Apartment leads in area for a 2 bedroom around 1500

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Apartment leads in area for a 2 bedroom around 1500

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TrebleClef 1
rookie newb
Joined: Jul '12
Posts: 16

Hey everyone,

I'm a new poster here. My roommate and I are looking for a 2 bedroom in areas around prospect park that are safe for two young women (in our early 20s). We can go up to $1500, maybe $1550 if it's great. Basically, we're just trying to avoid east of Nostrand and north of Eastern Parkway. We can live on Eastern Parkway (who wouldn't want to, it's so nice!), just not above it.

The search on craigslist has been a nightmare and brokers basically dominate. I've been told by Lang realty about 6 times that none of the apartments they're listing is available for an Aug. 1 lease. Apparently, they're only showing July 21 leases? We're both currently living in different states but will be moving to the city in late august. We're only available really to see apartments on the weekend, making this really hard. I'm in Long Island, so I can come in late at night on weeknights but it's still difficult. Does anyone have any leads in the area? Or know of rental companies/management companies of buildings I can call?

Thanks!

# Posted 10 mos ago
xlizellx
rocking it
Joined: Jul '08
Posts: 1,579

I have found all of my apartments on Craigslist. You say you want south of EP, so If you put in "Prospect Lefferts Gardens" with 2 beds and $1550 max, you get a lot of properties. Not sure why you say it's been a nightmare...

I vouch for none of these, though:

http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/abo/3130880746.html

http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/abo/3130348752.html

http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/nfb/3076612630.html

# Posted 10 mos ago
TrebleClef 1
rookie newb
Joined: Jul '12
Posts: 16

(whoops, misread your post the first time) I've literally been refreshing craigslist every day this week on the hour. I've called every possible place in our price range and area and either got brokers telling me they're looking for an earlier lease or that there's a fee, which we can't afford. My roommate is coming down this weekend and we wanted to sign on a place while she's here, which is why I posted.

# Posted 10 mos ago
armchair_warrior
retsop cixelsyd
Joined: Dec '05
Posts: 7,946

if you guys can't find places in time, roommate for a while till you get the layout of the land would be easier once you guys are all here and stuff.

Fight white guilt and injustice by smoking tax free guilt free Reservation Smokes or go gamble in a Native Casino.
I like to stick it to The Man, The Man happens to be Liberal in NYC(power Structure).

# Posted 10 mos ago
xlizellx
rocking it
Joined: Jul '08
Posts: 1,579

Also, as insane as it sounds, NYC is usually a place where you find your apartment only a few weeks before moving. It is ridiculously stressful, but unlike other places ... If you're looking for a Sept. 1 move in, you search in August.

Good luck

# Posted 10 mos ago
TrebleClef 1
rookie newb
Joined: Jul '12
Posts: 16

Word, I've done the apartment search in NYC before. We're both NYU students moving to brooklyn for our last year. Last year, I had the pleasure of searching for a place in Manhattan. My lease is up Aug. 1 so we want an Aug. 1 lease.

I know most of our problems has to do with the fact that neither of us are in NYC 7 days a week. But, again, I'm just looking to see if anyone knows of buildings with their own rental offices/managements companies or if they know cool landlords who own quite a few places and would be willing to field a call from me.

# Posted 10 mos ago
armchair_warrior
retsop cixelsyd
Joined: Dec '05
Posts: 7,946

agree, most of my apt rent either way early or literally a few days before the first day of the month.

Fight white guilt and injustice by smoking tax free guilt free Reservation Smokes or go gamble in a Native Casino.
I like to stick it to The Man, The Man happens to be Liberal in NYC(power Structure).

# Posted 10 mos ago
jeffrey
is not in right now
Joined: Feb '07
Posts: 4,131

xlizellx said:
I have found all of my apartments on Craigslist. You say you want south of EP, so If you put in "Prospect Lefferts Gardens" with 2 beds and $1550 max, you get a lot of properties. Not sure why you say it's been a nightmare...

I vouch for none of these, though:

http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/abo/3130880746.html

http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/abo/3130348752.html

http://newyork.craigslist.org/brk/nfb/3076612630.html

Just following up with more info, as a local:

None of those are even remotely in Lefferts Garden and do experience a considerably different crime rate than Lefferts Garden (Especially vs Lefferts Manor within that) based on crime reports provided weekly to the Yahoo Lefferts List by the local NYPD liason officer.

