So You Want to Move to New York? Tips and Advice.

Over the years I've been asked why I live in New York. For starters: the people, the food, the activities - add about 187 more things and you have my list. But mostly I live here for moments like that picture. The odd, candid moment of a woman and her parrot, recapping the day on a public bench. These types of occurrences tend to be the norm and often a draw for newcomers who yearn for the unexpected.

I've also been asked how to go about moving to New York, as the thought is "exciting, but daunting." True, not everyone arrives with a job, an apartment or a network of friends. You just need an adventurous spirit and a few tips to get you started. So here we go:

Reach out to everyone you know.

Friends, cousins, friends of cousins. You never know who knows someone. I visited New York in March 2000 before moving that June. My aunt's friend was a travel agent and helped me plan the March trip. Her son lived in New York, when I moved she gave me his number. I ended up staying on his couch for 2 weeks, after a 9-day hotel stay. She also gave me the number of a family friend who had "been here for 10 years, not sure what he does, but call him." He turned out to be a recruiter and helped me find a job. I also posted on my college alumni message board that I was "moving to New York, I don't have a job, place to live or know anyone. Any help?" Out of that I got a new friend (that I'm still in contact with), another couch stay, and a date.

So you never know. It's all about networking so don't be shy: email, text, Twitter, Facebook. Mention to anyone and everyone you're moving. May as well start practicing your assertiveness. You're going to need it here.

Save money.

Often easier said than done. But if possible, do it. New York is expensive. Space is at a premium and you'll pay for it: in rent, food, drinks, entertainment - and much more. But don't let that discourage you. There are plenty of things to do here on a budget, you just have to find them. However, cash flow equals more freedom and New Yorkers, for the most part, meet out to socialize, not at our space-challenged apartments. Plus, depending on what kind of living situation you find, you may need to be ready to hand over first month's rent, last month's rent, and security deposit (equal to one month's rent) before moving in. Not always, but it's a good rule to go by. More on apartments later. For now, think: SAVE.

Arrival.

If you need to know how to get from the airport to the city look here.

As for your stuff, unless you have your own apartment bring as little as possible, for mobility's sake. If you don't have friends to stay with, book a cheap(er) hotel while you look for more permanent housing. And last, if you do have a room lined up I'd still stick to the less is more theory, as landlords certainly stuck to it when dreaming up apartment square footage. Think tiny. And then go smaller.

Finding an apartment.

The first thing to know is even if you only have a week or a few days to find a place, it can be done. Things move so fast here that in one day you can find a listing online, see it, and put down a deposit. Chances are there will be other people there at the same time so whoever speaks up first (and then qualifies via paperwork) gets it. Remember when I suggested practicing your assertiveness? Yep, get to it.

The second thing to know is that most of your questions on how to find an apartment can be answered here. However, you're always welcome to contact me with additional questions.

Meeting people.

You're in a new city and maybe you have a few friends, but you'd like more. What do you do? Get out and mingle! To find out what's going on around town grab a Time Out NY, NY Magazine or The New Yorker. Also, check out Yelp, Brooklyn Based and Brokelyn. Yes, the suggestions are Brooklyn-heavy, but even if you live in Manhattan there's so much fun (and cheap!) stuff to do in Brooklyn. Regardless of where you go just get out there, make new friends and of course, network.

More ideas: volunteer (NY Cares), similar interests (Meetup.com), bars (Yelp). New York has a big drinking culture and it's not weird to go a bar (or anywhere, really) by yourself. Granted, many will drink with friends, but if you're trying to meet people head out solo and don't be afraid to strike up a conversation. Despite the myths, most New Yorkers aren't rude and really, what do you have to lose?

Finding a job.

If you arrive without a job there are several things you can do. The first is tell everyone you meet you're looking for a job. Again, networking is key. To go the I-need-money-until-I-find-something-permanent route you can do office temp work (Google "NY temp agencies")--which sometimes turn into fulltime jobs; bartend/waiter, be a dog walker (big business here), nanny and look on Craigslist. There you'll find countless part time (and full-time) jobs.

