To: NYC Commuters

[ashahdc]

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question - i got into a med school in nyc. i am beginning my search for either renting or purchasing and apt. or condo. any ideas??? how is the commute to places like white plains, and connectitut (stamford, bridgeport)?? what about the prices?? i worked for 2 years so do have a little savings. any info would be appreciated!!!

 

[geekOCD]

Well, it depends where in NYC you're going to school (if you're in brooklyn, the bronx, or manhattan). The commute from white plains and CT I would think is a bit prohibitive, especially for a first year. I know driving from CT can be anywhere from 1.5-3hrs per way. by train it'll be 45min to 1.5. If you're going to be paying more money to have a similiar commute, you might as well just live within the city but farther from your school. Anyway, the point is, I would focus on renting an apt. as opposed to buying real estate in nyc which is generally very expensive. check things like craigslist for good apt. deals. I could give you more info. about neighborhoods and such if I knew where you were going to school/wanted to live.

 

[ashahdc]

Well, it depends where in NYC you're going to school (if you're in brooklyn, the bronx, or manhattan). The commute from white plains and CT I would think is a bit prohibitive, especially for a first year. I know driving from CT can be anywhere from 1.5-3hrs per way. by train it'll be 45min to 1.5. If you're going to be paying more money to have a similiar commute, you might as well just live within the city but farther from your school. Anyway, the point is, I would focus on renting an apt. as opposed to buying real estate in nyc which is generally very expensive. check things like craigslist for good apt. deals. I could give you more info. about neighborhoods and such if I knew where you were going to school/wanted to live.

hey thanks alot. einstein in the bronx. i don't want to live in the bronx. maybe queens, brooklyn or manhattan. i can deal with 45 min. to 75 min commute. do a lot of reading on the train.

 

[tigress]

It doesn't really make sense to go to Einstein without living in student housing. For one thing, almost ALL of your classmates will be living there. For another thing, it's very affordable and not that bad as far as housing goes. And the Bronx isn't a bad place to live. I lived in that housing for a summer and it was cool. Manhattan is only a 45 minute bus ride away if you really need to get out.

If you are really intent on not living at school, you might consider some of the posher neighborhoods in the Bronx. Riverdale is less than half an hour away, and it has some very nice areas, including areas with affordable apartments. I don't know too much about actually commuting into the Bronx, except that it does take a while. At one point I was considering living in New Jersey if I ended up at Einstein, with what would be at least a 45 min to 1 hour commute via public transportation. Other options include upper Manhattan and Brooklyn, of course. At least public transportation is pretty good.

Anyway congrats on your acceptance. I assume you're MD/PhD (since MD acceptances haven't gone out yet), so I guess money for housing isn't quite as much of an issue for you 🙂

 

[ExtraCrispy]

There are express buses that run from Manhattan (East side, I think) to Einstein's campus - the only caveat is that the housing cost in Manhattan is often prohibitive. Queens is probably too far away for convenience.

I'd second geekOCD's suggestion re: Riverdale. It's a great community, quieter than the city but easily within commuting distance from the hot spots in Manhattan, and it would be easy to get to Einstein. A lot of the apartments are actually co-ops - if you have any $, that's actually a positive thing as you can build equity as you finish school, instead of throwing $10K into the hole through a rental with nothing to show for it (as my hubby and I have done!)

 

[ashahdc]

There are express buses that run from Manhattan (East side, I think) to Einstein's campus - the only caveat is that the housing cost in Manhattan is often prohibitive. Queens is probably too far away for convenience.

I'd second geekOCD's suggestion re: Riverdale. It's a great community, quieter than the city but easily within commuting distance from the hot spots in Manhattan, and it would be easy to get to Einstein. A lot of the apartments are actually co-ops - if you have any $, that's actually a positive thing as you can build equity as you finish school, instead of throwing $10K into the hole through a rental with nothing to show for it (as my hubby and I have done!)

thanx a lot for the advice. keep it coming!!! any input is appreciated. this gives me something to work with b/f visiting next month.

 

[tcar18]

If you have enough money and you are a guy... buy something in harlem on third avenue. The property value is climing like crazy and the neighborhood is getting better and better. Rent is a total waste of money, at the end of medschool you will be able to sell the place for a bundle. it is close enough to aecom, still in manhattan and you will make a profit on it.