Tag Archives: rent

Moving on up!

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I’m moving on up…to the Northside of Williamsburg, that is.

At the end of May, I’ll be moving approximately seven blocks from where I presently live to a much larger apartment I’ll share with my friend Katie.

One bonus: my rent is going to go down by a LOT. Another bonus? There’s a washer dryer in the apartment. This is a big deal in NYC.

When I told my mother that I am moving, it was clear to me that she hoped it would be to a Manhattan apartment. Sorry, Mom.

WB

I like Williamsburg and here I can afford a much, much nicer apartment than in Manhattan.

The only thing I’m not excited about? Packing. Ugh.

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The apartment that got away

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I know I said I was staying put, but then the rent went up and I started looking around.

The pickings were slim, as always given that it’s NYC, but I kept looking. It seemed like a good opportunity to press RESET, perhaps lower my rent and maybe even go back to Manhattan. As I’ve said, I love Williamsburg, but the L train occasionally challenges my sanity. It would also be nice to have more friends closer to home.

I saw a few “one bedrooms” that were actually studios with a funny wall built to awkwardly break up the space. Like this.

Via Bond

That seems to be the trick of the moment. Years ago, before NYC realtors used the internet much for posting their listings, tricks included not telling you the apartment location and making you meet them on a nearby corner (so you wouldn’t try to see the apartment independently and avoid their broker’s fee).

Then I saw one apartment that was a possibility. Continue reading →

NYC real estate in a nutshell

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While doing some comparison shopping, I came across this bit of hilarity.

Pauper.jpg

How many paupers do you know that can spend close to $3000 on monthly rent?

Pauper 2.jpg

A real pauper would instead consider this room in Nolita which is gently priced at $395 per month. Of course, it’s also disgusting.

Gross apartment

Now you see how I keep coming back to the I’m Staying Put conclusion.

Real estate: what $2000/month will get you (via @curbed)

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I’m really enjoying Curbed.com’s renters’ week content, including this round up of what $2000 per month in rent will get you in various American cities

Even though looking at the NYC option makes those of us paying high rents feel a little silly. And poor.

$2000 per month goes far in Detroit.

But NYC is home. I don’t even know what I’d do with more space. Honest.

The hunt (entry #2 about finding an apartment in NYC)

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Would you like to see some of the apartments I didn’t take? OK then! Here’s one.

95 Christopher Street in Greenwich Village

I looked at three studios (two with the same layout, one with a different), all around $2850 per month. Sample listing with floor plan here.

Yes, almost $3000 per month. That’s rent, not a mortgage payment. You don’t get to keep the place.

Continue reading →