Update: Oreo, Dog Thrown Off Building, Was Euthanized
People Wait For Tomorrow's UWS Apple Store Opening
Emily and Sarah Kunstler, Filmmakers
Cheap Chicken Wing Deal Ruined by Gunslinging Teens
FIT Students Busted For Drug Dealing Get Probation
In the umpteenth story about the raging Manhattan real estate market, rental agency Citi Habitats reports that average rents for all sizes of Manhattan apartments are up for the first time since 2001 (Between November 2003 and April 2004: "Manhattan studio went from $1,625 to $1,676; a one-bedroom from $2,308 to $2,310; a two-bedroom from $3,231 to $3,393; and a three-bedroom from $4,403 to $4,531.") Gothamist will never cease to be amazed at the Manhattan real estate market and we will never forget that at least we're not paying for a car (parking, insurance, etc.). The biggest increases have been downtown in SoHo/Tribeca, the West Village, and Chelsea. Gothamist wonders if the downtown residents who had negotiated for lower rents post-September 11 were now subjected to higher rents, or if landlords were just taking advantage of vacated apartments. A CitiHabitats broker says downtown apartments are attractive because "you get more for your buck there. There's unique housing with high ceilings." High ceilings? Does that mean a lot of lofting is going on? And we've been to some West Village apartments - we're talking "quaint ceilings."
Whet your NYC real estate appetite at Curbed, check out the rentals on craigslist, but be careful of scams and Gothamist on how the average price of an apartment is $1 million (even studios). And Ask Gothamist on ending a lease.
add to stumble upon
add to reddit
tweet this
post to facebook
All the more reason to move to one of the Outer Boroughs, or maybe even Jersey. 1,600 a Month to live in a shoebox? No Thx
Yeah, but think about it. Living in Jersey is not what it seems. Rents are really high in the good areas (yes, shoebox apartments for $1100 instead of $1500), cars are staggeringly expensive to keep and maintain (cancelling out any savings on rent), and the public transit sucks. New Jersey is cheaper than Manhattan, but generally more overpriced - makes less sense based on what you get out of it.
Besides, living in NJ means... well, living in NJ. You are not only geographically outside of the city. You're now looking at a terrible commute to do anything in New York. Nightlife becomes inconvenient. You can't just bounce to museums, art galleries, or public parks in Manhattan any time you feel like it... such trips need planning and lots of time. People in NJ don't spontaneously think of hanging out in Manhattan because of that. People in Jersey do Jersey things. And I'd rather not get into that here. (It ranges from weak to downright depressing)
If your life revolves around your job and your family, I guess it's a smart move to the other side of the Hudson. You won't miss anything in Manhattan. If you're young and looking to save money on rent... then don't do it.
(My authority on this is the three-year struggle I waged in NJ to ultimately decide that I was wasting my time and money trying to do in NJ what is better done in Manhattan. It was a tough decision, but ultimately it makes sense)
I took the leap and moved all the way to Philadelphia. I have a studio in the middle of the city, 5 blocks from my office, for $650 a month. The only utilities I pay are electricity and my precious digital cable. $650! You can't find ANY apartment in the NYC area for that and my place is nice!
I took the leap and moved all the way to Philadelphia. I took all my stuff and all the money I had and moved, with no job and no prospects. I have a studio in the middle of the city, 5 blocks from my office, for $650 a month. The only utilities I pay are electricity and my precious digital cable. $650! You can't find ANY apartment in the NYC area for that and my place is nice!