Recently made famous by the Tony award winning musical, In The Heights, Washington Heights  stretches all the way from where Manhattan Island narrows at 155th St. to Dyckman St. to the north. Within this narrow two mile stretch the flavor of the neighborhood varies dramatically. West of broadway and toward Fort Tryon, along Cabrini Avenue and Riverside Drive, the streets are tree lined and many of the buildings are Co-Ops with owner occupied units. In the upper 160’s, amid the bustle of the Columbia Medical center, doctors rub elbows with the largely dominican population and latin street markets are a common sight. 

Not many New Yorker venture up to the Heights unless they live there, but the area does boast some favorable amenities for those that do. Fort Tryon park, with its sculpted gardens and romantic stone arches, offers a closer and more convenient get-away especially in the spring and fall when the gardens light up with color. The Met operates a small museum of medieval art, built as a replica of a nunnery, called the Cloisters, perched at the top of Ft. Tryon. You’ll find a nice diversity of restaurants scattered around the 180’s and of course the Little Red Lighthouse nestled under the prodigious span of the George Washtington Bridge. 

At the Manhattan side of the George Washington there is a large bus terminal. Two subway lines run through the heights, the ‘1′ Train (quick but always local) and the ‘A’ and ‘C’ trains. The ‘A’ is an express train that runs local through most of the Heights but skips parts of Harlem and all of the Upper West Side on it’s way to Mid-Town. The narrow geography of the neighborhood means it is always a short walk to either line. 

The relative fame and accessibility of the neighborhood may soon endanger its relative affordability but for now it remains one of the few “reasonable” areas in Manhattan.

Washington Heights is part of Community District 12 together with Inwood.*

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*statistics from nyc.gov

View of Inwood Hill Park and the Henry Hudson Bridge

Inwood is the northern most neighborhood of Manhattan (not counting its divorced sibling Marble Hill). Inwood gets its name from Inwood Hill Park which dominates the west side of the neighborhood. Inwood Hill Park is said to be the “last virgin forest in Manhattan”. While the park is certainly less tamed than the comparable North Woods section of Central Park it is hardly a feral wilderness. It is, however, a lovely addition to the area featuring tennis courts and sport areas on the west and east sides of the wooded hill that makes up the bulk of the park. The hill itself has many paved jogging paths and is popular with bikers, runners, and dog walkers. 

Inwood was historically a strong Jewish and Irish neighborhoods as is evident by the synagogues and Irish pubs that still pepper streets. While it is now a very diverse neighborhood, the Dominican community is very strong and native Spanish speakers should be at home here. Most of the area is very residential with major shopping along 207th and Dyckman St. Target is a short trip on the ‘1′ train across the river on 225th St. Inwood is accessible by the ‘A’ and ‘1′ subway trains, several express bus routes, and an MTA-North across the river in the Bronx (Riverdale).

Inwood is part of Community District 12 together with Washington Heights.*

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*statistics from nyc.gov

Broker’s fee. This amount is not set by law but is typically 10-15% of the annual rent, or roughly the cost of one month’s rent that you just hand to the broker upon securing the apartment. You can negotiate this amount, but you should do this after securing the apartment or you will often get worse service. In order to charge the fee, the broker must actually find you an apartment. More and more brokers are taking their large fees simply for listing a unit on craigslist and opening the door for you. This is wrong but there is not much you can do about it.

Application fee. This can vary but is almost always charged. Usually it includes the cost of running a credit report, although some landlords will give you the option of including a copy of your credit report in the application packet and saving a portion of the fee. If you are using a broker, this is always in addition to the broker’s fee and unlike the broker’s fee this is paid upfront. Legally, the fee must be reasonable in relationship to the cost of doing things, so realistically it may vary from $50 to $150. Much more than that may be a cause for concern.

Apartment referral services can charge a fee for referring apartments to you. They must refund the fee, minus $15, if you don’t find an apartment through them.

