Looking for new housing...

Some of you have already looked for housing in NY before. I was lucky in the beginning of the MBA to find an apartment in NYU housing at Stuyvesant Town, but now they are raising the rent to the SKY!! So, I'm searching for a new place...

I'd like to share some of the lessons I learned by looking for housing:

1st lesson: unless you are very lucky, you won't find a nice 1 bedroom apartment (looking new, good space, amenities etc.) for less than $2,800 (this is as May 2007). Maybe, you will find a good studio for less than that...

2nd lesson: the best option if you are looking for a good space in a nice building is to look for something outside Manhattan, like: Roosevelt island, New Jersey, Brooklyn.

3rd lesson: don't forget that any broker will cost you 15% of your annual rent. ALWAYS ask if the apartment has broker fee or not. Some of them can charge you 12%.

Well, those are my lessons so far... Feel free to add your comments here!

Tilda's Tips for Enjoying NYC

Restaurants:
- French, Bistro
168 Avenue B, New York 10009 (Btwn 10th & 11th St )
Phone: 212-677-4787

- 7A Cafe ($$)
Diners & Coffee Shops
109 Avenue A, New York 10009 (At 7th St )
Phone: 212-475-9001

- B Cup ($)
East Village Cafe
Coffeehouses, Sandwiches
212 Avenue B, New York 10009 (At 13th St )
Phone: 212-228-4808

- Bao 111 ($$$$)
Vietnamese, Pan-Asian & Pacific Rim
111 Avenue C, New York 10009 (Btwn 7th & 8th St )
Phone: 212-254-7773

- Cafe Mogador ($$)
Moroccan, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
101 Saint Marks Pl, New York 10009 (Btwn 1st Ave & Ave A )
Phone: 212-677-2226

- Cafe Orlin ($$$)
Middle Eastern
41 Saint Marks Pl, New York 10003 (Btwn 1st & 2nd Ave )
Phone: 212-777-1447

- Esperanto ($$$)
Spanish, Latin American, Tapas
145 Avenue C, New York 10009 (At 9th St )

- Gnocco ($$$)
Italian
337 E 10th St, New York 10009 (Btwn Ave A & Ave B )
Phone: 212-677-1913

- Le Miu ($$$$)
Japanese, Sushi
107 Avenue A, New York 10009 (Btwn 6th & 7th St )
Phone: 212-473-3100

- Max ($$$)
Italian
51 Avenue B, New York 10009 (Btwn 3rd & 4th St )
Phone: 212-539-0111

- Pizza Gruppo ($)
Pizza
186 Avenue B, New York 10009 (Btwn 11th & 12th St )
Phone: 212-995-2100

- Rue-B ($$)
Sandwiches, Bistro
188 Avenue B, New York 10009 (Btwn 11th & 12th St )
Phone: 212-358-1700

- Boatbasin café View and beer.http://www.boatbasincafe.com/
- Rare Bar & Grill ($$$) The Shelburne Hotel Burgers,American (Traditional) 303 Lexington Ave, New York10016 Btwn 37th & 38th St
- Nice Terrace roof.Penelope 159 Lexington Ave (Cross Street: 30thStreet) New York, (212) 481-3800 Brunch

Outside activities:
- One of the best trips is around the East and Hudson until the George Washington Bridge River by bicycle
- Central Park summer concerts Music in central park: http://www.centralparknyc.org/activities/music
- Bryant Park Summer Cinema: http://www.jimsdeli.com/events/bryant-park-film/default.htm
- Pier 17 concerts check it in the website.

Beaches:
- Jones Beach.http://www.nysparks.com/parks/info.asp?parkId=46
- Coney Island http://www.coneyisland.com/

Thanks Tilda!!!