REVIEWS AND ADVICE FROM CURRENT STUDENTS FORDHAM SCHOOL OF LAW HOUSING GUIDE 2021
HOUSING DATA TOP PROPERTIES NEIGHBORHOODS EXPLAINED LANDLORD INFO APARTMENT RATINGS RENTER RESOURCES
Intelligent Apartment Search
TABLE OF CONTENTS GETTING THE MOST OUT OF THE GUIDE
Start with the Housing Facts section. This section should help you determine the type of apartment you'd 5 HOUSING FACTS like to live in and how much you should expect to pay Our data on housing in rent. Read about diferent neighborhoods and narrow down your search to parts of the city that you like most. 7 ABOUT VERYAPT Using the VeryApt site alongside this Use the Apartment Ratings section to identify the guide best apartment buildings across the categories (e.g. best amenities, highest rated) that matter most to you. 9 NEIGHBORHOODS OVERVIEW Most popular neighborhoods for Visit VeryApt.com to read reviews, get pricing, and set Fordham Law students up appointments for the apartments you like most.
11 Upper West Side 14 Hell's Kitchen 16 Midtown ABOUT THE DATA IN THIS GUIDE 18 Upper East Side All of the data in this guide are based on feedback from real renters in New York City. We asked students to rate their apartments on a scale of 1-10 across six categories: 19 DATA TABLE Compiled from Fordham Law student reviews
21 APARTMENT RATINGS Top apartments, based on the feedback of Fordham Law students Overall Value Management 21 Most Popular 22 Highest Rated 23 Best for Amenities 24 Best for Value
26 LANDLORDS Amenities Location Safety Ratings for landlords and management companies Based on their feedback, we compiled a list of the best apartment buildings for Fordham Law students. If you are interested in additional data that is not in the guide or have a housing question, you can reach us at [email protected].
DISCLAIMER: The reviews and ratings presented throughout the guide and the VeryApt website do not refect the opinions, position, or endorsement of VeryApt. The responses and reviews presented are solely those of the survey respondents. VeryApt assumes no responsibility for readers' or users' interpretation of the data. The results do not in any way constitute a warranty or representation by VeryApt as to the quality, safety, or other features of a property. We encourage you to check all available sources of information about properties prior to renting.
Where Fordham Law students Who Fordham Law students live live with
45% Upper West Side 35% Alone 25% Hell's Kitchen 25% Spouse/partner 15% Midtown 40% Roommate 10% Upper East Side (excluding spouse/ 5% Other partner)
20% of Fordham Law students live with pets
What type of properties What size residences Fordham Fordham Law students live in Law students live in
35% Mid-size property 25% Studios or efciences (20-49 units) 40% One bedrooms 35% Large property (50+ units) 20% Two bedrooms 30% Small property (2-9 15% Three or more units) bedrooms
Distribution of property ratings Average rent by apartment size $2,350 STUDIO $2,500 1BR $3,200 2BR
25% 15% 30% 30% $4,600 0 - 6.9 7 - 7.9 8 - 8.9 9+ 3BR
Rent versus own Commute methods 95% Rent 5% Own
45% 45% 5% 5% Public Walking Biking Driving Transit 5
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NEW YORK NEIGHBORHOODS EXPLAINED An overview of the most popular neighborhoods for Fordham Law students
Hell's Kitchen/ Midtown 1 Upper West Side 2 West Other Neighborhoods
45% of Fordham Law students 20% of Fordham Law students less than 5% each
The neighborhood with the most This area ofers a vibrant nightlife and Fordham Law students, Upper West Side somewhat simple commute to campus. 5 Greenpoint ofers easy access to all other parts of Surrounded by great restaurants and rich the city and some of the nicest living in culture, you'll never experience a dull accommodations. Many students are moment in this part of the city. 6 Financial District willing to pay extra to live here because of the proximity to campus. 7 Astoria
3 Midtown 4 Upper East Side
15% of Fordham Law students 10% of Fordham Law students
Midtown is the central portion of the Upper East Side boasts luxury apartment island of Manhattan. Within Midtown options, world-class shopping, and are many smaller neighborhoods, plenty of cultural attractions. Rent tends including Hell's Kitchen, Chelsea, and to be more expensive here. Murray Hill. The area contains many of New York's prime tourist attractions, such as the Empire State Building, Times Square, and the Rockefeller Center.
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Upper West Side An Intellectual and Cultural Green Space
ABOUT UPPER WEST SIDE
This expensive neighborhood is home to mostly brownstones and upscale high-rises. Upper West Side is a relaxing escape from central Manhattan, but the rest of the island is still easily accessible. If you are looking for a more peaceful place to live with plenty of greenery and open public spaces, then Upper West Side is the place to be.
