Have you been thinking about moving to New York City? If you're looking into an NYC move but want to make sure you're fully prepared, these suggestions will help. These are a few things you'll want to take into consideration before committing to move.
Be Ready To Clean Out Your Closet
You'll likely have a lot less space once you move to New York. You may not have enough room for everything that you own right now, which is why now is an excellent time for you to say goodbye to items you no longer want or use.
Getting rid of things can also make your move more affordable. Start preparing for having less space. You can even sell some of your old items and put that extra money towards your move. If you want to have enough space for everything you own, New York might not be the right city for you.
Housing Is Expensive
The Big Apple is one of the most expensive places to live in the United States. Many people are shocked by the high cost of housing when they move to this area. While you'll be paying more if you choose to live in Manhattan, it can be challenging to find affordable housing in any neighborhood.
Housing is likely to be expensive, even if you're renting a studio apartment. So, while planning to move to New York, you'll want to make sure you're prepared for these costs. Thankfully, since New York also offers higher salaries, you may find that your housing costs are still reasonably affordable.
You'll Have To Pay Broker's Fees
Not only does NYC have higher housing costs, but you may wind up spending more than you planned to when you're renting an apartment. In New York, it's normal to find an apartment through a broker. Not only will you have to pay a security deposit and your first month's rent, but you'll be responsible for covering broker's fees as well.
This can be a relatively large expense, and you'll want to make sure that you're prepared to take it on. While you might be tempted to search for an apartment that won't require you to pay broker's fees, it might be hard for you to find many options.
Apartments Are Often Rented Out Quickly
Since you're going to be spending a lot on rent, you might want to spend some time thinking things over before committing to living in a new apartment. Unfortunately, you may not have the luxury of doing that. It's common for apartments in New York to be rented out very quickly, incredibly if those properties are priced below market value or are in a sought-after area.
While the housing market in New York City saw a decline in 2020, it's likely to see a significant boost in the years to come. Be aware that you could lose out on an apartment if you don't rent it out right away. If you think you'd like to live in an apartment, you should be prepared to immediately take that apartment.
A Car Won't Be Necessary
In most parts of the United States, it can be challenging to get by without a car. In New York, however, you may find that it's challenging to live in a car. There is very little street parking in the city, and keeping your vehicle in a parking garage can be prohibitively expensive.
Thankfully, you won't need to have a car to get around. The city has a robust public transportation system that will help you get where you need to go. Since you won't have to cover a car's cost, the cost of housing may be more manageable.
Many Things Will Be More Affordable
NYC does have a high cost of living, but that doesn't mean you'll be spending more on everything. Because you'll have so many different options in the city, you'll find that it's relatively easy to search for deals.
For example, you won't be limited to buying your groceries at major chain stores. Instead, you can visit bodegas and specialty stores that may have much better prices. You may be able to get a haircut at a deeply discounted rate. Be aware of your choices and look for ways to save.
Where You Live Matters
The experience you have in New York will vary significantly based on the neighborhood that you choose to live in. The area you're in will impact your housing costs, your safety, the local nightlife, and so much more.
If you don't know much about New York's neighborhoods, you may want to find out more about them before you start seriously looking at moving here. Try to get a better sense of what different neighborhoods have to offer. Find an area you'll love living in.
Talk To Other New Yorkers
If you want to find out more about what it would be like to live in this city, the best thing you can do is talk with people in The Big Apple for years or more. Even if you don't know anyone that lives in NYC, you can connect with people in the area online.
Locals will be able to offer you a lot of helpful advice that will help you to make a smart decision about where to live and what to keep in mind when you're looking at apartments. There's no reason not to seek out this sort of advice.
