So I was living in NY for a few years before my work transferred me to one of their regional offices for a year. Will be heading back to the city and trying to figure out where to live. I was in UES before, which was OK but didn't love it. Thinking of buying a place. Have been looking in UES (out of familiarity more than anything else) but also looking into UWS, HK and Harlem (have a couple... [more]
So I was living in NY for a few years before my work transferred me to one of their regional offices for a year. Will be heading back to the city and trying to figure out where to live. I was in UES before, which was OK but didn't love it.
Thinking of buying a place. Have been looking in UES (out of familiarity more than anything else) but also looking into UWS, HK and Harlem (have a couple friends who moved there and they swear it's the best decision they made).
Would like to not be so far from the subway (office is midtown) but now that I have a little boy, priorities are obviously shifting and I'm having to think about proximity to parks, school districts (which I know next to nothing about), etc.
Any suggestions would be appreciated. Not so concerned about specific buildings as I am about general neighborhoods. It's been kind of tough trying to figure things out when I'm not physically in NY. Thank you all.
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Response by drdrd
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 1905
Member since: Apr 2007
bump
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Response by alanhart
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 12397
Member since: Feb 2007
NYnoob, more details: where in midtown, what is your very rough range for rent, how old is child, etc.
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Response by prada
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 285
Member since: Jun 2007
Battery Park City....southern part....Millennium building - 30 West Street (I live here).
Your child will be living in a park setting, just beautiful. This is the first green condo, all filtered air and beautiful finishes.
Right behind the building is a brand new green school, very convenient.
Subways are right across West Street - 1 and N and just a couple of blocks the 4,5.
Good luck.
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Response by steveF
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 2319
Member since: Mar 2008
welcome back NYnoob! you''' get some great advice here...
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Response by steveF
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 2319
Member since: Mar 2008
sorry you'll
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Response by romary
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 443
Member since: Aug 2008
parentals out there - would it make more sense for op to figure out school(s) first then let the rest fall into place?
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Response by ab_11218
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 2017
Member since: May 2009
if you need schools and not willing to pay for private, Harlem is definitely out.
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Response by maly
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 1377
Member since: Jan 2009
With a child, the first thing you'll need to decide is "public or private"? Most great primary public schools are full, and do not accept out of zone students. Some websites to explore: insideschools.org (public schools only), greatschools.com. If you decide for private school, there are some good guides, and it may be worth hiring a consultant, like School Choice (some companies pick up the expense as part of their relocation package.)
As others above mentioned, Harlem and HK are cheaper, but public schools there are not so great. You could rent for a couple of years in the preferred school zone, get in the school of your choice and THEN move/buy. It might not be a bad idea if you are unsure; if you have have to buy then sell then buy again in a few years, you are sure to take a bath.
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Response by aboutready
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 16354
Member since: Oct 2007
i think maly has a good idea. rent and get your kid into a good public school then decide if and where to buy.
btw, midtown east should have two new schools shortly. ps59 is currently being constructed, and will expand the school size, and there are plans to build another school at 35th and First. this area already has one well-regarded school, ps 116, and will as a result of the two new schools likely have three good schools, no bad ones, and relatively little overcrowding, at least for awhile.
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Response by julia
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 2841
Member since: Feb 2007
bring lots of money
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Response by MidtownerEast
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 733
Member since: Oct 2010
I wonder is ostarr is related to Ogden Starr or is it just a coincidence? But it might be spinny in another guise since he also likes to refer to spinny in the third person.
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Response by MidtownerEast
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 733
Member since: Oct 2010
I wonder "if" not "is." Stupid fat fingers.
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Response by Wbottom
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 2142
Member since: May 2010
regardless, rent in a neighborhood with a good public school for your son--even if you choose to opt for private, admissions are difficult, and you will want a good public school option if you get hosed in the private app process
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Response by Wbottom
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 2142
Member since: May 2010
and at this point you face too many uncertainties to buy---transaction costs can be as high as 10%, and this market wont be running away any time soon, and may well take another hit, while you are sorting out the many preferences you must
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Response by hol4
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 710
Member since: Nov 2008
hk...it'll be chealsea (family by way of us homos) in 4 years
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Response by NYnoob
almost 15 years ago
Posts: 4
Member since: Feb 2011
Many thanks all.
To address a few questions/omissions on my part: work is near Times Square. Wife is discussing going back to her old job in Midtown east. Kid is 2. Methinks we are already waaay behind on this kid's education thing. Am willing to pay for private but wanted the option to send him to good public.
Definitely we could rent (maybe $6-7K), just kind of tired of doing the renting thing. My (not yet adequately thought through) idea was to buy and even if we have to leave again at some point, we'd just hold onto it and hopefully rent it out.
bump
NYnoob, more details: where in midtown, what is your very rough range for rent, how old is child, etc.
Battery Park City....southern part....Millennium building - 30 West Street (I live here).
Your child will be living in a park setting, just beautiful. This is the first green condo, all filtered air and beautiful finishes.
Right behind the building is a brand new green school, very convenient.
Subways are right across West Street - 1 and N and just a couple of blocks the 4,5.
Good luck.
welcome back NYnoob! you''' get some great advice here...
sorry you'll
parentals out there - would it make more sense for op to figure out school(s) first then let the rest fall into place?
if you need schools and not willing to pay for private, Harlem is definitely out.
With a child, the first thing you'll need to decide is "public or private"? Most great primary public schools are full, and do not accept out of zone students. Some websites to explore: insideschools.org (public schools only), greatschools.com. If you decide for private school, there are some good guides, and it may be worth hiring a consultant, like School Choice (some companies pick up the expense as part of their relocation package.)
As others above mentioned, Harlem and HK are cheaper, but public schools there are not so great. You could rent for a couple of years in the preferred school zone, get in the school of your choice and THEN move/buy. It might not be a bad idea if you are unsure; if you have have to buy then sell then buy again in a few years, you are sure to take a bath.
i think maly has a good idea. rent and get your kid into a good public school then decide if and where to buy.
btw, midtown east should have two new schools shortly. ps59 is currently being constructed, and will expand the school size, and there are plans to build another school at 35th and First. this area already has one well-regarded school, ps 116, and will as a result of the two new schools likely have three good schools, no bad ones, and relatively little overcrowding, at least for awhile.
bring lots of money
I wonder is ostarr is related to Ogden Starr or is it just a coincidence? But it might be spinny in another guise since he also likes to refer to spinny in the third person.
I wonder "if" not "is." Stupid fat fingers.
regardless, rent in a neighborhood with a good public school for your son--even if you choose to opt for private, admissions are difficult, and you will want a good public school option if you get hosed in the private app process
and at this point you face too many uncertainties to buy---transaction costs can be as high as 10%, and this market wont be running away any time soon, and may well take another hit, while you are sorting out the many preferences you must
hk...it'll be chealsea (family by way of us homos) in 4 years
Many thanks all.
To address a few questions/omissions on my part: work is near Times Square. Wife is discussing going back to her old job in Midtown east. Kid is 2. Methinks we are already waaay behind on this kid's education thing. Am willing to pay for private but wanted the option to send him to good public.
Definitely we could rent (maybe $6-7K), just kind of tired of doing the renting thing. My (not yet adequately thought through) idea was to buy and even if we have to leave again at some point, we'd just hold onto it and hopefully rent it out.
maly: thanks for the websites.