How old are your kids? Did they work in the city? I’ve lived here my entire life, so has my husband. When we were in our 20’s, livi g here was fine, still had many friends. However, this guy is moving to a new place, his initial friends will be those he works with. When my son had an internship in the city, a lot of nights were spent at happy hours with the guys he worked with. I think most who start out living close to Manhattan eventually move to the suburbs (I only have 2 friends my age still there, 1 has a 3 bedroom rent controlled apartment so can never leave), but I think living there is such an amazing opportunity (my 30 year old niece has been there for 5 years now and still loves it, but she’s single without kids).
I agree. When I was in my 20's I lived on LI and worked in Manhattan. I was fine living where I did because I already had my friends that I had known for years. But I wouldn't suggest moving there from out of state to work in Manhattan.
Don’t forget about Battery Park and the newer housing developments that have grown around it. Nice nabe that caters to the financial district staff and a good mix of singles and growing families. Pretty much anything you want can be acquired without leaving the area. Considered buying there after 9/11 when the R/E market made it a buyer’s market but concerns about the flood plains put me off. Must admit it’s a very expensive zip code and was planned that way.THIS. ⬆
I could have written this myself. There is no such thing as living right in the financial district. It all closes down after 6-7pm and becomes a ghost town. I find it eerie even during the days on weekends when I've had to go down there. People work in the financial district, not live there.
While there are some areas in lower Manhattan, I think he'd have a better time in Brooklyn. He'd be in normal neighborhoods, (considering NYC.) And he'd have normal local eateries, supermarkets, laundromats, dry cleaners, bars (once they fully reopen,) and movie theatres and entertainment with more post grad people his age. Not a lot of 24 year olds can really afford Manhattan to live. If he needs to take a taxi/Uber to or from work or staying out late, every once in a while, they aren't nearly as expensive as taking one to NJ, which automatically is DOUBLE the fare PLUS tolls.
Sure, he can find a place in Manhattan, but then he'd be spending ALL his money on rent, especially if he wants to live alone. If he's working in finance, he should be financially smart enough to not want to do that. There are PLENTY of other living expenses here in NYC to HAVE to spend and splurge money on. We have one of the highest costs of living in the U.S. Many expenses in the first couple years will be unforeseen necessary ones. Some spending will be stupid ones, like eating out/take out for EVERY meal and taking cabs everywhere. Having nearly all of his laundry dry cleaned since he needs starched shirts anyway for work. Then wondering where all the money went.
Things that one only learns by living here for a while and learning in hindsight.
And he may want to really think about getting a roommate his age. There are roommate services here. Living here can be quite lonely at first, negotiating the city, and that was even before COVID. While he can ask his co-workers for tips and advice and to go out for drinks with after work, that gets old after a while, especially if they aren't his age, or he really doesn't gel well with them other than on a work level. It would be nice to have someone at home to hang with, or at least, are going through the same things his age. Many people I've known say it takes about a year getting through the culture shock of living here.
I wouldn’t have in my 20’s either snd my mon’s entire side of the family ended up in jersey city after Ellis island in the early 1900’s. However, it’s really changed. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.ny...city-growing-with-many-personalities.amp.html
Where is here? I’m just as close to the financial district as I would would be in white plains, and I’d never suggest a 24 year old not from around here commute into the city if he could afford to live elsewhere. Again, growing up here and having friends here makes it easy, my first apartment after college was a town away from my parents, same with DH. Most of our high school friends came back to the area. The only people this guy is going to know are his co-workers. If he had a job in Chicago, I wouldn’t suggest he live in Naperville (where my sister moved from Chicago after her 3rd child was born, and having young kids makes it super easy to find friends). If any of my kids end up getting employment in cities not around here, I’d definitely recommend living in the city, or as close as possible. They have the rest of their lives to grow old in the burbs.
