apartment hunting in manhattan
Sep 22nd 2006, 5:09 pm
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2
apartment hunting in manhattan
Hi ,
anyone have advice on finding accommodation in lower manhattan. I've just spent a depressing few days getting hounded by brokers who dont seem to be offering any value for their 15% fee...
Ive been using craigslist, but that seems to also be overrun with brokers...
can finding a place really be this difficult?
any ideas?
ta
Paul
anyone have advice on finding accommodation in lower manhattan. I've just spent a depressing few days getting hounded by brokers who dont seem to be offering any value for their 15% fee...
Ive been using craigslist, but that seems to also be overrun with brokers...
can finding a place really be this difficult?
any ideas?
ta
Paul
Sep 22nd 2006, 5:54 pm
#2
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: apartment hunting in manhattan
welcome to the forums 
as for finding a place, bit general, but a few threads have asked in the past, might get lucking in finding links in them, either searching in the US life style or trailer park...well it's start
as for finding a place, bit general, but a few threads have asked in the past, might get lucking in finding links in them, either searching in the US life style or trailer park...well it's start
Sep 22nd 2006, 6:03 pm
#3
Concierge
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 46,382
Re: apartment hunting in manhattan
Not easy in Manhattan, upper or lower, east or west, to do on your own from another country. Either use a real estate agent or check out the real estate section in the New York Times. You might have to register to do that. Sunday's paper is the one you want to look at first. If you are being transferred by a company, ask them for referrals to an agent.
Originally Posted by londonPaul
Hi ,
anyone have advice on finding accommodation in lower manhattan. I've just spent a depressing few days getting hounded by brokers who dont seem to be offering any value for their 15% fee...
Ive been using craigslist, but that seems to also be overrun with brokers...
can finding a place really be this difficult?
any ideas?
ta
Paul
anyone have advice on finding accommodation in lower manhattan. I've just spent a depressing few days getting hounded by brokers who dont seem to be offering any value for their 15% fee...
Ive been using craigslist, but that seems to also be overrun with brokers...
can finding a place really be this difficult?
any ideas?
ta
Paul
Sep 22nd 2006, 7:05 pm
#4
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2
Re: apartment hunting in manhattan
Hey there thanks for the response.. will check the sunday papers..
I'm actually in NYC for the next couple of weeks to try and sort somewhere out before returning in November permanently. Unfortunately Im a freeelance consultant, and the guys I have been working for havent been able / willing to help out
I'm actually in NYC for the next couple of weeks to try and sort somewhere out before returning in November permanently. Unfortunately Im a freeelance consultant, and the guys I have been working for havent been able / willing to help out
Sep 25th 2006, 4:22 pm
#5
dealing with it
Joined: Feb 2003
Location: DC
Posts: 2,916
Re: apartment hunting in manhattan
Paul, when we moved to NYC about 5 years ago, we managed to find an English guy on Craigs list who was willing to sublet his apartment to us for the first 10 months...he wanted to move out to Jersey...with his girlfriend...
The short story is that without credit history and a lot of luck, you may be barking up the wrong tree...I'd suggest looking out in Hoboken or Weehawken first, build up some time and credit and then move into the city...besides anything else, you'll pay less and you're still on the Path line into the city.
Good Luck
Chris
The short story is that without credit history and a lot of luck, you may be barking up the wrong tree...I'd suggest looking out in Hoboken or Weehawken first, build up some time and credit and then move into the city...besides anything else, you'll pay less and you're still on the Path line into the city.
Good Luck
Chris
Originally Posted by londonPaul
Hey there thanks for the response.. will check the sunday papers..
I'm actually in NYC for the next couple of weeks to try and sort somewhere out before returning in November permanently. Unfortunately Im a freeelance consultant, and the guys I have been working for havent been able / willing to help out
I'm actually in NYC for the next couple of weeks to try and sort somewhere out before returning in November permanently. Unfortunately Im a freeelance consultant, and the guys I have been working for havent been able / willing to help out
Sep 25th 2006, 7:16 pm
#6
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,848
Re: apartment hunting in manhattan
Chris beat me to it......I would also strongly suggest that you check out Hoboken in NJ (directly across the Hudson river from NYC - a few people who post on here live in Hoboken and I would say that most people living there are young professionals in their 20s and 30s) and most commute into Manhatten every day. The 'W' hotel chain is building in Hoboken as the river views across to Manhatten are fantastic.
Neighbouring Jersey City is a lot cheaper than Hoboken as it's not as 'trendy'. Jersey City and Newport has lots of new apartments being built near the river, a bit like in London's Docklands (a lot of companies in the financial sector have large offices here, eg. Goldman Sachs (the large tower) and Chase etc. but further away from the river are older established properties, apartment blocks and houses converted into flats.
Journal Square - a district - on the PATH line is also inexpensive and very multicultural.