Neither a building owner or manager may charge you a fee in order to rent an apartment. This could be considered “key money” and is illegal if you can prove it–although a verbal demand may be hard to prove in court.

Security deposit. This is not really a fee as you will (in theory) get the money back when you are done with the lease but it is important to know that you will need to pay the first month’s rent and the security deposit upfront as well as the broker’s fee if you are using a broker. The security deposit is not your last months rent. If you are trying to get into an apartment you do not really qualify for, the landlord may ask you to pay additional months upfront.

What do I need to bring? Have all of your paper work ready, including money for fees if possible, when you go and see an apartment. It is not uncommon for a deal to be signed right at a viewing. Remember you need all of your paperwork for you, roommates, and any guarantors that may be needed.

• Verification of employment
• Acceptance letter or last 3 pay stubs
• Verification of duration of employment
• Employer’s name, address, and phone number
• Copy of Bank Statement
• Bank name, address, and account number
• Copy of Tax Returns for last 2 years
• Previous Landlord’s Name
• Previous Landlord’s Phone Number
• Recommendation letter from landlord.
• Government issued photo ID
• Social Security Number (If you don’t have one you may need a guarantor from New York, New Jersey, or Connecticut and/or pay an additional security deposit of up to 6-12 months up front)
• Credit check and application fees
• First month’s rent and one month security deposit (if you do not meet all the qualifications, you may be able to negotiate by offering to pay a certain number of months up front)

Use a broker? If you’ve got your heart set on a particular apartment and a broker has wedged himself in between you and the landlord you may not have a choice. Otherwise, if you are looking to find an apartment, a broker will cost you, but you could make up the cost in saved time, frustration, and possibly a sweet deal. There is some room for negotiation with a broker but as a rule expect to pay the equivalent of at least one month’s rent to them. Some people swear by the amount of rent their broker saved them and it is true that if your broker gets you into an apartment that’s 20% less than the current market value of apartments in your area, you can make up the brokers fee in the first year. If you sign a two year lease, you will recoup your losses and come out ahead. That being said, with enough time and tenacity you can find great deals on your own. Only you know what your time (and sanity) is worth.

Going solo? If you decide not to use a broker there are many way to find an apartment. Craigslist is the most common one with scores of new listings each day. Many brokers also use Craigslist to advertise units so be sure to limit your search to no-fee apartments or double check the listing to make sure there are no hidden charges. Additionally, there are Villiage Voice, NYT online, and Oodle for online real estate listings. If you know what neighborhood you want to live in you can also spend some time walking around and talking to people. Many times buildings that do not use brokers will post a sign and residents may know of a vacancy before it hits the market. You may also try contacting management companies directly or searching for their websites to find a vacancies that may be listed.

The Borough of Manhattan is located on Manhattan Island, which is bordered by New Jersey and the Hudson River on the west; Brooklyn, Queens, and the East River on the East, and the Harlem River on the north.  New York Harbor lies at Manhattan’s southern border.  The borough also includes several small islands in the east river and in New York Harbor.  The island is about 23 square miles in area, about 13 miles long, and about 2 miles wide at its widest point.

Streets

Manhattan’s streets are laid out in a strict grid, with avenues running north-south and numbered streets running east-west.  Fifth avenue runs down the center of Manhattan, and divides the island into the East Side and West Side.  Manhattan is divided into three, roughly equal sections, Downtown in the south, Midtown in the middle, and Uptown at the north end.  Exact boundaries for these sections are fuzzy, but 59th street and 14th street are commonly cited boundaries.  Many streets don’t strictly follow the grid pattern, the most famous of which is Broadway, which runs diagonally north from Bowling Green to the Bronx.

Neighborhoods

Manhattan has dozens of neighborhoods, including the Upper East and Upper West Sides, East Village, Harlem, SoHo, Chinatown, TriBeCa, Greenwich Village, Chelsea, and Washington Heights.  In addition, Manhattan has two business districts,  the Financial District located at the southern tip, and Midtown Manhattan.

