Brooklyn? No way. Yes way.

As I said before I heart Astoria and it was a shock to think I might have to leave my beloved neighborhood. But I had to cast a wider net because my budget just would not accomodate what I wanted. I looked up a slew of different neighborhoods. Gasp! Even in Brooklyn!

First up Sunset Park, Brooklyn. I was reading a design blog/site and came upon a girl who was living in her first apartment there. The pics of her apt were just gorgeous and of course I had to take a look. I looked up a couple of condos on Craigslist and off I went.

Unfortunately, they were both duds. Kitchen appliances in black and just inefficient layouts. And it was quite a commute. Again, not for me.

Then began the interrogations. "Where do you live?" was inevitably my first question to anyone and everyone. I had to know as much as I could about every habitable neighborhood. I found out a co-worker lived in Williamsburg and I began some internet searches there. Since the prices were too out there for me I extended into Ridgewood and East Williamsburg. The condo in Ridgewood was decent but I felt their sq. ftage was inaccurate because it accounted for strange cubby hole spaces in the ceiling. Those spaces were not liveable so I really felt it could not be counted.

In the meantime an article on the best places to live in NY came out. I can't recall at the moment where it was- perhaps Time Out NY- but I will post the link if I find it. It listed Sunnyside so I did some searching there. Unfortunately, most of queens is co-op land. (For that matter, so is most of the city.) I was not looking for a co-op for few different reasons.

1- Requires 20% or more down payment

2- Rigorous screening process that is annoying and takes FOREVER

3- Resale value can be lower

A friend suggested Jackson Heights and sent me a link for a $500k co-op. Sometimes I wonder about my friend. Does she even know me? JK

My search then continued in East Williamsburg. I went to see a really affordable 2BR place off (way off) of the Morgan L stop. Oh the horror! The street was loud and so NOT me. It was next door to some food shops and that is a big no-no for me.

I began to think Brooklyn was not for me and decided to take a break from it.

My mom convinced me to look into the city- Morningside Heights. I hooked up with a broker and saw several places. I really didn't think the neighborhood was for me.

By this time I was really disheartened. AGAIN.

I had three weeks left till deadline!