Moving to NYC to study art - need help with accommodation!

[carafromlondon]

Hello everyone,

I'm moving to New York this Fall to study at Parsons for an MFA in Fine Arts. I'm very excited about moving to NY but as I live in London, it has been a little daunting trying to find a place to live. I end up with 20+ tabs open on my browser and feeling overwhelmed by it all!

Can anyone offer any advice on how to find a room to rent? I have looked in to the student residences that Parsons offer but have decided against it as the rent is very expensive. Are the listings on Craigslist reliable?

[Usmivka]

You really need to make a weekend trip over specifically to get a feet on the ground feel for the areas where you see a lot of postings. I'd consider just making a three day trip out of it, staying in a hostel, and visiting every OK listing with the expectation that you will sign a lease for the fall now. You are much less likely to get stuck in a crummy situation this way, and will likely save money by not having to forfeit a security deposit when you get stuck somewhere afwul witha slumlord. Most of the good places are being signed now, only the dregs will be left for the student rush in the fall.

Also, New York has specifically designated affordable artist's housing. I don't know the requirements, but they will likely be along the lines of having a recent body of work, letters of reccomendation from well regarded artists in the New York area, etc. They make these very difficult to get, and it is unlikely you can get one right off the bat, but I thought I'd let you know in case you find a way to make it work. This can let you live in much nicer accomodations than you'd be able to otherwise (I'm stereotyping you as the poor starving artists type here...). Craigslist is a craps shot--most folks find housing that way, but it is also where the sleazbags and scammers conregate.

One last thought--those student apartments are probably expensive relative to going rate, but they are less likely to have the standard 3-4% rent increase every year, you likely won't have to sign a full year lease and it will be easy to move out when you do find the perfect place, they will be close to where you work, may include utilities, and they will be professionally maintained and managed. Having all that in one package is probably worth a lot more than the "extra" price built into the rent. These accomodations are also often designed with international and out of area students in mind, going out of their way to make life easy for you and providing lost of community building events, which can make all the difference when you are far from home. It may be worth staying there for 6 months or a year while you get your bearings, and then you'll be ready to jump on any really good apartment offerings.

[nbnjoshi]

I think most people use the public transportation system which is really up to the mark. Students don't always live in Manhattan and pricey areas and live in the surrounding areas like Bronx and Queens etc.Craiglist is quite reliable I believe.

[graciela]

Hi Cara!

I live in Brooklyn. I´ll be starting my Ph.d this fall at NYU. I did my undergraduate degree at Eugene Lang (like Parson it´s a division of the New School - which I have so much admiration for!) New School housing is very expensive. Unless they had a lot to spend most students I knew ended up living in Brooklyn. Brooklyn is very close to downtown Manhattan (where you´ll be). Depending on where you live in Brooklyn your commute could be as short as 10 or 15 minutes though the average would be about 45 minutes. It´s very hip right now to live in Brooklyn so prices here have been steadily rising, but it´s still much cheaper than living in Manhattan and you will more than likely have more room.

Craigslist is very reliable and practically the only way to find an apartment and especially a share type situtation. Unfortunately, it´s near impossible to find a place from overseas or out of town. Usually if you´re interested in an apartment in craigslist the next step involves going to the apartment and meeting your potential roommates. Things go relatively quickly and sometimes there is lots of competition for desirable rooms/ apartments.

Depending on what neighborhood you live in or what size your room is, rooms in Brooklyn go for about $615 - $1000+ a month.

Your best bet might be getting a sublet for a week or two while you look for a permanent place.

Let me know if you have any more questions.

Best of luck!

Edited May 28, 2012 by graciela

[carafromlondon]

Thank you all for your posts, it has been very informative!

I'm signed up to so many forums now it is hard to keep track. Will definitely keep an eye out for all those listings...

[OregonGal]

Another option to look into is planning on heading over early, and staying in a hostel for a few weeks while you try to find a place. Set up visits at potential rooming situations found via craigslist or wherever, but stay in the hostel so you don't end up in a sight-unseen situation. It'll be a bit pricey, but better than ending up in a really bad situation.

[globalnomad]

Heading over early is a great suggestion. But, if you're an international student, check the visa date from which you can enter the country. If funds allow, I would take the suggestion mentioned above and come over for a visit. If you're British, you should be able to travel under the visa waiver program. Check it out. Good luck.

[butterfingers2010]

I agree with OregonGal's idea that you should come here early and stay in a hostel for awhile. If it all possible, you should always look at apartments in person to know what you're getting into. It will also give you a chance to feel out the neighborhood and make sure it's a place you feel safe living. You should also know that apartments in NYC are VERY expensive. If you don't have the money to get your own place, you may have to get a roommate. I have a friend who is a PhD student in NYC and she had no choice but to get a roommate, as she could never afford the rent by herself. Then again, I'm not personally familiar with NYC and there may be cheaper options that I'm not aware of. I would talk to as many different people as you can who are familiar with the city and who can give you good advice about where to look. I'm moving to Chicago and have been seeking out advice from friends and family who live in the area. It's especially helpful in determining if an area you are interested in is safe and reasonably priced, since they live there and know what goes on during a day to day basis. If it's possible, you should narrow your search down to one or two neighborhoods that you're really interested in and focus on that. It will make your search easier and you won't be so overwhelmed with 20 tabs in your browser. : ) Lastly, you should familiarize yourself with tenants' rights and housing laws in NYC so that you are not unfairly treated or taken advantage of. I hate to say it, but you're more vulnerable to that when someone realizes you're from another country, as they will assume you don't know any better. Most cities maintain a tenant's right center, so I would look up NYC's and familiarize yourself with it. Good luck and happy apartment shopping!

[jenng]

I highly recommend renting/subletting a room for 2 weeks via AirBnB or Craigslist to apartment hunt here, or even staying in a hostel. CL is hit or miss, but finding an apartment/roommate is do-able. I also recommend The Listings Project (http://www.stephanie...m/listings.html). When I moved to the city 2 years ago, the smartest thing I did was sublet for a couple weeks to apartment hunt. For me, there's no way I could have found somewhere permanent without being here.

Are you looking to live alone? Within a budget? Use a broker? For a certain neighborhood? Certain amenities? Getting an apartment anywhere Downtown Manhattan is a lot different than getting an apartment in, say, Greenpoint or Astoria.

Edited June 28, 2012 by jenng