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Mr. Here Be Barr, things I love about New York City: the sights Empire State Building, Statute of Liberty, Broadway , the food (pizza especially). Things I hate about New York City: bad drivers, rude people, Bill de Blasio, black dudes in hoods, graffiti everywhere etc.
Get portable washer and dryer at your place in Brooklyn if you do not have a w/d in your building. I purchased a set in august and haven’t stepped back in laundrymat. Best purchase since living in nyc.
ALWAYS look at “address report” before moving in!!!! Check for roaches and rats!! Talk to a few neighbors before moving in. Don’t let the agent rush you while viewing apartments.
tha damn roaches. i moved from Mexico City, in my house never ever see a roach! Now in NYC i have learned to loved them! hahaha (crying) But... well, its part of the show
Living in Brooklyn, I luckily don't experience a lot of these issues. I'm 3 blocks from the A/C, 4 blocks from the 3/4. Two blocks from 2 great supermarkets, and the Dollar Store, but lately I've been using Amazon Fresh a lot! I'm in a newer apartment, and I have an in-unit washer/dryer. I'm very grateful, and fortunate. You couldn't pay me to live in Manhattan...ever.
@@SleeplessInLasVegas I live East of the city...I would have said 3500-4500 but damn I'm seeing some rates at 2500 in really nice new apartments due to pandemic which is crazy cheap. If I had cash I would be buying NY Real Estate. It may drop at times but historically it ALWAYS goes up. P.S.-personally I've never been cold in a NY apartment and they can come down hard on landlords who don't have the heat on by Oct.15 but I guess there are always some. Those old radiators are crazy hot and great to warm your wet boots. Usually a landlord just sets the heat and you end up opening and closing windows to regulate.
Riding a bike made a huge positive difference during my 10+ years in NYC (East Village). It became really rare for me to take the subway as I could get almost anywhere by bike and yes, I rode in the winter, too. A bike and a granny cart (for shopping and laundry) make life even better in NYC!
if the landlord doesn't turn on the heat you can call 311 The NYC Heat Law Basics Property owners must provide tenants with heat under the following conditions: Between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., if the outside temperature falls below 55 degrees, the inside temperature is required to be at least 68 degrees Fahrenheit; and, Between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., the inside temperature is required to be at least 62 degrees Fahrenheit.
@@anthonymolina7416 For those that don’t know that’s low income housing. Anthony is correct among heating issues, they have structural issues, garbage issues there was a case in the Bronx of rats running wild at one of the projects and a near by play ground. The city hasn’t taken care of these building in decades.
@@anthonymolina7416 if you google "NYC selling NYCHA properties" tons of articles of the city already doing that. fucked up world man but Nov 3rd is election day. Local elections are super important for this reason among many others.
This is where planning ahead is crucial. Friend with key is going to move? Get your key back and give it to someone else or have locksmith change the lock and give apt mgr a copy of new key.
Living in the 5th floor saves you money for the gym lol I don't live in a tall building, but at work I always park my car in a 10 story parking garage and I've gotten used to walking the stairs up to the 8th floor every day. After an entire workday in front of a computer that is just what I need 😄
A few suggestions for anyone wanting to move here 1) find an air b&b in neighborhood you're considering and give it a couple nights. It will never be the full scope but you'll have some personal insight. 2) Don't move to the Bronx to be different. Don't get me wrong, it's my part of town and I love it but depending on where in the Bronx, commutes to Manhattan could take you an hour or longer. 3) moving to a neighborhood with tons of nice eateries, well set a budget and a plan because that can be really expensive. Many credit cards and bank cards have features that allow you to see where your spending is going. Your rent is high enough.
For both laundromat and groceries that are good walk away, invest in a folding shopping cart. This is basically how may 70yo Grandma is able to live on her own in brooklyn. She rarely needs help getting her groceries or with cleaning her clothes.
@@apbxny216 I use my regular (largish) back pack for shopping and duffel bags (fit one washer load each) with shoulder straps or my backpacking backpack for laundry.
Few tips from a 14 year resident of BPC (applies anywhere in the City): 1) Don't go jogging between 4-5:30AM, unless you like running hurdles over rats , 2) If you have a car, keep it parked in NJ and just take the PATH to get it when u need it... alternate side parking is a pain, and the parking garages charge crazy amounts and seldom let you self park. 3) Walking at night, keep your eyes straight ahead, head on a swivel... especially now.
The reason in which you talked about when good friends leave the city brings up another good point, it’s really annoying when restaurants you enjoy going to or have been going to for so many years close down.
Everything is DRAMA in New York! It’s like you’re the star of your own movie, every day. This guy’s the perfect example of how self-important most New Yorkers can be. Was one myself for 20 years and I was the same way. I loved it all, but I feel like I “overcame” it. Best piece of advice I got when I was looking for an apartment to rent, was to go back at night so you can walk around the neighborhood to make sure it’s as safe as it is during the day when you check it out for the first time. It’s amazing how much some areas can change in the span of a few hours!
Great tips, Jon. And great camera work! I'm with you on the subway tip. My suggestion is to make sure your apartment is, ideally, within .5 of a subway stop, which I've found is about a 5-7 block radius. Any more than that and I find it to be really cumbersome, especially if you wind up moving into a walk-up or have to lug things from stores.
Actually for the heat pipe situation, it's usually pretty tough to be freezing during winter or too hot during summer. There are certain temperature guidelines a landlord must follow, or you can threaten to report them to the city. Works with my landlord every time the heat isn't turned on early enough in the year (just open the windows if it's too hot).
Check for cockroaches and mice droppings inside sink cabinets! There are also websites that show you building violations when you enter the address. These problems can cause you misery and you can't get out of your lease!
@@mircat28 That's not true at all, that's only true if you live a filthy lifestyle. I keep my apartment clean, and every 2 years or so I see 1 roach that comes in from someone else's apartment, but that's it. Roaches are attracted to filth, and if you don't live in a filthy home they go elsewhere.
Wishing you and you family (your lovely wife and either dog or cat??) very safe move. Former New Yorker here, whose 1st apartment was across the street from the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. One other thing I would recommend if you live in any mixed ethnic community (this is true in San Francisco, too), learn some pleasant comments, please thank you, etc., so you can converse with your local bodega owner or your laundry owners -- in SF, they are often Chinese speakers first. I speak Spanish and can now say about 20 sentences in Cantonese -- that opens a lot of doors in my community. When I worked on Avenue C, the location bodega order would come outside to get my breakfast order and that of several of my Physicians Assistant team members. That was pretty sweet.
Native NYer here- cars. Don’t own a car. Alternate side of the street parking will consume your life. I’m living in Philly right now- and that doesn’t exist. And. In the winter- the giant corner slush/sludge puddle that you can’t quite clear with a big step- wellies are a must.
Thanks a lot for the content man. Even as an old New Yorker, I appreciate them. Also, my two cents: get to know your neighborhood inside out. Not all of them is as compacted or dense as the overexposure of Manhattan in the media makes you think; heck, some even resemble a suburb. Also, buy a small heater if you cannot control that during the winter; just don't leave it unattended due to safety issues AND since it'll be colder outside, you'll have to wear many layers before you're outside (don't underestimate the cold!) so think about what errands you'll plan on doing (taking out garbage, buying lotions, etc.) if you leave your apartment once. Lastly, if you have to do laundry outside of your building; PLAN ACCORDINGLY. The nearest laundry might be busy at a certain time, or you live on a third or fourth floor with no elevator or you might prefer to pay more for wash and fold, etc. Just figure out what works best for you; sometimes I even end up exhausted, underestimating the time and money that laundry takes sometimes!
@@millsbomb007 why do some people feel the need to leave such useless comments? 🙄 Pft, you think it's cold in Scotland? TrY LiViNG in iCelAnD! 🙄 What's worse is that average winter temps in NYC and Edinburgh are almost identical 😂 😂 😂
I got very lucky... I recently moved to NYC on a whim and got an amazing apartment , with laundry in the building and amazing views from bedroom windows.
I'm in a 3 bedroom for under 2k. I almost left since I saw some GREAT deals but I knew in my heart and soul that when covid is over or any type of normalcy comes back to the city my rent would double and triple and I would have to probably move again so I stayed where I'm at. Been with my landlord for a few years and she has never raised my rent so I stayed put but there was some GREAT deals out there with covid man. Great. Deals.
Wash and folds for laundry are a godsend in New York, it is typically cheap if you live outside of Manhattan, and they fold your laundry better than you can. Plus it ends the need to waste a day at the laundromat washing clothes.