Typical broker neighborhood creep/fudging.

i extend my battery life by turning down the brightness

# Posted 10 mos ago
TrebleClef 1
rookie newb
Joined: Jul '12
Posts: 16

On that note, if anyone can recommend a no fee broker that won't completely screw me, that'd be awesome! Dealing with Lang, Rapid Realty and MySpaceNYC brokers has not been fun.

# Posted 10 mos ago
The Psycho-ologist
big A little a Bouncing B the system may have got you but it won't get me.
Joined: Jan '08
Posts: 439

One smart thing you can do is walk around the neighborhood you are looking to rent an apartment in, and look for signs that say "apartment for rent" or just go up to buildings you like and buzz the super. A supuer can often give you the number for the management company or owner of said building. You can often rent without a broker's fee if you go directly through management. You can also move into the nabe of your choice by just walking through the neighborhood and calling the numbers advertising places.

I found my building that way. I did not pay a broker's fee and got into nice management company owned building with porter service etc. My apartment is even sunny and brighter than my last one. I also got it in the neighborhood of my choice.

Just know that MOST not all, but MOST brokers lie like rugs, when it comes to location and amenities. It is best to google map places, check postal zip codes, and inquire on boards like this to ensure where you are moving is actually the neighborhood where you want to live.

Craigslist is generally a nightmare, and will often bait and switch in terms of location, price and amenities.
Craisglist also usually works on a last minute (1 to 2 weeks before move in date) basis.

As for Brokers:

beware and read YELP dot com to check for brokers. You will get an ear full about Rapid Reality.

a teaspoon of kisses and a drop of glee

# Posted 10 mos ago
xlizellx
rocking it
Joined: Jul '08
Posts: 1,579

jeffrey said:
Just following up with more info, as a local:

None of those are even remotely in Lefferts Garden and do experience a considerably different crime rate than Lefferts Garden (Especially vs Lefferts Manor within that) based on crime reports provided weekly to the Yahoo Lefferts List by the local NYPD liason officer.

Typical broker neighborhood creep/fudging.

True -- but all she said was south of EP and near the park -- all of these places have that. She didn't say she wanted PLG.
I get that....to find my CROWN HEIGHTS apartment, I searched craigslist with the keywords "PROSPECT HEIGHTS" and "FRANKLIN AVENUE". If I searched Crown Heights, I would have gotten Brownsville or Bed Stuy or East Flatbush...

# Posted 10 mos ago
jeffrey
is not in right now
Joined: Feb '07
Posts: 4,131

Oh, totally. Sorry, was more a comment about the headline location within the listings themselves.

i extend my battery life by turning down the brightness

# Posted 10 mos ago
Cool The Kid
We out this mother effer
Joined: Jan '07
Posts: 1,385

Whew... 1500 for a 2 bedroom. Good luck. Thats even a good deal in a bad neighborhood.

[
Mamacita said:
I <3 CTK

# Posted 10 mos ago
The Psycho-ologist
big A little a Bouncing B the system may have got you but it won't get me.
Joined: Jan '08
Posts: 439

Cool The Kid said:
Whew... 1500 for a 2 bedroom. Good luck. Thats even a good deal in a bad neighborhood.

YES!

a teaspoon of kisses and a drop of glee

# Posted 10 mos ago
eastbloc
comprador bourgeois
Joined: Jul '09
Posts: 901

Agreed. We have two-bedroom, 1000' floor-throughs on Sterling and Franklin and the market rent is about $2200.

# Posted 10 mos ago
armchair_warrior
retsop cixelsyd
Joined: Dec '05
Posts: 7,946

ah you could always get a 1500 bedroom on my side of town and its safe but not cool :p or edgy.

It is rank 4th safest area in nyc.

http://newyork.craigslist.org/search/aap/brk?query=bensonhurst&srchType=A&minAsk=&maxAsk=&bedrooms=2

Fight white guilt and injustice by smoking tax free guilt free Reservation Smokes or go gamble in a Native Casino.
I like to stick it to The Man, The Man happens to be Liberal in NYC(power Structure).

