First, I'm sorry for not putting this on the NWR board, but it hasn't started to pick up yet and I need lots of opinions on this. I got a call today from our landlord who wants to raise our rent by $35 if we renew our lease. Not a lot of money, right? BUT it means that we're paying $1605/month to rent a 1 bedroom apartment including the $55/month fee for a parking space. For some reason, as long as it was under $1600, it bothered me, but not enough to move. Is this too much? Could we get something nicer or bigger in Nassau for the same price?
Here's what we have right now. We have an approximately 950 sq foot 1 bedroom in a well-maintained co-op. The livingroom is very large, 18.5' x 13'; the dining area is 7 x 8; the kitchen is a pass through galley kitchen with a dishwasher; the bathroom is sort of small; the bedroom is large 11 x 15.5 and has 2 closets, one small one and one walk in California closet deal; we have 1 hallway closet for storage (seriously lacking) and 1 linen closet.
The benefits are that we can have our 3 cats here, it's only 1/2 mile from FH's office and it's walking distance to LIRR for me when I start commuting to NYC every day--it's also a maximum of 40 minutes to Penn, which is a priority. It's also in a very safe area and we have video surveillance as well. The downside is that we're paying $1600 for a 1 bedroom in Long Island and I park 1/2 block from the building, we don't have a backyard, patio or deck. I would also prefer something with a washer/dryer in the apartment and with a 2nd bedroom or office.
Sorry for the length, but we need to figure out soon whether we should renew our lease or take our chances. Thanks!!!
Julestrd
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Re: Do we pay too much for rent? (Long)
WOW I answered the poll first and was thinking I paid a lot for rent but you definitely have me beat. I don't know much about renting in NY so I can't help you, but I would consider moving. JMHO....Good Luck
palebride
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Re: Do we pay too much for rent? (Long)
i think that's too much - we live in a co-op and you're paying more than our mortgage and maintenance combined......actually, we could add on our cable, phone and internet bills and would sillt be under that. i think if you're going to pay that much - you should at least own it.... JMO
MamanDaddyof2
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Re: Do we pay too much for rent? (Long)
that sounds so high you are paying a mortgage..... buy a house instead they have all these programs that you dont need a big down payment anymore
marymoon
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Re: Do we pay too much for rent? (Long)
I REALLY think you could do better. It's convenient, but you don't sound happy and for that much money, you'd better be happy. I agree that's a mortgage! Go out and fnd something that makes you happy!
Summerbride04
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Re: Do we pay too much for rent? (Long)
It does sound like quite a bit of money however it's so hard to find a good rental in Nassau county these days. I don't know when your lease is up but you should definetly be looking around for something else. However, I wouldn't settle on just anything because it's cheaper you might wind up more unhappy then you already are. Good luck!
Mandy77
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Re: Do we pay too much for rent? (Long)
You may not be paying too much...especially if it is convenient to transportation.
How much are these co-op's going for now?
brooklynbridezilla
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Re: Do we pay too much for rent? (Long)
IMO, YES! I have a spacious 1br with FH in Bay Ridge Brooklyn, and we pay about 1/2 that. We do not have a dishwasher or parking space, but laundry facilities are in the basement. We are around the corner from the train- about 45 min from the city, and we have two cats. I love this neighoborhood, and never feel scared walking around. You could get a 2 br for 1600 around here. But, parking is a beast.
BlondeJD
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Re: Do we pay too much for rent? (Long)
Posted by Mandy77
You may not be paying too much...especially if it is convenient to transportation.
How much are these co-op's going for now?
That's sort of what FH says--we looked in Port Washington at apartments in a non-co-op and they wanted $1575 for a 1 bedroom that was about 1 mile to the train station. He says we're probably paying about $100 too much in rent.
The 1 bedrooms in this building are selling for around $190K-200K, but I don't have much experience with figuring out how much that would be per month for a mortgage so I'm not sure if our landlord is really overcharging us. I know it might be really hard for him to find people that could pass the co-op board (and he has to pay a fee each time he submits someone to them) so maybe we could try negotiating?
chichila15
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Re: Do we pay too much for rent? (Long)
There's never any harm in negotiating, because what's the worse that can happen? Personally, I think that you pay too much for rent. You could definitely find a huge 1br apt in Forest Hills (also by the LIRR) for $1300. I know because that's what we're looking at right now. Then again, I don't know how your area is. Though, I was under the impression that LI was cheaper than 'the city', so I'm actually shocked that your rent will be higher than mine, being farther out.
keohime
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Re: Do we pay too much for rent? (Long)
EEK! In what town do you live?
We live in forest hills. We pay $1700 for a two bedroom apartment with a driveway parking space. We also have a garden in the back and a terrace. The train is 3 blocks away and the commute to the city is about a half an hour (on the local). We do not, unfortunately, have a dishwasher. IMO, WE pay too much for rent, because our apartment is old and crumbly, but I am starting to reconsider...
LadyPrincess
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Re: Do we pay too much for rent? (Long)
Posted by palebride
i think that's too much - we live in a co-op and you're paying more than our mortgage and maintenance combined......actually, we could add on our cable, phone and internet bills and would sillt be under that. i think if you're going to pay that much - you should at least own it.... JMO
Agree - but market is so tight now - maybe consider after wedding looking for something
RedHead
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Re: Do we pay too much for rent? (Long)
you have FM
Chloegirl
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Re: Do we pay too much for rent? (Long)
What town...that might be a big factor for the steep rent!
I think it is a bit much and even though the place sounds great and the location too, if you can afford rent like like that a mortgage would be easy for you. I am paying $935 for the top floor of a house with use of the backyard, driveway and attic.
CubanBride
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Re: Do we pay too much for rent? (Long)
OMG! You crazy paying that much rent? Jeez. I guess it depends on the neighborhood and transportation access but that price is worse than Manhattan.
eogara
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Re: Do we pay too much for rent? (Long)
Posted by chichila15
There's never any harm in negotiating, because what's the worse that can happen? Personally, I think that you pay too much for rent. You could definitely find a huge 1br apt in Forest Hills (also by the LIRR) for $1300. I know because that's what we're looking at right now. Then again, I don't know how your area is. Though, I was under the impression that LI was cheaper than 'the city', so I'm actually shocked that your rent will be higher than mine, being farther out.
I agree. Ours is an enormous one bedroom 2 1/2 blocks from the subway and 4 blocks from the LIRR in Forest Hills, also a block from Austin Street, etc. Our rent is $1225 (it's going up to $1280.13 Aug 1st).
But the real question comes back to where it is... What town is it in? Some places no, it's not too expensive. Other places, yes, way too much.
tourist
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Re: Do we pay too much for rent? (Long)
It totally depends on the area. I pay $1050 for a 1 bedroom, no dining area, not sure of the sq. feet, in a co-op buliding in Westchester. My neighboord ( 1 blockform teh train) is particualrly inexpensive compared to the surroundeign areas. I think that is because of the city it it is in. It is in the the suburban outskirts of an urban area, while not awful, doesn't have the greatest schools, etc. the surroundig areas are more Westchester the way you'd think of Westchester, and in those areas, your rent would be normal. I'm not sure of ranges on LI, but it's probably the same kinda thing--depends on teh neighborhood's rep.
nylibride
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Re: Do we pay too much for rent? (Long)
My views on rent are totally screwed up by living in the city, but given the fact that before we moved in together, FH had a 1 bedroom on upper east side for about what you're paying now, I'm going with you're paying too much. I don't know your area though, but sounds like it's worth looking around a little. Good luck!
