Hey Fodorites!

I am still struggling to sublet a place to live this summer in NYC. I had asked earlier about a place in Chelsea, but then the girl sublet it to a friend. I'm having the worst luck--mainly, I think, because I live in NC and am trying to do it all over the phone and by email.

Anyways--what do you all think of 6th Ave and Waverly Place? A good place to live? A guy is offering his studio sublet for only $2000 a month..this seems really cheap for that area. Should I be skeptical?

(FYI, I am a 24 year old responsible, laidback female graduate student who will be working at the College Board all summer near the Lincoln Center. I'm looking for a nice place to live (not toooo expensive) that's near cool eats, bars, shops).

Thanks! Michelle

Ok. Scratch that. I just got offered a place to live in a 3-bedroom in the East Village, 4th st and 2nd ave, for $1500/mo with nyu students. I'm feeling pretty comfortable with that--seems less likely to be sketchy! The guys are calling me this weekend to confirm--hopefully this one will stick!

That area of the city should be ok. You are near lots of restaurants and bars and there's lots of buses in the area and the subway is not that far away.

If I remember correctly the College Board is on Broadway below Houston St, if so it will be walkable from the apartment, figure 20 minute walk.

Have a great time while you are here.

Thanks!

The College Board is now at 45 Columbus Ave, right by the Lincoln Center. But I can just subway right over!

Actually the apartment above me is empty and available (one bedroom) for $1,500 a month. It's large by NYC you would.

I live in Hamilton Heights right off the A train, so you can be midtown in about 20 minutes by express train.

Thanks. I will keep you posted (literally) if the East Village sublet doesn't work out.

Sixth Avenue and Waverly is a wonderful address and very close to 1/9 and close to the West 4th Stop which can pretty much get you practically any place in the city.

$2K seems pretty reaosnable for a studio in the area, its probably really small. Also, keep in mind that he may in a rent controlled apartment and is paying far less than 2K.

The only "problem" with the East Village is that the subway access to the West Side can be a bit of a pain and you may have to transfer or do a bit of walking to get to a good subway stop. Of course both the E. Village and W. Village are both really fun great areas and you will have a blast in both areas, they are chock full of bars, restaurants, shops, etc.

I used to live at the corner of Sixth Avenue/Waverly for 5 years, so I know the area well.

I wouldn't be as pleased as you seem to be with the east village share situation. As kangamom says, your commute will be a pain (getting to the nearest subway and then likely having to change twice) not to mention the unknown of the roommates you'll have.

You never asked for advice, but there are some women's residences around town that provide inexpensive single rooms and include some food. The Brandon is one on the upper westside. You could walk to work from there.
http://www.thebrandon.org/

Downside? Rooms are small, there may be curfews.

Next idea, there are 2 HUGE apartment complexes on the upper westside. One is called Lincoln Towers and the newer one is a Trump development called Trump Place. There may be short term rentals available at one or the other. I've heard about vacation rentals at Trump Place.

You should try looking through nyhabitat.com and furnishedquarters.com

I know someone who will be going away for the summer and may be looking for a tenant on the upper westside. What are the dates you need?

You can also try craigslist, here's the link for the sublets in NYC.

http://newyork.craigslist.org/mnh/sub/

If I were you, I would check out the studio..that is a great area..convenient with great places to eat and shop all around. What could be bettr than that, assuming you check it out first? (Now I have heard everything...suspicion that a $2,000 a month studio is "too cheap!!")

I agree that the 6th & Waverly location sounds good. I would be hesitant to room with unknown roommates for the summer -- you never know what you're getting into!

I believe NYU also has dorm rooms available in the summer, but you have to register and take at least one class. They usually offer some "continuing ed" type classes in the evening that are meant to meet this requirement.

By far... I would take the 6th & Waverly apartment. Much more convenient to your office and much nicer area (in my opin). You could easily walk to the far W. Village and SoHo and still easily get around with subway transportation right there.

I'm assuming you've found both of these listings on Craigslist...right?

Hey everyone! Thanks for all the replies--

Yes, I've found all these listings on craigslist. The thing is, I email about TEN different listings EVERYDAY..i often get reply emails to 50+ people saying the sublet is gone or to come by during a specific time frame when they'll be showing it (to all the masses, apparently). I just don't have an advantage over all these people who similarly want sublets! (Mclaurie: I have tried those other websites, with the exception of the Brandon--that is a last resort)

The $2000 guy hasn't called me back now or replied to my email..so I feel that one is gone. However, the East Village apt is the FIRST one (of well over 100 people I've been in contact with) to actually OFFER me the place. They have called me and I'm supposed to confirm tonight.

The upsides: my room has a balcony, hardwood floors, A/C, internet, elevator bldg. the east village is cool--I'm only 2 blocks from CBGBs! AND I CAN STOP WORRYING about trying to find somewhere to live!!!!

The downsides: It's about 10-15 min walk to the washington square subway stop where I can directly take the ACE north. However, it'll be summer so I hopefully won't mind the walk. The room is kind of small...but so are all the rooms in NYC it seems. I don't know the roomies--but I'm supposed to talk to them tonight and hopefully feel it out. That could actually be a positive--I generally prefer living with people--especially if they're people i could hang out with. Being alone in NYC is kind of scary to me. and if they suck..I won't take it or..I'll escape onto the balcony all the time..

I'm just sort of feeling I should take the East Village place since I haven't had a concrete offer from any other place and I've been heavily searching/emailing for a month now.

Am I silly? should I just move up June 1st and find a place? what if I don't? Or it's worse than this? (and how bad could this be?..they ARE NYU students and I generally like the college lifestyle..)

PS. Trump Place is out of my budget (so i Haven't contacted them) and Lincoln Towers isn't doing summer sublets. Plus I'd rather have a furnished place than deal with getting furnishings on my own and then having to get rid of them..

AND NYU housing is all booked.

You gotta do what feels right to you. Just the way you thought something must be wrong with the west village place b/c it sounded too cheap, I think based on what you've said, if this east village place is courting you, what's wrong with it? I just can't picture having a small room in an inconvenient location with people I may or may not like. How many bathrooms are there?

When you say you've tried the other websites, are you saying no agent could offer you anything??

citylightsnewyork.com
www.signatureproperties.org
liveinnyc.com

This co. has a building on west 54 st.

nationalextendedstay.com

Oh, and my dates are June 1st-Aug 18th..but I'm willing to pay for all of August (and that seems to be the only way for any of the places thus far).

I do prefer to be downtown than upper west side. But, anywhere is better than homeless . I'd rather do my subwaying during the day to and from work than having to do it at night if I decide to go out downtown...

A friend of a friend DOES have a place in Brooklyn (for only $685) but I'm really wanting to live in Manhattan, since I CAN afford it and I may never get to live in the city again..

Hi McLaurie--

With the other websites, most of the agents are looking for people ASAP, not a month away. Plus I'm scared of all the broker fees. And the prices generally start much higher from the get-go. And there are less furnished rooms..

But that will be more of an option I believe if it's the last week of May and I don't have anywhere to live yet.

Actually, I had never seen the citylights website before. That may be an option. I don't think they're open right now (just tried calling) but I'll definitely check that out. Thanks.

(Most of the other websites I had tried were www.sublet.com and things like that)

Where in Brooklyn is your friend's place? You may be making an error to discount Brooklyn right off the bat.