My friend rents out an apartment in Jersey city (it actually has a private garden out the back deeded to her) and she advertised it on Craigslist - she was advised to do this by the other tenants in the block to avoid paying the high realtor's fees. There is a New Jersey section for Craigslist.
Also check out rentals here:
http://www.delfornorealestate.com (they specialise in JC)
http://www.hobokeni.com/classifieds....s%20for%20Rent
http://www.hobokeni.com
For the PATH trains (underground trains) to NYC look here:
http://www.panynj.com/CommutingTravel/path/html/
Classified Ads from NJ newspapers (see real estate listings)
http://www.nj.com/realestate/
You can also take the commuter ferries to lower Manhatten (NY Waterways goes from Hoboken train station and other local points):
http://www.panynj.com/CommutingTravel/ferry/html/ (scroll down past the map for the various ferry company info).
Neighbouring Jersey City is a lot cheaper than Hoboken as it's not as 'trendy'. Jersey City and Newport has lots of new apartments being built near the river, a bit like in London's Docklands (a lot of companies in the financial sector have large offices here, eg. Goldman Sachs (the large tower) and Chase etc. but further away from the river are older established properties, apartment blocks and houses converted into flats.
Journal Square - a district - on the PATH line is also inexpensive and very multicultural.
My friend rents out an apartment in Jersey city (it actually has a private garden out the back deeded to her) and she advertised it on Craigslist - she was advised to do this by the other tenants in the block to avoid paying the high realtor's fees. There is a New Jersey section for Craigslist.
Also check out rentals here:
http://www.delfornorealestate.com (they specialise in JC)
http://www.hobokeni.com/classifieds....s%20for%20Rent
http://www.hobokeni.com
For the PATH trains (underground trains) to NYC look here:
http://www.panynj.com/CommutingTravel/path/html/
Classified Ads from NJ newspapers (see real estate listings)
http://www.nj.com/realestate/
You can also take the commuter ferries to lower Manhatten (NY Waterways goes from Hoboken train station and other local points):
http://www.panynj.com/CommutingTravel/ferry/html/ (scroll down past the map for the various ferry company info).
Sep 25th 2006, 8:13 pm
#7
Another gloomy day!
Joined: Jun 2004
Location: Hoboken, NJ
Posts: 132
Re: apartment hunting in manhattan
Originally Posted by Englishmum
Chris beat me to it......
I live in Hoboken and I love it here. Lots of bars, restaurants and cafes. Also, alot of Brits live here! It has a small town feel, but it's so close to NYC. About 15 mins by PATH train or bus.
The rent is going up, but you can find some great apartments. There are a few estate agents here that have 'no fee' apartments, where the landlord pays the fee. Hobokeni.com is wonderful, there's new listings on it every day, that's where we found ours.
If you want to see the place you should come across on the PATH and walk around! You could even pop in to a few estate agents and see what they have!
Good luck!!
Sep 25th 2006, 8:46 pm
#8
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,848
Re: apartment hunting in manhattan
Originally Posted by hayley82
And you beat me!
I live in Hoboken and I love it here. Lots of bars, restaurants and cafes. Also, alot of Brits live here! It has a small town feel, but it's so close to NYC. About 15 mins by PATH train or bus.
The rent is going up, but you can find some great apartments. There are a few estate agents here that have 'no fee' apartments, where the landlord pays the fee. Hobokeni.com is wonderful, there's new listings on it every day, that's where we found ours.
If you want to see the place you should come across on the PATH and walk around! You could even pop in to a few estate agents and see what they have!
Good luck!!
I live in Hoboken and I love it here. Lots of bars, restaurants and cafes. Also, alot of Brits live here! It has a small town feel, but it's so close to NYC. About 15 mins by PATH train or bus.
The rent is going up, but you can find some great apartments. There are a few estate agents here that have 'no fee' apartments, where the landlord pays the fee. Hobokeni.com is wonderful, there's new listings on it every day, that's where we found ours.
If you want to see the place you should come across on the PATH and walk around! You could even pop in to a few estate agents and see what they have!
Good luck!!
...and where have you been young madam?
About time we met up for a drink (or more!)......
Sep 25th 2006, 8:52 pm
#9
Another gloomy day!
Joined: Jun 2004
Location: Hoboken, NJ
Posts: 132
Re: apartment hunting in manhattan
Originally Posted by Englishmum
...and where have you been young madam?
About time we met up for a drink (or more!)......
About time we met up for a drink (or more!)......
Oh, and I got engaged!! The future in-laws are coming this week. But yes, we should definitely meet up for a few drinks again soon!
Sep 25th 2006, 9:01 pm
#10
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: apartment hunting in manhattan
Originally Posted by hayley82
Oh, and I got engaged!!...
Sep 26th 2006, 6:06 am
#11
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 4,820
Re: apartment hunting in manhattan
Originally Posted by Englishmum
Neighbouring Jersey City is a lot cheaper than Hoboken
I spent one night in the sleeper of my cab in Jersey city 3 years ago ..... NEVER AGAIN :scared:
