Korean Job Discussion Forums

kapshida · Joined: 18 Oct 2007

To be honest i don't really know much about rentals in the other boroughs- I lived in 2 places in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and got them both through brokers- but my friend found a ton of places to look at in Cobble Hill and Park Slope without a broker. I dunno. But at least in the outer boroughs you if you go with a broker you should only be paying a one month fee (which still is too much, I realize). Make it clear up front that you won't pay more than that. For Brooklyn and Queens don't go through any brokers that are based in Manhattan. They'll try to make you pay 15%.

If you want I can dig up a list of Manhattan no-fee places. It's mostly newer apartment buildings. It might give you a small idea of what's out there. I'd post it now, but I can't find it in all my junk. Apartment searching in manhattan is a pain in the a**, though. Some people spend months doing it.

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

I moved three times in NYC and avoided brokers. But I was always with roommate situations, so it was probably different.

I'm thinking about it more, if I were married WITH kid, where would I live in the NYC area. I'd choose QUEENS.

They have a very large Asian population (along with everything else). Queens is the most 'diverse' of NYC which includes heavy asian presense/population.

Brooklyn is generally more African, Arabic, Jewish, Puerto Rican, etc. Queens has large Korean, Taiwanese, Greek, Indian, etc. communities.

I also felt fairly comfortable everywhere in Queens, whereas in Brooklyn, some of the subways feel pretty sketchy. Actually there are all kinds of communities all over the place - Italian, Eastern European, etc., everywhere.

But something about Queens, if I were to live in NYC again with a kid and wife, I'd go there.

If your wife is Korean, she'd be able to rent movies, magazines, books, videos and everything else at the Flushing Library. Actually they have circulation of all kinds of things in all kinds of languages - Chinese, Spanish, etc.

Queens is probably most similar to the Bay Area California in demographics anyways. A lot of Spanish mixed with Asian languages everywhere.

bucheon bum · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

Article in NY Times today about Queens:

Weekend in NY- Queens

Doesn't have anything to do with living there, but talks about the cultural and culinary highlights of the borough.

marmotkorea · Joined: 12 Nov 2007

Thanks, bb.

kesumo · Joined: 17 Nov 2007 Location: Jeongja-dong, Bundang-gu

Hey,

I've lived in Bergen County, NJ for about 8 years and would recommend it if you've got a job in the city. I have an express bus around the corner from my apartment in Hackensack (the county seat) that gets me to Port Authority in midtown in about 40 minutes. You could rent an entire house here with what you're willing to spend. Fort Lee and Palisades Park are practically Little Koreas, and even closer to the city, if that's what you're looking for. Northern Bergen County is more expensive, but there are cute towns/suburbs that would be good for someone with a family. The downside is you would definitely need a car to get around NJ, but there are commuter trains/buses to the city throughout the county.

Feel free to PM me if you want more info. I'd also recommend checking out Craigslist to get an idea of rents in different areas, in and around NYC.

Good luck!

dutchy pink · Joined: 06 Feb 2007 Location: Incheon

I would say downtown Jersey City. It has changed enormously in the last 10 years. I went to high school there and it was a wasteland at best, abandon factories, and odd-pizzeria and some down and out cop bars.

Now, it is a neat little area. Particularly the Hamilton Park area. Lots of schools, restaurants, cafe, huge grocery stores, etc, less than 10 minutes walk away and a park, hence the name. On my particular street there was a firestation, exit around the corner, so no noise and a police station at the other end of the block, a one way, so no sirens.

The path station is a 10 minute walk, if that, and is right on the river. It took me about 20 minutes door to door to get to 23rd and 6th ave.
Beautiful brownstones for rent, and 2 story houses, a garage and yard for less than your budget.

Sound good? Call me at OK realators. 201-252-4254

marmotkorea · Joined: 12 Nov 2007

Thanks guys for the NJ comments...I was curious about that area. I appreciate everyone's advice on this thread.