As a lifelong New Yorker born, raised, and still living in the Bronx -- I don't really give much thought to how safe other parts of the city are in terms of moving there. Pretty much every other place is going to be safer than where I've lived here! But yeah, the No. 1 most crucial thing I check out first is whether or not my building has a laundry room. Or if not, that there is a good laundromat within (very) quick walking distance. I never forget this important step. One thing I worry about when moving into a new building is if there is current facade repointing/renovation going on. Which means scaffolding all over your building and potentially cutting off the light through your windows for 6 months to up to 2 years! I lucked out big time when I moved into my current apartment as the building was just finishing up exterior renovations the very week I was supposed to move in. Which was good, because until that point my 2nd-story bedroom window looked right out onto the base of the scaffolding where all the workers took their breaks and chit chatted during the day. So they would literally be passing back and forth on the same level as my window all day long -- with direct line of sight into my apartment!
Recently moved to NY from Miami and there are some things i didnt know or things I learned: 1. Didnt even think about buildings not having AC, it took 4 days in 90 degree weather before we got a window AC installed. 2. Doing laundry is kind of pain, and very expensive, it cost $8 for me to do it myself (wash and fold service would have been like $30) 3. I thought 4 flights of stairs wouldnt be to bad, i was wrong, please higher movers, as i wanted to die lugging a 100 Ibs mattress up to the 4th floor and all our other stuff. 4. If you are living with someone, get a 1 br, not a studio, i promise being able to have some space is amazing. 5. 1st day you move in, deep clean the apartment, and get a perimeter bug spray to use around your place, this will help prevent bugs. Even if you are clean, your neighbors might not be and they can easily come to your place 6. Gas and electricity are way more expensive then I thought it would be, keep that in mind.
I live in Brooklyn. Sheepshead Bay is a good neighborhood. Neighborhood is safe at night. I've been fishing at night, Going to Applebees, Rite Aid . ( There are 2 Rite Aids in Sheepshead Bay) even shopping at Stop N Shop at night. Sheepshead Bay has Sheepshead Bay train Station ( B & Q trains) . Buses that serve Sheepshead Bay are B4, B36, B49, can get them on Ave Z and East 15 street one block from the Sheepshead Bay train Station. BM 3 along Emmons Avenue to Manhattan and vice versa. B44 and B44-SBS at Knapp street and Emmons Avenue and Emmons Avenue and Nostrand Avenue to Williamsburg and vice versa. Bedford Ave in Sheepshead Bay I feel is safe.
I live in Sheepshead Bay and the transportation options around here aren’t as lovely as you make them out to sound. I live down on Emmons and have to take the B4 to the train. The bus schedule seems to be merely a suggestion and doesn’t run with much frequency outside of rush hour...or not at all certain hours. If you miss the B4 at 2pm, you’re either waiting 30 minutes for the next one or making the 1 mile walk to the train. The B44 I guess is good, but I never had a reason to go that far up Nostrand. The B is nice, but if you have to get anywhere on the weekend, you’re left with the Q. And it never fails that during rush hour, the B gets rerouted to the Q. The safety of the neighborhood is decent, but the nightlife and shopping options are terrible! I guess I was spoiled living in Bay Ridge first and then moving to Sheepshead Bay. If apartments had pools in Bay Ridge like they do in Sheepshead, I’d leave in a heartbeat.
Our building requires you have licensed/ insured professional movers so that adds to cost. Sometimes it’s easier to have bulky items like laundry soap, delivered. Areas that were once desired are now ghost towns so look at the current situation not a year ago.
Such a great video!!! Really helpful to anyone moving to the Apple. I moved just outside of Westchester about 7 years ago from the city and it's the biggest regret of my life! Planning on moving back to Manhattan or NY City boroughs in 2 years. I hate it here... NO fashions (everyone dresses horribly), NO interesting people, NO Galleries, NO crazy outfits to shock me when I walk down the street, NO sidewalks in many areas to walk on, NO people around when I come out of my house, Incredibly lonely and isolating. You get the picture. Moving back to my home town no matter how many stairs I have to climb up with 20 bags of groceries.
Walk around the block(s) of a place you're looking at to see if any construction is happening in the direct area and always carry an extra tote bag that you can fold up and fit in your pocket :-) Most places charge for shopping bags
4:35/ Having been born and raised in The Bronx, I had the privilege of growing up between a local and express station of the same subway line! Within walking distance of 3 bus routes, and an expressway. For out-of-towners, do the research and see how accessible mass transit is within your new home. 😎🇵🇷🇺🇸🗽🦂
Thanks Mr Barr....lots of clear observations about big city living.... I would just add: "keep your sense of gratitude and wonder". Thanks for such a careful, scenic, fun and caring video.🌞
WOW! You are _so_ right about landlords controlling the heat. When I lived in Brooklyn, the way the building was set up, my landlord controlled the heat and, of course, waited until the last possible moment in winter to start turning it on. 🤣🤣 I never really thought about that before now. Ahhhh, I miss NYC!
I agree every city in the world sleeps... i’ve been to Manhattan about 100 times I’ve gone out looking for food at 1-2am several times and nothing was open.... I walked and walked and walked nothing open.... this guy is correct on a lot of things...
Oh yeah, dear Jon... I live on the fifth floor (without lift) and now I take care of a little dog, because his mumm is in the hospital. Every floor is important, if you need to climb it five time a day!
Some extras: 1. Research area want to live in which includes public transportation (Subway a plus), distance (Manhattan or close to it more expensive) and if you have kids schools cause mostly can only attend schools aligned to your Borough. 2. Apartment more perks higher rent or maintenance cost and some might not worth it cause there could be e.g. 24 hour gym around the corner. If old building make sure to check for pests, noise, plumbing, electrical, and elevator. 3. Despite believe if one lives in Borough outside Manhattan one will likely have a car. With cars got to remember street cleaning schedules and make sure you park where allowed (fines pretty high). Also no turn on red in NYC. 4. Check weather before leaving. NYC weather can be unpredictable and easily swing like even 20 degrees from one day to next. Also summer can get hot and humid and winter cold but snow rare. 5. Want to get the most learn best places and best times. Like when get less people to do laundry, when are rush hours, what is the quickest path (New Yorker would even know what subway car to get in and what exit to use). 6. NYC has ton of places and activities for every taste everywhere just have to look. Like there 4 parks larger than Central Park.
The good thing about living in a fifth floor walk up. Great cardio. 🙃// Because it's a hassle to grocery shop, and lug stuff up the stairs, you eat out more. Budget accordingly. // Maybe it's changed, haven't been in the city for years, but folks begging for money was a constant. Determine how you'll handle it before hand. After getting scammed a couple times, I started to offer to buy food. // Be aware of your surroundings while you're walking around. Neighborhoods differ. If a neighborhood is deserted or if you only see young guys hanging on street corners, there's a reason.
@@jonthibault5509 Our neighborhood wasn't bad, just some areas in the city you have to be careful in. For NYC our apartment was great. And if you're in the arts, NYC is an exciting place to live. There are beggars everywhere in NY. Coming from out of state, it was a bit of a shock. Just be aware. My roomies and I had a really sweet landlord and landlady. Very conscientious. That makes all the difference.
I had a few funny stories: 1. One single fuse: I had no clue my whole appartment only had one 21A fuse. A couple of times I managed to make the fuse go out by switching on an additional heater and the microvawe at the same time. Every time I had to call the landlord, from 2 houses away, to go and replace it in the basement. One time it happened in the evening and I didn't want to bother him, so I used the light from my laptop and was freezing... 2. Cockroaches: had these for a few months until someone instructed my landlord how to fix that (close all the holes in the walls). It was totally gross to see these small black munchkins running over my dining table in the morning --> I started storing everything in the fridge, incl. Sugar and coffee. A friend was trying to identify for a week where some bad smell was coming from: until he found a dead mouse under his couch! 3. No aircondition: don't go there...it's hell on earth. On the day I was living NYC in the begining of June I had showered 3 times before 2 pm. 4. No elevator: yes, it's highly annoying. 5. Laundromat: I didn't want to dry all the clothes in the dryer (i'm from EU), so I stuffed all clothes in 2 suitcases, went to do my laundry, then mostly put them wet in plastic bags and rolled that back home, and up the stairs. I hated this so much I always did it last minute sundays (just before they closed). 6. NYT just thrown in front of the building: I had a NYT subscription for some time. It wasn't put into the mailbox, but dumped in from of the house (next to the trash). Surprisingly, it was never stolen...
In the US it's against the law to put anything in a mailbox unless it was sent through the post office. I liked my Swiss mailbox that anyone could use plus you have the option to put a "no advertising please" sticker on it. Re roaches, I never had them in New York but in DC where I started keeping cereal in the fridge.
A friend moved to an apartment in Astoria that had been (superficially) renovated and it had one 15 amp circuit in the kitchen. My 1930 apt has a circuit breaker box from maybe 1970 in the apt. No one had ever labeled the circuits. The LR and BedR are just one breaker. Two for the kitchen, one for the bathroom. It's hard to remember to check these things out before renting. Some new suburban apt would have 2 or 3 times the electric capacity.
