The Wonderful World of New York City Real Estate

Before finding my apartment I posted this on my website www.tresfetch.com. In order to keep everyone up to speed I decided to post this again so that there is no confusion when reading part II.

Thursday, April 21, 2005

DISCLAIMER: IF YOUR NAME IS BECCA AND I AM TRYING TO CONVINCE YOU TO MOVE TO NYC...DO NOT READ ON! (OK you can its amusing!)

Who wants to help me search for Osama? Or that bracelet I lost last year in the Hall of Languages? Impossible you say? You're right, however, I would probably have a better shot at finding my long lost bracelet then finding a place to live in New York City. Not to mention the wonderful soul searching one has to do when deciding if they want to either live with someone that could turn out to be an axe murderer, or just live on their own. When choosing living on your own, however, one has to consider whether the word "living" is really applicable in this situation. Because really, is it living when you are in an apartment the size of a closet...with no closets? Is it really living when you have to decide if food or cable would be more important for you to spend your money on?

Now seeing as I love looking at houses and apartments and imagining what I can do with them, you would think that searching for an apartment was right up my alley. However, the sheer amount of SHIT that these brokers have to show you is overwhelming. It's sort of like going into a discount clothing store that boasts to have "name brand for less". You get so excited that you are going to get a really good deal, but then you realize that the only good deals, are the good deals on the jeans from two seasons ago, or the shirts that are so irregular they wouldn't fit even the "skinniest, weirdest shaped body" girls. So basically, all the good deals happen to be in either the shadiest neighborhoods, the shadiest buildings, or the SMALLEST apartments.

Then there is the OTHER side to the wonderful world of New York City Real Estate. You find an amazing building with all the amenities you would want, and the apartment is just an okay size...and you are all ready to take it when you hear the price. 2,600 Dollars? But we saw THREE places that were ten times the size of this one...I just couldn't bring myself to do it! Then there is the stress, if you don't take a place you "semi" like within one hour its gone! The feeling of finding a place that you "kind of" like is much worse than not finding anything at all, because then you have the age old question...but what if tomorrow I find something I like better? Do I want to be out 300 bucks? Or do I just settle, I mean I do have to live here for an entire year. Its sheer craziness.

So I stopped looking for a while. I have now come to the conclusion that I will look for a new pair of seven jeans instead and when I find the perfect pair I will set down way too much money on them than ANYONE should pay on jeans and I won't think twice and I wont look back. After I do that, I think I will apply that theory to apartment hunting in NYC, I will find the perfect fit, put down an exorbitant amount of money on something the size of my bedroom closet and I won't think twice and I won't look back...until next year...when I do it ALL OVER AGAIN!

P.S.: I'm looking for a new roommate anyone know anyone? Axe murderers need not apply!