<p>We are in the market to buy in NYC. I am ruling out lower Manhattan after Sandy. D1 lost power for a week during Sandy, but at least she had our place to come to. Jersey City and Hoboken were hit pretty hard during the storm. I think we will continue to have those mega storms in the future and it is good to find a place with least amount of disruption. OP’s son has 3K/mon to spend. I think he will be able to find a nice place to stay, as long as he is not expecting 600+ square foot place.</p>
<p>D lives in Park Slope (Brooklyn). Tons of young singles, along with young families, and close to many train lines (B, Q, 2 & 3). She has no problems commuting in to Manhattan for work or at any other time, and her rent is very reasonable (she has 2 roommates) for a really large bedroom. </p>
<p>Park Slope is what the Upper West Side used to look like when I was growing up there (only much cleaner): lots of small independent shops, beautiful brownstones, and a real neighborhood feel.</p>
<p>“Condo rentals don’t require board approval.”</p>
<p>No, you are right; they don’t…I was referring to the exhorbitant fees associated with renting one…those are board dictated</p>
<p>I agree with fafnir in Hoboken. My D lived in the new building where Clam Broth House used to be for 2 years. She hated the Path for its infrequency after hours and on the weekends. She was not able to find parking on the streets and parked her car in the parking garage at her work and used the Path.When I stayed with her, she brought the car home and I found street parking only on street cleaning days.
She is now living in Manhattan and car free.</p>
<p>For the OP, I think your son will enjoy Manhattan more if he can afford it. My son also works in finance in NYC and he lives in Manhattan, only 2 subways stops from his office because he doesn’t want to waste time commuting since his hours are already long. Your son will probably find that his work and social life will mainly be in Manhattan.</p>
<p>Here’s a site for no fee apt rentals. All of the areas listed in downtown, midtown and upper Manhattan are safe.
[Search</a> No-Fee New York Rental Apartments - NY Bits](<a href=“http://www.nybits.com/search/]Search”>http://www.nybits.com/search/)</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I’d think this really depends on the individual condo board as some may prohibit unit owners from renting out period or would act similarly to many NYC area co-ops where renting one’s unit would require approval of the co-op board depending on the co-op concerned. </p>
<p>My co-op and many others in my area do require approval from their respective boards before allowing unit owners to rent out unless the owner is living in with the renter. In my building, the terms are so restrictive that the only way renting would be worthwhile is if the unit’s owner lives in with the tenant in the same unit.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I mean uptown Manhattan.</p>
<p>My daughter pays $1875 for a two bedroom in Jersey City, 90 seconds from the PATH. My son pays $2000 for a beautiful large one bedroom in Jersey City, 10 minutes from the path, but directly across from a beautiful park in a gorgeous 1800’s house. They both commute to Manhattan and wouldn’t trade Jersey City living. They love it.</p>
<p>Many posters have given you solid advice. There was an article in the NYTIMES just this week about lower Manhattan financial district being especially transient area with young people primarily in finance, coming and going. Easy to find roommates.</p>
<p>Lower Manhattan is well served by subway and really easy to get to. My d’s who don’t work in finance or Wall street both live in Brooklyn. Older d lives in Prospect Heights near the Brooklyn Museum and she has access to several major subway lines as well as easy transfer. She and bf pay $1800 for one-bedroom in older building, area gentrifying. Younger d lives with friend in walk-up apartment in Greenpoint/Williamsburg border. They also pay $1800, two subway lines in easy walking …but they were both the last subway lines to be restored after the Hurricane.</p>
<p>I lived in Brooklyn Heights when I was newly married…and it remains my one of my favorite places in NY. Not as many young people there now because it is pricey and because historic area, no new construction… as there is in Williamsburg, downtown Brooklyn and in Manhattan. Your son can look at Gramercy Park area and Murray Hill along with the Village, both East and West…Tribeca may be too pricey. Streeteasy will give you lots of information about neighborhoods…</p>
<p>Just saw this thread, and echoing the poster who recommended Jersey City for a young person commuting into lower Manhattan. Right along the waterfront in the Paulus Hook area is a good area. Goldman Sachs tower and Hyatt Hotel among other notable buildings. (Further inland, specifically on the far side of I-78, JC gets more run down). </p>
<p>My S moved into an apt in JC last summer. He is directly across the street from the Grove Street PATH station. $73 for a 30 day unlimited pass on the PATH. 2 stops and 8 minutes later, he’s at the World Trade Center stop, and from there walks about 10 - 15 minutes to his office around the corner from Wall Street in lower Manhattan. Total commute to lower Manhattan: under 30 minutes. He can also take the ferry from Paulus Hook/Jersey City to World Trade Center or to Wall Street. The ferry is more expensive, but came in handy when the PATH tunnels flooded in hurricane Sandy and it’s a nice change of pace in good weather. At any rate, it’s an easier commute to lower Manhattan from JC than from uptown Manhattan.</p>
<p>S is paying $1500/month for a 550 sq ft studio in an older high rise a few blocks from the water. He has a nice view of the Manhattan skyline. His building is NOT the nicest in the area, there are much nicer (and more expensive) buildings in his immediate area. His building has a secure parking lot, $125/mo for a reserved parking space.</p>
<p>Lots of restaurants in the area, he can walk to many stores including the Newport Shopping complex. Light rail goes to Hoboken (which is the next town north of JC) which has tons of restaurants and shops. Hoboken is also a nice “hip” place to live, a little pricier than JC. JC has high rises with space between them, Hoboken is rows of connected 4 story buildings. (And as we all know, Hoboken flooded badly in Sandy).</p>