# Posted 10 mos ago
TrebleClef 1
rookie newb
Joined: Jul '12
Posts: 16

eastbloc said:
Agreed. We have two-bedroom, 1000' floor-throughs on Sterling and Franklin and the market rent is about $2200.

Wow, these are Manhattan prices! If I had that kind of money, I'd be all set.

# Posted 10 mos ago
TrebleClef 1
rookie newb
Joined: Jul '12
Posts: 16

armchair_warrior said:
ah you could always get a 1500 bedroom on my side of town and its safe but not cool :p or edgy.

It is rank 4th safest area in nyc.

http://newyork.craigslist.org/search/aap/brk?query=bensonhurst&srchType=A&minAsk=&maxAsk=&bedrooms=2

Haha very, very tempting. How long is the commute to greenwich village? That may be the make or break factor...

# Posted 10 mos ago
Nada
Doing the same thing over and over
Joined: Jan '12
Posts: 10

Try padmapper.com - click the "show more filters" button so that you can specify no broker fee. I was able to see a number of apartments in your price range in your preferred area.

I agree with the others that you'll have more luck closer to the move-in date, and that $1500 for a 2 bedroom is going to be difficult, but I wish you the best of luck.

# Posted 10 mos ago
BKChickie
Bagel Hole Girl
Joined: Mar '08
Posts: 1,088

There seem to be a number of 2 bedroom listings on Craigslist in (what must be) the area around Franklin Avenue. But, how do you even know where these places are? Just looking at these listings is bringing back awful memories of those first after-college apartments.

I'm old, because this seems like a lot of work/anxiety/risk for what will work out to be just one year. NYC apartment hunting is so awful, I know that I would just stay where I was for that short amount of time.

Good luck!

# Posted 10 mos ago
BKChickie
Bagel Hole Girl
Joined: Mar '08
Posts: 1,088

Additionally, I just saw your requirement that the place not be north of Eastern Parkway. Wouldn't it be better to be on the A/C if you're at NYU?

# Posted 10 mos ago
eastbloc
comprador bourgeois
Joined: Jul '09
Posts: 901

I don't understand the "not north of EP" requirement either.

The best part of the 'hood is arguably north of EP and west of Nostrand.

# Posted 10 mos ago
tateinbk
above average
Joined: Jun '11
Posts: 498

I've found Lang Realty to be really strict about not showing places unless you're willing to sign within two weeks. My experiences with MySpace has been they show overly expensive places in remote areas and argue that they're awesome deals. Frankly, if you want something in that price range you probably should be looking in places like Bensonhurst. I think you'll find that a lot of Brooklyn apartments run at "Manhattan prices". $1550 for a two bedroom is not a "Brooklyn price" unless you travel further out.

Considering your low price point, location specifics, and current out of town status I think you need to start resigning yourself to paying a broker fee.

I am also very curious as to why not north of EP? Did someone tell you something bad about this area? Do you have actual experience? I would re-think that requirement.

I also agree with xlizellx and psycho-ologist. Brokers will lie about location. Name the nicer neighborhood next to where you want to be and always google-map the area first.

# Posted 10 mos ago
eastbloc
comprador bourgeois
Joined: Jul '09
Posts: 901

Quite true, tateinbk. BTW a "Manhattan price" for a 1000 square foot apartment is a lot more than $2200, unless you're willing to live in Harlem.

But Brooklyn has a broad gradient of price per square foot, and it's mostly related to how far you are from Manhattan. We do pay dearly for our 11 minute commute to the city from Franklin Ave.

# Posted 10 mos ago
tateinbk
above average
Joined: Jun '11
Posts: 498

eastbloc, it's still not reasonable for Harlem. Have you checked Harlem prices lately? But maybe Inwood or Washington Heights.

# Posted 10 mos ago
eastbloc
comprador bourgeois
Joined: Jul '09
Posts: 901

Truth be told, I haven't.

I do think it would be hard to find a place anywhere in Manhattan for less than $25/square foot/month.

Our last apartment in NYC was in Stuyvesant Town, and when we moved out it was well over $3k per month for about 600 square feet. That's $50/foot and it was a really pretty reasonable space considering its state and amenities. We're actually not paying much more for our mortgage here.