Agreed! I am from the south. I just spent 5 days in the city for the third time. New Yorkers are not rude! They are on the move. NY is one of the most inviting cities I've ever visited. Can't wait to go back.
In my last building they didn't put my name in the directory for the 4 years I was there. Many buzzer/intercom systems require a land line as the system places a call to it. Hey, it's past 2010, who has land lines. It took them 4 months to run a special interior only line to my apartment so I could buzz someone in. I was on the 7th floor; I had to go all the way down to let someone in until they fixed it. Screens. Old building sash windows don't have full screens. You have to go to get cheesy, ill-fitting screens to put in the top and bottom sections of each window if you want bug-free ventilation. Don't arrive "between jobs" -- not even having a year's rent in cash can get you an apartment because the eviction process is so onerous. They want to see 35 x rent as your annual income to get a lease. At least they've gotten rid of some of the fees. Water temp and pressure -- we had great pressure and temp but once a week the hot water from the shower/tub would be rusty. Once a month the boiler would be off so it was either no shower or cold shower. Amen on the laundry in unit. I miss it in my new place.
I’m literally BLOWN AWAY at the 35x rent as your annual income . I’m not one to check for anyone’s pockets . I just don’t understand how most people can afford that
If you get slam-locked use a subway card I would recommend practicing it can be useful. I almost got slam-locked and I have a subway card and managed to open it!
I've found that metrocards are a little too flimsy, but I was able to break into my apartment with a cheap ID card issued by the DA's office that I had from my former job. I disabled the slam lock after that, and just trained myself to use the top lock and key, so now I can't lock myself out, but nobody else can break in with just a card lol. Win-win.
I had a girlfriend who lived on 1st Street between 4th and 5th Avenues in Park Slope. Lived on the fourth floor. Luckily she was able to have a washer dryer in the apartment. In my apartment in Carroll Gardens I was allowed to have a washing machine in the apartment. As far as shopping goes a large backpack and a shopping cart served us well.
I lived inBrooklyn all my life...access to laundry is worth the extra money especially when there’s a foot of snow outside or it’s below zero 🥶. Save yourself the pain and just try to be as close to laundry as you can
Hi Jon. My granny cart was the best $60.00 I've ever spent. I won't carry bags 5 blocks to home, so the cart comes in very handy, especially in the Winter. Even though you might have to lug it up flights of stairs, it's better than carrying bags instead, just saying! Laundromat is just a block away as well. We have laundry on site.
I always called it a mom cart lol. My mom always had one for grocery shopping, and she'd make me push it home when I went shopping with her and I'd always be so embarrassed pushing it through the neighborhood like an old lady lmao. But honestly now that I'm in my 30s, I wish I had one.
@@SRosenberg203 My Granny cart is the best thing since sliced bread. In Montreal, we have biodegradable bags we use to shop, and carrying multiple bags is hell. And I live 4 blocks from the grocery store, so I can shop for a week in one pass, and granny cart it all home, no sweat. people don't seem to like them, as embarrassing, but you know, it's the simple things right that make life work !!
@@jeremy1350 It's one of those silly young-person embarrassments that fades with age, I think. I remember being embarrassed driving my dad's minivan when I was a teenager also, but I wouldn't care about that now. One of the things I don't like about my neighborhood is that the aren't great options for food shopping. I end up going to a supermarket that's about 14 blocks away, because the closer one doesn't have good meat or produce, so I usually end up just taking an uber home after I go shopping, for like 8 bucks. It's a long enough walk that even if I got the cart, I would still be concerned about things that need to be refrigerated, especially during the summer.
It *is* fascinating. Visited NYC once, fell in love, but live in the forested Alberta foothills on similar acreage. Only way l would leave, would be to live in New York.
It is good to see the area at least 3 times, early in the morning, afternoon and late evening. Once during the week and on the weekend, that would go for any city your going to live in.
Only lived here 2.5 months and I already locked myself out 😂 thankfully I could find my super because it was during the day but I'm definitely considering a backup plan now
I've been watching your videos since I moved to NYC earlier this year. Dunno why it took me this long to subscribe. Your content is ALWAYS great, Thanks!
one word about the heating ;-) yes, you often can't control the heating but there are very specific laws in NY - for example: From 6 AM - 10 PM: if the outside temperature falls below 55°F, then the inside temperature must be at least 68°F everywhere in your apartment and in your building.to
Coming from Ohio to BK as a child to visit family, NY seemed so glamorous. As an adult, I have a new respect. New Yorkers are a special kind, just built different. I just know I wouldn't survive. The thermostat situation alone is crazy to me.
Yes! Know your move-in times. I had my U-Haul packed with two friends to help me and was ready to head to the city from Connecticut but I was too tired and stressed and decided not to go that night. I found out the next day that even if I had gotten there I couldn’t have moved in because there are move-in times. We would’ve been sleeping in the U-Haul on the street
I love New York too John, I loved this vlog you uploaded today very informative and realistic. There is always cons and pros in living here. Planning indeed is one of the most integral part to consider to have an easy life living in 3rd or 4th floor without elevator. Watched it full. Great Job.
🤣😂😂 this is so true. I follow the jackson heights group from queens. You wouldn’t believe their horror stories. And it’s true if you are going to rent a walk up apartment be prepared to get your packages stolen. This is why I like living in houses I also like to control my heater. Buildings have too much going on.
Love your jacket! I'm old enough to have that jacket in the 1950's when my dad was stationed in Japan. Thanks for the videos. Great job. Also lived on the upper west side in the 1980's. NYC was a lot more edgy in a good way back then. Luckily, we had a good "super" in a rent controlled building.
Just as a tip to you, I lived in a place that had Laundry on the property, but not in the building. Wash your unmentionables in your sink and hang them up in your room to dry. Trust me, it will save you money!
Also, ask neighbors about on-site laundry; I moved into a building with on-site laundry only to realize the machines were HORRIBLE and ruined clothes so most tenants never used them
I was looking at the townhouse that is right next to the Cherry Lane when it was up for sale a few years ago. They only wanted $7.5 million for it. *eyeroll*
I lived in a walk up in the 90s. Thanks for reminding me how sucky it was. I moved after 3 years. Great access to everything, but so f-ing noisy. The heat and a/c also sucked. I never sent a package to the building. Also, so many people left the city on me. Had to always make new friends.
There are rules in New York regarding heat. Between October 1st and May 31st, the heat in your apartment must be at least 68⁰F between 6am and 10pm when the temperature falls below 55⁰F. From 10pm to 6am, the temperature in your apartment must be at least 62⁰F no matter what the temperature is outside. If this is not the case, you can call 311 to file a complaint.
I was lucky never dealing with any issues when I was little in our Jackson heights apartment. I did love Halloween because the first floor neighbors always made a huge party for all the kids in the building. Lived there for 5 years before my family bought a house in Astoria.
South facing buildings = more light! Definitely became a bigger issue for me during winter months. Also consider winter months if you don't have laundry in your building. And buy sturdy shoes because the city will tear them apart
Regarding heat: by law, I believe, landlords must turn on the heat if it's 55 degrees outside or lower. Steam heat in the older buildings can be very oppressive. I would make sure that I could at least turn off the radiators, if desired. Usually, they have a twisty knob that turns off the heat. We have a one-bedroom apartment and we keep the radiator turned off year-round in our living room, which is pretty large. The heat from the rads in the bedroom, bathroom (riser pipe, temperature @hell), and kitchen heat the whole apartment on all but the most frigid days.
The moral to the story is... don't live in a cheap-ass walk-up building. Just live in a luxury high-rise building with an elevator and doorman and your problems are solved. They are a little more expensive, but definitely worth it. Another thing nobody tells you about NYC: look into Jersey City and Hoboken. Lower cost of living, lower taxes and sometimes shorter commutes to Manhattan.
@@HereBeBarr Very true. But if given the option of a larger 1 BR in a walk-up building vs. a studio in an elevator building with a doorman, the studio wins for me every time.
Interior noise. Old buildings you hear more than you want to. Get used to turning on some ambient noise to cover or counter some of the clunking, banging, stomping, grinding, loud sex, etc.
You missed the biggest one.. not applying for 80/20 buildings while you still qualify. If you qualify (or close to it), start applying for housing lotteries. I would go so far as making sure your first apartment in a community board that has lots of 80/20 buildings with open lotteries (or upcoming 80/20 buildings), because if you live in the Community Board and are a family of 1 or 2, you’re likely to get it. CB4 in Manhattan or the CB’s in Brooklyn covering Williamsburg and Downtown. Lots of people starting out in the city make the income to qualify, and could have a super cheap apartment in a new luxury building for the rest of their lives. The income bands are narrow, so you might need to work overtime or limit your hours to get into the income band. This is very difficult to achieve by accident, especially if your income varies week-to-week. They look for BOTH falling within income band, AND consistency or weekly earnings (no spikes above or below the range)
Thans for this great video ! Please avoid living in an apartment that is next to a large panel of smart meters ! Get a schematic of the building and find out exactly where the smart meters are located.
BECOME FRIENDS WITH PAPI AT THE BODEGA building a friendly relationship with the person managing the bodega will let you into what’s happening in the neighborhood. if you’re really close even a free item here, they’ll even sell u stuff they’re not supposed to sell individually (but you aint heard that from me 🤫)
Some people say that it just takes X number of years living in New York to "become a New Yorker", but I've always believed that you're not a true New Yorker until you fulfill certain factors, one of which is being on a first-name basis with the guys at your local bodega. Other factors include knowing the exact location of the objectively best pizzeria in any given neighborhood, and being familiar enough with the subway system to be able to explain it clearly to a visitor.
I'd suggest asking people in the building about the super. Mine is crooked, nasty, mean and if something breaks he's mostly not going to fix it. He makes life miserable for the tenants. Our doorbells don't work, the halls are dirty, he blocks you from his phone if you call about a problem. It's too bad because I like my apt. and I live in a great area (I think).
Hey, havent seen the channel for some time and now I see that you moved to these lovely, comfortable, cozzy apartment. Congrants, really, you guys deserve it. And the beautiful trees out side, you will have a lovely view in autum. Enjoy it guys, lovely place for a lovely couple. Cuídense mucho
As someone who live in Bay Area CA where it is ridiculously expensive and I pay $1350 for a studio in the hood - I don't have to deal with any of this. The weather is always nice. I can see the beach from my window. Why live in NYC if this is what you get for your money, doesn't make sense.
I live in Toledo now but used to live in a bigger city on the East Coast. I miss being able to get any kind of food at any hour delivered. Its pretty awesome. I do not miss my heat being regulated by my landlord though. Had 2 different places with that and I froze.
6:50 Great advice. I've been in my apartment for about 9 years, and I locked myself out by forgetting my keys while I go down for a cigarette at least 7 times in the first 3 years, it was so humiliating to have to keep asking the super for my spares. I eventually just disabled the slam lock, and accustomed myself to using the top lock instead, after one night where I locked myself out at about 2am, so I was preparing to just sleep in the hallway outside my door until my super was back on duty, but I tried one last time to open my door, and I was actually able to pop the slam lock open with an ID card. So after that I started using the top lock that needs to be locked from the outside when I leave, both because I now can't lock myself out, and I also don't leave my apartment able to be entered by anyone with a semi-rigid plastic card.
Great tips! The one thing that I could never get used to are the smells : public urination, curry, wet dog smell when there is no wet dog around and then there are the subway smells in a class unto themselves. Thanks though!!!
Living in nyc from your 20s to 30s will prevent you from being a millionaire before age 40 unless you happen to be in a very successful career. So decide if its worth it.
@@zarathustra9 It varies wildly, I think, but the biggest factor comes down to property investment. If you're able to buy in New York, especially before the age of 35, you're doing great. But if you're still renting in your 40s and 50s, then you're going to be in trouble for retirement. I don't make anywhere close to 80k a year, but I own my apartment and I have a decent retirement account from my former job, and soon I'll begin paying into my pension at my new job so I'm set up better than most people my age for retirement despite my relatively low income (though it will increase over time as I progress in my career). This post seems to be implying that living anywhere outside of NY will automatically make you a millionaire by 40 though, which is a pretty ridiculous claim lmao
Nice shout out to Cash Jordan! I live in DC in an apt where the landlord controls the radiator. There is a bit of a gap from when the heat comes on in the fall and the a/c is off. Idk about NY, but in DC if the landlord controls the air/heat that means utilities are included in the rent. Since that is the case for my bldg, I have a small space heater that I crank until my apt is warm. I don't pay electricity, so it works out well for me. > > I was looking @ moving to another part of DC and had somewhat of an "intercom" situation in one of the apts I viewed. It was a key fob access bldg where you needed to use your key fob to access entry to the bldg, garage, the elevator to get to your floor, gym, roof top deck, etc. If you had guests come over you had to go to the lobby to greet them and take them up to your apt. While I was talking to the leasing manager I explained I like to entertain a lot. I would just give my key fob to a friend and they could go and bring up another friend. The leasing manager said if I was caught doing that I would be given a warning. If it happened again eviction proceedings would be filed. I was told as a renter, I am the only person that is supposed to have access to the bldg and by giving my keys to someone who doesn't live there I was breaking my lease. Needless to say I didn't end up moving into that bldg. When I heard the sock/key story (genius) I was wondering if this was a "breaking the lease" type of situation.
There’s only so much you can carry even if it’s a short distance. Get a good sized grocery pull cart. For all larger quantity shopping and if you do laundry outside your building.
The food thing is so true, I come from a town and food places are open super super late. When I moved to london, if I got hungry past 11pm I would stay hungry as everything would shut!!!
While these comments were great and suggestions spot on, if this doesn’t give you a reason to move out of New York City with everything that’s happened in the last year it would be crazy not to spend that money on an apartment or house outside of the city in these days. Thankfully I’ve worked my whole life but I don’t live here and I never well
I have no intentions of moving to NYC, yet I found this very interesting to know. I grew up in a small town in a two story house, so coming & going wasn't an issue for my family. Not only that, but I didn't grow up taking pubic transportation since my parents always had cars.
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Mr. Here Be Barr, things I love about New York City: the sights Empire State Building, Statute of Liberty, Broadway , the food (pizza especially). Things I hate about New York City: bad drivers, rude people, Bill de Blasio, black dudes in hoods, graffiti everywhere etc.
Get portable washer and dryer at your place in Brooklyn if you do not have a w/d in your building. I purchased a set in august and haven’t stepped back in laundrymat. Best purchase since living in nyc.
i hope more youtubers made honest videos like this. i saw one for Dubai as well and it was an eye-opener
JESSON LEE 1980이제슨 2])))
JESSON LEE 1980☆]))
ALWAYS look at “address report” before moving in!!!! Check for roaches and rats!! Talk to a few neighbors before moving in. Don’t let the agent rush you while viewing apartments.
👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻
And look for bedbug reports too!
tha damn roaches. i moved from Mexico City, in my house never ever see a roach! Now in NYC i have learned to loved them! hahaha (crying) But... well, its part of the show
Yes🥺😳😳😳
@@barrysolomon8993 so true because of all the restaurants. Too many mouses and rats too.
In my old walk up, I found the key to the boiler room. I controlled the heat for the entire building myself!
😂👌
Get it DAWGIE!!!!!!!!!! HEEEEEE HAWWWWWWWW
Living in Brooklyn, I luckily don't experience a lot of these issues. I'm 3 blocks from the A/C, 4 blocks from the 3/4. Two blocks from 2 great supermarkets, and the Dollar Store, but lately I've been using Amazon Fresh a lot! I'm in a newer apartment, and I have an in-unit washer/dryer. I'm very grateful, and fortunate. You couldn't pay me to live in Manhattan...ever.
If you dont mind me asking, whats the cost for an apartment like that?
@@SleeplessInLasVegas
I live East of the city...I would have said 3500-4500 but damn I'm seeing some rates at 2500 in really nice new apartments due to pandemic which is crazy cheap. If I had cash I would be buying NY Real Estate. It may drop at times but historically it ALWAYS goes up.
P.S.-personally I've never been cold in a NY apartment and they can come down hard on landlords who don't have the heat on by Oct.15 but I guess there are always some. Those old radiators are crazy hot and great to warm your wet boots. Usually a landlord just sets the heat and you end up opening and closing windows to regulate.
@@dragodons oh nice! Id love to move to NY one day, i just dont see how id be able to afford rent with just a regular job.
East Brooklyn on fire right now
@@SleeplessInLasVegas yea you wouldn't survive lol
Riding a bike made a huge positive difference during my 10+ years in NYC (East Village). It became really rare for me to take the subway as I could get almost anywhere by bike and yes, I rode in the winter, too. A bike and a granny cart (for shopping and laundry) make life even better in NYC!
if the landlord doesn't turn on the heat you can call 311
The NYC Heat Law Basics
Property owners must provide tenants with heat under the following conditions:
Between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., if the outside temperature falls below 55 degrees, the inside temperature is required to be at least 68 degrees Fahrenheit; and,
Between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., the inside temperature is required to be at least 62 degrees Fahrenheit.
NYCHA apartments go a year with no heat
@@anthonymolina7416
For those that don’t know that’s low income housing.
Anthony is correct among heating issues, they have structural issues, garbage issues there was a case in the Bronx of rats running wild at one of the projects and a near by play ground. The city hasn’t taken care of these building in decades.
