Questions on moving to Hoboken
I am an ASO (ignore WSO label) at a BB that's been in the news. Use your imagination which one. The regional office I was at has closed but they have a role for me in NYC, which I said yes to since I need a lifeboat and don't have something else lined up (we've all seen the lateral market). Cost of living in NYC is a lot more than my original city; NYC seems great if you're early 20s and living 3 roommates in a dump in Murray Hill is socially acceptable, or when you're already rich and can ball out in a Meatpacking penthouse. I'm in the middle where I'm 30s so don't really want a dump, but even a 1 bedroom in lower Manhattan is out of my price range. Trying to keep it under $4000, which was hilariously easy in my old city but need a solution for now.
Been looking at Hoboken, parts of Brooklyn, some spots in FiDi accordingly. There are PATH train stops close to work so commute won't be bad. My questions are more:
-Should I sell my car before moving to Hoboken, if I go that route? If I end up in NYC itself then for sure I'm selling it, just not sure how it would go over in NJ and if I'd be missing out for everyday shopping or other errands. Do you guys just Uber/taxi when needed? Or is NJ public transit good enough?
-Parts of town your recommend or would say to avoid? I'm looking at some spots pretty close to a PATH station and I see a W Hotel nearby so doesn't look like a total dump, but I'm a lot more familiar with NYC than NJ.
I'm also open to being told I'm nuts to be considering Hoboken, but again, I'm trying to keep costs down (need to rebuild savings after grad school still), I'm a grown man in my 30s and mom and dad aren't paying for me to live in a Hudson Yards penthouse, and yes I like to go out and have fun but not really trying to get "super wasted bro" at a college crowd bar in Murray Hill either.
Hilariously easy to find something in Manhattan for under $4,000. Don’t look to move during busy season, if you can lock in a lease in February for example you’ll have a great rate. Get rid of your car, Hoboken is as expensive as Manhattan. Of course, you do realize savings on City taxes, though. The only people who are jumping to NJ are buying condos in Weehawken waterfront / Jersey City area.
Look in Long Island City if you want to find the best deals within close proximity outside of Manhattan. Plenty of people live there for more space for your buck.
Noted on LIC. I'll keep looking but what I've found on Streeteasy so far were pretty tiny studios, or this one place I toured in Murray Hill which was a total dump but nonetheless went for $4100. It's going to have to be an October move so don't know if that counts as busy season or not, but I don't have a lot of flexibility and frankly, I'm just happy right now that I still have a job.
I’m seeing some places on StreetEasy for sub $4k. I generally just recommend talking to a real estate agent and telling them exactly what you want. Then again, if penny pinching is how you want to play it, then maybe its not the best idea. They can show you stuff thats not even on StreetEasy yet. In my experience, thats how people snag decent places for decent prices.
If cost is a real concern, why not pick up a roommate or two?
Live in Newport unless you’re single in which live in FiDi
Love FiDi. Underrated
Newport is nice I think you should keep the car
Hoboken is fine. I've had multiple family members that lived there (not in finance) and you get a pretty good bang for your buck. As others have said, also consider places in Jersey City: Newport, (Soul suckingly boring, but cheaper and all newer-build) Grove, (possibly even more fun than Hoboken, and a bit less bro-ey) and JSQ (Cheaper and good Indian food) JC has bad areas, but they're all basically too far from the PATH station to walk. Hell, you might even consider Harrison if you work downtown--It's 20 min from WTC, but there's basically nothing there but the station and the Red Bulls Stadium.
-Should you sell your car?--No. NJ public transit is entirely focused on getting to/from NYC. This isn't NY, not having a car basically eliminates anything west of Hoboken from your world. You really do need a car.
-Places to avoid?--Dude, it's Hoboken. It's a mile square. Desirability is 100% based on access to NYC. There is nowhere I'd be scared to go at 2am in a rediculous outfit. (As long as it's not St. Patrick's Day. That's a separate story)
-As to Nuts: Nah, but understand the pros/cons.
You won't regret Hoboken, or selling your car. You'll save on rent, car costs and most of all you'll save that brutal 4% NYC income tax.
I work too far from the PATH or the ferry drop off, otherwise I'd be in Hoboken too.
Unless you're shuttling kids around you certainly don't need a car there. Groceries lol . . check out the prices on Amazon Fresh vs. your grocery store, they're practically paying you for the privilege of delivering your food. With all due respect to commenters who've said to keep your car: try penciling out some car costs and don't forget depreciation & maintenance . . and then ask yourself how many Ubers you could buy for that cost, vs. how many Ubers you'll actually need. I doubt keeping the car will win that contest but we're all different.
To be single and in Manhattan is the dream. Don’t go to NJ.
Why? What’s it like in either places? Asking as I’m moving from CA to NYC shortly
For one thing a large majority of chicks are not going home with you if you’re partying in Manhattan and live in NJ. Also, it’s nice to take a quick cab home in Manhattan over the odd hours of the Path at night.
