Finding Affordable Apartments in New York City

When someone uses the word affordable, it’s essential to understand that it doesn’t have a universal meaning. What seems accessible to one person may seem very expensive to someone else. Often the case with affordable New York City apartments. For people with experience in the NYC real estate market, their awareness of consistently increasing property values means; having realistic criteria for finding a good deal. But someone new to this market may be shocked when they see the prices of different properties.

Putting Affordable Apartments in the Right Context

If considering buying an apartment in New York City instead of renting, start this process with a realistic mindset. The first thing to realize is that New York City has the highest cost of living in the United States. The other important reality is that New York City is an expensive place to live, but the competition for real estate is high.

Competition for NYC real estate is due to its limited inventory and demand. As a result of New York City’s high cost of living and the high demand, the two best things homebuyers can do is be realistic about what they can afford and be ready to compromise.

Thinking About What’s Most Important

The worst situation a New York City homeowner can get into is selling their property prematurely. Because that’s the most common reason, buyers lose money, having the future in mind is essential as you start looking for a place to purchase. Specifically, you want to find a property that can grow with you for at least five years.

Since you want a place that provides future flexibility, you may not be able to get 100% off your wish list. That’s why we recommend buyers focus on getting 80-90% of what matters to them most. You’ll ultimately be in the best position by being open to a little compromise.

What Buyers Need to Know About Affordable Apartments

In New York City, buying an apartment is 22% cheaper than renting one. That being said, many new buyers overlook the full costs associated with owning a home. Those costs include high property taxes and homeowner’s insurance.

In many cases, paying standard common charges or maintenance fees comes to buying an apartment. So, in addition to understanding the total cost of an affordable New York City apartment, it’s also essential to have your finances in order before buying.

Not only do you want your credit to be in great shape, but you also need cash for your down payment, closing costs, and six months’ worth of capital reserve. Since there’s so much additional information to help put you in the best possible position as a buyer in the New York City market, we highly encourage you to download and read our free Home Buyers Guide.

The Most Affordable Apartment Types in NYC

It’s not easy keeping up with daily expenses and housing costs in NYC. The city offers no end in excitement and opportunities, but all comes at a price. When it comes to the house, that price comes in the form of either high rent or minimal living space. Given a choice, most New Yorkers are willing to sacrifice space if it means living in a hot neighborhood or a building with incredible amenities.

Generally, the further out you go from Manhattan, the more area you’ll get for your buck. But space might be a concern if you like hosting parties with more than ten people or weekly yoga classes. However, there are other ways to save money and get more space. Here we have a list of apartment types that will get you more space for your money.

A First-Floor Apartment

Everyone wants a beautiful view from their apartment, which tends to come with a higher price tag. One easy way to save on housing is to choose a first-floor apartment. On average, the difference in price between a first and second-floor apartment can be as much as 15%. As you move up each level, it tends to go up by another 10%, which makes the difference between the first and third floors as much as 25%. Just keep in mind that in a walk-up apartment (no elevator), this will be reversed.

A Walk-Up

Speaking of walk-up apartments, that’s your next option. If you don’t mind walking up a few flights of stairs daily, this can translate into significant savings. Compared to an elevator apartment, the price difference between each floor can be as high as 5%. In addition, your legs are going to get toned within a few months of living in a fifth-floor walk-up. But if you’re planning to spend your golden years there, this might not be an ideal choice.

Also, these units are typically located in buildings with six levels or fewer. Buildings with more than six floors must have an elevator.

A Post-War Apartment

Pre-war apartments are highly sought after for their high ceilings, thick walls, crown moldings, and other architectural details. But all the charm comes at a high price. So if you want something cheaper, look instead for post-war apartments.

These are buildings built just after WW 2, when there was a housing shortage. As such, they’re usually less extravagant and come with simpler furnishing. But the one primary trait they still share with pre-war apartments is spacious floor plans. They may not come with all the modern amenities and floor-to-ceiling windows you’ll see in new developments, but that is exactly why they go for a lower price.

No-Doorman Buildings

No doubt, a doorman is a great extra to have. They can receive packages for you and provide an extra layer of security. But if you want more space for less, then they’re an extra you’re better off without. To narrow your search down further, look for non-doorman buildings.

Unpopular Layouts

Simple economics tells us that the more demand there is for something, the higher the price and vice versa. Open-plan apartments are currently all the rage in NYC. These are apartments in which the kitchen, living room, and dining room seamlessly blend into one. But if you prefer a traditional setup with a separate room for each area, then you stand to get a better price. Look into what the latest design trends are in the city, and then look for something else.

Affordable Neighborhoods

Admittedly, I still dream of living in Downtown Manhattan. As an Upper West Sider, while I appreciate walking on quiet streets and living near a vast amount of green space in Riverside Park and Central Park, I dig the vibe south of 23rd Street. Back in 2008, when we searched for an apartment to buy, my husband and I aimed to live in Chelsea. We came close to buying a co-op on the 24th between Seventh and Eighth Avenues, but we couldn’t pull the trigger because the price was higher, and the space required more work than comparable apartments farther uptown.

