's really not my style. I'd rather just start right away with something tiny (but definitely on the island) to get started. Once I land a job I'll upgrade.

You'll also have the experience of being down 7-10k dollars in your bank account
-AE

 

[EvilYoda]

What kind of personality are you? Maybe you could get a job that works opposite hours from your friends so you can still use their place and yet not be in their way when they're home. Start off by finding a place to work the door, bus tables, wait tables, bartend, etc. I used to do street-level marketing...I'm sure that's always in demand in NYC, even if it only pays $15-20/hr.

Good luck to you, don't listen to all the guys that are so worried about your money. It's your money.

 

[TheKub]

Originally posted by: EvilYoda
I know, experiencing life is so stupid. He's trying to do research, he's asking for help and he's aware that he could spend it all and have nothing to say for it other than the experience. I see nothing wrong here.

*Shrug*

I moved to Hawaii for a year with 10k and was unemployed for 90% of it. Awesome experience. Go for it!

 

[skim milk]

that's not experiencing life, that's called being stupid

 

[hiromizu]

With 50k saved up, you could comfortably live 2 full years without a job in NYC. Don't worry about it.

 

[jonks]

http://newyork.craigslist.org/cgi-bin/apartments.cgi

or for roommates:

http://newyork.craigslist.org/roo/

CL is your friend, it's how most people here start looking for apts. You can probably find something in Manhattan for 600-1000/mo in not so great neighborhoods, but even those aren't all that bad these days.

 

[IHateMyJob2004]

Originally posted by: polm
I realize in a perfect world I would have a job already lined up. I'm doing my best this summer to make that happen.

Am I wrong to assume that I will have a much better chance at finding work when I'm actually living there?

Find a job, knowing you are willing to move anywhere and then move AFTER you get the job. Why on Earth anyone would move to one of the most expensive places to live in hopes of landing a job is beyond me. The only reason you shoudl go there is because you have an interview on some particular day.