# Posted 10 mos ago
Cool The Kid
We out this mother effer
Joined: Jan '07
Posts: 1,385

TrebleClef 1 said:
Wow, these are Manhattan prices! If I had that kind of money, I'd be all set.

I am paying about $2100 for a 1BR walk up in a boring but safe part of Manhattan.... so its not quite. City living is (becoming unacceptably) expensive

Don't forget about Queens

[
Mamacita said:
I <3 CTK

# Posted 10 mos ago
TrebleClef 1
rookie newb
Joined: Jul '12
Posts: 16

eastbloc said:
I don't understand the "not north of EP" requirement either.

The best part of the 'hood is arguably north of EP and west of Nostrand.

We're willing to go west of Nostrand, and above EP but not east and above. Sorry if I said differently.

# Posted 10 mos ago
TrebleClef 1
rookie newb
Joined: Jul '12
Posts: 16

tateinbk said:
I've found Lang Realty to be really strict about not showing places unless you're willing to sign within two weeks. My experiences with MySpace has been they show overly expensive places in remote areas and argue that they're awesome deals. Frankly, if you want something in that price range you probably should be looking in places like Bensonhurst. I think you'll find that a lot of Brooklyn apartments run at "Manhattan prices". $1550 for a two bedroom is not a "Brooklyn price" unless you travel further out.

Considering your low price point, location specifics, and current out of town status I think you need to start resigning yourself to paying a broker fee.

I am also very curious as to why not north of EP? Did someone tell you something bad about this area? Do you have actual experience? I would re-think that requirement.

I also agree with xlizellx and psycho-ologist. Brokers will lie about location. Name the nicer neighborhood next to where you want to be and always google-map the area first.

Thanks for the insight on brokers. I've seen places listed in my price range in my areas but just not for Aug. 1. So we're probably early. But the areas I'm looking are quite nice so we're not ruling out areas like bensonhurst.

As for not above EP, we only don't want to live above EP when it's east of Nostrand. I know a lot of kids who live in Crown Heights/surroundings areas and I'm dating someone who lives in Crown Heights and from what I've been told/seen, east of Nostrand and north of EP is not exactly the nicest area of Crown Heights. We are looking west of nostrand tough.

That sounds like a good trick, thanks!

# Posted 10 mos ago
hdaisy
rookie newb
Joined: Oct '11
Posts: 17

For a two bedroom in that area you'll need to go up to at least 1700. I'd recommend looking for a third roommate and then you may find something in the 2400 range.

If you want help, contact Elijah Callender at Rapid and tell him Heather referred you. He is honest, hard working, and committed to finding people housing when they are serious about searching...more here: http://www.nakedapartments.com/a/profile/elijah-callender/4g2

# Posted 10 mos ago
tateinbk
above average
Joined: Jun '11
Posts: 498

TrebleClef 1: I've seen places listed in my price range in my areas but just not for Aug. 1

Remember that just because you've seen listings at that price, it doesn't mean they actually exist. Good Luck though.

# Posted 10 mos ago
tateinbk
above average
Joined: Jun '11
Posts: 498

Also, look into one bedrooms where the living room is seperate from the rest of the apartment. A lot of the pre-wars have this. Then one of you could be in the living room, another in the bedroom, and you just wouldn't have much in the way of common space except for the kitchen.

# Posted 10 mos ago
BKChickie
Bagel Hole Girl
Joined: Mar '08
Posts: 1,088

So, if you are north of EP and west of Nostrand you're basically looking at the rapidly gentrifying (and expensifying) areas of Crown Heights, and already pricey Prospect Heights. I think there's a reason that so many of your student friends live in the area you don't want: it fits their budgets.

Just to give some perspective on Queens, six years ago we had a rent-stabilized 1-bedroom in Astoria for $1100/month, which we considered to be a great deal.

# Posted 10 mos ago
Mamacita
Stuck in the middle with you
Joined: Dec '06
Posts: 9,479

I've created a new Brooklynian term: Expensification!
List it alphabetically just above the term "Gentrifires."