Demographics

Manhattan’s population was spread out with 16.8% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 38.3% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.9 males.

• 1,537,195 residents, or 66,940 people per square mile
• Only 17% of households have children, 25% are married couples.
• 17% of residents are under 18
• 10% are 18 to 24
• 38% are 25 to 44
• 23% are 45 to 64
• 12% are 65+
• The median age is 36.
• median income is $47,030 and per capita income is $42,922.
• 20% of the population lives below the poverty line
• 54% White
• 27% Hispanic of any race
• 17% Black

Manhattan ZIP code 10021 has one of the country’s largest concentrations of wealth, with over 100,000 people with a per capita income over $90,000

Culture

Since the 20s, Manhattan has been an important architectural center, and is home to dozens of important and famous skyscrapers such as Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, the GE Building (originally called the RCA Building), and the Sears Tower.  Until September 11, 2001, the twin towers of the World Trade Center were among New York’s most famous structures.

Manhattan is at the epicenter of many cultural movements, from Art Deco architecture and the Harlem Renaissance to American Pop Art, Broadway Theatre , and the Metropolitan Opera.  The neighborhood of Chelsea alone has over 200 art galleries. Manhattan’s art museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Guggenheim Museum house some of the largest collections in the world.  The New York Knicks, Rangers, and Liberty all play at Madison Square Garden.  Manhattan is the only borough without a pro baseball franchise, although the Giants, Yankees, and Mets have all called Manhattan home at some time.  In Football, both the New York Giants and Jets have played in Manhattan.

Manhattan is also the home of numerous major media companies, including The New York Times, Daily News, and Post; the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Amsterdam News.  All four major television broadcast networks call Manhattan home, as do many cable channels.  Manhattan also has most of the country’s major publishing houses.

History

Manhattan was settled by the Dutch in 1614 and was originally named New Amsterdam. The area was conquered by the British in 1664 and New Amsterdam was renamed New York.  It was the center of British operations during the Revolutionary War, and the first capital of the United States afterward.  Throughout the 1800s, Manhattan became the primary point of arrival for millions of immigrants.  The 20s saw a tremendous influx of black residents as part of the Great Migration.

Beginning in the 60s, crime, race riots, and industrial decay began to destroy the city.  By the end of the 70s, New York in general, and Manhattan in particular, had become icons of Urban Dystopia.  Things began turning around in the 80s, as Wall Street once again became an important financial center.  Crime peaked in 1982, with a total of 102 police-recorded crimes per thousand residents.  Despite improvements, many crimes continued to rise, most notably homicides.  In 1990, the city saw 2,262 murders.  The early 90s were a major turning point, as the city dramatically increased its police force and improved its crime tracking, reporting, and monitoring system.  New York City now has the lowest crime rate among the ten largest cities in the U.S., at a rate comparable to that of Boise, Idaho.

Queens is the largest of New York City’s boroughs, and only Manhattan has more people.  The borough shares Long Island with Brooklyn to the West and Nassau and Suffolk Counties to the East.  Queens has 109 square miles of land.  The streets form a grid pattern similar to Manhattan and the Bronx, with Avenues running east-west and numbered streets running north-south.  The grid doesn’t always line up cleanly, though, and often consecutive streets share numbers.  This can be confusing to visitors and new residents.  The Rockaway Peninsula is a major exception to the borough’s street numbering system.

Demographics

• 2,241,600 residents, or 7,900 people per square mile
• About 31% of households have children, 47% are married couples
• 23% of residents are under 18
• 10% are 18 to 24
• 33% are 25 to 44
• 21% are 45 to 64
• 13% are 65+
• The median age is 35
• median income is $37,400 and per capita income is $19,222
• 17% of the population lives below the poverty line
• 44% White
• 25% Hispanic of any race
• 20% Black
• Queens is the most diverse county in the country, with large populations of Greeks, Irish Americans, Jews, Italian Americans, Hispanics, Eastern European Immigrants, Asian Americans, Koreans, Chinese, African Americans and Caribbeans.  Queens also has one of the largest Indian American populations in the country.

