Choosing a Neighborhood in Brooklyn

First I want to start with choosing a neighborhood in Brooklyn.  As time passes my goal is to focus on the neighborhoods in greater detail, that way you can make your choice with much more knowledge.  Many people move to New York not really knowing about each neighborhood, and some later on may wish they chose differently. 

There is a lot to take into consideration when moving and choosing a neighborhood, these are.

-Price
-Safety
-Amenities
-Transportation
-Work/Schools

Of course, there is a lot more than just this.  Many people will want a neighborhood that has aesthetic value or a certain style.  Do you want to live somewhere trendy, or somewhere quiet?  Do you want to be in a busy neighborhood close to commercial businesses or in a place removed from that?  Well, there's all that in New York, but it's hard to know where all that is if you don't live here or have not had a chance to visit often.

I found a few maps online that show the neighborhoods. 

The first one is a good representation of the neighborhoods that are in Brooklyn:

The "downtown" area of Brooklyn, in light orange, is at the top left hand corner of the map.  This is where the Brooklyn Bridge crosses into Manhattan and is one of the most expensive parts of the city.  However, it is a very desirable place to live as well.  Brooklyn Heights is home to the courts, Brooklyn Law School, many older houses, businesses, the MetroTech center, countless subway and bus routes, and great variety of restaurants and grocery stores.  It is a lively place to live in, and is similar to some neighborhoods. 

In yellow, just below, is a changing area of Brooklyn known as Red Hook.  It was once the manufacturing center of the city, where the docks are located.  However, now the neighborhood is going through many changes.  This area is also home to a new Ikea store, as well as trendy restaurants and businesses.  It is also a higher price area to live in, but not as expensive as Brooklyn Heights or the downtown areas along the promenade.

Another fine area of Brooklyn I would like to focus on is around Prospect Park, which is in green at the center of the map.  Above Prospect Park, in purple, is prospect heights.  This area is full of old brick rowhouses and is quite pretty.  Tree lined streets with small businesses and cafes are the norm here.  This area can also be expensive, however, but is cheaper than many parts of Manhattan or Brooklyn Heights.  It is also quieter and parking is a bit less challenging (however, I would still not recommend a vehicle here.

Along Prospect Park, to the right, in a yellowish-green color is Prospect-Lefferts gardens.  Reviews on this area is mixed, but it is WAY less expensive without a doubt than the other neighborhoods that have been focused on.  I have had a chance to visit this area and liked it.  It is a mix of residential and business and its best feature is the proximity to the park.    Prospect Park is a gorgeous park, and one that is enjoyed by those who live near it. 

As you go south, the neighborhoods become cheaper, but it's a mixed bag.  Someone posted the following map, which may or may not be an accurate representation of the area, yet it may be something to keep in mind.  However, I would not fully depend on it, as the areas are rapidly changing, and some great deals on gorgeous apartments can be had due to just reputation.  I would recommend visiting the area and giving it your own opinion before taking the advice of this map:

The accuracy of this map is probably most inherent in the pricing you will find in each neighborhood.  Also, I would disagree with the "OK" given to the neighborhoods (I don't know when this map was made) and say that they are quite desirable places.  Competition to rent in them is intense, and a walk through these areas will show you that there are some gorgeous locales here.

This map also does not take into account the neighborhoods further to the south, such as Coney Island and Brighton Beach, which are traditionally Russian neighborhoods and can be quite desirable due to their location on the boardwalk.  If you are from California and enjoy the ocean (as I am), you may want to visit here.  I sometimes find myself missing the Pacific Ocean, and this is about as close as it gets in some respects.

In time I will focus more on each neighborhood, posting pictures and detailed descriptions of each.  However, this is something to think about as you begin your search. 

Affordable Equity Project: a scam?

Is the Affordable Equity Project a scam? Perhaps you have seen the advertisements on Craigslist or other such property sites about "The Affordable Equity Project".