Farmers Markets
Restaurants and Bars Central Park
Stores
MEDIAN RENTS IN UPPER WEST SIDE $3,000 $3,900 $6,100 Studio 1 Bedroom 2 Bedroom
WHAT RESIDENTS THINK ABOUT UPPER WEST SIDE
Review by Fordham Law Student BRETTON HALL Review by Fordham Law Student WEST PIERRE I love the Upper West Side, it's my favorite space in There are so many restaurants near by and the express New York. It has the benefts of the City that Never subway so when you want to go downtown it’s a short Sleeps but can also be very quiet and residential. There trip. There are also lots of clothing stores and it’s just are great restaurants, bars, shops, public services... closest to school that you can walk and it’s easy, but just There are two major parks on either end (Central and far enough away that you do not feel like you are always Riverside) and you can access the 1,2,3, B and C trains. there. The UWS and UES also happen to be where a good chunk of Manhattan's medical practice is, so there are
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Hell's Kitchen The Best Entertainment and Convenience Value
ABOUT HELL'S KITCHEN
Hell's Kitchen ofers more afordable walkups and newer luxury high-rises, making it popular with renters. Its welcoming environment has a little bit of everything, from cheap food and drink to expensive culinary creations. This area is close to many tourist destinations and classic NYC landmarks like Broadway, Times Square, and Central Park.
Convenient Location
Restaurants and Bars
Authentic NYC Feel
MEDIAN RENTS IN HELL'S KITCHEN $2,950 $3,700 $5,600 Studio 1 Bedroom 2 Bedroom
WHAT RESIDENTS THINK ABOUT HELL'S KITCHEN
Review by Fordham Law Student 420 W 42ND ST Review by Fordham Law Student 420 W 42 Plenty of restaurants and bars in the area so the streets I like that Hell's Kitchen always has activity going on, always have people on them. Can be on the loud side, and is a decent mixture of commercial and residential. If but overall great location. I didn't go to Fordham, I probably wouldn't choose to live here, but relative to the other choices that are walking-distance to campus (Upper West Side + Central Park South), I prefer Hell's Kitchen.
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Midtown Embrace the Hustle and Bustle
ABOUT MIDTOWN
If you want to be in the center of New York City and all its skyscraper glory, Midtown is the place to live. Renters enjoy the hustle and bustle of the business district and its vibrant cultural scene. Here, Fordham Law students enjoy an authentic Manhattan experience in the thick of it.
Hustle Time Square Nightlife
Commute to Campus Big-City Living
MEDIAN RENTS IN MIDTOWN $3,250 $3,900 $5,450 Studio 1 Bedroom 2 Bedroom
WHAT RESIDENTS THINK ABOUT MIDTOWN
Review by Fordham Law Student HUDSONVIEW Review by Fordham Law Student HERALD TOWERS vibrant + young. close to all amenities. might be a little Depends on whether you like midtown - I enjoy being more expensive than other areas of NYC b/c it is in near Bryant Park, theater district, Madison Square Park, midtown. etc. There's four major subway lines that are a 1-5 min walk so it's super easy to get anywhere in the city. 15 min commute to school
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Upper East Side Fashionable, Fancy, and Family-Friendly
ABOUT UPPER EAST SIDE
The Upper East Side isn't all posh real estate, designer boutiques, and prep schools anymore. A younger, more afordable lifestyle is now mixed in with its New York sophistication. A lot of families settle down here, so the area is extremely safe and secure. While there is not a whole lot of hip nightlife, Upper East Side is home to many parks, quiet, tree-lined streets for running, and Museum Mile along 5th Avenue for the cultural folks.
Parks Clean Fashionable
MEDIAN RENTS IN UPPER EAST SIDE $3,100 $3,800 $5,900 Studio 1 Bedroom 2 Bedroom
WHAT RESIDENTS THINK ABOUT UPPER EAST SIDE
Review by Fordham Law Student 238 E 89TH ST. Review by Fordham Law Student 301 E 60TH I love the UES. It’s a little quiet but with the Q it’s easy to Experience varies from street to street. Can be very loud get to and from campus. Nice restaurant and good value and congested. My apartment is technically just across for money in terms of rent. the border to the UES, but you really need to be above 75th or between 5th and Lexington to get that calm UES feel.
