How many years have you lived in your current apartment and/or what are you expecting for the next apartment you are contemplating?

We thought we'd be here 5 yrs and now it's 10. We think we'll rent inbetween this and our next and our next will hopefully get us through high school with the kids (10 more years).

Current: 4. Next: Maybe 5-8.

Hoping to be here for the long haul.

less than a year, will stay for 8 more months. in new place for 10/12 yrs.

21 years in this one. It'd make since to down-size, but we'll end up leaving in body bags.

Current: thought it was going to be 1 year, turned into 25. Next (moving next month): planning on another 25.

I can proudly say over 30 years in our home. Hoping for a good 20 in our next place in Manhattan.

3 years in current place (own). See that continuing for the next several.

18 years in prior coop. 6 month sublet and 1 year rental (biding time while looking to see if we found something to buy). And 3.5 years in current coop with intention to stay many years into the future.

26 years in previous apartment - just moved 2 years ago and not planning on moving again.

1st apt: 1.5yrs, 2nd: 1.5yrs, 3rd: 6yrs, 4th: 1yr, 5th: 2yrs, 6th: 3yrs, 7th: 2yrs, 8th: currently 1.5yrs and counting.

uwsbeagle: I'm curious why so many moves. Were they in different areas or all in Manh?

1st apt 3 years (rent)
2nd apt 1 year (rent)
3rd apt 1 year (rent)
4th apt 3 years (rent)
5th apt 7 years (rent)
current apt 1.5 years (own)

Didnt expect anything in my rentals, but they taught me what would be more or less important to me for owning. My varying experiences on location, amenities, views, etc. made me realize some things were more important than others.
One big surprise that I paid zero attention to in my earlier years was sunlight.

Kyle, interestingly I've always lived betw 34 and 111 streets, and always west of Bway. Part of the moves were moving from rental to purchase; part of the move was growing tired of the apt, building, surroundings. Then thinking the mkt had topped, I'd sell, rent for a while and buy again. At one point I decided I needed outdoor space so I rented a terrace apt in the Lyric only to find out they still charge you rent when the terrace is unusable in the winter months (LOL). Timing Manhattan RE is a fool's errand but I've done fine and, honestly, it's been fun. The apt I am in now I absolutely love so I hope to remain here for quite some time.

if we're going that path...

1st apt - 10 months (rent)
2nd apt - 3 yrs (rent)
3rd apt - 7 months (rent)
4th apt - 1 yr (rent)
5th apt - 4 yrs (own)
6th apt - 3 yrs (own)
7th apt - 2 yrs (rent)
8th apt - will be 1.5 yrs (rent)

house in NJ for kids to have good education without having to keep taking G&T, special classes to pass G&T, etc for 10+ yrs in 8 months

19yrs current location (rent)

Eighteen years in childhood home (rent controlled), college, 1st apt-25 years (rent stab), 2nd apt 4 years so far, (own). 3rd "apt" assisted living or straight to the cemetery

Since 05/2007....was able to knock rent down and keep it there from 2009 on.

Prob got 2 more years....unless I hit gold in Yorkvile.

Current: 16 (rent-stabilized).

In process of buying next place on UWS: 7 (at least)

current - rent 3 months
previous - own 10 years (sold at the peak - apr/12)
next - buy at the lows (spring 2014)

15 years in our rental. Just signed for a 16th.

1st - 2.5 years (rent)
2nd - 2 years (own)
3rd - 2 years (own)
4th - 2 years (rent)
5th - 6 years and counting.

Wow, surprising responses. What i've learned from this thread:
- streeteasy posters stay in their apts much much longer than i would have ever thought a NYC resident was capable
- streeteasy posters seem to lean older on the age scale than i thought

For me, moved to NYC in college, so:
Dorms: moved 1-2x per year
1st apt: 6 months (Murray Hill, says it all)
2nd apt: 6 yrs (to me, this is FOREVER in NYC terms, but i had a good deal in the EV as a 20-something)
3rd apt: 2 yrs
4th apt: 1 yr
5th apt: 2 yrs and counting

1st - 1 Year

2nd - 1 Year

3rd - 1 Year

4th - 3 Months (Bar Exam)

5th - 1 Year

6th - 1 Year 1 Month

I will probably be here for another 1-2 year and then purchase something. I would like to remain in that purchased place for 8-10 years.

1st 5 yrs (Own)
2nd 6 yrs (Own)
3rd 1.25 yrs (Rent)
4th 4 months(Own) (Expecting to be at least 10 yrs)

mutombonyc, in NYC ppl move frequently because:
a) rents are raised to the point that ppl can't absorb the increase
b) roommate situations change (move in with significant others, etc), forcing ppl into new digs
c) new job puts you on the east side when you used to work on the west side, and now commuting from the UWS is a pain
d) neighborhoods change quickly, so your quiet side street apt is suddenly the center of lower east side drunkenness & noise at 2am in the span of 3-5 yrs

3 years in this one. 4 years in previous. 8 in the one before. Had pretty fantastic deals (rent) on all of them until right now, where fantastic deal is now a good deal (I was 20% or more under market, more like 5-7% now).

mostly renting and a small glimpse of owning:

over 10 yrs at current place - top floor and hope for another 5 - 8+ years

prior to kids/"move to outer boro":
2 years rent stabilized - top floor walk up
4 years owned in another city - 3rd floor walk up
1 year rented - ground floor
1 year rented - ground floor
4 years rented - top floor walk up

Any next place has to be:
~I agree with the 'light' comment - top floor in small building/high floor in large place a must.
~Can't be in a current/future flood zone (9/11 was bad enough, being evacuated has to suck)
~Near good public transportation - despite all the cops and stupid MTA tickets I still hate cars/cabs
~Must be a Clean Nabe - hate litter, dog piles and other debris scattered hither and yon.
~not near a Entertainment center - think Barclays, MSG, etc...

BTW w67thstreet - thanks for the laugh. I secrectly hope you are right: once upon a time I lived amongst those "TARDS" you mention above - that was back when I when I considered myself a "True Catebridgian." Aaah, I would get a job at Key Food just to sell them a fews cans of cat food...

2 years
2 years
4.5 years
9 years
1.5 years
Current: 11 years

6
2
3 current

"SWE, You've not moved a lot."

No, I've have some fantastic deals over the years, been very happy to stay for a while... then I change what I am looking for (something pro-buyers never talk about... my tastes have changed).

first apt - rental- 2 years.
second apt. - owned - planned on 4 years, ended up 8 years.
third apt. - rented - planned on 2-4 years, ended up 8 years.
fourth and current apt. - own - plan on forever, ended up....................TBD

11 years in rent stabilized
plan to live in apt I'm buying at least 5 years.

first apt - 4 years
2nd apt - 1 yr
house in the burbs - 3yr
current - 3 mo and counting. probably stay 2-3
all were rentals, even the house.

Current: in year 10 in the apartment (own) that was intended as the 5 year plan. Not sure when we'll get around to moving - neither of us have much motivation despite some clear shortcomings of our current situation and having the financial means to change it
Previously: 5 year rental

any more entrants?
http://streeteasy.com/nyc/talk/discussion/20633-how-many-times-have-you-moved

1st apt 13 years (rent)

2nd apt 7 years (own)

3rd apt 5 years (own) :{current}