Culture

Jazz was important in Queens in the 40s, and the borough is becoming an important artistic center.   The American Museum of the Moving Image,  The Museum for African Art,  P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center, and the Noguchi Museum are all in Queens.  The New York Mets are based in Queens, which also hosts the U.S. Open.

History

Queens was settled by Dutch and English in the early 17th century, under Dutch rule.  In 1664 it was captured by the English, and again fell under British rule during the Revolutionary War.  Queens became a borough of New York City in 1898, and had subway access by 1910.  By 1920 the population had more than doubled, and passed a million people by 1930.

Staten Island is the third largest borough in New York City, with 59 square miles, and is the least populated with less than 500,000 residents. Staten island has 7,587 residents per square mile. It lies near New Jersey, and is separated from New York by the New York Bay. 
Demographics

• About 35% of Staten Island households have children and 55% have married couples. 
• 25% of residents are under 18
• 30% are 25 to 44 years old
• Median age is 36 years.
• Median income is $55,039 and per capita income is $23,905.
• About 10% of the population lives below the poverty line.
• 77% white
• 12% Hispanic
• 9% black
• The island has a high percentage of Italian Americans, and a growing Russian population.  There’s also a significant Polish popuation. 

Culture

Many artists have found the island’s combination of space and affordable housing an attractive alternative to Manhattan and the more populated boroughs.   Staten Island is a popular location for film and, oddly, has served as the location for a number of gangster movies such as The Godfather, Goodfellas, Donnie Brasco, and Analyze This.

In 1972, much of the island’s remaining green spaces became part of the Gateway National Recreation Area, a National Park. Overall Staten Island has the largest area of parkland in the City. 

Staten Island is home to many museums, including the Snug Harbor Cultural Center, the Conference House, and the Staten Island Children’s museum.  The Staten Island Zoo is also a popular attraction, as is the St. George Theatre.

 Historic Richmond Town is New York City’s living history village and museum complex. Visitors can explore the diversity of the American experience, especially that of Staten Island and its neighboring communities, from the colonial period to the present. The village area occupies 25 acres of a 100-acre (0.40 km²) site with about 15 restored buildings, including homes and commercial and civic buildings, as well as a museum.

The borough is home to the minor league team Staten Island Yankees.
History

The Dutch finally settled Staten Island in 1661 after several unsuccessful attempts, and gave it to the English in 1667 at the Treaty of Breda.  The island played a major part in the Revolutionary War, when General William Howe used the island as a base from which to attack New York City.  American troops withdrew from the island after the Battle of Staten Island, and it remained in British hands until the end of the war. 

The island became a borough of New York City in 1898, and remained laregly rural until the completion of the Verrzano Narrows Bridge in 1964.  Staten Island quickly became suburban as the islands four major bridges provided road access to and from the island. Residents voted to secede from New York in 1993, but the State Assembly blocked the proposal.

The Bronx is Northeast of Manhattan and separated from it by the Harlem River.  It’s bordered by the Hudson River and New Jersey on the west, Westchester County on the North, and The East River and Queens to the east.  The borough has an area of 42 square miles, divided into 49 neighborhoods.  The most famous of which include Little Italy and South Bronx.

Demographics

• 1,332,650 residents, or 31,709 people per square mile
• About 40% of households have children, 30% are married couples.
• Nearly 30% of residents are under 18
• 10% are 18 to 24
• 31% are 25 to 44
• 19% are 45 to 64
• 10% are 65+
• The median age is 31
• median income is $27,611 and per capita income is $13,959.
• 31% of the population lives below the poverty line
• 29% White
• 48% Hispanic of any race
• 35% Black
• There is a large population of Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, and West Africans.  The majority of residents do not speak English as their native language.