18 KEY APARTMENT •••• Excellent for a category $$$$ $3840+ per renter ••• Great $$$ $3630- $3839 •• Average $$ $3030- $3629 RATINGS • Below average $ < $3030 * Prices subject to change and may vary signifcantly by room type
Property Type Rating Price Range Most PopularBest for PetsBest for FamiliesManagementAmenities Value Social Safety
10 Hanover Square Apt 7.3 $$$$ •• ••• •• •• ••
101 West End Apt 9.9 $$$ ••• ••• •• •• ••••
180 Water Street Apt 9.0 $$$ •••• •••• ••• •••• ••••
200 W 70 Street Apt 8.8 $ ••• •• ••• • •••
242 West 61st St Apt 8.0 $$$ •••• •• •• ••• ••
244 West 72nd Street Apt 8.0 $$ •• •• •• • ••
27 West 70th Street Apt 7.1 $$$ ••• •• •• •• ••
30 West 70th Street Condo 7.2 $$$ •• •• •••• •• ••••
330 W 56th St Apt 9.2 $$$$ •••• •••• ••• ••• •••
350 West 55 St Condo 7.2 $ •• •• •• • ••
387 Franklin Ave Apt 7.0 $$ •• •• ••• •• ••
455W37 Apt 8.0 $$ ••• ••• •••• ••• ••••
*** Some buildings with fewer than 3 reviews are included above because of high ratings but do not appear in the top 10 lists.
19 APARTMENT RATINGS
Property Type Rating Price Range Most PopularBest for PetsBest for FamiliesManagementAmenities Value Social Safety
Herald Towers Apt 8.1 $$ •• ••• ••• •••• ••
Hudsonview Apt 8.2 $$$ ••• •••• •• ••• ••••
Lawrence House Apt 9.0 $$ •• •• ••• •••• ••
Longacre House Apt 9.4 $ •••• •••• •• •• ••
McMahon Hall Apt 7.5 $$ ••• •••• •• •••• ••••
Parc Coliseum Apt 9.7 $ •••• • •••• •••• •••
StuyTown Apt 8.6 $$ ••• ••• •••• ••• •••
The Azure Apt 8.0 $$$ ••• ••• ••• •••• ••
The Montana Apt 9.3 $$$ •••• •••• ••• ••• •••
The Sutton Collection Apt 9.5 $$$$ •• •• •••• •• •••
West Pierre Apt 8.2 $ •• •• •••• ••• •••
ABOUT OUR CATEGORIES Living Situation Ratings Property Type Families How students with partners and/or children rated the building. Pet Owners How students with pets rated the building. Apartment (Apt) Properties with one building manager. Often have consistent pricing/features. Building Quality Ratings Condo Properties with multiple owners. Lease terms and features can vary signifcantly by unit. Management Maintenance and service quality. Amenities In-room and building features beyond the basics. Key Building Factor Ratings Value Building quality given cost of rent. Overall Rating Overall feedback on building quality. Social Building community and social scene. Popularity Estimated # of students in the building. Safety Building neighborhood safety.
20 1st 10 HANOVER SQUARE 13+ $$$$ PEOPLE MOST Financial District POPULAR Buildings with the most Fordham Law students
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Review by Fordham Law Student What students typically look for: “10 Hanover Square is it's location. It's walking distance from grocery shopping, battery park, wall street, both the hudson and the east river, and the 2/3 and 4/5 subway lines! The management of the building is great-very friendly and always willing to help whether it's a maintenance issue or you just can't Excellent location get your door unlocked, and the front desk is stafed 24 hours a day! Rent is a little overpriced for my student budget but you Reasonably-priced defnitely get what you pay for!” apartments Solid amenities 2nd MCMAHON HALL 10+ $$ PEOPLE Upper West Side, 155 W 60th St
Review by Fordham Law Student “Apartment contains three private rooms that share a bathroom, kitchen and living area. Facilities are in decent, not great condition. Cleanliness is up to the residents so you get out what you put in. Your typical undergrad resident hall. As a law student, the guest policy leaves much to be desired, but overall its alright.”
