What Decisions Do You Have To Make?

As you begin to look for housing, there are a number of things you should think about and decisions you need to make. The more advance planning you can do, the more effective and successful your search will be..

Your Budget

Before you can make a decision about where to live, you need to think very carefully about your budget and how much you can afford. Put together a monthly worksheet for yourself before you begin to look for housing so that you have a good idea of how much you can afford to spend. Click here for a suggested budget worksheet that will help you estimate your income and expenses. As a general rule, it is recommended that you try to spend no more than 1/4 to 1/3 of your total monthly income on rent, though this can be difficult to achieve and you may have to compensate in other areas.

It's a good idea to open a checking account at a local bank as soon as you can. It helps if you have a credit history-you may want to start building one right away. Otherwise you will need to carry cash or travelers' checks in U.S. dollars so that you are ready to make required payments for a security deposit, the first month's rent, etc.

Safety

Make safety a high priority when looking for a place to live. The best way to judge an area is to visit it yourself and see if you feel safe and comfortable there. Keep in mind that neighborhoods in New York City can change significantly from block to block, so rather than judging an area by its name (Chelsea, East Village, etc.), it's better to walk around and evaluate the surroundings yourself. Talk to shopkeepers on the block. If a shopkeeper tells you that he or she has been robbed in the last month, chances are that an apartment in this neighborhood may not be very safe either. A well-lit, busy street is usually safer than a dark, private street. Be sure that the front door of the building is locked and the entry hall well lighted. If you can't afford an apartment building with a doorman, look for other safety features nearby: a doorman next door, a 24-hour shop or restaurant nearby, or a police station.

Location

How far away from your school or work are you willing to live? Your rent could be substantially lower if you're willing to travel a little farther, particularly if your school or office is located in Manhattan. Take a look at subway or bus maps to see what transportation options are available in each area you are considering.

New York City is divided into five districts, called boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and the Bronx. Manhattan is the commercial and cultural center of the New York metropolitan area; rents here are correspondingly higher than in the outer boroughs or in nearby New Jersey. Convenience is a big factor in housing cost, so the areas that are closest to Manhattan are usually more expensive than those farther from the city center.

It can be very helpful to take a friend along for advice when you are looking for an apartment in an unfamiliar neighborhood. Joining a local walking tour led by a tour guide is another good way to find out about an unfamiliar area. Check out our MetroWalks schedules or have a look at The New York Times Weekend supplement or the Around Town section of Time Out magazine.

New York City and Beyond

Manhattan

The island of Manhattan is the smallest borough, but certainly the best known, since it is the heart of the cultural and commercial activity of New York City. Only 13.4 miles long and 2.3 miles across at the widest point, Manhattan is the most expensive and densely populated (1.5 million residents) of the five boroughs. It offers a wide range of neighborhoods and accommodation options that differ considerably in price, size, convenience, and safety. There are few bargains; most rents range from moderately to prohibitively expensive, forcing many people to seek housing in the outer boroughs. In general, the further uptown you go, the cheaper the rent prices. Neighborhoods such as Washington Heights, Harlem, and Inwood, which are the most distant from downtown Manhattan, tend to be much less expensive than those further downtown. Some pockets of lower Manhattan (specifically near the site of the World Trade Center) offer rental incentives such as reduced rent or no broker's fee in order to attract tenants and revitalize the neighborhood. All subway lines except the G line run through Manhattan, and most neighborhoods are easily accessed by public transportation.

Brooklyn

With nearly 2.5 million residents, Brooklyn has the largest population of the five boroughs. One third of its residents are foreign born, and it is home to a variety of ethnic groups, including African Americans, Italians, Jews, Russians, Middle Easterners and Caribbean Islanders. Because of the high cost of housing in Manhattan, a growing number of students, artists and young professionals are moving to Brooklyn, particularly to the neighborhoods of Williamsburg, DUMBO and Greenpoint. While Brooklyn offers a wide variety of housing options, there are some areas-such as Park Slope and Brooklyn Heights-where rent prices can be as expensive as Manhattan. Some neighborhoods to explore in Brooklyn are Clinton Hill, Forte Greene, Carroll Gardens, Cobble Hill, Prospect Heights, Crown Heights, Windsor Terrace and Sunset Park, among others. Linked by numerous subway lines, many neighborhoods in Brooklyn are only a short ride away from downtown Manhattan.

Queens

Queens is the largest borough, covering 108 square miles, and is also the most international, with 40% of its two million residents born outside the United States. Safe, comfortable, and convenient for shopping, Queens is composed of largely residential, ethnically diverse, family-oriented communities. In general, Queens is one of the most affordable boroughs in New York City, with average rents significantly lower than in Manhattan and even some parts of Brooklyn, although some neighborhoods, such as Astoria are becoming more expensive. Some popular neighborhoods in Queens are Astoria, Flushing, Jackson Heights, Rego Park, Elmhurst, Long Island City and Woodside. Served by several major subway lines, Queens is generally accessible to Manhattan as well as Brooklyn.