Culture

Some of The Bronx’s dozens of famous residents include Woody Allen, George Carlin, Howard Dean, E. L. Doctorow, Lou Gehrig, Billy Joel, Calvin Klein, Stanley Kubrick, Ralph Lauren, Al Pacino, Edgar Allan Poe, Chiam Potok, Colin Powell, Theodore Roosevelt, Neil Simon, Mark Twain, Luther Vandross, and Nobel Prize winner Rosalyn Sussman Yalow.

Hip Hop originated in The Bronx in the 70s.  The borough is home to several major cultural centers, including the Pregones Theater, the Bronx Museum of the Arts, the Bronx Zoo, Yankee Stadium, and the New York Botanical Garden.

History

At the turn of the 20th century, immigrants, mostly Irish, Jewish, and Italian, flooded into the Bronx thanks to the extension of the Subway system.  Gang activity and organized crime was active during the prohibition, and from 1940 on into the 60s, most of the white, European residents left the borough, leaving a large Hispanic and Black population. The borough has undergone a sea of change in terms of crime and poverty, beginning in the early 90s, with new residential developments and increased economic activity.  The National Civic Leage designated the Bronx an All American City in 1997.

Geography

Brooklyn shares Long Island with Queens to the northeast, and is surrounded by water on three sides.  The borough has a total land area of about 71 square miles. Brooklyn’s southern coast includes Coney Island, Brighton Beach and Manhattan Beach.

Demographics

• 2.5 million residents, or 35,000 people per square mile
• About 33% of households have children, 38% are married couples.
• Nearly 27% of residents are under 18
• 10% are 18 to 24
• 31% are 25 to 44
• 21% are 45 to 64
• 11% are 65+
• The median age is 33
• median income is $32,135 and per capita income is $16,775.
• 22% of the population lives below the poverty line
• 41% White
• 20% Hispanic of any race
• 36% Black
• Brooklyn is incredibly diverse, with people of all races and nationalities.

Culture

Brooklyn has caught the imagination of dozens of writers, from Walt Whitman to Eulalie Spence to Arthur Miller.  Park Slope is home to many writers today.  It has also been featured in dozens of movies such as, Saturday Night Fever and several Spike Lee films.  Brooklyn has a thriving art community, including the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the Brooklyn Historical Society, and the BRIC Rotunda Gallery.

Brooklyn was the home of baseball’s Brooklyn Dodgers from 1883 to 1957, having left for Los Angeles only two years after their world series win against rival New York Yankees.  In 1947 Jackie Robinson became the first African American to play Major League Baseball for the Dodgers.  Brooklyn currently hosts minor league baseball’s Brooklyn Cyclones and minor league soccer’s Brooklyn Knights.

History

Brooklyn was colonized by the Dutch, beginning in 1634.  It became British territory in 1664, and part of the Province of New York in 1683.  In the early 1800s, urban centers grew dramatically along the East River and expanded southward.  The Brighton Beach line of the New York Subway system opened in 1878.  By 1896 Brooklyn had annexed all of Kings County, forming its present day boundaries.  The Brooklyn Bridge was completed in 1883.  Brooklyn voted to become one of New York’s boroughs in 1898.

]]> http://movingtonewyorkcity.info/five-boroughs/brooklyn/feed 1 http://movingtonewyorkcity.info/guides/living-on-a-shoestring-without-having-to-eat-the-shoe http://movingtonewyorkcity.info/guides/living-on-a-shoestring-without-having-to-eat-the-shoe#comments Mon, 01 Sep 2008 04:50:44 +0000 admin http://movingtonewyorkcity.info/?p=46 Someone once said, “To achieve something great you need time, money, and talent, and you can get by without one – as long as you have more than enough of the other two.” Moving to New York City is great thing (and I assume you agree, or you wouldn’t be here).  If you’re like I was, you’re moving to New York City with little or no money.  This site is about making the most of your time and talent.  