(\__/)
(=’.'=)
(”)_(”)

# Posted 10 mos ago
The Psycho-ologist
big A little a Bouncing B the system may have got you but it won't get me.
Joined: Jan '08
Posts: 439

Queens. I second and third that. Sunnyside and Jackson Heights near the express 7 trains are great..

My extra 2 cents would be Sunset Park. Believe it or not if you live near the 36 street station it is 20-30 minutes to 8th street NYU. You may have better luck finding a two bedroom around here for 1500-1700. It will also be a ton safer too

a teaspoon of kisses and a drop of glee

# Posted 10 mos ago
TrebleClef 1
rookie newb
Joined: Jul '12
Posts: 16

The Psycho-ologist said:
Queens. I second and third that. Sunnyside and Jackson Heights near the express 7 trains are great..

My extra 2 cents would be Sunset Park. Believe it or not if you live near the 36 street station it is 20-30 minutes to 8th street NYU. You may have better luck finding a two bedroom around here for 1500-1700. It will also be a ton safer too

What is sunset park like? We heard pretty bad reviews but I've seen plenty of places there in our price range.

# Posted 10 mos ago
armchair_warrior
retsop cixelsyd
Joined: Dec '05
Posts: 7,946

in sunset park rule of thumb has always been the higher the ave the better the location vs the lower the ave towards the industrial zone.

If you don't mind Asians, towards 6 or 7 ave and above fairly safe.

people from sunset park is mostly made up of immigrants.

But still have a large older Puerto Ricans lower side of sunset park and you could still find Irish and Nordic in the Asian areas.

Fight white guilt and injustice by smoking tax free guilt free Reservation Smokes or go gamble in a Native Casino.
I like to stick it to The Man, The Man happens to be Liberal in NYC(power Structure).

# Posted 10 mos ago
armchair_warrior
retsop cixelsyd
Joined: Dec '05
Posts: 7,946

rankings

Borough:

Rank by:
Rank
Neighborhood

1Great Kills & TottenvilleOverall safety rank 1
2New Dorp & South BeachOverall safety rank 2
3Kensington & Borough ParkOverall safety rank 3
4Bensonhurst Overall safety rank 4
5Sheepshead BayOverall safety rank 5
6Forest Hills & Rego ParkOverall safety rank 6
7Bay RidgeOverall safety rank 7
8BaysideOverall safety rank 8
9Flushing & WhitestoneOverall safety rank 9
10The RockawaysOverall safety rank 10
11Fresh MeadowsOverall safety rank 11
12St. GeorgeOverall safety rank 12
13RiverdaleOverall safety rank 13
14Upper East SideOverall safety rank 14
15Corona & ElmhurstOverall safety rank 15
16Windsor Terrace & Sunset ParkOverall safety rank 16
17Queens VillageOverall safety rank 17
18Upper West SideOverall safety rank 18
19Astoria Overall safety rank 19
20Jackson Heights & East ElmhurstOverall safety rank 20
21Middle VillageOverall safety rank 21
22Woodhaven, Richmond Hill & Kew GardensOverall safety rank 22
23InwoodOverall safety rank 23
24Washington HeightsOverall safety rank 24
25Sunnyside & WoodsideOverall safety rank 25
26Ozone Park & Howard BeachOverall safety rank 26
27Morris HeightsOverall safety rank 27
28Throgs NeckOverall safety rank 28
29CanarsieOverall safety rank 29
30Midwood, Ditmas Park & Prospect Park SouthOverall safety rank 30
31FlatlandsOverall safety rank 31
32Midtown East, Turtle Bay & Kips BayOverall safety rank 32
33West Harlem, Hamilton Heights & Sugar HillOverall safety rank 33
34Coney Island & Brighton BeachOverall safety rank 34
35EastchesterOverall safety rank 35
36SoundviewOverall safety rank 36
37Red Hook, Carroll Gardens & Cobble HillOverall safety rank 37
38Morningside HeightsOverall safety rank 38
39High BridgeOverall safety rank 39
40East FlatbushOverall safety rank 40
41Park SlopeOverall safety rank 41
42Prospect Heights & Crown HeightsOverall safety rank 42
43Pelham ParkwayOverall safety rank 43
44East HarlemOverall safety rank 44
45Melrose & MorrisaniaOverall safety rank 45
46Prospect Lefferts Gardens & Crown HeightsOverall safety rank 46
47WilliamsburgOverall safety rank 47
48Lower East Side & ChinatownOverall safety rank 48
49NorwoodOverall safety rank 49
50GreenpointOverall safety rank 50
51Jamaica & HollisOverall safety rank 51
52BushwickOverall safety rank 52
53East New YorkOverall safety rank 53
54Central HarlemOverall safety rank 54
55St. Albans & South JamaicaOverall safety rank 55
56Belmont & BathgateOverall safety rank 56
57Murray Hill & GramercyOverall safety rank 57
58East Village & Alphabet CityOverall safety rank 58
59Mott HavenOverall safety rank 59
60Brooklyn Heights, Boerum Hill & DumboOverall safety rank 60
61Chelsea & Hell's KitchenOverall safety rank 61
62Bedford-StuyvesantOverall safety rank 62
63DowntownOverall safety rank 63
64Fort Greene & Clinton HillOverall safety rank 64
65FlatironOverall safety rank 65
66BrownsvilleOverall safety rank 66
67Hunts PointOverall safety rank 67
68Greenwich Village & Meatpacking DistrictOverall safety rank 68
69MidtownOverall safety rank 69