Disappointed, we figured everything happens for a reason, so we started to focus our search on the Upper West Side. I guess Chelsea wasn’t meant to be because here we are, six years later, living in the heart of the Upper West.

If you’re in a similar situation and scouring for a deal; or trying to find a neighborhood where you get the square footage for the least amount of cash, I encourage you to expand your search area. Although you’ll notice some apparent discrepancies from downtown, these alternative neighborhoods offer more inventory at less per square foot than anywhere near 14th Street. And should you find your next apartment, you might even discover a handful of downtown’s coveted characteristics in your new hood.

Battery Park City

Battery Park City doesn’t exactly have a reputation for being completely livable. It sits on a 92-acre plot of land owned by the Battery Park City Authority, a public-benefit corporation created by New York State. Despite having good schools, a landscaped waterfront, and easy subway access, the neighborhood also has a reputation for being a ghost town by night.

Homeowners in the neighborhood must pay higher monthly charges because apartment owners must pay ground rent to the BPCA. But, with high-end retailers like Hermes and trendy eateries like Shake Shack and luxury gym Equinox moving to the neighborhood, the area is set to take off as the city’s hot new neighborhood.

Lower East Side

The Lower East Side may have had a rough reputation in the past. While swanky developments are still little ways in the future, and the area’s subway access is a bit limited, you can’t beat the neighborhood’s affordability. Still, with new condo developments taking over the Bowery and boutiques, trendy hotels, bars, and cultural centers moving in, the area is a prime spot for nightlife lovers.

Gramercy Park

Gramercy Park is the neighborhood for those looking to live a high life. Gramercy Park has long held a reputation for luxury and is the only neighborhood with a private park—if you live on the edges, you get a key with your purchase. There are also gorgeous townhouses that date back to the 19^th century. And while properties on the park’s west side are pricey, the cost goes down as much as $ 1 million if you look east.

For your savings on living in an elite area, you will have to make a small sacrifice on completely easy conveniences like subway access and restaurants, and shops. Once the Second Avenue subway is constructed, linking the area to Midtown, prices are sure to change.

Yorkville

With the Second Avenue Subway slated to open at the end of 2016 and hot new bars and restaurants already doing business in the nabe, Yorkville may be the next most happening area in Manhattan. Although most of the neighborhood is a haul from Central Park, Carl Schurz Park is easily accessed from most spots in Yorkville.

However, the key is to buy an apartment within the next year before the subway is completed. Then, you’ll have to endure about another year of construction dirt and noise (perhaps less, depending on the time you buy), but your property value will soar after the train starts running. This is because you’ll have access to a brand new subway line with escalators and elevators and a climate-controlled platform. Currently, you’ll find 61 properties less than $750,000 on the market.

Morningside Heights

Like Greenwich Village–– home of NYU –– Morningside Heights has a large college-age population. You’ll find middle-class families, singles, and students living in the neighborhood. With Columbia University at 116th and Broadway, the area will continue to thrive and remain a prominent option for real estate investment.

The benefits of living in this part of town include terrific dining options, Riverside to the West, and Morningside Park running through the heart of the area. In addition, the one train runs directly through the neighborhood with stops at 110th, 116th, and 125th and Broadway. Right now, Streeteasy.com shows 21 properties under $900,000 in Morningside Heights.

East Harlem

Spanish Harlem is an area brimming with culture and can no longer be ignored as a viable choice for real estate investment. A friendly demeanor, the enclave boasts a good selection of ethnic eateries and the Target/Costco mall at 117th Street. Residents can reach the Upper East Side in mere minutes with express bus service on the First and Second Avenues. Condo buildings have been developing over the last decade.

Harlem

New York real estate is on the upswing, which means Harlem is prime for another rebound. Harlem is still a little away from central Manhattan; the price disparity is due to different housing options on different sides of the neighborhood. Introducing a Whole Foods Market to the area is set to help gentrify the community and invite more bars and restaurants to the site, including name places like Marcus Samuelsson’s Red Rooster.

While East Harlem is close to South Harlem, it is filled with housing projects that make it hard to find land to build condos. Columbia University campus is on the West Harlem end, and brownstones can be located in Central Harlem. Another reason for lower prices is fewer luxury accommodations, like those that you might find in Tribeca.

Kips Bay

Kips Bay borders the East River between East 23rd and East 34th Streets. The area is excellent for first-time apartment buyers, as the neighborhood is mainly filled with co-ops, which tend to be less expensive than condos and help keep prices down. Many people don’t want to live so far east, as subway access is fewer and farther between.

Final Thoughts

Unless you’re in the Fortune 500, finding an NYC apartment that covers all your wants and needs is not possible. So you’ve got to prioritize things and make sacrifices. If space is one of those priorities, be willing to go without an elevator, doorman, favorite layout, or all three.

Please talk with a local real estate broker and let them know your priorities and what you’re willing to go without. For example, if space is a priority, the others won’t feel like sacrifices when it comes time for the next dinner party.