The first great thing about moving (and living) in New York is that you are constantly competing for a limited set of resources. If you don’t think that’s a great thing, move to Wisconsin. The “limited” resources in New York are really a nearly limitless set of possibilities, both professionally and personally. The truth is, most New Yorkers are respectful and kind-hearted, they’re are just facing the same challenges you are. Take solace in the fact that you are not alone.  





Shoestring Finances:



Become wealthy. The ideal way of moving to New York is to have a job paying you six figures or more that already has a company broker and is willing to cover moving expenses. In that scenario your move should be relatively painless (although you will still need to provide an amazing amount of proof of your amount of income and job stability.) 





Get a Plan. If you’re trying to move to the city with less than a six-figure income, the first thing you need is a plan. Hopefully it’s a good one but any plan–even as bad as mine was–will keep you out of jail and off the ‘A’ line. This will involve both time and talent and any connections you may already have in the city. Your plan must include your profession, shelter, standard of living, and community. I’ll touch on each of these points as we go along.




Budget if you’re not wealthy. OK, do it even if you are. It makes good sense and it doesn’t mean you have to spend every spare moment counting your pennies. There are some good websites and resources out there to helpWhat do you think about linking to some of them? -Daniel 6/23/08 11:05 AM . The point is that your finances can get away from you very quickly especially in New York. Saving money before you come is very important. Not only will that make you more desirable to potential Landlords and roommates, but it will you some wiggle room to adjust to the cost of the city and make your mistakes without going into  debt. While it is possible to live on the cheap in New York City, your expenses can skyrocket quickly. The best way to avoid this is to know before hand how much you can spend on what and what your emergency reserve is. Don’t have an emergency reserve? Start saving your pennies until you have one because there will come a day when you need it: your roommate will disappear, the utilities will spike, you’ll need an unexpected root canal. A budget will also help you avoid lifestyle creep. When you do start making more money (and you will) just adjust and enjoy your new benefits.




Shoestring Housing:





New York City, and Manhattan in particular, is a very finite space and there are fewer places to live than people who want to live there, especially when you narrow your search down to neighborhoods that are worth living in and that have reasonable access to mass transit (a real key to living on a shoe string).




Craigslist is the source for housing in New York City. Go to the Apple Store(s) if you are already in the city and need to browse around, or open another window on what ever computer you are using now and just browse around. Because they have so many entries they have divided the site by boroughs (Brooklyn, Queens, etc.), neighborhoods, and type (sublet, brokered, no-broker, etc.). The site gets updated everyday and hot deals get calls within seconds of being posted so check back regularly until you’ve signed a contract. The Village Voice has a similar service which is a little smaller and a little less spammy and the New York Times real-estate listing is good if you don’t mind paying a broker and you avoid the rent control scams.




Rent a room. I don’t have any personal experience but there are some reputable “room brokers” available. It costs about $400-$500 for the first week and to move in, $100-$150 per week after that. You’ll be sharing an apartment with total strangers (who usually won’t speak English) but that price is actually pretty cheap and the turn around can be pretty quick. With renting on a week to week basis you can move quickly when some better comes along. You’ve got to get your foot in the door or you’ll eat the shoe for sure.




Subletting is either the stuff of dreams or nightmares. Moving in with total strangers can be scary and most people will want to see references and proof of employment; however, given that most people in New York pay over half their income in rent you are more likely to find a sub-letter sympathetic to your cause than a Landlord. Craigslist is again the ideal place to find a sublet if you are not picky. Networking by asking friends, associates, or co-workers is also a great way to get on the in. New York City has a pretty transient population and a lot of performers and upcoming international workers like to sublet their places while they are gone for long stretches to reduce costs. If you already know people in the city, chances are somebody knows somebody looking to sublet or share a room. A friendly referral won’t eliminate the chance of sharing a space with a psycho but it can reduce the risk. And remember what doesn’t kill you makes a great story. What kills your friends makes an even better one.