The Bronx

The Bronx has the distinction of being the only borough of New York that is not on an island. A largely residential area with 1.2 million inhabitants, the Bronx is home to diverse communities, including large numbers of Central and Eastern Europeans, African Americans, and Puerto Ricans. Because of its distance from central Manhattan, rent in the Bronx tends to be very affordable. The Northwest Bronx is a good area in which to look for housing, and the Fordham University area, Riverdale, Pelham Parkway and Italian Belmont areas are also popular with young people and students. The borough is linked to Manhattan by 12 bridges and 8 major subway lines, and has its own network of public and private bus lines. If you're attending school in one of the other boroughs, be prepared for a long subway commute. However, you might find that spending the extra time on the subway or bus is worth the reasonable rent that the Bronx can offer.

Staten Island

The city's "greenest" borough with the smallest population (fewer than 500,000), Staten Island seems a world away from the bustle and tumult usually associated with New York City. Winding streets, neat lawns, and a view of New York Harbor enhance the quiet, suburban atmosphere of Staten Island. Only the Manhattan skyline visible in the distance is a reminder that the island is New York City's fifth borough. While a rather long commute to Manhattan makes this borough a less desired place to live, the lower rent is a definite attraction. Lower Manhattan is 30 minutes away via the Staten Island Ferry (free) and several express buses, and the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge connects the island with Brooklyn. To get around on the island, there are both bus and limited subway systems.

Nearby New Jersey

Across the Hudson River a short distance from Manhattan lies another opportunity for affordable housing. Several cities in nearby New Jersey have attracted numerous students, young professionals, and artists. Hoboken and Jersey City, for example, are easily accessible to Manhattan via PATH trains. You might also consider Union City and West New York, both with large Latin American populations. If you are lucky, you might just find an apartment with spectacular river views of Manhattan! Before you decide to live on the other side of the Hudson, however, you may want to consider the double-and sometimes triple-transportation fares you will have to pay to commute to New York City, plus the high cost of long distance phone calls across the state line. Think also about whether or not you will feel too "cut off" from the mainstream of city life in New York.

Roommates

Sharing an apartment is a common solution to the problem of high rents in New York. You may not have considered this before, but many students and young professionals find people like themselves to share the high costs of living in the city. Entering into a roommate situation does require cooperation and sharing, so be sure to choose a roommate very carefully. Here are some things to think about before making such a commitment:

Space: With the high cost of living in New York, space can be a luxury, but before agreeing to share housing with one or more roommates, evaluate your possessions and your lifestyle, and think about your personal priorities. A studio might be fine for one person, but two people living in a single room might find the situation intolerable. In a shared situation, the kitchen and bathroom facilities should be available to everyone. Usually the living room is also shared space, where roommates receive guests and socialize, but in some cases this may need to be sacrificed to make room for a roommate to sleep. Think in advance about your personal need for privacy and whether you will have a quiet area for studying.

Expenses: Rent and utilities are normally divided by the number of roommates, although rent may be prorated depending on the size of the room. You could ask what your share is relative to the overall rate, in order to be sure the agreement is fair. You may be asked to pay an additional one month's rent as a security deposit (see p. 29 for more information). If there is a shared telephone, bills are divided equally for basic monthly service, but each roommate is expected to pay for their own calls. Remember that if one roommate moves out without paying their share of the rent, the landlord has a right to collect the rent from the tenants who remain in the apartment.

Make a Contract: Before moving in together, it's a good idea for you and your roommate(s) to draw up a written contract, establishing how your joint home will be run. At the expiration of the contract, you can renew your agreement if all roommates are still happy with the situation. However, if one roommate wants to move out before the contract expires, written notice should be given one month in advance. It is also common courtesy for the roommate who is leaving to help in the search for a replacement roommate to share the rent.

When writing up a roommate contract, think about covering these items:

• Rent & Utilities: What is everyone's share? If the landlord requires a single check, which roommate will be responsible for writing it? Who will pay the security deposit? How and when will the security deposit be returned? Remember that if you are the primary person on the lease, you will be held responsible.
• Space: Who will occupy which room? How will you divide up closet or drawer space? What are the rules for use of the common areas (i.e., kitchen, living room, bathroom)?
• Household chores: Who will take responsibility for cleaning which space, and on what schedule?
• Meals: Will you share food, shopping and cooking responsibilities? If so, how will you split the costs and the work?
• Noise: What hours can the TV be on? How late can music be played?
• Overnight guests: Is it permissible for boyfriends or girlfriends to stay over? How about other guests?
• Other considerations: What will be your policy on smoking? Keeping pets?
• Moving out: If one of you decides to move, how much notice must be given? Must the departing tenant find an acceptable substitute?

It is best to put your understandings in writing. Oral agreements are too easily forgotten or misinterpreted after the fact.

There are several ways to find people looking for roommates. Professional roommate agencies can introduce you to potential roommates, but they often charge a hefty fee, with o guarantee of success. Generally, for students the best advice is to check your campus housing office, look on local bulletin boards, or simply ask around on campus.