@@primedawg666 the city probably wants the people to leave so , they can sell the buildings to developers. They are worth millions
@@anthonymolina7416 if you google "NYC selling NYCHA properties" tons of articles of the city already doing that. fucked up world man but Nov 3rd is election day. Local elections are super important for this reason among many others.
@@anthonymolina7416 . . . you're right, Anthony -- particularly with all the gentrification going on.
5. Friends will leave over time
4. Leaving spare keys with a friend
Wait Jon, this doesn’t seem like a good idea!!
Oh 😯 damn . You’re right 🤣
@@HereBeBarr if you can I would leave a spare key at work
This is where planning ahead is crucial. Friend with key is going to move? Get your key back and give it to someone else or have locksmith change the lock and give apt mgr a copy of new key.
Make a friend with a lifelong New Yorker, they exist and probably have a bunch of spare keys for various friends that have come and gone.
“Oh hey stacy, sorry to call you so late, you have my keys?”
Stacy back home in California: “😬”
Living on the 5th floor, no elevator in Paris- about 7 times down at the street and "damn, the mask"! Sign of the times...
I hang mine on my front door knob!
I keep an extra one in my bra at all times along with a pocket knife lol
@@lelasharp1144 lol 😂
Living in the 5th floor saves you money for the gym lol
I don't live in a tall building, but at work I always park my car in a 10 story parking garage and I've gotten used to walking the stairs up to the 8th floor every day. After an entire workday in front of a computer that is just what I need 😄
A few suggestions for anyone wanting to move here
1) find an air b&b in neighborhood you're considering and give it a couple nights. It will never be the full scope but you'll have some personal insight.
2) Don't move to the Bronx to be different. Don't get me wrong, it's my part of town and I love it but depending on where in the Bronx, commutes to Manhattan could take you an hour or longer.
3) moving to a neighborhood with tons of nice eateries, well set a budget and a plan because that can be really expensive. Many credit cards and bank cards have features that allow you to see where your spending is going. Your rent is high enough.
Tyrone B If you work in Brooklyn, is living in the Bronx feasible?
For both laundromat and groceries that are good walk away, invest in a folding shopping cart. This is basically how may 70yo Grandma is able to live on her own in brooklyn. She rarely needs help getting her groceries or with cleaning her clothes.
Imoved to Texas, and I still have mine.
@lock n load
A shopping cart is better because it is collapsible when not in use.
@@apbxny216 I use my regular (largish) back pack for shopping and duffel bags (fit one washer load each) with shoulder straps or my backpacking backpack for laundry.
These were actually really good 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Wait wtf Damon seeing your comment just made me realize that Thursday passed and i didn’t watch your last video FUCK the algorithm
Thanks for posting, I truly appreciate another creators compliment.
Idk many of these apply to any city apartment
"actually"
I always see your comments on YT videos, we must watch the same ones!
Few tips from a 14 year resident of BPC (applies anywhere in the City): 1) Don't go jogging between 4-5:30AM, unless you like running hurdles over rats , 2) If you have a car, keep it parked in NJ and just take the PATH to get it when u need it... alternate side parking is a pain, and the parking garages charge crazy amounts and seldom let you self park. 3) Walking at night, keep your eyes straight ahead, head on a swivel... especially now.
The reason in which you talked about when good friends leave the city brings up another good point, it’s really annoying when restaurants you enjoy going to or have been going to for so many years close down.
Everything is DRAMA in New York! It’s like you’re the star of your own movie, every day. This guy’s the perfect example of how self-important most New Yorkers can be. Was one myself for 20 years and I was the same way.
I loved it all, but I feel like I “overcame” it.
Best piece of advice I got when I was looking for an apartment to rent, was to go back at night so you can walk around the neighborhood to make sure it’s as safe as it is during the day when you check it out for the first time. It’s amazing how much some areas can change in the span of a few hours!
I lived in a 4 floors walk up apartment in the UES and my butt never looked better 👌🏼😉
🤣🤣🤣
👀
Dat ass
Great tips, Jon. And great camera work! I'm with you on the subway tip. My suggestion is to make sure your apartment is, ideally, within .5 of a subway stop, which I've found is about a 5-7 block radius. Any more than that and I find it to be really cumbersome, especially if you wind up moving into a walk-up or have to lug things from stores.
Yes, .5 is a good rule of thumb.
@@HereBeBarr what does .5 of a subway stop mean?
@@jawaherali-reda6060 .5 miles!
Actually for the heat pipe situation, it's usually pretty tough to be freezing during winter or too hot during summer. There are certain temperature guidelines a landlord must follow, or you can threaten to report them to the city. Works with my landlord every time the heat isn't turned on early enough in the year (just open the windows if it's too hot).
Laundry and natural light are key. That’s why I’ll probably stick with my studio apartment unless I can find something better that isn’t a walk up.
Being a local you can get your fedex packages redirected to Duane Reade and they will sign and hold them for free.
Check for cockroaches and mice droppings inside sink cabinets! There are also websites that show you building violations when you enter the address. These problems can cause you misery and you can't get out of your lease!
Once you have cockroaches you always will. They bug spray, the cockroaches move next door for a month or two then come right. back.
@@mircat28 That's not true at all, that's only true if you live a filthy lifestyle. I keep my apartment clean, and every 2 years or so I see 1 roach that comes in from someone else's apartment, but that's it. Roaches are attracted to filth, and if you don't live in a filthy home they go elsewhere.
Wishing you and you family (your lovely wife and either dog or cat??) very safe move. Former New Yorker here, whose 1st apartment was across the street from the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. One other thing I would recommend if you live in any mixed ethnic community (this is true in San Francisco, too), learn some pleasant comments, please thank you, etc., so you can converse with your local bodega owner or your laundry owners -- in SF, they are often Chinese speakers first. I speak Spanish and can now say about 20 sentences in Cantonese -- that opens a lot of doors in my community. When I worked on Avenue C, the location bodega order would come outside to get my breakfast order and that of several of my Physicians Assistant team members. That was pretty sweet.
Neat! I am here in San Francisco, North Beach.☯️
Country bumpkin here. What’s a bodega?
Native NYer here- cars. Don’t own a car. Alternate side of the street parking will consume your life. I’m living in Philly right now- and that doesn’t exist. And. In the winter- the giant corner slush/sludge puddle that you can’t quite clear with a big step- wellies are a must.
MAKE SURE UR APT HAS GOOD SERVICE FOR YOUR PHONE EVEN IF U HAVE WIFI CALLS MAY STILL DROP
Thanks a lot for the content man. Even as an old New Yorker, I appreciate them. Also, my two cents: get to know your neighborhood inside out. Not all of them is as compacted or dense as the overexposure of Manhattan in the media makes you think; heck, some even resemble a suburb. Also, buy a small heater if you cannot control that during the winter; just don't leave it unattended due to safety issues AND since it'll be colder outside, you'll have to wear many layers before you're outside (don't underestimate the cold!) so think about what errands you'll plan on doing (taking out garbage, buying lotions, etc.) if you leave your apartment once. Lastly, if you have to do laundry outside of your building; PLAN ACCORDINGLY. The nearest laundry might be busy at a certain time, or you live on a third or fourth floor with no elevator or you might prefer to pay more for wash and fold, etc. Just figure out what works best for you; sometimes I even end up exhausted, underestimating the time and money that laundry takes sometimes!
cold, try living in Scotland
@@millsbomb007 why do some people feel the need to leave such useless comments? 🙄 Pft, you think it's cold in Scotland? TrY LiViNG in iCelAnD! 🙄
What's worse is that average winter temps in NYC and Edinburgh are almost identical 😂 😂 😂
@@inesolujic2534 not the same mate, come over here and see how you vikings cope. Enjoy your thermal bath.
@@millsbomb007 WOOOSSH
@@inesolujic2534 bring your salted salts
Not sure it would be safe to do apartment chores by myself after one in the morning but I appreciate the suggestion! 😂😂
You can do it! I believe in you.
Hey Cash!!🌼♥️🌞🌝🎶
theres always new jersey
I got very lucky... I recently moved to NYC on a whim and got an amazing apartment , with laundry in the building and amazing views from bedroom windows.
Hey I am looking for a similar apt...which area is this?
I hate you. But congrats!
I'm in a 3 bedroom for under 2k. I almost left since I saw some GREAT deals but I knew in my heart and soul that when covid is over or any type of normalcy comes back to the city my rent would double and triple and I would have to probably move again so I stayed where I'm at. Been with my landlord for a few years and she has never raised my rent so I stayed put but there was some GREAT deals out there with covid man. Great. Deals.
@@bliss5709 3bdroom for under $2k? in which area? unless you want to go +1h from the city...
Wash and folds for laundry are a godsend in New York, it is typically cheap if you live outside of Manhattan, and they fold your laundry better than you can. Plus it ends the need to waste a day at the laundromat washing clothes.
