Queens is ICKY, but what about Astoria?

it is in queens. Belleville is nice. Douglaston?

I live in Astoria.....where are the 400sf Condos?

Since Astoria prices never ran up as much as Manhattan (or even LIC), it will not fall by as much. So you will never see 200 PSF IMO. Secondly, have you really spent a lot of time there? There is certainly a lot more than "Greek" food there. Having lived in fingie areas of Manahattan myself - FiDi, Harlem, and Hell Kitchen, I can safely say that Astoria, where I have visited often, has more food variety than those places. Its very neighborhood-y. My main issue is that I never wnat to live anywhere where I am wholey dependant on one subway line.

Astoria's a nice spot if you're looking for easy access to Manhattan, but a little more neighborhood-y. A lot of young people, good restaurants, quiet (if you're N of the GCP) and a little more bustling if you're south. You can find parking with relative ease (very easy N of the GCP). If you live N of the GCP, it's easy as can be to get to LGA on the M60. If you have a car and get out of the city quite a bit, access to the Island or Upstate couldn't be much easier.

I'd stay away from the 21st St. drag if you're S. of the Triboro/GCP, as it's a little rougher and louder. But, N of the GCP, you're smack in the middle between the train and Astoria Park, which is large and has great views of Midtown.

The Ditmars/Steinway section is much quieter than the 30th Av and Broadway sections, but you'll still find the amenities you need (pub, coffee shop, grocery, bagels, coffee, banks, laundries, food, etc.). I had some of the best Chinese and Mexican food I've had in a long, long time out there; not to mention Taverna if you're into Greek food.

I lived in that section and was content there, but I'm a young, single, and spend a majority of my time with friends in the city. So, to me, it was a bit removed from where I wanted to be and I moved into Manhattan. But, nonetheless, a taxi is roughly $20-$25 from anywhere in the city (<$20 if you're in Midtown) and there is still reliable train service. In the two years I lived there, I never once had to use a shuttle bus due to construction.

Honestly, it just depends on where you're at in life and what you're looking for.

McHale...i agree, I don't see $400psf...I think the psf is around $600 which then if you want to spend a little more buy in Manhattan...I would feel like the kid with my nose against the glass at the bakery, meaning Manhattan...Astoria is close but it's not Manhattan. You never have to worry about getting a cab, bus or train when living in Manhattan.

Astoria is one of the great hoods of the universe. What it lacks in physical beauty it makes up for with heart and sole. I have never met a resident that did not love the place. Steinway street is one of the best shopping blocks in the world....word.

It isn't for me, but I think a space that provides homes to 2.25 million people may be a little more varied than the word "icky" suggests. Forest Hills, Douglaston, Jamaica Estates, Forest Hills Estates...I'm not going to list every nice section of Queens, but really, no need to put down an entire county in that kind of way.

Check out the "Heart of Astoria" development:
http://www.streeteasy.com/nyc/sale/217447-condo-21-24-30th-avenue-astoria-astoria

I saw these when they first started having open houses. Elliman was fairly arrogant about this sore-thumb property early on when the direction the market was going was already in the air. After the Manhattan-like attitude I got from the agent (in the Heart of Astoria mind you), I decided to sit back and watch the prices slide.

Good luck with all that.

I lived (owned) in Astoria and I'm from the borough of ICK (one of the "acceptable" Queens neighborhoods according to this board) and I always tell people to look in Brooklyn instead if you are considering outerboroughs. Renting in Astoria is cheaper than renting in Brooklyn but buying is actually usually more expensive for what you get compared to say Park Slope or Boerum Hill in this economy. I actually didn't know of any condos is Astoria trading for $400 per square foot, maybe Woodside or something but not Astoria. I don't see prices there getting to $200 psf at all. The thing about Astoria is that there are very few co-ops and condos in comparison to rentals so good buying opportunities are rare. Again you move there to rent cheaper, it's traditionally been a renters' paradise, but not to buy at a discount.

Having said that you actually have the N, W and then R, V, G depending on where you live so it's not just one train.

julia, where are you getting a comparable apartment in Manhattan for similar prices to Astoria?

"julia, where are you getting a comparable apartment in Manhattan for similar prices to Astoria?"

Yeah, I wondered that too. Comparible units in Harlem or the LES are FAR more expensive than Astoria, and you would have to go all the way up to Inwood before you saw truly like-for-like PSF comparisons.