You can view the site here: http://www.equityproject.net/. So you may be wondering, is this too good to be true? Afterall, they have picture of gorgeous oversized apartments in some of the best neighborhoods around New York City. And, how can you be sure of getting one of these apartments with all the competition that exists in NYC?

Well, I did some research online and found out that this may indeed be a scam.

On Yahoo Answers, one person had this to say:

"Affordable Equity Project is an illegal unlicensed Apartment Information Vendor. Here's their BBB listing:

http://search.newyork.bbb.org/reports.aspx?id=98005&pid=44&page=0&FindStr=affordable+equity+project&SearchBy=company&Address=&City=&Phone1=&Phone2=&Phone3=&MembersOnly=False

There are 6 complaints listed so far, they have no office and no license. It smells like a scam to me. Here's more info from the BBB:

Competency Licensing

This business is in an industry that requires competency licensing, registration, or bonding. The Bureau encourages you to check with the New York State Department of State to be certain that the business meets these requirements. The New York State Department of State can be reached by calling 1-518-474-4429, or you can perform an online search of licensees and registrants at www.dos.state.ny.us.

Additional Locations

This firm also does business at the following locations.

Keizersgracht 505-4a

Amsterdam, N-H, 1017 DN

If you have a problem with an unlicensed company that isn't even in the USA, good luck getting your money back. You'll have no recourse. Beware."

Well, I thought I would do my own research and send them an e-mail. Here is a copy of my communications with the Affordable Equity Project:

First, as a student, I asked if they work with students. I got this e-mail back:

"To Whom It May Concern:

Yes, we do rent out to students and have rented to many students in the past and you are welcome to apply with us and we will do what we can to help you to locate affordable housing in NYC. Please let us know when you have mailed in your rental applications and fees so that we can be on the lookout for them.

Thanks

The Affordable Equity Project"

Then I wrote another e-mail, getting to the heart of the issue:

"I read this is a pyramid scheme-like scam. Is this true?

Sincerely,

Whom"

In which I got the following reply:

"To Whom It May Concern:

Thank you for your interest in our available apartment rentals. We assure you that we are a real company, we have been online and in business now for over 5 years with no issues. If you are interested in an available rental and would like to make an appointment to come in to view and rent it, then please download and complete a rental application for all of the properties that you are interested in and send them into us along with your processing fees so that you can be pre-qualified. All rental applications can be found at our website:

http://www.equityproject.net

Once you have been pre-qualified and your applications has been approved, we will then call you as soon as we possibly can, to give you an opportunity to view and rent the available property if you are interested in doing so. So there is still time to apply, so we urge you to submit your applications as soon as you can, so that we can help you secure affordable housing for yourself and your family. I hope this helps, if you have any other questions, then feel free to email us back.

Thanks

The Affordable Equity Project"

In the last few months none of the properties have changed, no new properties have been added, and none have been taken down. This shows to me that this is probably a scam and should be avoided at all costs. Do not send $40 to them. You will have a heck of a time trying to get it back.

One website had this to say:

• The Affordable Equity project communicates only by email. If you call the number on the website, someone at a call center will answer. He/she will take a message, which will be returned with an email usually from "Jon Henderson." (Come on...) He/she at the call center doesn't know (or pretends not to know) anything about AEP.The company that designed the web site refused to give me any information about the people they dealt with while building the AEP website. They also answered my calls with emails and used first names only.
• The people on the testimonials part of the web site do not exist. (That page hasn't been updated in a year and a half by the way.)
• Another reason for suspicion is that AEP doesn't have a physical location--just a PO box in Long Island City.
• I know that they bank(ed) with Washington Mutual, which couldn't give me a shred of info because AEP is their customer.
• Being "listed" with the Better Business Bureau, as AEP advertises, means nothing. The BBB awards accreditation to select businesses that have been reviewed, but will list anyone who provides information.

Conclusion: Avoid at ALL costs.

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If you are looking for a real apartment in New York and are looking for something inexpensive, you may be interested in the apartment finds that I list here for under $1200 a month.  If you want to subscribe to this blog and receive information about inexpensive finds as they come up (I check daily) or ways to find real apartments that are NOT scams, sign up to this blog on the right side.