http://www.dnainfo.com/crime-safety-report/ranking

http://www.dnainfo.com/crime-safety-report/brooklyn/sunset-park

http://www.dnainfo.com/crime-safety-report/brooklyn/crown-heights

Fight white guilt and injustice by smoking tax free guilt free Reservation Smokes or go gamble in a Native Casino.
I like to stick it to The Man, The Man happens to be Liberal in NYC(power Structure).

# Posted 10 mos ago
jeffrey
is not in right now
Joined: Feb '07
Posts: 4,131

That list is a wonderfully warped and wacky wandering down a wide-brush wormhole.

i extend my battery life by turning down the brightness

# Posted 10 mos ago
xlizellx
rocking it
Joined: Jul '08
Posts: 1,579

jeffrey said:
That list is a wonderfully warped and wacky wandering down a wide-brush wormhole.

Well worded.

# Posted 10 mos ago
Lorien
what am I, new?
Joined: Jul '12
Posts: 2

Respectfully, I feel like your idea of "manhattan" prices is really idealistic.

dean street at new york avenue is east of nostrand and north of eastern parkway and it's absolutely gorgeous/ rapidly becoming more expensive. if you want someplace as "safe" as the NYU dorms you'll have to move way farther out (like bay ridge maybe?) or raise your budget by at least 200 a person.

# Posted 10 mos ago
Lorien
what am I, new?
Joined: Jul '12
Posts: 2

also, hello! i am moving to the aforementioned intersection after 5 years in bushwick. very excited to be moving south.

# Posted 10 mos ago
TrebleClef 1
rookie newb
Joined: Jul '12
Posts: 16

Lorien said:
Respectfully, I feel like your idea of "manhattan" prices is really idealistic.

dean street at new york avenue is east of nostrand and north of eastern parkway and it's absolutely gorgeous/ rapidly becoming more expensive. if you want someplace as "safe" as the NYU dorms you'll have to move way farther out (like bay ridge maybe?) or raise your budget by at least 200 a person.

Manhattan prices are all over the place. Sure, you can shell out $3000 for a studio easily. But I lived in an east village apartment last year and paid under $1000/month (this was right off first ave too). I can easily get a 2 bedroom in downtown areas (since I know which management companies to work through) for around $1100 a month (per person, $2200 total) without paying a broker. Sure, it won't be spacious and I may not have that much natural light, but that's possible and those are Manhattan prices to me. Sadly, I don't have that kind of money this year so prices like that are just off the table.

The one thing I will say about searching for a place in Brooklyn is that everyone is much more disorganized, probably due to the fact that a lot of places are owned by individual landlords and smaller management companies. Management companies in Manhattan know if a tenent is renewing a lease or not at least a month in advance and begin showing places about 3 weeks in advance. And if you contact them with a price range, location and size before that and they’re nice, they’ll show you the place way in advance. At least, that’s been my experience.

