| AlwaysAMom brings up excellent points. One thing my D lucked out on this year is that she did not have to sign a year's lease and so we are just paying for the school year but that is very unusual. And as I said, I didn't have to buy any furniture at all and when she gets an apartment for next year, she won't have furniture. Also add in any extra charges when figuring out the total expenses. My D has free housing for this summer and so will be in NYC and can look for an apartment for next year. Signing a year's lease won't be a big deal this time because she will be graduating and staying in NYC. But otherwise, had she not been a senior, she'd have to get a year's lease, although many are able to sublet their apartments to friends for the summer. In our case, I am unable and unwilling to pay for summer housing when my kids are in college. But you should look at those issues. As far as transportation, my D needed a subway pass this year already with her apartment and so that won't be new but she didn't when she lived in a dorm. My D said she was interested in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn and also that is closer to the city and certain train lines. It all remains to be seen. I have no trouble with my kid living in an apartment that is not school housing. It is not that different than dorms at NYU as there is no campus anyway. You have to take the subway for certain upper class dorms at NYU anyway. She is also getting more for the money. She also is no longer a freshman new at college or new to the city.
Just to mention, not all apartments have broker's fees.
My D's reasons for wanting Brooklyn are not solely on cost because she already knows we will pay what we pay now and she could find an apartment I bet in East Village for this amount. She seems to prefer Brooklyn for several different reasons. Even if it is not cheaper, she says you can get more for the money....like bigger place. She says it is hip and lots of young people live there and she likes the idea of getting away a little. It likely is not what I would have picked. However, we support our kids' decisions and feel they often do pick what is right for them and I often am able to see eventually how they were right about it. While it is true that I am paying (now), I do feel that they are young adults and need to have decision making power in their lives about a lot of things. |