Signing a Lease can be incredibly difficult for a new arrival on a limited budget, a new job, and no local references.  Honestly, six figures aside, it may not be the way to go. You need to make forty to fifty times the monthly rent in annual income (allot roughly a quarter of your gross income for rent) and they will make you prove it. See our guide to New York real estate for more information.  It is difficult for a Landlord to evict a tenant in the City and because there are usually so many people competing for housing, the Landlords can afford to be picky. If you are looking for cheaper housing you may also be competing against people who qualify for Section 8 or other government assisted housing programs. If you feel strongly that this is the way to go and you don’t have a load to spend on a broker or a wealthy relative in the state to co-sign, be prepared with an interim solution in the mean time–a friend’s couch or one of those rooms for rent mentioned earlier–it may take a while to find the place of your dreams.




Shoestring Transportation:





Unlimited vs. Per-ride metro card. If you are going to be riding the subway or a bus at least twice a day save yourself some cash and get an Unlimited card. You can by them from the attendant at any peopled subway station or under the “Metrocard” option at any of the kiosks. They come in one-day, seven-day, 14-day, and 30-day intervals. An unlimited card doesn’t start counting down the days until you use it the first time, but it can also expire if you buy one and let it sit unused for too long. 





Shoestring Essentials:





If groceries are too expensive, shop elsewhere. The cost of basic necessities may be a little higher in New York but it doesn’t have to be much higher. As New York City, especially Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn, become the next Beverly Hills, there are more health food stores and high priced markets. The quality of produce may a be a little higher and the chickens may be emancipated but it’ll cost you.  If you’re looking to live on the cheap find the nearest C-Town or PathMark, even if it means hoofing it an extra mile on the subway for your weekly grocery trip.




Health Care (freelancers union/fractured atlas) is very expensive in the city. There is not way around that. If you don’t have coverage through your job then you need to decide if the costs are worth it, certainly one bad accident or illness can put you back years if you file bankruptcy. If you don’t get health benefits through your job you may qualify to join either the Freelancers Union, or if you’re an artist, Fractured Atlas, which is a kind of freelancers union geared toward independent artists and artist groups. Even if health care is not an issue but you are an artist or freelancer, you may wish to join one or both of these organizations. They both are relatively inexpensive and offer a lot of perks (like discounted memberships to Zips Cars, TDF, etc.) as well as networking opportunities.


Shoestring Entertainment:




Get a Library Card. The new New York public libraries are legendary and infamous  (if you’ve ever forgotten to return something). If its been published, printed, or produced in almost any form, including movies and music, chances are there is a copy somewhere in circulation. While it is not as convenient as Netflix or Bittorrent it is legal and free (as long as you return materials on time). You may return your materials to any location, request that they be delivered to any location, and do it all online.


Walk in the Park. Aside from the well known Central Park, New York city is home to dozens of beautiful parks and recreation centers. The subway also runs to several beaches on long island as well as the Long Island Rail Road or Metro North Railroad for longer excursions.

Promotional sources. The subway papers (AM New York, Post, etc.) often have free events often promoting a community or new establishment. There are also several website like freenyc.net which list free events in the City. Events can be parties, art happenings, gallery openings, live shows, bizarre parades. One warning: if its free, good, and limited seating there will be a line. The Public Theatre’s Shakespeare in the Park is usually a great, free summer event but plan on waiting in line at least two hours or more, or paying a bum to do it for you.