<p>Responding to fafnir605:</p>
<p>The PATH train to Jersey City (World Trade Center to Newark Line) runs every 10 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes overnight, 24 hours per day. (Other PATH lines only run 6 am - 11 pm). No reason to think one would have to get home before the train shuts down, because it doesn’t.</p>
<p>When the PATH was out after Sandy - a truly unusual occurrence - S had a 4 or 5 block walk to the ferry. I think it was $6 each way? Pricey, but not too bad when it’s temporary.</p>
<p>Also - re: keeping a car - S paid the $125/month to park his car, but after 6 months he sold the car because he used it so rarely. There are 2 zipcar locations within 2 blocks of him if he needs a car, or regular rental car places in JC or at Newark Airport for weekend trips.</p>
<p>Have been in Manhattan with wife since Thu, and DS will be arriving tomorrow. Thanks for all the tips. We checked out a half dozen places (almost all studios) in the fin district at around 2500-2900, and a 700ish sq ft 1 BR on west st. The thing we liked was some of the units were very modern, lots of great facilities in the building (near Wall St and Water) but after about 8 pm the place wound down a lot. So many of the eateries shut down too.</p>
<p>Went to Stuy town as some of you had suggested. The 1BR at 2850-3100 were about the largest we saw, the ride from the L connecting at union sq didn’t seem bad. We had some who said it was too isolated and “too many Depends people” who’ll object to late night entertainment if he wanted to get friends over in the weekend.</p>
<p>DS rejected Jersey altogether and any place outside of Manhattan, so we didn’t check.<br>
We didn’t like Chelsea or Soho - run down, small, and expensive, and old, but who knows, he may fancy the life down the streets. </p>
<p>We liked a 1 BR between 3rd and Lex in the 30 st area at around 2850 and a studio on park ave near the subway station for 2400. </p>
<p>He should be in tonight and take it from there. As always, I appreciate the variety of suggestions.</p>
<p>PS - we saw most places through brokers, and some (like Stuy town, and fin dist) had the fees picked up by the property owner, some like near broadway and 34th was 1 month from the tenant and some in Chelsea and Soho had fees of 15% of the annual rent.</p>
<p>D1 could get a nice place at upper east side, but she wouldn’t contemplate anything north of 20th St.</p>
<p>This is a good weekend to do apartment hunting in NYC. The weather is going to be nice. Good luck.</p>
<p>Your son probably should only consider doorman buildings in order to receive packages and dry cleaning. No ground floor because of security.</p>
<p>Thanks for the update.</p>
<p>True, Stuy Town has lots of elderly original, or from early years, tenants. But (as they pass on!) the new, younger tenants moving in are changing the makeup of the community. I lived there myself in my 20s but I had a quiet lifestyle. If your S would like to play loud music into early hours, even on weekends, I concur that it could become an issue. </p>
<p>Sounds like you have lined up some good options. Your S is fortunate to have you.</p>
<p>DS took a job 6 years ago as a Hedge Fund Accountant, one year out of college in NYC. After much discussion and apprehension about how does a small town kid walk into NYC on his own and make it, he packed up the U-Haul and moved to White Plains. He began with Craigslist rentals, eventually settling there and commuting via train in and out of Manhattan. It became a 4 year trial of living with other young people from all over the country/world. He’s a fairly reserved, introverted kid and he did fine. Moved two years ago from White Plains into Mahattan Upper East side, sold the car, and absolutely loves it!!! When we visit, he leads us around the streets of NY like it’s his back yard. I’ve see and done things there I’d never know about as a tourist and when he talks about moving back to the country someday, I secretly think: “Not yet! I’ve got a few more places I have to see!” </p>
<p>Bottom line, we sent him there with the understanding that if it didn’t work out, he could come home and try again. Having a tether to home helped him a lot he told us later.</p>
<p>Good luck to your DS…</p>
<p>My D lives on upper east and after much searching, found a perfect 1 bedroom in a doorman building with a gym and a pool. It’s under 3K and there are apartments there. On street easy it’s the Monarch building. You’re three blocks from the subway and no broker fee.</p>
<p>
Never occurred to us Oldfort. In fact one of the places a few blocks east of Union Square (an area that DS seems a fancy a lot) was a ground floor.
We are checking out the weekend scene and Union Sq was positively bustling with activity. The brokers were recommending seemingly better places a bit more north, but for some reason he seems very resistant to moving beyond 34th st.
Now off for a bit more scouting and picking him up…</p>
<p>Dad-of-3, if I recall correctly, after Hurricane Sandy 34th St was the dividing line in Manhattan between those who lost power (all below/south of 34th) and those who did not (most above/north of 34th st).</p>
<p>Union Square is hot. Almost every subway goes through there, very easy to get downtown. According to D1, she could get to work in 15 min. There is also a cross town subway to get to the west side. It is an easy (cheap) taxi ride to/from many bars/clubs. We just met D1 there today and walked down to the village for brunch. </p>
<p>D1 did lose power during Sandy, but she was able to move in with us. SoPo - south of power, NYC new neighborhood. It was south of 39th St that didn’t have power.</p>
<p>Most young professionals’ social lives revolve south of 34th. Noise is the only thing that bothers me. Choose a high floor.</p>
<p>If you can afford union square, it is a fantastic place for a young person. Personally, I adore the green market and restaurants in the area. As oldfort said, transportation options are top notch.</p>