24 year old daughter is considering a job in NYC, and is eager to return to the city. Previously, she was a student, so housing was much simpler. Now that she will not have student housing, what are some reliable sites to find a room to let, or a roommate? She will be in the Washington Heights area, and her budget is pretty slim. She is a frugal girl, who knows how to stretch a buck, but even so, the salary of 45k is pretty meager given the rents we’ve been seeing in the area. I’m not sure she will be able to accept this job if she can’t find a safe, inexpensive room. Help!
Most of the kids I know find friends from college looking for roommates. Or friends of friends. Or high school friends. And then they take a 3 BR that actually has a living room and that becomes a 4th bedroom. My sons did pretty well with (My College) in NYC Facebook groups – and network network network.
If she went to school in NYC are there any housing resources for alumni or connections that way? The school may have a listing, especially for grad students if it has a graduate program.
I would second using whatever networks she has, including Facebook, alumni networks, school boards etc. Friends of friends are often a good resource for this sort of thing. My S was making about that in his first job and found a room in Brooklyn for under $800/month. I know that sounds ridiculous to anyone outside the city, but it was for his own, full size room in a large apartment with 4 other guys. Does she have to live where she works? Hamilton Heights should be reasonably good value, but your definition of safety may not be met on each and every street or in every building. At that salary she is likely to be spending a higher percentage of her income on rent than is comfortable, but that’s what it is in NYC.
My D found places to live on Craigslist and through the Gypsy housing Facebook group in NYC. D lived in Hamilton Heights for 2 years by 135th and Broadway near City College. The neighborhood was filled with many actors like D and working class families and was safe. She was a 5 minute walk to the 1 train and her building was a 5th floor walk up.
Try Astoria, Queens. It’s an easy commute to Manhattan and is still relatively affordable. The trick will be finding a roommate- but if she finds one she can get a 2 bedroom for under $1000 a month each. If she stays in Manhattan be prepared to spend $1500 a month for a 2 bedroom, which will be converted to a 3 bedroom by putting a wall up in the living room.
The first step is finding a roommate. Try the suggestions provided.
Friend’s D lived at the Webster apartments (more like a dorm) in the Garment district. She got some meals included, and it was all women. .
Is that the building near Penn Station? I forgot about that one. My friend’s daughter lived there ( if it’s the same place). She paid month-to-month, had a sliding scale, and had dinner provided. It’s worth looking into.
Has your D looked for places in Washington Heights? She may be able to find a place there with a roommate or 2 that is affordable. My D always had at least 1 or 2 roommates when she lived in Manhattan.
Look into the Listings Project. It was originally started to assist artists in finding reasonable housing in NYC but now has expanded and anyone can access the listings. There is no charge to those seeking housing and she screens every listing. There is a good combo of rooms and sublets broken down by area. She also lists studio space for artists so make sure you are navigating the right section of the site. You have to create an account and then you are free to browse the open listings.
https://www.listingsproject.com
Also if she needs something for a month or two while she looks have her consider another women’s residence The Markle. It’s on a very nice street in the west village and the monthly fee includes breakfast and dinner. A lot of college aged women have used this residence for their externships in the city over winter break. It’s more of a dorm like set up and probably not for long term as males are not permitted anywhere but the lobby.
I live in that area, there are plenty of affordable options. Try Gypsy Housing on Facebook, or also the group “Classifieds - Apartment/Roommate Info” (has about 25,700 members).
You guys! Thank you, thank you. This group never disappoints.
My DD did her masters at Wagner, on SI, so she doesn’t have many contacts in the city itself. Most of her classmates were from out of the area, or have a roommate already, so your suggestions are so appreciated. I will suggest she reach out to the college itself, an idea I hadn’t thought about. Love the hive mind.
The women’s residences are interesting. Living in suburbia out here on the west coast, I had no idea places like this existed. It’s like something out of an old timey novel. Lol…suburbia has been very insular and I am only now, at 50, realizing how much I don’t know about the world.
Thanks again, folks!
@showmom858 Washington Heights is her primary target neighborhood. I know nothing about the area, but I am hoping it is a safe place for a young woman who may need to walk home from her job once or twice a week, at 10-11 pm…
@runnersmom Will check Hamilton Heights. She is pretty savvy, and in her 2 years at school in NY, she learned to navigate the city pretty well. She wants to return so badly, that she is willing to live on a shoestring budget to do so. While we’d like her not to spend upwards of 1/2 her income on rent, she’s young and determined to make it fly, so…
@shellz - my D also had plenty of actor friends that lived in Washington Heights in safe areas. They walked home from the subway at all hours of the night. Is your D aware that if she will probably have to pay a fee to a broker for an apartment? It’s been several years since my D lived in NYC, but she rented her last place with a roommate through Bohemia Realty which specializes in upper Manhattan. My D and her roommate only paid one months rent for their broker’s fee versus the standard of 15% of one year’s rent.
I live in Washington Heights. At least in the neighborhood where I live (realtors like to call it Hudson Heights), I consider it a safe area. Compared to other parts of Manhattan, it’s typically a lot less expensive to live here. Lots of actors, musicians and artists.
@showmom858 Holy cow. More education for this suburban gal. Nope, had no idea! All the more reason to find someone who is already IN a place! Thx for the tip.
@college_query Another one to add to the list…Hudson Heights! Thx for making me feel less worried about her being out after dark.
Ok, next question…can someone rent an apartment without using a broker? In my area the idea of paying a broker to rent is very unusual. Maybe in SF, or LA, but honestly I don’t even think that is the norm.
@college_query we must be neighbors! I’m in Hudson Heights too.
Hudson Heights is a part of Washington Heights, it’s the area west of Broadway and north of 181st street. Very leafy and residential. I’ve never used a broker but unfortunately it’s really common in this city. The best website to find apartments is streeteasy.com and you can search by no-fee places, of which there are many. However, I strongly recommend moving into an existing apartment rather than starting a new lease, if possible. Much less work and no broker involved. That’s why the Facebook groups for finding roommates are so valuable.