New Apartment?

[morrigirl]

Okay, here's the sitch: yesterday I was cruising Craigslist and came across a posting for a studio apartment in Yonkers located down the road from Sarah Lawrence. I emailed the poster in the afternoon, he called me in the evening, told me the apartment was in the basement of his mother's house and we set an appointment for me to view it after work today.

After work I walked a mere thirty minutes to the house where I was greeted by a warm and friendly Italian grandmother named Micky. Micky is the landlady. The house is a two family spread that has been converted into apartments, much like where I live now. Micky lives on the top floor, another family lives on the first floor and the studio I viewed is in the basement.

It's not a bad apartment. First off it has a FULL KITCHEN, something my current apartment lacks. Not only that, but said kitchen includes a WASHER and a DRYER. The living/bed/everything else room was slightly smaller than the one I'm in, but still big enough to fit all my shit, and the bathroom was slightly larger than mine. Since it's a basement apartment I'd never have to worry about not having heat since the furnace lives there too. The Cross County shopping center is an easy 20 minute walk from the house and hosts a Super Stop and Shop, a Macy's, a Sam Goody, Gap, Old Navy, and Waldenbooks among other stores. Rent was $750 a month, but Micky liked me so much (and because I don't drive and wouldn't be needing the parking spot that comes with the apartment) she said she'd knock it down to $700. All utilities are included in the rent. The Bee Line Bus that goes to the 2 train stops right outside the house. It's a nice, quiet neighborhood. It seemed like a good fit. Not to mention that Micky loved me. When she finished showing me the apartment she took me back up to her place and fed me cupcakes. "I-a like-a you, Caroline," she said to me. "I-a can-a tell-a you're a good girl!" Yes, that's exactly how she spoke. I told her I wanted to take the night to think about it and I'd get back to her tomorrow.

There are a couple draw backs of course. Not living in the city anymore would suck. It would be slightly harder to get down to my mom's apartment in Manhattan....but not too much. And the family who'd be living above me have school aged children who were really clomping around upstairs while I was there. Listening to that on a regular basis wouldn't be cool. But...I'd be closer to work. I'd save money on transportation. Having a kitchen would save me money on food because I wouldn't have to eat out all the time. I'd have heat in the winter (in theory at least.) So...I have a decision to make tonight.

I'm a little hesitant to say "yes, sign me up for the seemingly awesome apartment" simply because finding it to begin with was so spur of the moment and unexpected. Then again, so was finding the place where I currently live. I'm a little nervous about the hit my checking account would take after shelling out the deposit and moving costs. Fortunately, with the money I'd save on transporation costs, the increase in rent would even out and I'd end up spending the exact same amount of money each month that I spend now.

What do you think? Obviously this would be a step up from where I am now. Should I go for it?

Comments

[satinalien.livejournal.com]

Do it. You know you want to and it sounds like a good step.

[nabuchodonosor.livejournal.com]

MOVE THERE NOW.

Darlink, living close to work and where you take classes now and again is fantastic, and $700 a month really can't be beat.

Expenses of moving can quickly be ignored and absorbed, and you're right about how the cost would even out. And there are many better things to do than the whole transportation thing, like flossing cats.

And I'm already in love with Micky. Just don't piss her off. :)

[slinkybetty.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a great find to me. I had a similar situation with my current apartment. It was a spur-of-the-moment, unexpected find. I moved to the outskirts of the city, and it's sort of secluded, but I pay $700 for a walk-in in a 2-family house now (and no utilites). Living in the city is great, but Yonkers is not far at all.

I too have an older Italian landlady living upstairs from me. She rocks. Whenever she cooks she leaves me some. She lets me use the washer and dryer too.

Good luck with everything!

[morrigirl.livejournal.com]

I have to admit, the thought of getting invited up to dinner every now and again, or having leftovers brought down to me has crossed my mind as a possible perk more than once this evening.

The more I talk about it, the more I talk to others about it, the more this sounds like a good idea. Barring an unforeseen tragedies tomorrow morning, I'll probably call her up and take it.

I won't be a Bronx resident anymore :-( Hope that won't make you want to get rid of me *chuckles*

[silent-t.livejournal.com]

I would do it. Clomping kids can be remedied with music and bedtimes!!
being closer to work will be way better specially in crap weather adn basements are wayyyy warmer than attics in winter, and cooler in the summer...

[spiltvinegar.livejournal.com]

I'd say go for it. The Cross County isn't always the safest place, but it's got everything you'd need, and I don't have to tell you that the shorter commute is a good idea. I imagine if my grandmother had lived longer, she would be Micky. Except her name was Louise.

Good luck!

[kdc4evr.livejournal.com]

well, my problem with living in the basement/ground floor is that I'm always cold. but with the furnace right there where you can probably see it, that's a good sign, and depending on what type of heat it is, you may get too hot. and yes, basements are much cooler in summer.

and you'd be surprised how fast you can get used to people clomping around above you. Ha, you'd live in Yonkers. would that mean it'd be harder for me to find you when I come to New York in August?

Take it. You need a real kitchen.

[morrigirl.livejournal.com]

Wait a minute....did you say you were coming to New York in August?

[slinkybetty.livejournal.com]

Of course not! :)

That's cool that the Bee Line goes right by your place. I live about 3 or 4 miles from the 6-train, but there are two bus lines that go by my apartment that take me there, and one of them runs all night. $700... you can't beat that price living on your own anywhere in or near the city. Go for it!