Also, post what you're looking for on Facebook and Twitter and reach out to new contacts. And finally, the go-to sites: HotJobs, CareerBuilder, Monster, LinkedIn and Craigslist. Don't forget specialized sites like Mediabistro and StyleCareers (among others), depending on your profession.

The final piece of advice: embrace the adventure and make the move. And soon, you'll have your own New York story.

Pros and Cons of Living in NYC

(more photos)

I was talking to a friend recently who lives in New Jersey and is trying to find an apartment in Manhattan. So far it's been 3 months and he's no closer to becoming a New York resident. He's dealt with countless sleazy brokers, apartments promised to him that were given to others, and endless hours viewing misrepresented properties. He asked, "Is living in New York really worth all this?" Yes, yes it is. And here's why: for all the agida New York gives you, it also rewards you with people, activities, and opportunities that are hard to find elsewhere. Of course agida and rewards are relative so, to each his/her own. But I've compiled a pros and cons list based on my 9 1/2 years as a New York resident. Perhaps it will help you decide: is New York really worth it?

Pros:
1) Diversity of people. When my sister visited she said, "You can't walk 2 blocks without hearing a different language." It's a global culture lesson everyday.
2) Diversity of food. Due to the melting pot-ness of NYC, you can find just about any kind of food you want. From the cheap kind to the one-month mortgage kind.
3) Culture. Museums, galleries, concerts, readings, theater, dance, independent film...
4) History. New York has a unique history of immigrants, music, art, literary legends, politics, architecture, finance...
5) Walking. We are a pedestrian city. This allows you to see the sights and interact with others daily. You also stumble upon things you wouldn't in a car. And, you have a built-in gym.
6) European-ish. Outdoor cafes, pedestrian-centric, public transportation, specialty food shops, food and coffee carts, boutiques, delis, appreciation of the arts and travel.
7) Career opportunities. Many headquarters are located here and you always seem to meet someone who knows someone.
8) Fashion. NYC is one of the 4 host cities of Fashion Week. You can find anything you want here. And fun fact: even the comfortable, casual clothes and shoes are stylish.
9) Delivery. My mom thought I was kidding when i said, "I'm waiting for my breakfast to be delivered." We get everything delivered: meals, dry cleaning, pet supplies, groceries. We're spoiled.
10) Opinions. New Yorkers are extremely opinionated and not afraid to vocalize. What's great is that you can call someone an idiot, agree to disagree, and then go for a beer together.

Cons:
1) It's expensive. $2300 a month for a 450-square-foot apartment - to rent. $15 for a hamburger, without fries. $100+ a month gym memberships. $igh...
2) It's loud. Screeching subway wheels, screaming subway car announcements, jackhammers, fire trucks, ambulances, car horns, trash and other loud trucks barreling down your quaint street at night, noisy neighbors, car stereos. This is just the tip of the iceberg.
3) It's abusive. Most of us don't have cars so our bodies take quite a beating. We carry lots of bags, climb lots of subway stairs, and basically tire ourselves out daily being our own car.
4) It's constantly changing. Just when you've found your favorite little wine bar, it closes. Because here it's all about what's hot now, so good luck to your little wine bar.
5) It makes you entitled and impatient. NYers are taught to ask for what we want, how we want it and when we want it. That usually turns out to be: everything, perfect and now.
6) It requires major scheduling. We're known to have 3 places to be in one night, so plans are often made 2 months in advance - just to have a drink.
7) It's overload. We pride ourselves on keeping current with everything under the sun. Weekly magazines, blogs, email blasts from friends. There's always something to do (good!), a new artist to know (fun!), but it can be information overload (exhausting!).
8) It's career centric. We are career obsessed and work insane hours. One of the first questions people ask upon meeting is "What do you do?" and often you're judged from that answer.
9) The 35-hour day. We try to cram as much as possible into every day. A workout at 5am, followed by a 8am-7pm workday, then drinks, dinner, a band, and bedtime at 1am. Even crazier? We wear our schedules like a badge of honor.
10) Public transportation. Actually a pro and a con. Pros: no car worries, lots of reading time. Cons: having to hear what normally would go on in 100 people's cars. Loud music, loud talking, loud children. People begging for money, people playing bad music for money. Train delays, construction, rerouting, sweltering platforms due to no a/c in the summer, packed-like-sardines train cars in the winter.

