Choosing from NYC neighborhoods a place to call home

Settling into some of the NYC neighborhoods represents a lifelong dream of many aspiring New Yorkers. Being a part of the famous city culture and vibrant lifestyle can be a rewarding experience for many of them. Having decided to explore the thrilling NYC lifestyle closely, choosing a place to call home would be the first thing to do.

As soon as you research the local real estate market, you will realize that you will need to adjust your expectations and compromise your dreams about the perfect Manhattan apartment. We’ve learned a lot of amazing things about NYC through TV series and movies, but no one has ever mentioned notoriously high housing costs.

An NYC Lifestyle

A fabulous NYC lifestyle does come at a price. It may seem that there are endless possibilities when researching NYC housing options. But, the skyrocketing real estate costs may come as a shock to newcomers, especially if they are moving on a tight budget. Finding an apartment in a stimulating neighborhood with lower prices would be ideal, but sometimes things don’t turn out that way. As we all know, it takes meticulous planning and a lot of legwork to research the NYC real estate market and find a suitable place.

Relocating to NYC can be as exciting as much as overwhelming. As it turns out, the decision to move to NYC doesn’t mean that you are only choosing the place you will call home. If you want to have an amazing NYC experience from a fresh perspective, choosing the right neighborhood is a good starting point. Manhattan and Brooklyn are famous for being the most popular boroughs among newcomers, who happen to overlook the hidden charms of other New York City boroughs.

Which NYC neighborhood will suit your needs?

NYC is one of the most lively and dynamic cities in the world that attracts thousands of future New Yorkers. They usually decide to move to NYC to experience a whole new vibe and lifestyle and to pursue their personal and career dreams, given the number of opportunities offered. While the City has a reputation of being a difficult place to live in, its hectic pace seems enticing to many people. But, how to decide on the most suitable neighborhood to move to? By taking a few key factors into account you will be able to narrow down your list.

• Real estate costs
• Safety
• Lifestyle
• Quality
• Location
• School options
• Entertainment options

Affordability of NYC neighborhoods

Notoriously high rental costs seem to be a discouraging factor for many future New Yorkers. They quickly learn how difficult it is to get a decent apartment at a convenient price. Those fly off the market in the blink of an eye. One of the very first steps to do when starting a dreaded apartment hunting process is to determine how much you can spend on your apartment per month.

As it turns out, most landlords expect your gross annual income to be 40 times your monthly rent. Also, when doing the math, don’t forget to include monthly utility bills as well as security deposits and moving costs involved.

Criteria

So, if you are looking for a more affordable apartment, make sure to expand your criteria. Research Queens and Brooklyn neighborhoods that are a bit farther away from the most popular NYC neighborhoods. Settling into up-and-coming affordable and family-friendly neighborhoods like Forest Hills, Sunnyside, Astoria or Whitestone is just one of the available options. For those who want to experience a genuine strong sense of community combined with low prices and social diversity- Flatbush, Bay Ridge, or Crown Heights… could be the right choice. Also, if you are interested in some affordable neighborhoods that attract young and artistic souls then Bushwick and Clinton Hill are the right neighborhoods for you.

NYC neighborhoods that meet everyone’s needs

Whether you are looking for a peaceful, family-friendly community or a lively and busy environment, NYC has it all. The historic feel of Brooklyn Heights along with its proximity to Manhattan has made it a popular place for families.

On the other hand, trendy areas like SoHo, and Murray Hill have a well-deserved status of elite neighborhoods. They attract young people due to their thriving nightlife and numerous entertainment options. Furthermore, Dumbo’s advanced tech community and convenient location between the Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan Bridge are some of the factors many New Yorkers find worth paying pricey rents.

Quality of the amenities offered vs location

Finding the apartment that matches not only your budget but also your everyday needs is anything but simple. Unlike in any other smaller area, chances are that you will pay a lot for small square footage. Exorbitant housing costs are constantly discouraging potential homeowners, which is why NYC is typically considered a renter’s city. The first thing you should establish is your budget so that your real estate agent can concentrate on searching for apartments that you can actually afford. Living beyond your means has proven to be a double-edged sword, given all additional costs (taxes, childcare, healthcare costs, insurance, transportation costs,…).

Small space

Do not be surprised if the place that’s within your budget is a small studio barely spacious enough to fit one person. If you want to cut down your monthly expenses, you might want to consider sharing the apartment with a roommate which is an option that many students turn to.

In comparison to small, but overpriced apartments in the popular NYC neighborhoods, try researching others that have best median prices per square foot as well as suitable overall costs of living.

Safety in NYC neighborhoods

Safety is one of the essential factors you shouldn’t compromise on. Many people find affordability the most important factor. As a result, they fail to inspect the crime rate of the area they intend to move to. When choosing an NYC neighborhood you will call home, just ask yourself one simple question: Will I feel comfortable walking alone at night after I move there?

In order to get a better sense of the neighborhood, you may pay it a visit beforehand if possible. Also, check local police records and crime statistics before you make the final decision to move to a particular place.

Tips for moving to NYC

Finding the right neighborhood and the right apartment in NYC is far from impossible. We are certain that you will find what you are looking for, as this city has all that you need. Once you find the perfect neighborhood to call home in New York, the time has come to make some other decisions.

Save money before your relocation

NYC is one of the most expensive cities to live in. Apart from paying rent, deposit, and utilities, you will need money for groceries, public transport, or a car, and the entire relocation process. Our advice is to get to know with some money-saving tips for moving and start saving money as soon as you make a decision about the relocation to NYC.

Make a to-do list

If you are moving internationally, it may take you up to 16 weeks to plan your relocation just right. If you are not crossing the borders, then you will need around 12 weeks to navigate your relocation completely. So, it will take you a few weeks to completely relocate your life to NYC. A great thing to have with you along the way is a to-do list. At the beginning of your relocation process create a comprehensive week-by-week moving to-do list. Write down every single thing you need to do. Then tick the items off the list one by one as you finish them. This will help you with the stress levels as well.

Hire a reliable moving company

Finding a place to park in NYC is not the easiest thing to do, as you will soon see for yourself, let alone parking a moving truck. There are NYC parking rules to know on moving day, and professional movers know them all. Furthermore, they are fast and efficient when it comes to all aspects of the relocation process.

When you have a reliable NYC moving company on your side, you can relax and spend more time with your friends and family before relocation takes place. Good luck!