Studio 1 BR 2 BR 3 BR 3rd $2,350 $2,500 $3,200 $4,600 LONGACRE HOUSE 7+ $ PEOPLE Hell's Kitchen, 305 W 50th St TOP 5
1st 10 HANOVER SQUARE 13+ PEOPLE
nd PEOPLE 2 MCMAHON HALL 10+ Review by Fordham Law Student “Close to three major subway lines, recently updated lounge and gym, concierge services are really prompt with packages, and dry 3rd LONGACRE HOUSE 7+ PEOPLE cleaners on site. Maintenance never takes longer than 1 day to complete a service. If you like to eat, Hell's Kitchen has some of the best and diverse foods!” 4th THE MONTANA 4+ PEOPLE
5th HUDSONVIEW 2+ PEOPLE
21 1st 101 WEST END 9.9 $$$ OVERALL HIGHEST Upper West Side RATING RATED Buildings with the best overall ratings
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Review by Fordham Law Student What the highest-rated properties typically ofer: “I was able to negotiate a good deal with the rent because of COVID which is the only reason I'm living here. It is very close to Fordham which would be good if there was anything happening in the building. The rooftop was just renovated but has yet to be opened. Management is good in that they have High-end amenities waived amenity fees for the time being due to the pandemic.” Close proximity to work/ school 2nd PARC COLISEUM 9.7 Nearby stores/grocery $ OVERALL Upper West Side, 228 W 71st St RATING Excellent management
Review by Fordham Law Student “Parc Coliseum is a fantastic place to live in! The building is within walking distance from campus. There are tons of parks and restaurants nearby that are great for study breaks. The building itself is well maintained and feels relatively new. They are usually quick to fx things and are very accommodating.”
3rd THE SUTTON COLLECTION 9.5 Studio 1 BR 2 BR 3 BR $$$$ OVERALL $2,550 $2,700 $3,400 $4,800 Midtown East RATING TOP 5
st OVERALL 1 101 WEST END 9.9 RATING Review by Fordham Law Student nd OVERALL “Good apartment - quiet neighborhood, pet friendly. Doorman 2 PARC COLISEUM 9.7 RATING 24/7 - they are all extremely friendly and helpful. Two elevators in the building, laundry in the basement. No issues at all - management is easy to work with and the residents are all really 3rd THE SUTTON OVERALL COLLECTION 9.5 RATING friendly.”
th OVERALL 4 LONGACRE HOUSE 9.4 RATING
th OVERALL 5 THE MONTANA 9.3 RATING
22 1st 180 WATER STREET 9.6 $$$ AMENITY BEST FOR Financial District, 180 Water St RATING AMENITIES Highest-rated properties for amenities
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Review by Fordham Law Student What top amenity properties typically ofer: “The building is new, secure, and right next to the water. The best part is that they are willing to work with students who use loans for living expenses or who may not have a guarantor. Everyone in the leasing ofce is kind. I’ve had a great experience.” Great common spaces Convenient location 2nd HUDSONVIEW 9.3 $$$ AMENITY Excellent management Hell's Kitchen, 747 10th Ave RATING Newer construction
Review by Fordham Law Student “The new apartments are quite nice, fully renovated before move in, with marble counters and all new appliances. After a few months, there is some wear and tear and it is obvious where corners were cut. But, the ofce is fairly prompt at sending maintenance, and if fxable, problem with be fxed immediately. Building is slow at upgrades, but they get to it eventually. Door staf can be helpful, but most appear just for show."
3rd THE MONTANA 9.1 Studio 1 BR 2 BR 3 BR $$$ AMENITY $2,750 $2,900 $3,600 $5,000 Upper West Side, 247 W 87th St RATING TOP 5
st AMENITY 1 180 WATER STREET 9.6 RATING Review by Fordham Law Student nd AMENITY “Love it - fairly expensive, but for a couple sharing a studio, the 2 HUDSONVIEW 9.3 RATING foorplan is very spacious, amenities are great, nice wood foors. Closet space is not huge, but I also think its typical if not more than a lot of my friends in 1-2 bedrooms. Awesome gym, rd AMENITY 3 THE MONTANA 9.1 RATING doormen are incredible, easy access to laundry both in building and then at a drycleaner/payperweight connected to the building. 30 seconds from the 86th street 1 stop too!” th AMENITY 4 330 W 56TH ST 8.9 RATING
th AMENITY 5 101 WEST END 8.7 RATING
23 1st 455W37 9.9 $$ VALUE BEST FOR Midtown, 455 W 37th St RATING VALUE Highest-rated properties for value
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Review by Carissa C What top value properties typically ofer: “455W37 is a great building in an up and coming neighborhood. The building has great amenities (24 hour doorman, gym, laundry room, bike storage) and nearly sound-proof windows. With the opening of the 7 train at Hudson Yards/34th Street, it Great price-to-space trade is becoming a much more accessible neighborhood.” of nd 2 Good location STUYTOWN 9.8 $$ VALUE Solid amenities and basic Midtown, 252 1st Avenue RATING features
Review by Fordham Law Student “Very spacious apartment, with generous sized bedrooms. Laundry in building and lots of amenities within the complex including basketball courts and outdoor gym. StuyTown Cafe and Library also within the complex. Fun neighborhood with lots of great bars and restaurants within a 10 minute radius. Also across the street from Trader Joe's, CVS, and the L 1st Ave stop.