# Posted 10 mos ago
TrebleClef 1
rookie newb
Joined: Jul '12
Posts: 16

Also, just wanna says thanks everyone for the helpful advice! The lists and insider insight are great!

# Posted 10 mos ago
Aloha NY
what am I, new?
Joined: Jul '12
Posts: 4

Hi there! Not sure if you've tried this already, but if not, give the management company you rented from last year a call. They may have rental properties in Brooklyn. In fact, you can try this with any building. Just Google the address to find the contact info for the building owner. Some may pass you along to fee-based broker, but some may not. It's worth a shot. Good luck!

# Posted 10 mos ago
Cool The Kid
We out this mother effer
Joined: Jan '07
Posts: 1,385

I think going the roommate route will be your only way to do this. I.e. not an apartment.

http://newyork.craigslist.org/search/sub/brk?maxAsk=750&minAsk=300&srchType=A

[
Mamacita said:
I <3 CTK

# Posted 10 mos ago
Architecture Biscuit
getting it
Joined: Apr '09
Posts: 157

TrebleClef 1 said:
Manhattan prices are all over the place...I can easily get a 2 bedroom in downtown areas (since I know which management companies to work through) for around $1100 a month without paying a broker. Sure, it won't be spacious and I may not have that much natural light, but that's possible and those are Manhattan prices to me. Sadly, I don't have that kind of money this year so prices like that are just off the table.

I'm confused. You can't afford to pay $1100 for a two-bedroom in Manhattan, but you can afford to pay $1500 for a two-bedroom in Brooklyn?

# Posted 10 mos ago
TrebleClef 1
rookie newb
Joined: Jul '12
Posts: 16

Architecture Biscuit said:
I'm confused. You can't afford to pay $1100 for a two-bedroom in Manhattan, but you can afford to pay $1500 for a two-bedroom in Brooklyn?

Sorry, I meant $1100 per person. So we could find a 2 bedroom for $2200 total, $1100 per person. In Brooklyn, we are looking for a two bedroom for $1500 total, $750 per person.

# Posted 10 mos ago
tateinbk
above average
Joined: Jun '11
Posts: 498

Where are you from? If you really had a place in the east village for under $1000 and you chose to leave it, you're a fool. I don't care if you would have had to get a night job, or leave NYU, you don't give that kind of place up.

Also, the process isn't more disorganized in Brooklyn than Manhattan, you've just had some luck in that area. It's like this everywhere in the city. Besides, a lot of places are not run by management companies. Sometimes you deal directly with the landlord. Your assumption that in Manhattan landlords will show places earlier than in Brooklyn is also a bit bizarre.

Read the locations Psycho-ologist listed. I agree wholeheartedly that Queens is somewhere you should be looking.

# Posted 10 mos ago
TrebleClef 1
rookie newb
Joined: Jul '12
Posts: 16

tateinbk said:
Where are you from? If you really had a place in the east village for under $1000 and you chose to leave it, you're a fool. I don't care if you would have had to get a night job, or leave NYU, you don't give that kind of place up.

Also, the process isn't more disorganized in Brooklyn than Manhattan, you've just had some luck in that area. It's like this everywhere in the city. Besides, a lot of places are not run by management companies. Sometimes you deal directly with the landlord. Your assumption that in Manhattan landlords will show places earlier than in Brooklyn is also a bit bizarre.

Read the locations Psycho-ologist listed. I agree wholeheartedly that Queens is somewhere you should be looking.

I don’t see how where I’m from has to do with any of this. I’m from NJ, grew up very close to the city. We had a Jakobson 4 bedroom duplex apartment that was a bit under $4000. But let me assure you, that place was pretty crappy. No natural light, a kitchenette rather than a kitchen (and we had a mini fridge rather than a full size fridge), a dinky spiral staircase (which was not fun for anyone who had two beers or more), and tiny rooms (one of which had a door to the outside). There were a lot of reasons to leave. Money was the main reason, but having incredibly annoying neighbors and a change in the roommate situation were also factors. Plus, they wanted to raise rent.

We’ve expanded the areas we’re looking in and saw a few really nice places (in albeit sketchy but not wholly unsafe neighborhoods). Walking up and down eastern parkway and calling every number on a building was also helpful.

# Posted 10 mos ago