Outside of Manhattan rentals - LIC, JC, Wmbrg

I meant to put this in rentals, sorry. We are looking to rent.

Should add Hoboken to one of your choice. I used to live there and my wife and I work in midtown. The commute time was about 20 minutes from the first stop to 33rd street.

JC has a few new buildings and the rent is much cheaper than Manhattan and you actually do save some money living in NJ vs. NY. But not much to do in JC, just a few tiny restaurants, Newport Mall, and BJ for your groceries. You should hang out there on a Saturday nite to see if that is what you like before committing.

outahere,

Williamsburg rents seem generally high to me, but there is a fair amount of selection for nicer buildings. Depending on your location, you may have great access to both the L and J/M, which would cover anything around 14th St, the LES, Soho, Financial, and Midtown. I'll defer to other posters for the other areas mentioned.

Definitely cheaper to live in NJ vs NY, the biggest factor being able to avoid paying NYC resident income tax. That alone puts up to 4% more of your salary in your pocket. That said, you'll pay about 10-15% more to live in Hoboken waterfront than JC waterfront. North Hoboken more families, South Hoboken mostly single 20-somethings. Ferry/PATH goes both midtown and downtown. Bus to PA. Make sure you tryout the commute into Manhattan on the weekend, travel times often double vs. weekday.

Thanks on the Hoboken suggestion, I kind of lumped it in when thinking of Jersey City. Worth more exploration. BJW, Williamsburg did seem high and not as many pure rental opportunities among highrises or so - it seems as if the area is more of the new development type for sales.
Anyone have a view on south Long Island City / Hunters Point? Seems actually like that might be a better bet in terms of newness of buildings and quality, and interestingly seemed to have an interesting neighborhood vibe so long as you were in the south and west areas. The view of Manhattan was great

I think it depends on what you're looking for beyond commute time and rental prices.

If you're looking for a neighborhood that has things to do and is lively, Williamsburg is your better choice. There are tons of bars and restaurants. Though there are all ages and races in Williamsburg, it tends to skew slightly to a 25-35 crowd. You also have to make a distinction between North and South Williamsburg. Rents and sales prices will be higher closer to the Bedford Ave station, and decrease incrementally from Lorimer to Graham Ave stations. It is also less expensive toward the Marcy Ave station (J,M) but that area can be hit or miss.

If you're looking for an interesting mix of post-College, young professionals, young families and long time NYC ethnics, Hunter's Point in LIC is a good bet. Not much of a night time scene, but there are a few bars and restaurants on Vernon Blvd.

The new apartment rentals in both LIC and Williamsburg seemed to be about the same price and not cheap (but more affordable and nicer in comparison to Manhattan). Some places in less desirable parts of both areas, though, are overcharging so I think it's best to hangout in both neighborhoods, including walking at night, to get a sense of what would work best for you.

Commute time: Williamsburg is 10-15 minutes to downtown Manhattan; 30 minutes to midtown. LIC is 10-15 minutes to midtown, and 20-30 to downtown.

While Jersey may look good on paper, I think there are a lot of hidden costs of living there that don't get factored in. And forget trying to get a cab to go from NYC to Jersey. The cabbies will either not take you or will price gouge you.

Good luck.

out of curiosity what are these hidden costs of living in nj that you refer to? put the cabs aside

bjw2103,

How did I know you commented on this thread? How have you been?

"Hidden costs" may not be the right choice of words, but there are additional costs that people sometimes don't factor in when doing the NJ vs. NYC comparison. For example, a car in NJ is a necessity and that involves additional costs. Even in places like JC and Hoboken, you essentially need a car to get around in NJ. Those are added costs of car payments, insurance, and parking. While many people in NYC choose to have cars, in most places in NYC, a car is not a necessity.

in JC you don't really need a car, there is a light train to get from the store to anywhere in the waterfront area. JC has a very fast commute to wall st, < 20 mins on a ferry door to door.

I do keep in a car in NYC, since I travel around NY a lot.

Have been in LIC/Hunter's Point for 2.5 years, renting, and love it. The 7 runs frequently even on weekends, which is a plus when compared to many other locations. And there are enough restaurants around to keep us from getting bored if we don't feel like going into Manhattan. We're commuting to the 'burbs at the moment, so I can't speak on the speed of getting to downtown at rush hour, but one of us used to commute to Midtown, with no problems.

Outahere:

What is your price range and what are you looking for? I have an 11th floor part-time doorman
apartment for rent in Forest Hills rigfht now, one block to the subway/

Thought I'd say that we picked LIC. Basically we liked 3 things including the feel of the neighborhood if you don't stretch the bounds too far, the strong transportation including catching a quick transfer at Grand Central to the 4,5 to get downtown for me, and frankly we got a good deal for our apartment (though they hinted some of it had to do with this being November) and we liked the quality of the building and there was good competition with the other buildings we looked at too. It's a rental, so if the neighborhood gets bad or our own preferences change we can move in 2 years, but there was nothing that really gave us pause.

Generally we just couldn't swallow a move to NJ, the whole Williambsurg thing didn't seem like the right environment or the right neighbors, and we did look at downtown Brooklyn but that was nasty even though there are a lot of new buildings.

Thanks all!

Good pick outahere.

Newtown Creek, HERE I COME!

haha. LIC > NJ

"frankly we got a good deal for our apartment (though they hinted some of it had to do with this being November)"

... did they hinted that you'll never again be able to get health insurance or life insurance?

"so if the neighborhood gets bad"

What do you mean - it's already there.

The wacko LIC haters just can't stand how popular it has become. steve, glad you are happy in your little rental in a dumpy building in the Theater district, but lots of other people prefer LIC.

She doth protest too much...

Anyone have any info on sales in LIc and Jersey waterfront (West New York Weehawken) by the ferry? I have recently seen alot of movement on Jersey side not as much in Lic just wondering if anyone has made the same observations or thoughts why the Jersey side has picked up more so than other marginag NY neighborhoods such as Lic?

in my completely unprofessional anecdatal experience, people choose nj because of jobs. being in that area makes both manhattan and and a big chunk of the tiny state of nj commutable. some people get really brave and after being out there for a while even start to consider employment in the princeton area. it's the location.

lucill good point about jobs but I have seen a lot of people who work in midtown moving there in recent months Im assuming more space less money quick commute but it this a more desirable are over lic or wburg? I should say I mean buyers not renters

i guess it depends on what makes something desirable for you. there is now way to say this nicely, so i won't even try, but here it goes. in my experience, the people who come to that part of nj are getting pretty much what they want, and on some level already resolved to ease their way into suburbia. the people who go to the new developments out in the boroughs seem to want to substitute manhattan, which i think tends to make them come off as defensive. people who move to nj from manhattan have almost a distinct confidence in their choice, because they picked up and moved to nj. there is nothing more to it. the people who go to bk and queens, imhe, spend a lot time and energy trying to justify their choice as being "new york" enough. but i think it really does come down to job options.