The L can be a pain to rely on, but the 14th St. bus is efcient and Studio 1 BR 2 BR 3 BR Union Sq is a 10-12 min walk away.” $2,150 $2,300 $3,000 $4,400 3rd WEST PIERRE 9.5 $ VALUE TOP 5 Upper West Side RATING
st VALUE 1 455W37 9.9 RATING
nd VALUE 2 STUYTOWN 9.8 RATING
rd VALUE Review by Fordham Law Student 3 WEST PIERRE 9.5 RATING “Everyone is super helpful and nice. The only thing is the building manger never answers her emails about rent questions or trying 4th THE SUTTON VALUE to get access to the gym downstairs. Besides her, everyone else COLLECTION 9.4 RATING has been amazing!”
th VALUE 5 PARC COLISEUM 9.2 RATING
24 Brownstones Smaller properties and how to fnd them
ABOUT BROWNSTONES
Brownstones are apartments in older buildings, typically a few stories tall. They Finding a brownstone usually do not have a doorman, an elevator, Brownstones can be challenging to fnd because they tend to be or many amenities, but can be cheaper and individually owned and do not have full time leasing managers. more spacious than the apartment and Brownstone listings are typically available ~60 days in advance. condo units in high-rises. You can fnd a brownstone by searching online listings, contacting
WHY YOU SHOULD CONSIDER A BROWNSTONE a landlord directly, or by working with VeryApt's Concierge Team who can help identify some options. CHEAPER LARGER FLOOR PLANS
3+ BEDROOMS AVAILABLE MORE PRIVACY Preparing for a brownstone search Most Fordham Law students opt for larger properties in order to WHY YOU MAY WANT TO AVOID A BROWNSTONE live closer to other students and simplify the housing search. That said, there are plenty of wonderful brownstones - be prepared to NO DOORMAN LESS CONVENIENT LOCATIONS visit more properties to fnd that perfect home, carefully examine the pros/cons, and move quickly if you fnd a unit you love. OLDER CONSTRUCTION LIMITED AMENITIES
MORE MAINTENANCE ISSUES
TIPS AND ADVICE
Reliable Landlords Noise and Neighbors Lease Terms
Check online reviews and talk to Sounds often travel well through Leases with independent landlords previous tenants to fnd out about brownstones and you can easily be are negotiable. Check your lease for your landlord. Look for one that disturbed by barking dogs, music, or restrictions on sub-letters and visitor responds quickly to maintenance construction. Check out the policies. You may be able to avoid a requests and has a history of surrounding area to get a sense for rent increase by locking in a longer returning deposits. what it may be like. lease. LANDLORD GRADES and the Renting Process
GRADE LANDLORD Understanding THE RENTING PROCESS 0 - Condominium - New York B- If this is your frst time renting, here is a heads up on what the process is like:
A+ Algin Management Application process You will be asked to fll out an application for an apartment. Likely this will include an application fee ($30-50) and potentially a deposit (up to one B Brodsky month’s rent). If you’re an international student, you may have to provide alternate information - in the absence of a social security number, bank accounts, etc., often landlords will accept your visa documents A+ CompassRock and acceptance letter. Landlords will use your information to approve you based only on your credit history and income. In the event where there are issues, a landlord may grant the application on the A- Douglas Elliman condition that a guarantor cosigns the lease. After you're approved Empire Realty A landlord will often ask for a security deposit and B prepaid rent. A landlord typically charges up to two months' rent as a security deposit and will ask for up to two months in prepaid rent. Anything beyond this Equity Residential is more than normal. At the end of your lease and A+ after you give proper notifcation that you are moving out (typically 60-90 days), the landlord has 30 days to return the security deposit at the end of Fordham University Housing the lease. The landlord may not return the deposit in A+ full if there are claimed damages to the property or other charges outstanding.
A- Rose Associates, Inc. What to look out for Check for additional charges or obligations that could cost you more than the listed price of a property. This could include move-in/move-out fees, renters A- TF Cornerstone Inc. insurance requirements, condo fees, common electrical fees, etc. Defnitely ask about what previous electrical/utility bills have been to get a feel for any additional monthly costs there may be. Be sure to research the landlord and management company Landlord Grades before placing any sort of deposit. If you have any Grades were assigned to landlords by using a specifc questions, feel free to reach out to us at combination of management ratings and overall [email protected]. ratings for the properties they manage.
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