And, your clothes come out much cleaner, also, they buy the products. It is money well spent.
As a lifelong New Yorker born, raised, and still living in the Bronx -- I don't really give much thought to how safe other parts of the city are in terms of moving there. Pretty much every other place is going to be safer than where I've lived here!
But yeah, the No. 1 most crucial thing I check out first is whether or not my building has a laundry room. Or if not, that there is a good laundromat within (very) quick walking distance. I never forget this important step.
One thing I worry about when moving into a new building is if there is current facade repointing/renovation going on. Which means scaffolding all over your building and potentially cutting off the light through your windows for 6 months to up to 2 years! I lucked out big time when I moved into my current apartment as the building was just finishing up exterior renovations the very week I was supposed to move in. Which was good, because until that point my 2nd-story bedroom window looked right out onto the base of the scaffolding where all the workers took their breaks and chit chatted during the day. So they would literally be passing back and forth on the same level as my window all day long -- with direct line of sight into my apartment!
Excellent point . Happened to the building next to mine. The construction is still going on almost 2 years later
Happily living rural, in my own (yet simple) house
freedom
Recently moved to NY from Miami and there are some things i didnt know or things I learned:
1. Didnt even think about buildings not having AC, it took 4 days in 90 degree weather before we got a window AC installed.
2. Doing laundry is kind of pain, and very expensive, it cost $8 for me to do it myself (wash and fold service would have been like $30)
3. I thought 4 flights of stairs wouldnt be to bad, i was wrong, please higher movers, as i wanted to die lugging a 100 Ibs mattress up to the 4th floor and all our other stuff.
4. If you are living with someone, get a 1 br, not a studio, i promise being able to have some space is amazing.
5. 1st day you move in, deep clean the apartment, and get a perimeter bug spray to use around your place, this will help prevent bugs. Even if you are clean, your neighbors might not be and they can easily come to your place
6. Gas and electricity are way more expensive then I thought it would be, keep that in mind.
Thinking of buying a condo in Manhattan in the next couple of months, and I’m coming from palm beach. Are you still enjoying your time over there?
I live in Brooklyn. Sheepshead Bay is a good neighborhood. Neighborhood is safe at night. I've been fishing at night, Going to Applebees, Rite Aid . ( There are 2 Rite Aids in Sheepshead Bay) even shopping at Stop N Shop at night.
Sheepshead Bay has Sheepshead Bay train Station ( B & Q trains) . Buses that serve Sheepshead Bay are B4, B36, B49, can get them on Ave Z and East 15 street one block from the Sheepshead Bay train Station. BM 3 along Emmons Avenue to Manhattan and vice versa. B44 and B44-SBS at Knapp street and Emmons Avenue and Emmons Avenue and Nostrand Avenue to Williamsburg and vice versa. Bedford Ave in Sheepshead Bay I feel is safe.
I live in Sheepshead Bay and the transportation options around here aren’t as lovely as you make them out to sound. I live down on Emmons and have to take the B4 to the train. The bus schedule seems to be merely a suggestion and doesn’t run with much frequency outside of rush hour...or not at all certain hours. If you miss the B4 at 2pm, you’re either waiting 30 minutes for the next one or making the 1 mile walk to the train. The B44 I guess is good, but I never had a reason to go that far up Nostrand. The B is nice, but if you have to get anywhere on the weekend, you’re left with the Q. And it never fails that during rush hour, the B gets rerouted to the Q. The safety of the neighborhood is decent, but the nightlife and shopping options are terrible! I guess I was spoiled living in Bay Ridge first and then moving to Sheepshead Bay. If apartments had pools in Bay Ridge like they do in Sheepshead, I’d leave in a heartbeat.
You live in New York, you don't have to eat at Applebees...
Our building requires you have licensed/ insured professional movers so that adds to cost.
Sometimes it’s easier to have bulky items like laundry soap, delivered.
Areas that were once desired are now ghost towns so look at the current situation not a year ago.
Such a great video!!! Really helpful to anyone moving to the Apple. I moved just outside of Westchester about 7 years ago from the city and it's the biggest regret of my life! Planning on moving back to Manhattan or NY City boroughs in 2 years. I hate it here... NO fashions (everyone dresses horribly), NO interesting people, NO Galleries, NO crazy outfits to shock me when I walk down the street, NO sidewalks in many areas to walk on, NO people around when I come out of my house, Incredibly lonely and isolating. You get the picture. Moving back to my home town no matter how many stairs I have to climb up with 20 bags of groceries.
Walk around the block(s) of a place you're looking at to see if any construction is happening in the direct area and always carry an extra tote bag that you can fold up and fit in your pocket :-) Most places charge for shopping bags
4:35/ Having been born and raised in The Bronx, I had the privilege of growing up between a local and express station of the same subway line! Within walking distance of 3 bus routes, and an expressway. For out-of-towners, do the research and see how accessible mass transit is within your new home. 😎🇵🇷🇺🇸🗽🦂
Thanks Mr Barr....lots of clear observations about big city living.... I would just add: "keep your sense of gratitude and wonder". Thanks for such a careful, scenic, fun and caring video.🌞
WOW! You are _so_ right about landlords controlling the heat. When I lived in Brooklyn, the way the building was set up, my landlord controlled the heat and, of course, waited until the last possible moment in winter to start turning it on. 🤣🤣 I never really thought about that before now. Ahhhh, I miss NYC!
I agree every city in the world sleeps... i’ve been to Manhattan about 100 times I’ve gone out looking for food at 1-2am several times and nothing was open.... I walked and walked and walked nothing open.... this guy is correct on a lot of things...
Oh yeah, dear Jon... I live on the fifth floor (without lift) and now I take care of a little dog, because his mumm is in the hospital. Every floor is important, if you need to climb it five time a day!
Good for you though.
Some extras: 1. Research area want to live in which includes public transportation (Subway a plus), distance (Manhattan or close to it more expensive) and if you have kids schools cause mostly can only attend schools aligned to your Borough. 2. Apartment more perks higher rent or maintenance cost and some might not worth it cause there could be e.g. 24 hour gym around the corner. If old building make sure to check for pests, noise, plumbing, electrical, and elevator. 3. Despite believe if one lives in Borough outside Manhattan one will likely have a car. With cars got to remember street cleaning schedules and make sure you park where allowed (fines pretty high). Also no turn on red in NYC. 4. Check weather before leaving. NYC weather can be unpredictable and easily swing like even 20 degrees from one day to next. Also summer can get hot and humid and winter cold but snow rare. 5. Want to get the most learn best places and best times. Like when get less people to do laundry, when are rush hours, what is the quickest path (New Yorker would even know what subway car to get in and what exit to use). 6. NYC has ton of places and activities for every taste everywhere just have to look. Like there 4 parks larger than Central Park.
Not having a washer/dryer would be my deal breaker haha. I didn’t have one for years and now that I do, my life is so much easier.
The good thing about living in a fifth floor walk up. Great cardio. 🙃// Because it's a hassle to grocery shop, and lug stuff up the stairs, you eat out more. Budget accordingly. // Maybe it's changed, haven't been in the city for years, but folks begging for money was a constant. Determine how you'll handle it before hand. After getting scammed a couple times, I started to offer to buy food. // Be aware of your surroundings while you're walking around. Neighborhoods differ. If a neighborhood is deserted or if you only see young guys hanging on street corners, there's a reason.
Sounds like a lovely place to live.
@@jonthibault5509 Our neighborhood wasn't bad, just some areas in the city you have to be careful in. For NYC our apartment was great. And if you're in the arts, NYC is an exciting place to live. There are beggars everywhere in NY. Coming from out of state, it was a bit of a shock. Just be aware. My roomies and I had a really sweet landlord and landlady. Very conscientious. That makes all the difference.
I had a few funny stories:
1. One single fuse: I had no clue my whole appartment only had one 21A fuse. A couple of times I managed to make the fuse go out by switching on an additional heater and the microvawe at the same time. Every time I had to call the landlord, from 2 houses away, to go and replace it in the basement. One time it happened in the evening and I didn't want to bother him, so I used the light from my laptop and was freezing...
2. Cockroaches: had these for a few months until someone instructed my landlord how to fix that (close all the holes in the walls). It was totally gross to see these small black munchkins running over my dining table in the morning --> I started storing everything in the fridge, incl. Sugar and coffee.
A friend was trying to identify for a week where some bad smell was coming from: until he found a dead mouse under his couch!
3. No aircondition: don't go there...it's hell on earth. On the day I was living NYC in the begining of June I had showered 3 times before 2 pm.
4. No elevator: yes, it's highly annoying.
5. Laundromat: I didn't want to dry all the clothes in the dryer (i'm from EU), so I stuffed all clothes in 2 suitcases, went to do my laundry, then mostly put them wet in plastic bags and rolled that back home, and up the stairs. I hated this so much I always did it last minute sundays (just before they closed).