]]> http://movingtonewyorkcity.info/guides/living-on-a-shoestring-without-having-to-eat-the-shoe/feed 2 http://movingtonewyorkcity.info/guides/renting-an-apartment http://movingtonewyorkcity.info/guides/renting-an-apartment#comments Mon, 01 Sep 2008 04:34:09 +0000 admin http://movingtonewyorkcity.info/?p=38 New York city is one of the few places in the country where most people rent for life. Many rental units include hotel-quality amenities like dry cleaning, gyms, a doorman, etc. Renting in New York can be trickier than in other cities.

10 Most Expensive U.S. Rental Markets

Area State Avg rent in 2006 New York NY $2,553 San Francisco CA $1,685 Boston MA $1,632 New Haven CT $1,485 Orange County CA $1,458 San Jose CA $1,445 N. New Jersey NJ $1,404 Los Angeles CA $1,360 Oakland CA $1,262 San Diego CA $1,250

Source: Marcus & Millchap

Don’t shop.  Hunt. In other markets, leasing an apartment may be more of a shopping experience. You check out several places, the time to weigh pros and cons, sleep on it, and come back with your deposit and paperwork to negotiate. In New York City the vacancy rate is very low, less than 3 percent.  You snooze, you lose.  Plus, landlords can afford to be picky. Rental laws also delay getting rid of dead-beat tenants for six months or more, so landlords tend to be a little paranoid. If you see this as apartment hunting, you will be better prepared for the New York housing adventure. Every good hunter knows his prey before he sees it, moves quickly when he does, and stays patient until it is found.

What can you afford? The hard and fast rule is that rent should only account for a quarter of your gross income or, as some apartment brokers put it, your annual income before taxes should be 40 to 50 times the monthly rent of your share of an apartment. If you are looking at an apartment that rents for $2,000 per month you should be pulling down at least $80,000 per year or closer to $100,000 to be safe. Does that mean everyone in New York makes 40 to 50 times their astronomical rent? No. Many jobs do pay slightly higher in New York to offset the cost of living (many do not however) and roommates are very common here. Many people do pay upward of half of their after-tax income or more in rent but most landlords will not rent to you until you can find some way to meet the minimum of 40X your gross income. Some landlords accept guarantors that can co-sign a lease when the leasee does not qualify by themselves.

What is a guarantor? A guarantor is just a fancy term for someone who co-signs a lease to guarantee that rent will be paid. A guarantor does not live in the apartment and typically is a relative or parent. Even if a landlord will accept the guarantor it is pretty standard that they will require a guarantor to make 80 to 100 times the month rent in annual income. The landlord may also require that the guarantor live in New York or the Tri-state area (New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut), or they may not allow guarantors from certain states, like Florida or Texas. This is because of the difficulties in taking a guarantor to court should rent not be paid. You will also have to provide all the same documentation for a guarantor as you would yourself or a roommate. This usually includes the application fee and credit check.


What do you need? Apartment hunting in New York can be the most frustrating and discouraging experience you will ever encounter. Decide before you begin between the “must haves” and the “nice to haves” and be realistic. Just because something is not a need does not mean you will not be able to get it.  It just means that it’s important to prioritize.  


Where do you want to live? This can be one of the most important questions to answer when moving to New York City. Each neighborhood and borough has a different feel and often a different set of pros and cons. Do you want to live in the trendy art scene of SoHo, with the highest concentration of art galleries anywhere in the US? Or in a cozy brownstone on the tree-lined streets of South Harlem or Park Slope? The reality is that desirable real estate moves so quickly that most times your best option is to get into the first place you can afford and live with it, then over the next year get a better feel for the city and scope out the neighborhood of your choice.

Who knows you’re moving? The answer to this question should be everyone. Especially if you are living temporarily, or visiting, with the intention of finding an apartment. Don’t take everyone’s advice as fact but listen to any seasoned New Yorker’s opinion. They may have connections you can use, after all, some of the best buildings don’t have to advertise, relying, instead, on word-of-mouth to get the tenants they want. Write down their tips, thank them for their advice, and as much as it makes sense, follow-up on their suggestions. Who knows, you may even find a great share or sublet out of it!

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