Big City Living – Affordable Cost

You’ve decided it’s time to buy your first home.  What next?  Have you already picked out a location?  Or, have you only decided on a general area that you’d like to live in without really knowing too much about the neighborhoods available to you.

Often in conversation you hear a friend or relative say, “We’re moving!”  These words are usually followed up by a big city name, i.e. “We’re moving to Washington, D.C.!” or “We’re moving to NYC!”  Have you ever wondered where people really go when they say they are moving to these big cities?  Did you know that most of the time they wind up on the outskirts of a big city?  Quite often they actually might wind up in a neighboring town that is not actually in any part of the city that they mentioned.  It is not because they wanted to lie to you and tell you they were moving someplace fabulous even though they actually were moving to a small time town.  Instead, a lot of people consider towns on the outskirts of cities as actually being part of the big city.  In fact, living on the outskirts of a big city can actually be better.  They offer the perks of big city living without most of the drawbacks.

Many of the most popular districts in big cities offer tons of entertainment.  People generally want to live where there is a lot of stuff to do.   Manhattan has so many businesses operating around the clock that there are a lot of jobs available and there is always something to do no matter what time it is.  This attracts people, and as a result, Manhattan is one of the first places people look to rent an apartment.  However, due to the high cost of living and the extremely dense population of Manhattan, a lot of people opt to live in one of the other boroughs in NYC or right outside NYC in NJ.  What people don’t realize is that businesses are starting to do the same.

In NYC, Bronx commercial real estate has become very popular.  Businesses can find the space they need at a cost that is much more affordable than the same space in Manhattan.  The same thing is going on in Westchester.  Due to the relatively affordable cost of Westchester commercial real estate, businesses have been moving there.  As a result, Westchester has become a hub for commerce.  So, if you are a first time home buyer, or seeking an apartment in the big city, places like the Bronx and Westchester are worth a look.  With more businesses moving to there, the level of entertainment available to area residents will also rise.  Just don’t wait too long if you are thinking about moving there.  Soon enough real estate in these areas will be just as expensive as real estate in Manhattan.   If you do move there now and the level of entertainment isn’t quite as great as you’d like just yet, you can take solace in the fact that you are paying a lot less than Manhattan residents and that the bustle of Manhattan is just a short train or subway ride away.

If you are thinking about living in D.C., neighboring towns that such as Alexandria, VA, or Baltimore, MD are definitely worth taking a look at.  Alexandria, VA has the feel of a small time town but with a lot more to do.  It is historic looking in nature and the scenery is beautiful.  On top of that, the people living/visiting there are extremely friendly.  You’ll have no problem making friends.  Baltimore is also just a short ride away from D.C. and offers the buzz that goes along with any city which hosts professional NFL and MLB teams.   You could get the best of both worlds by living in-between Baltimore and Washington, paying a lot less to live, and being equidistant from two great cities.  Regardless of what you decide, you are sure to find yourself in the middle of the action with any of these choices.