6. NYT just thrown in front of the building: I had a NYT subscription for some time. It wasn't put into the mailbox, but dumped in from of the house (next to the trash). Surprisingly, it was never stolen...
In the US it's against the law to put anything in a mailbox unless it was sent through the post office. I liked my Swiss mailbox that anyone could use plus you have the option to put a "no advertising please" sticker on it. Re roaches, I never had them in New York but in DC where I started keeping cereal in the fridge.
A friend moved to an apartment in Astoria that had been (superficially) renovated and it had one 15 amp circuit in the kitchen. My 1930 apt has a circuit breaker box from maybe 1970 in the apt. No one had ever labeled the circuits. The LR and BedR are just one breaker. Two for the kitchen, one for the bathroom. It's hard to remember to check these things out before renting. Some new suburban apt would have 2 or 3 times the electric capacity.
Most importantly, WE ARE NOT RUDE WE JUST DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME AND WE ARE JUST LITTLE LOUD
Loll seriously ! Agreed
We have shit to do... respectfully!
Agreed! I am from the south. I just spent 5 days in the city for the third time. New Yorkers are not rude! They are on the move. NY is one of the most inviting cities I've ever visited. Can't wait to go back.
I live in New York, I don't even work and still don't have enough time.
Answer this. Is whirling at a woman minding her own business normal to you or disgusting.
In my last building they didn't put my name in the directory for the 4 years I was there. Many buzzer/intercom systems require a land line as the system places a call to it. Hey, it's past 2010, who has land lines. It took them 4 months to run a special interior only line to my apartment so I could buzz someone in. I was on the 7th floor; I had to go all the way down to let someone in until they fixed it.
Screens. Old building sash windows don't have full screens. You have to go to get cheesy, ill-fitting screens to put in the top and bottom sections of each window if you want bug-free ventilation.
Don't arrive "between jobs" -- not even having a year's rent in cash can get you an apartment because the eviction process is so onerous. They want to see 35 x rent as your annual income to get a lease. At least they've gotten rid of some of the fees.
Water temp and pressure -- we had great pressure and temp but once a week the hot water from the shower/tub would be rusty. Once a month the boiler would be off so it was either no shower or cold shower.
Amen on the laundry in unit. I miss it in my new place.
Great tips!!
I’m literally BLOWN AWAY at the 35x rent as your annual income . I’m not one to check for anyone’s pockets . I just don’t understand how most people can afford that
If you get slam-locked use a subway card I would recommend practicing it can be useful. I almost got slam-locked and I have a subway card and managed to open it!
I've found that metrocards are a little too flimsy, but I was able to break into my apartment with a cheap ID card issued by the DA's office that I had from my former job. I disabled the slam lock after that, and just trained myself to use the top lock and key, so now I can't lock myself out, but nobody else can break in with just a card lol. Win-win.
I had a girlfriend who lived on 1st Street between 4th and 5th Avenues in Park Slope. Lived on the fourth floor. Luckily she was able to have a washer dryer in the apartment. In my apartment in Carroll Gardens I was allowed to have a washing machine in the apartment. As far as shopping goes a large backpack and a shopping cart served us well.
I lived inBrooklyn all my life...access to laundry is worth the extra money especially when there’s a foot of snow outside or it’s below zero 🥶. Save yourself the pain and just try to be as close to laundry as you can
Hi Jon. My granny cart was the best $60.00 I've ever spent. I won't carry bags 5 blocks to home, so the cart comes in very handy, especially in the Winter. Even though you might have to lug it up flights of stairs, it's better than carrying bags instead, just saying! Laundromat is just a block away as well. We have laundry on site.
Granny cart 🤣
I always called it a mom cart lol. My mom always had one for grocery shopping, and she'd make me push it home when I went shopping with her and I'd always be so embarrassed pushing it through the neighborhood like an old lady lmao. But honestly now that I'm in my 30s, I wish I had one.
@@SRosenberg203 My Granny cart is the best thing since sliced bread. In Montreal, we have biodegradable bags we use to shop, and carrying multiple bags is hell. And I live 4 blocks from the grocery store, so I can shop for a week in one pass, and granny cart it all home, no sweat. people don't seem to like them, as embarrassing, but you know, it's the simple things right that make life work !!
@@jeremy1350 It's one of those silly young-person embarrassments that fades with age, I think. I remember being embarrassed driving my dad's minivan when I was a teenager also, but I wouldn't care about that now.
One of the things I don't like about my neighborhood is that the aren't great options for food shopping. I end up going to a supermarket that's about 14 blocks away, because the closer one doesn't have good meat or produce, so I usually end up just taking an uber home after I go shopping, for like 8 bucks. It's a long enough walk that even if I got the cart, I would still be concerned about things that need to be refrigerated, especially during the summer.
Wow this is fascinating! I can’t relate, but love learning about how different it is to live in a big city. We are in Western Wyoming on 20 acres.
Wow!!!!! I live in San Francisco and have my whole life.....🌄
It *is* fascinating. Visited NYC once, fell in love, but live in the forested Alberta foothills on similar acreage. Only way l would leave, would be to live in New York.
I live in Texas bigger the better
@@natalieberry4942 We have a 300-foot green beacon of Liberty, just sayin.
I will never forget living in my 4th floor walkup. This was before Amazon so I rarely had any packages missing.
It is good to see the area at least 3 times, early in the morning, afternoon and late evening. Once during the week and on the weekend, that would go for any city your going to live in.
Considering how fast we're told some apts get rented do you even have enough time to check that out? Good idea though!
Words of wisdom, life lessons; thank you, Barr!
Only lived here 2.5 months and I already locked myself out 😂 thankfully I could find my super because it was during the day but I'm definitely considering a backup plan now
Welcome to NYC- from a native
I've been watching your videos since I moved to NYC earlier this year. Dunno why it took me this long to subscribe. Your content is ALWAYS great, Thanks!
As a native New Yorker, I can definitely agree with some of these tips. Great video👏🏼
one word about the heating ;-) yes, you often can't control the heating but there are very specific laws in NY - for example: From 6 AM - 10 PM: if the outside temperature falls below 55°F, then the inside temperature must be at least 68°F everywhere in your apartment and in your building.to
Me watching this with my NYC widow open in January because my apartment is constantly 80 degrees...
check the plumbing !! I’ve been dealing with a slow drain in the shower for the last two years.
Coming from Ohio to BK as a child to visit family, NY seemed so glamorous. As an adult, I have a new respect. New Yorkers are a special kind, just built different. I just know I wouldn't survive. The thermostat situation alone is crazy to me.
Im actually moving from ohio to ny lol
I am a native New Yorker, and you are giving some really good tips for people considering moving to NYC.
Yes! Know your move-in times. I had my U-Haul packed with two friends to help me and was ready to head to the city from Connecticut but I was too tired and stressed and decided not to go that night. I found out the next day that even if I had gotten there I couldn’t have moved in because there are move-in times. We would’ve been sleeping in the U-Haul on the street
I love New York too John, I loved this vlog you uploaded today very informative and realistic. There is always cons and pros in living here. Planning indeed is one of the most integral part to consider to have an easy life living in 3rd or 4th floor without elevator. Watched it full. Great Job.
Light is definitely extremely important. Very good advice, thanks for making the video.
I will hopefully be moving to NYC for residency (find out February 19th), so this video was very helpful. I'll let ya'll know how it goes! :)
?
are you moving???
Did you ever end up moving? 🤨😂😭
🤣😂😂 this is so true. I follow the jackson heights group from queens. You wouldn’t believe their horror stories. And it’s true if you are going to rent a walk up apartment be prepared to get your packages stolen. This is why I like living in houses I also like to control my heater. Buildings have too much going on.
Love your jacket! I'm old enough to have that jacket in the 1950's when my dad was stationed in Japan. Thanks for the videos. Great job.
Also lived on the upper west side in the 1980's. NYC was a lot more edgy in a good way back then. Luckily, we had a good "super" in a rent controlled building.
Just as a tip to you, I lived in a place that had Laundry on the property, but not in the building. Wash your unmentionables in your sink and hang them up in your room to dry. Trust me, it will save you money!
Also, ask neighbors about on-site laundry; I moved into a building with on-site laundry only to realize the machines were HORRIBLE and ruined clothes so most tenants never used them
I can't tell you how many times I was locked out of my apartment before I learned how to disable the slam lock.
You did the first half of this video on my very favorite block in ALL of Manhattan. The Commerce St bend. Excellent advice. Great video as always!
I was looking at the townhouse that is right next to the Cherry Lane when it was up for sale a few years ago. They only wanted $7.5 million for it. *eyeroll*
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I lived in a walk up in the 90s. Thanks for reminding me how sucky it was. I moved after 3 years. Great access to everything, but so f-ing noisy. The heat and a/c also sucked. I never sent a package to the building. Also, so many people left the city on me. Had to always make new friends.
