And the Search Goes On…

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New neighborhoods, hello there!

And the search goes on.

My major goal over summer break was to find a place to live starting August. I saw one place on Sunday, two places on Monday, two places on Tuesday and I will see one today. I did not have to deal with finding housing last year. I posted a note on Facebook and an acquaintance of mine from college responded. Upper East Side. One year lease. Okay, fine. But I will not be living in the UES again nor signing a one year lease. My old housemate seems to think that I will have a hard time finding housing in Brooklyn without signing a one year lease. I beg to differ.

Can I just say how ridiculous these craigslist housing ads are? Yes, they are ridiculous. How so?! Let me count the ways:

Apartment #1: Two rooms were available. Near the L Bedford stop. The ad advertises this loft space as a “cloud fortress.” That should have been my first warning. I walk into a large loft space, all man built. There’s a little bunny hopping around. I forget the name. I walk around the kitchen and living room. Okay. That’s fine. I step into the “bathroom,” which consists of slabs of concrete and planks of wood. I am also told that the water pressure is not good and that the warm water only lasts 20 minutes but with enough planning, there hasn’t been much of a problem. He brings me upstairs. Shows me room one. $900. No thanks. Shows me room one. Worse than the first but going for $1000. NEXT!

Apartment #2: One room is available. I would be living with one other person. The woman advertises the room as being a 10-minute walk from the Bedford stop. Try 20. The room is tiny and is going for $850. Lame. NEXT!

Apartment #3: One room is available. Next to a Bushwick subway stop. Literally steps. Awesome. Cool. I walk upstairs and she shows me what would be my room. $725. The apartment is nicely decorated and I am digging the vibe. I am excited to finally like a place off of Craigslist. I ask her where her room is. Here’s the kicker: It hasn’t been built. Seriously?! Where will it be placed? Oh, you know, the landlord will renovate the apartment so part of her room would take part of the living room. Railroad-style apartment. NEXT!

Apartment #4: One room is available. $809. A short walk from the Franklin Ave. stop. A neighborhood undergoing some gentrification. I do come home late at night and I ask out safety. I am glad that she is honest and lets me know that she would not walk home around 3/4am. Le sigh. NEXT!

Apartment #5: One room is available. $680. A 15-minute walk from the L Morgan stop. It’s a bit far. I guess the selling point was supposed to be that it is near the M, which apparently has a weird schedule. Blah blah blah. NEXT!

Needless to say, my housing search is not going as planned. I have one more place to look at tonight and then I am off to Philadelphia tomorrow afternoon. Wish me luck!

And the search goes on…