has anyone ever had any luck with housing lotteries?
in AM new york today i FINALLY found an advertisement for affordable housing where my income actually fits the criteria for both a one bedroom (1035) or a studio (900). unfortunately it’s in mott haven in the bronx 🙁 but i guess if i could find a new new construction apartment that’s rent stabalized i…
in AM new york today i FINALLY found an advertisement for affordable housing where my income actually fits the criteria for both a one bedroom (1035) or a studio (900). unfortunately it’s in mott haven in the bronx 🙁 but i guess if i could find a new new construction apartment that’s rent stabalized i would be very happy.. not having to worry about finding a new place all the time. plus i really really want my own apartment (im almost 32!).
anyway, it’s just like 7 slots for studios and like 8 for one bedrooms. they do give 50 percent to people who live in the immediate area and 5 percent to people with disabilities, and 5 for city workers, etc, so in reality there are probably just a few apartments actually available..
just wondering if it’s worth it? also if anyone knows of any in brooklyn? the ones i always find for brooklyn i either make too much or i make way too little.
the ones for manhattan are always ridiculous where it’s like you cant even make more than 25K a year.. but that’s fine, i guess it keeps people who do make that in manhattan so im okay with that..
thoughts?
*rob*
Rob,
I live in Bensonhurst now…I have been since I moved here from Beantown 9 years ago…I also just bought a house in Bay Ridge. If I were you I would move to Bay Ridge before Bensonhurst. Bay Ridge has many great restaurant/shops/friendly people. 3rd ave is great…plus you have all the mansions on Ridge to look at and parks along the shore on Shore Rd.
I think it’s a great idea to get into a rent-stabilized apt at these prices now while you’re young. Very wise in terms of affordability and planning for your future.
That said, I lived in Queens and felt pretty out of it there as a single person.
The Jersey City idea sounds nice, esp because all the apartments are rent stabilized. Or any other area in Brooklyn that has single people and offers rent stabilized places.
If you liked the East Village circa 1990 or Williamsburg circa 2003, check Bushwick around the Dekalb stop for low-income lofts and rent-stabilized apartments. There are a ton of young gay men here, great restaurants, and lots of loft parties and art events.
It’s no small thing that you get along so well with your roommate. A good roommate is so hard to find. And that you love your neighborhood. But if it’s more than 30/40/50 percent of your income, it’s hard to sustain…
I have a friend who lived alone in a beautiful rent-controlled apt in SF, but it was kind of pricey for her at $1200. She moved to a shared loft, got into a fight with the crack-smoking roommate, moved in 24 hours, lost her deposit, now pays $1600 for a worse apt miles from the city center, and has taken on a second job. (On the plus side, she now lives in the same building as her incredibly fabulous girlfriend.) She is also looking into the low-income housing lottery.
I’m not sure what the moral of this story is.
Townhouse Lady — Thanks so much for the info, and Happy Holidays!
CHMomma- Re: A little hit and miss. There are a few really great public schools but they’re competitive (I assume you’re talking about public schools). For instance people who can get into PS 3 will pull their kids out of private schools. Other schools not good at all.
I don’t have kids myself but this is a huge topic of conversation with the parents at our block meetings so I’m only relaying what I’ve overheard.
Cars are not required as there’s the Path Train, Lightrail and many buses but in certain areas it sure helps. Jersey City is huge so it really depends on the area you move to. Same as Brooklyn, if you don’t have a car you try to stick close to the PATH Stations.
Me too CHMomma. I have a 3 year old. Very curious to hear about schools in the JC area. Also, is a car required there? Adam — enlighten us, please!
I like what I hear about Jersey City but I have 3 young schoolage kids. Anyone know what the schools are like “out there”?
As anyone who grew up in Brooklyn knows, the oldest rivalries and the most derogatory comments are saved for Queens. Jersey is just a poser on that totem pole. It’s unfortunate, Rob, to see you disparage neighborhoods you’re unfamiliar with, but I understand that many of your prejudices were learned on this site. There are beautiful apartments, homes and neighborhoods wherever you go (Brooklyn, New Jersey, even Queens), and to the greatest extent, you will find these neighborhoods good or bad because of what *you* bring to them, rather than what they bring to you. From what I’ve read, at least part of your scrounging the sofa for change is directly related to your party/recreation preferences. My unsolicited advice: drop the price of one night out on the town into a glass jar each week, and see whether it doesn’t quickly result in an easier time making your rent.
“[Jersey City and Brooklyn are] basically the same. both are across rivers and both are bridge and tunnel.”
That’s a pretty Manhattan-centric view of the world, no? Brooklyn would be the 3rd largest city in the country if it returned to independence. JC is a hamlet compared to Brooklyn.
JERSEY CITY!!! I love it over here. All the people bitching about the Disneyfication of NYC should move over here. Plus after all the NYS tax increases it’s even better over here. No sales tax on clothing. 3.5% sales tax in JC, beer and cigarettes are soo much cheaper, GAS is next to nothing. Great restaurants and bars, WTC in 7 mins, so much more to say but I got to get back to work.
Cue derogatory Jersey comments below