There are rules in New York regarding heat. Between October 1st and May 31st, the heat in your apartment must be at least 68⁰F between 6am and 10pm when the temperature falls below 55⁰F. From 10pm to 6am, the temperature in your apartment must be at least 62⁰F no matter what the temperature is outside. If this is not the case, you can call 311 to file a complaint.
I was lucky never dealing with any issues when I was little in our Jackson heights apartment. I did love Halloween because the first floor neighbors always made a huge party for all the kids in the building. Lived there for 5 years before my family bought a house in Astoria.
South facing buildings = more light! Definitely became a bigger issue for me during winter months. Also consider winter months if you don't have laundry in your building. And buy sturdy shoes because the city will tear them apart
Regarding heat: by law, I believe, landlords must turn on the heat if it's 55 degrees outside or lower. Steam heat in the older buildings can be very oppressive. I would make sure that I could at least turn off the radiators, if desired. Usually, they have a twisty knob that turns off the heat. We have a one-bedroom apartment and we keep the radiator turned off year-round in our living room, which is pretty large. The heat from the rads in the bedroom, bathroom (riser pipe, temperature @hell), and kitchen heat the whole apartment on all but the most frigid days.
Good tips. Moving to New York is awesome 👌
The moral to the story is... don't live in a cheap-ass walk-up building. Just live in a luxury high-rise building with an elevator and doorman and your problems are solved. They are a little more expensive, but definitely worth it. Another thing nobody tells you about NYC: look into Jersey City and Hoboken. Lower cost of living, lower taxes and sometimes shorter commutes to Manhattan.
Depends on your budget
@@HereBeBarr Very true. But if given the option of a larger 1 BR in a walk-up building vs. a studio in an elevator building with a doorman, the studio wins for me every time.
Interior noise. Old buildings you hear more than you want to. Get used to turning on some ambient noise to cover or counter some of the clunking, banging, stomping, grinding, loud sex, etc.
You missed the biggest one.. not applying for 80/20 buildings while you still qualify. If you qualify (or close to it), start applying for housing lotteries. I would go so far as making sure your first apartment in a community board that has lots of 80/20 buildings with open lotteries (or upcoming 80/20 buildings), because if you live in the Community Board and are a family of 1 or 2, you’re likely to get it. CB4 in Manhattan or the CB’s in Brooklyn covering Williamsburg and Downtown. Lots of people starting out in the city make the income to qualify, and could have a super cheap apartment in a new luxury building for the rest of their lives. The income bands are narrow, so you might need to work overtime or limit your hours to get into the income band. This is very difficult to achieve by accident, especially if your income varies week-to-week. They look for BOTH falling within income band, AND consistency or weekly earnings (no spikes above or below the range)
And I forgot to mention, once you get in, you have an apartment in a new luxury building
The spare set of keys at a different location is an absolute must. Great tip John !
Thans for this great video ! Please avoid living in an apartment that is next to a large panel of smart meters ! Get a schematic of the building and find out exactly where the smart meters are located.
BECOME FRIENDS WITH PAPI AT THE BODEGA building a friendly relationship with the person managing the bodega will let you into what’s happening in the neighborhood. if you’re really close even a free item here, they’ll even sell u stuff they’re not supposed to sell individually (but you aint heard that from me 🤫)
Some people say that it just takes X number of years living in New York to "become a New Yorker", but I've always believed that you're not a true New Yorker until you fulfill certain factors, one of which is being on a first-name basis with the guys at your local bodega. Other factors include knowing the exact location of the objectively best pizzeria in any given neighborhood, and being familiar enough with the subway system to be able to explain it clearly to a visitor.
I'd suggest asking people in the building about the super. Mine is crooked, nasty, mean and if something breaks he's mostly not going to fix it. He makes life miserable for the tenants. Our doorbells don't work, the halls are dirty, he blocks you from his phone if you call about a problem. It's too bad because I like my apt. and I live in a great area (I think).
That really sucks.. but a reality for many .
That really sucks.. but a reality for many . Thanks for sharing.
SO TRUE! check out the neighborhoods at night first!
Hey, havent seen the channel for some time and now I see that you moved to these lovely, comfortable, cozzy apartment. Congrants, really, you guys deserve it. And the beautiful trees out side, you will have a lovely view in autum. Enjoy it guys, lovely place for a lovely couple. Cuídense mucho
As someone who live in Bay Area CA where it is ridiculously expensive and I pay $1350 for a studio in the hood - I don't have to deal with any of this. The weather is always nice. I can see the beach from my window. Why live in NYC if this is what you get for your money, doesn't make sense.
I live in Toledo now but used to live in a bigger city on the East Coast. I miss being able to get any kind of food at any hour delivered. Its pretty awesome. I do not miss my heat being regulated by my landlord though. Had 2 different places with that and I froze.
6:50 Great advice. I've been in my apartment for about 9 years, and I locked myself out by forgetting my keys while I go down for a cigarette at least 7 times in the first 3 years, it was so humiliating to have to keep asking the super for my spares. I eventually just disabled the slam lock, and accustomed myself to using the top lock instead, after one night where I locked myself out at about 2am, so I was preparing to just sleep in the hallway outside my door until my super was back on duty, but I tried one last time to open my door, and I was actually able to pop the slam lock open with an ID card. So after that I started using the top lock that needs to be locked from the outside when I leave, both because I now can't lock myself out, and I also don't leave my apartment able to be entered by anyone with a semi-rigid plastic card.
Great tips! The one thing that I could never get used to are the smells : public urination, curry, wet dog smell when there is no wet dog around and then there are the subway smells in a class unto themselves. Thanks though!!!
Living in nyc from your 20s to 30s will prevent you from being a millionaire before age 40 unless you happen to be in a very successful career. So decide if its worth it.
Food for thought right here ...
Shahrukh How much mayonnaise do you eat?
@@zarathustra9 It varies wildly, I think, but the biggest factor comes down to property investment. If you're able to buy in New York, especially before the age of 35, you're doing great. But if you're still renting in your 40s and 50s, then you're going to be in trouble for retirement.
I don't make anywhere close to 80k a year, but I own my apartment and I have a decent retirement account from my former job, and soon I'll begin paying into my pension at my new job so I'm set up better than most people my age for retirement despite my relatively low income (though it will increase over time as I progress in my career).
This post seems to be implying that living anywhere outside of NY will automatically make you a millionaire by 40 though, which is a pretty ridiculous claim lmao
Nice shout out to Cash Jordan! I live in DC in an apt where the landlord controls the radiator. There is a bit of a gap from when the heat comes on in the fall and the a/c is off. Idk about NY, but in DC if the landlord controls the air/heat that means utilities are included in the rent. Since that is the case for my bldg, I have a small space heater that I crank until my apt is warm. I don't pay electricity, so it works out well for me. > > I was looking @ moving to another part of DC and had somewhat of an "intercom" situation in one of the apts I viewed. It was a key fob access bldg where you needed to use your key fob to access entry to the bldg, garage, the elevator to get to your floor, gym, roof top deck, etc. If you had guests come over you had to go to the lobby to greet them and take them up to your apt. While I was talking to the leasing manager I explained I like to entertain a lot. I would just give my key fob to a friend and they could go and bring up another friend. The leasing manager said if I was caught doing that I would be given a warning. If it happened again eviction proceedings would be filed. I was told as a renter, I am the only person that is supposed to have access to the bldg and by giving my keys to someone who doesn't live there I was breaking my lease. Needless to say I didn't end up moving into that bldg. When I heard the sock/key story (genius) I was wondering if this was a "breaking the lease" type of situation.
There’s only so much you can carry even if it’s a short distance. Get a good sized grocery pull cart. For all larger quantity shopping and if you do laundry outside your building.
The food thing is so true, I come from a town and food places are open super super late. When I moved to london, if I got hungry past 11pm I would stay hungry as everything would shut!!!
This guy looks exactly what I expect a New Yorker to look like. Anyway, greetings from Denver.
LOL He is a little colorfully dressed....eccentric perhaps...so NYC.
I freaking love NYC really love the city lights I can’t wait to make it there one day 😁
While these comments were great and suggestions spot on, if this doesn’t give you a reason to move out of New York City with everything that’s happened in the last year it would be crazy not to spend that money on an apartment or house outside of the city in these days. Thankfully I’ve worked my whole life but I don’t live here and I never well
I have no intentions of moving to NYC, yet I found this very interesting to know. I grew up in a small town in a two story house, so coming & going wasn't an issue for my family. Not only that, but I didn't grow up taking pubic transportation since my parents always had cars.
Didn't expect to see my comment, nice! A lot of good information in the video and definitely appreciate the anecdote.
Never thought I'd get seasick watching a video on RUclips but here we are. STAND STILL.