A friend of mine who used to live here says New York is a set of scales. Sometimes it tips to the good and sometimes to the bad, you just have to figure out which way it tips more often. Which is like any place, really, but New York is so in-your-face that the good and bad are more amplified.

So in the end, is New York really worth it? Well, 8.2 million of us say a resounding "YES!" (Yeah, that was us on the train, while you were trying to relax, after a 20 hour day...)

Apartment Rentals: Decoding the Terms

This is a typical NYC apartment ad:

"Cozy 5th floor walk up alcove studio. Recently gut renovated, with kitchenette. Super on premise. I also have a Jr. 1-bdrm and a floor through railroad. Contact if interested. Must make 40x the rent, guarantors accepted. This is a broker fee apt."

Did you get any of that? Don't despair, after a few minutes and a few apartment terms, you will:

Cozy: Tiny. Teeny tiny.

Floor through: Apartment goes from the front of the building to the back

Walk up: No elevator, only the stairs and your legs

Kitchenette: Very small. What kitchens look like when they're born.

Gut renovated: Entire apartment was redone: floors, appliances, cabinets, etc.

Studio: No bedroom, usually one big room

Converted 1-bdrm: A bedroom wall has been put up (usually using living room space)

Alcove: Small area of the main room, usually in studios, used for sleeping or dining

Jr 1-bdrm: Alcove that has been walled-off to make a very tiny bedroom

Railroad: Series of rooms (usually without doors) you can walk though in a straight line

Broker: Person licensed to mediate deals between property owner and renter

Guarantor: A person who signs the lease (in addition to you) when you don't make the often required 40x the monthly rent (yearly salary must be at least 40 x one month's rent)

Management company: Larger company that owns the building, sometimes use brokers to rent the individual apartments

Landlord: Individual owner of a property, can also use brokers

Super(intendent): Maintains the building. Can usually call 24/7 with building problems, lives on or close to the premise.

So there are some terms to get you started. There are more to know, once you start looking to buy. Like co-op, co-op board, pre-war, brownstone, townhouse, classic 6 - and the list goes on. But for now, I'll just leave you with this cozy, kitchenette-sized glossary.

Rental, Sweet Apartment Rental

No, your eyes don't deceive, that is indeed a one-bedroom apartment for $2500 a month. To rent. Which is what most of us do here. Why? First, NYC is a transient city for many so it doesn't make sense to buy if you're only here a year or two. Second, the average home price in Manhattan is $975,000. Third, please see the second reason.

So where do you start when you want to rent an apt in NY? With this:

• What's your budget?

• Do you want roommates?

• How important is location to you? (want to be near the subway, live in city or outside, etc)

Regardless of your situation, start by asking friends if they know of available apartments, people looking for a roommate or if they know of a good broker.

Broker: If you'll live by yourself and your budget allows for a broker contact a brokers office (you pay a fee if you rent one of their listings, usually equal to a month's rent). If you know what area you want to live in walk around and you'll find broker's offices with apartment rental postings in the window. Or look on craigslist under housing > apts/housing > all apartments.

No broker: Not impossible, but harder to find. Start with craigslist, the most popular aparment listing site in NYC. Look under housing > apts/housing. You can filter it by "no-broker fee" apartments, but even some of those are listed by a broker and you'll pay a fee if you rent it.