Not sure if it’s changed or not since I moved out of NYC in 2019 but I would not recommend living in Hoboken. I’d take the path to gamble a few days a week in Hoboken and occasionally dine there. The park along the water is nice but the main stretch was pretty trashy. Lots of 5’2 Italian and Puerto Rican dudes on steroids with no necks walking around with pitbulls and wearing affliction t shirts.
Would be curious if others agree but I’d roughly order my preference of neighborhoods as follows:
Greenwich Village, SoHo, Hells Kitchen, East Village, Chelsea, Brooklyn, and UES. I lived in the UES when I lived there in my mid twenties and liked it but it was a little quiet for my taste.
I’m a big Brooklyn fan and if I had to move there again if I couldn’t swing Greenwich Village, SoHo, or Hells Kitchen that’s where I’d live. I should also add that anything in mid town while close to your office will be pretty boring (chains catering to the lunch crowds or tourists).
Yeah I like East Village the best. Total grunge scene, tattoos, artists, fun bars and restaurants. Close to most places.
Why Hell's Kitchen?
Greenwich & East Village and Williamsburg would be so nice to live in if I could afford the rent for a relatively modern place
You’re able to walk to work and there’s stuff to do in the area without being overwhelming. You’ve got the Time Warner center, decent restaurants, access to Central Park, easy access to rest of city on the subway, etc.
When I lived on the UES that’s more in line with what I was expecting but found it was much more family oriented and away from the action. I liked the restaurants and that I could walk to work but anytime I wanted to go anywhere it was a pain in the ass.
brooklyn is not a neighborhood
Anything but Jersey
I don't know why everyone is saying to keep the car. I live nearby and have lived there in the past and there is pretty much no use for a car, as everything is in walkable distance. I would only use a car if you're going deeper into Jersey often enough that it's cheaper than just ubering, but if you work in NYC I don't see why that would be.
The question is really whether you want the Hoboken lifestyle or the NYC lifestyle. The Jersey side is great for a lot of reasons, but it will make a social life in Manhattan a pain in the ass.
It can absolutely be done, but if you're planning on going out in the city I would consider:
If you're more of a homebody and value the extra square footage, quieter streetscape, etc. above proximity to things in the city other than work, then none of the above may matter. Hoboken (and Jersey City, Newport, etc.) are nice areas with plenty of restaurants, nightlife, shopping, etc. in their own rights - but make no mistake, 95%+ of the time people are coming from Jersey into the city for a social life and not the other way around (and more often than not people are staying within walking distance / short train of their own neighborhoods). It's also a bit easier if your office is in Fidi than if it's in Midtown, but Hoboken is at least better than Jersey City in that regard (you'll be transferring either way).
I'd also look at living in Fidi, Long Island City, maybe Greenpoint, Yorkville, or Astoria and / or potentially having a roommate or two, which is less common in your 30s but still happens - I know 3 VPs who live together in a huge 3bd/3br penthouse in a new building in Manhattan for ~$4k each - sick setup if that's your vibe (personally, I pay $5k for a 1 bed in a new building in a great location). I would also ditch the car - you'll be so much happier just not having to deal with it, let alone saving the extra money.
Save some for escorting. College can be hard especially after a heartbreak. You let one semester go, you'll be tempted to let all semesters go
Overall, I'd say Hoboken is cheaper than NYC, but depends on where you are looking in ether place. You can find super luxury in ether or a bargain in ether (just have to get out and talk to people to find a deal, usually not going to find it online).
Hoboken had a reputation of being a down and old long shoreman town, then a dump, then a party town, now its a mix between a party town and families with young kids. So most of it is safe, sans for maybe two streets all the way in the back end; you're see homeless people and theres a rat problem just like NYC. The best way for me to describe Hoboken is if you took a suburb and pushed it together, theres gyms, theres different grocery stores; you're close to NYC, up and coming Jersey City and even Weehawken. As said above, if you're willing to get out and do more, Hoboken is great you just have to get use to the commute to other parts of the city.
Parking is somewhat of a beast; its easier the further you get back into town, just be diligent.
It's a fun town, I'd recommend it but it all depends on the vibe you want.
I’ve heard people generally liking LIC as well. Fairly close by to midtown offices and a lot of students and young working professionals residing in the area, more restaurants opening up there
The multiple comments on what lifestyle you value (nightlife vs. space/quiet) are very relevant. Those considerations tend to shift in value as you partner up though.
I wanted to provide a little more info to help the decision. Hoboken is much more consistently nice than the other near Manhattan NJ options with sketchy areas. Although relying on the PATH is not ideal, you also have the option of the very fast ferry. Living on the southern part of Hoboken gives access to both, while the north part has another ferry but is a 10-15 minute walk to the PATH.
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