Helpful COVID-19 resources for you

What does the future hold for New York City retail?

As we dive into the holiday season, the question of where you’ll do your holiday shopping is looming for many of us. In a city like New York you would expect that you could find nearly anything you want at a local store – but with retail vacancies running about 20% throughout Manhattan, particularly in heavily trafficked areas, we’re left wondering what is going on with retail and what will the future look like for New York?   City Council has reintroduced the Small…

A Student’s Guide to Renting in NYC

Congratulations! You’re attending school in New York City! Going off to college is one of the most exciting things you do in life, especially when it’s coupled with moving to a new place. But it can also be daunting. Whether you’re moving right into an apartment your freshman year or are looking to move out of your dorm hall, I’m here to help you navigate your way through renting as a student in NYC. I went to NYU in 2010…

Neighborhood Guide to North Brooklyn’s Iconic Hipster ‘Hoods

The North Brooklyn neighborhoods of Williamsburg, Greenpoint, and Bushwick have a similar vibe and lifestyle. A long standing Hassidic and Dominican neighborhood, Williamsburg’s transformation to arts enclave come hipster HQ began in the late 1980’s/early 1990’s. When artists were priced out of Manhattan’s downtown villages, they sought new digs, preferably with live/work art spaces and easy access to the galleries, theaters, and vibrant creative community they’d left behind. Enter north Brooklyn. The neighborhood of Williamsburg had everything the artists were…

Neighborhood Guide to Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights

When New Yorkers venture out of Manhattan and into residential Brooklyn, they typically stop heading south at Park Slope. Long time Bay Ridge residents rejoice, because they like the keep the neighborhood to themselves. Influxes of transplanted north Brooklynites and Manhattanites could mean increases in rent, property taxes, and crowds, but that doesn’t mean that Bay Ridge and Dyker Heights aren’t great places to live. Quite the opposite, in fact. Green Space Bay Ridge, on the western coast of south…

What You Need to Know About the L-Train Shut Down & How It Will Affect You

Are You Ready? The temporary shut down of one of New York City’s most-used trains has been creeping up on commuters for over a year now, but it’s official date of shut down is no longer too far out of reach. According to AM New York, the MTA announced the 15-month long shutdown of the L-train will begin on April 27, 2019. A mere 4 months from now. Hurricane Sandy Although, it is not the entire L-train that will be…

Real Estate Happenings

It is a great time to have a listing on the market in Long Island City – with the buzz surrounding Amazon’s decision to split their new headquarters between Long Island City, NY and Crystal City, VA attendance at open houses has shot up and investors are focused on these new hot neighborhoods. While homebuyers have often sought out more square footage for a smaller price tag in the outer boroughs there was a palpable spike in interest just after…

The Truth About NYC Commutes

Commuting to work is pretty much a nightmare. There’s no way around it. Whether by car, bus, or subway, the time and aggravation of getting between home and work can be a real trial. Here we lay out both nightmare and dream commuting scenarios. The Nightmare There are some particularly egregious commutes, pretty much anything on the 4 or 5 lines, and if you live in a transportation desert, you can expect to walk 15 minutes or more to a mass…

Neighborhood Guide to Greenwich Village

by Camille Coric. Known for its dynamic parks, lively nightlife, young population and prime position in Lower Manhattan, Greenwich Village is a gem of New York City. From food to what the locals won’t tell you, here is your complete guide to Greenwich Village. Housing Cheapest you can get At the moment, the cheapest listing on the market in Greenwich village is a studio on Houston Street for $2,050. The average rent price in Greenwich Village is $4,197 so this…

How to Have a Good Relationship with Your Landlord

Your relationship with your landlord in New York will be, at best, complicated.  Because there is such a high demand for housing in New York, your landlord might be less than thrilled to do all the work to keep you as a happy tenant.  After all, they probably can rent the apartment or house to someone else in a month. Does this mean your landlord is scum? Of course not, but there are several things you can do as a…

Apartment Buildings or Privately Owned Apartments?

The Pros and Cons of large versus small apartment buildings. When choosing your apartment, it’s essential to consider more than just the interior. What kind of apartment buildings you lease from matters too, and there are many different kinds of landlord tenant arrangements. The two primary kinds of apartment buildings in New York are either large apartment buildings, or those in private homes. Amazing apartments can come in either type of building. The lovely garden apartments of Cobble Hill and…