Looking to move to the neighborhood

not.that.ariel · August 2011

Hi all,

I am a life-long Manhattan resident who is looking to make the big move across the bridge to Prospect Heights in the next couple of months. I've been looking for a studio or one-bedroom in the area without much luck for a couple of weeks. I have pets (cats) and am looking to pay up to $1100 per month.

I've called Prospect Heights Realty but they did not have any current listings. Has anyone dealt with them? Are they helpful/good realtors? Any recommendations for brokers and/or landlords? Any help in finding a place in the area would be appreciated. Even if you don't know of an apartment, any tips for a new resident (or almost resident) to the area would be most welcome.

Thank you all for your help!

trumystic · August 2011

I am sorry to say I dont think you will find a 1 BR for $1100 in PH. A studio maybe but rents are jacked lately in PH now that everyone and their mother have heard about the hood. I looked last summer and saw unattractive studios for $1200 to $1300 in PH proper.

I dont know where in Manhattan you are from and what standard of living you are accustomed to. But also consider Crown Heights (which realtors will try to convince you is PH anyway), Prospect Lefferts Gardens ( where you can get a nice big 1BR for $1100) or Bedstuy. If you still want to be Manhattan-centric there are still nice places to be found in Inwood, Washington Heights and Harlem. Though you are more likely to be looking at studios in that price range unless you get up to Inwood far far north. If you arent stuck on Brooklyn there are really nice apartments to be had in your price range in Elmhurst, Woodside and especially Jackson Heights Queens. Can you imagine there is whole world outside of Manhattan?

(sorry for the sarcasm but you left yourself open with the "big move"!)

If you have your heart set on PH I cant recommend any brokers because they were mostly all lame. I found my apartment on Craigslist after searching through mucho crap. Good luck!

MOD · August 2011

Just to add to the list, you might want to locate a broker that handles South Slope/Greenwood Heights/Windsor Terrace.

Good luck!

jgregorie · August 2011

I doubt you will find anything in prospect heights proper for $1100.

You might try going a bit further east into crown heights. Its not a bad neighborhood.

Best bet is to come to the neighborhood one day and check out all the little real estate shops. There are a few on flatbush ave btwn park place and bergen.

tateinbk · August 2011

Prospect Heights is lovely. It also sounds like I had a mythical apartment, a studio on Prospect pl. and Carlton for $1115. That said, it was a teensy, tiny studio. I had a small dog there for the end of my time there and even that seemed a bit tight, I can't imagine 2 cats.

Because I knew it was a good deal (it even came with a responsible landlord) I did what any NY-er worth their salt would do, and passed it on to a friend of a friend. He is happily living there and will probably do the same whenever he moves out.

I then moved to a much bigger space in Crown heights and the total rent is even a bit higher. But there is so much space... And so many windows.... And five deep closets....

So, sorry, the point of my story is these places do exist, it is just highly unlikely that you will find one. That said, I used the same realtor to find both my current and my last place. He can come off as shady at times*, but he really has come through for me in what I want in an apartment at any given time. He is also pretty honest about what you're going to be dealing with in terms of landlords and buildings, more than I would expect from most realtors. His name is Tariq and his e-mail address is: [email protected]

*I think anyone can come off as shady after you've just handed them all your identifying documents and a hefty deposit. For what it's worth, dropping off a deposit has always resulted in an apartment for me.

tateinbk · August 2011

It might help to know where in Manhattan you are coming from in terms of being able to recommend a good place to look if cost is more important than location. I was a life-long Manhattanite until about 8 or 9 years ago when I moved to PH. It used to be that you moved to Brooklyn to find cheap rent for more space. Now that's what Queens, or even the Bronx is, unless you are willing to move beyond PH, Park Slope, and (gag) BoCoCa. You will certainly be looking at more expensive places in Prospect Heights than you would be for Manhattan Valley/Morningside Heights/Harlem for example.

bohuma · August 2011

Quite honestly, I am not sure you'll find a one bedroom in PH for $1,100. However, there are a couple of realty offices on Washington Avenue near Eastern Parkway, and one just off Washington in Sterling Place that have plenty of rentals in the windows. You might want to hit them tomorrow morning and see what they have to offer. A lot of the rental buildings along Eastern Parkway have a management company phone number posted on the building, try calling a few of them too.

whynot_31 · August 2011

While I love PH and wish you luck in your search, I'd look at Sunset Park or Ditmas Park if I wanted a 1 BR for $1100.

....or Jackson Hgts, Queens.

not.that.ariel · August 2011

Thank you all for your help, encouragement and suggestions.

I'll keep looking.

ghostinthemachine · August 2011

I've had a good experience with Marjorie from Washington Realty. She's a bit flaky at first, but really came through with an amazing apartment.

ntfool · August 2011

Which I'm sure she charged your firstborn in fees for.

Sorry, not a terribly constructive comment. I'm just not the biggest fan.

Looking to move to the neighborhood

Comments

Howdy, Stranger!

Categories