Roommates: Craigslist is the way to go if your friends don't know of anyone looking for a roommate. Look under housing > rooms/shared.

Location: A general rule of thumb on most pricey to least pricey: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, The Bronx, Staten Island. Also, usually the closer you are to the subway, the higher the rent.

Paperwork: There's no set rules on what you'll need, but here are guidelines:

Roommate: reference letters and a letter of employment - along with security deposit, first, last month's rent (so monthly rent x 3).

Your own apartment: A letter of employment, pay stubs, W-2, bank statements, a copy of your ID, reference letter from current landlord - and you'll need to pay for a credit check ($50-$100). If it's a broker-listed apartment you'll typically need monthly rent x 4 (first, last, security, broker fee). Ex. if your monthly rent is $1550, have $6200. And many times they'll require that you make 40x the monthly rent so if your monthly rent is $1550 you'll need to make $62,000 a year.

Finally, know that unless you have unlimited funds you'll have to make sacrifices. It can be in size, neighborhood, distance from subway - and many other things you'll discover. You may not have a sink in your bathroom, your shower may be in your kitchen - oh, where there's no oven. You probably won't have a dishwasher or washer/dryer--but what you will have is NYC. And trust me, she's worth every penny.

Laundry Day. Sigh...

In this picture we see beautiful trees, a building dating back to the late 1800s and a guy carrying his...laundry down 6th Avenue? That is correct.

In NYC you'll find three things on just about every block: a deli, a nail salon, and a laundromat. The last because most old apartment buildings aren't equipped to handle a washer's water pressure so sadly, it's a no-go on the washer. But do people still do it? Sometimes, yes. (Bad people, baaaaaaad.)

But for those who play by the rules, your nearest laundromat becomes your friend. Some people use bags with handles (see photo) others use a big drawstring bag and throw it over their shoulder and others use a push cart. Or, for a little extra money, you can either call a laundromat to pick up or you can drop it off and they'll have it ready for pick up at the end of the day. The key there is 1) making sure everything can go in the dryer and 2) picking it up before they close - easier said than done with busy New York schedules.

Now I'll paint you a picture of laundry day in August: walk down five flights of apartment stairs with 30 lbs of laundry; carry it across an avenue and up a block. Get to the laundromat to find four housekeepers filling up all the washers, grab your 30 lbs, head to the next one, three blocks away. Sit in the unairconditioned room with 15 dryers going and when yours is done, head back to your non-central air apartment and hope the window unit cools your room down fast enough to put away your warm laundry so you can take a nap from all the lugging and the heat. Yeah...laundry day.

This isn't a complaint, it's just the way it is here. There are many things that go on in New York that become "normal," but once you're elsewhere you realize "oh right, hamburgers aren't supposed to cost $15 and laundry's not supposed to be an ordeal."

So if by chance you're lucky enough to have a washer and dryer, please cherish them. Say thanks for being so convenient. And give them a little hug - for me, and the rest of laundry-slinging NYC.

If I Can Make it Here...

June 29, 2000: three suitcases, no apartment, no job, didn't know anyone. That's how I moved to New York.

I booked a room at the Chelsea Lodge (pictured above, but sadly, now closed) for nine days where I used my a/c window unit as a refrigerator, balked at the price of canned tuna at the grocery store, and shared one toilet with eight other hotel guests. I was off to a memorable start.

My move was made easier with a savings and a list of friends of friends to contact. I found a job and two couch stays (until I found an apartment share for August 1) through that list. Since then I've spent nine years telling non-NYC friends and family stories of life here to which the response is usually "No! Really?!" Yes. Really.

So whether you're thinking about moving, visiting or you're just browsing, this blog will give you insight into what 'Ol Blue Eyes meant when he said, "If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere." (Exiting this post with high kicks...Neeeeeeew Yooooooooooork...)