Good for Starters?

inwood-hudson heights. got a starter apt there 5 years ago and it has quadripled in value.

yes, and they are great neighborhoods

I lived in Hudson Heights for several years. Yes, some areas are good, but there are many that are marginal at best. I was in prime Hudson Heights, and if you go three blocks you are in the marginal areas. You have packs of kids roaming the streets; I can see bad things happening. If you have 100k in savings, I would look elsewhere. Hudson Heights and Inwood are areas that will be more negatively impacted in a downturn. You have enough for a starter apartment in UES and LIC.

bravotm, I just closed on a place on the UES....found there's more inventory for 1 br/studio alcoves and the neighborhood isn't marginal, which means better resale in a low market. Plus if/when the 2nd ave subway goes in (which seems imminent) your value will be higher.

how about downtown. there's some very good deals there now, and with 100k you should be able to get an even better deal. think south of tribeca...below ground zero...and also east of ground zero. so long as you are willing to stay in the place for a few years, should come out on top