Further, if you are a student, and you are looking for an apartment, consider reading this article.

Don't lose hope.  Just realize that if anything sounds "too good to be true," it probably is. 

Bonus: Do not travel with cheapoair, one of the most dishonest travel companies in the world.

Choosing a Bourogh

So, you have made the decision to move to NYC, and now you wonder what part of New York you want to live in. Well, to get started there are five boroughs in New York. Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, and Staten Island. And believe it or not, they are all very different places. Also, many people choose to live on other parts of Long Island, or right outside of the city in New Jersey or Connecticut (the tri-state area). This blog will focus on the city of New York itself, as that's where I have the most expertise.

Manhattan is where many people think of when they think New York. Manhattan is home to many famous landmarks, tourist attractions, museums, and universities. It is home to Columbia University, NYU, Rockefeller University, and many, many other schools. It is also the most expensive part of New York. If you are on a tight budget there are certain neighborhoods you will probably be looking at if you must live in Manhattan. These are the Upper West Side, Harlem, and the northern points of the island. The rule is, the further south you go, the more expensive the city.

Some areas, such as Harlem, have connotations of being undesirable. However, you should not discount them just because you have read or heard that they are not as nice as say, the Upper West side. Harlem and other areas have a lot going for them, such as cheaper and large apartments, proximity to great restaurants, subways, and bus lines, as well as the entertainment that makes Manhattan famous. Either way, make sure you visit the area before committing to a place. Oh, and check it at night.

Brooklyn is the most populous of the boroughs, with over two and a half million people. It is also an exciting area to be in, and one that is rapidly changing. Brooklyn is probably the second most expensive borough to live in, especially if you want to live downtown. Brooklyn is home to many of its own museums, cultural centers, as well as great parks and beaches. While Manhattan has Central Park, Brooklyn has Prospect Park, which is a gorgeous park, surrounded by very old and nice (and relatively inexpensive) housing. I recommend http://www.padmapper.com if you are looking for apartments, which I imagine many of you are.

Queens is the largest of the boroughs and is very diverse. In fact, I would say it's the most diverse borough, and maybe the most diverse place in the world. It is full of different and interesting neighborhoods, from the beautiful parklike Kew Gardens and Forest Hills, to the Asian inspired Flushing and Roosevelt areas. There are neighborhoods representing almost every ethnicity you can think of, which means excellent culture, museums as well as food and events. One thing I like about Queens is that you can walk a few blocks and feel like you are in another country. Also, Queens is much cheaper than Brooklyn or Manhattan, and has many metro lines leading into both. You can get a great deal on a very large and nice apartment in Queens with much less hastle than you will find in the other boroughs. If you are just moving to NYC and plan on staying a while, Queens is a solid bet.

The Bronx and Staten Island are also places you may consider. Staten Island is more suburban and parts of the Bronx is spread out. However, there are some amazing deals to be had in both boroughs, but you should spend some time exploring before you rent.

A Checklist.

1. Do you want to drive? If you are on a budget, I would recommend against it. For $105 you can get an unlimited monthly Metrocard that will allow you to go everywhere in the city. Buses and subways are plentiful and rather easy to learn. Parking can be expensive, tickets cost a lot, and driving is a hastle. I don't do it, and many people don't. If you plan on driving, you may want to consider parts of Queens or Brooklyn, or even the Bronx. Keep in mind there are also many toll bridges, and they add up.
2. Are you close to a subway? Apartments are generally a bit more expensive if they are close to subway lines, especially in Manhattan. However, it makes things much easier if you do not drive.
3. Are you comfortable in the part of the city at all times of day and night? Visit it during various times. Make a point to check out the nearby grocery stores, restaurants, and places you will be spending time at. Do you want to live near a library? Are you willing to pay a little more to be in a better area, or would you rather save some money?

There are many considerations when moving to New York City. In this blog I will continue to touch on subjects such as neighborhoods, moving as a student, relocating for employment, as well as renting out an extra room for income. Stay tuned!