I never understood how those worked. I thought you had to be a very low income level. I've heard of ridiculous apartments that are like 4 bedrooms with only a 1000 a month rent on the upper east side just because they've been passed down under rent control forever. I always wondered how to get in on those lists but thought you had to move in with some dying old lady so you could take over her lease.

-Rudey

Mitchell-Lama complexes have rules that require that your income be in a certain range. If its too low or too high, you can't get in. At the time, my income was low enough (but not too low) to qualify, so I got in. Basically, its like housing projects for middle class people. They started in the 1950s, and stopped building them in the early 1980s. They were always privately built and operated, with tax breaks as incentives.

It works like this. They have waiting lists for each size apartment. There are two lists for studios, two for 1 bedroom apartments, and so on. Each size apartment has a list for insiders and outsiders. New York law requires that after three apartments are assigned to insiders (people already living in the complex,) the next apartment must go to an outsider. Insider lists for studios are very small. When an outsider list gets small, the complex places an announcement in a newspaper for openings. To qualify for an opening, you submit an application and a processing fee, usually for $100. They then hold a lottery. If you don't get selected, your money is refunded. If you do get selected, you are now on a waiting list. Your income has to be in the acceptable range when you first get on the list, and it still has to be in that range when you are finally selected. Once you're in, however, it doesn't matter how much you make.

There are more details (like its only open to New York residents,) but that's basically it.

Rudey, I looked into apartments that are lower rent and from what I have gleaned low income can mean anything. The highest low income I have seen is over $150,000 for a family of three or four. The NYC Housing Development Corporation has information about Middle Income New Housing Opportunity Program.

Family Size:
1 $30,000-$117,180
2 $40,000-$152,040
3 or 4 $48,000-$157,000

Russ answered as I was typing. :)

If you have 1 person in your family and are making 117,180 you're in the lower bracket? This is amazing.

-Rudey

New York's housing market is completely out of whack because of the government. I'd be willing to give up my apartment if New York repealed all subsidized housing and market controls, and simplified the process for real estate developers. That way we would see a more rational pricing structure. Because that won't happen, I'll just continue to enjoy the benefit that my ridiculous taxes help to subsidize. :)

Are there any vacancies in your building? :)

Well, my building was a Mitchel-Lama rental (as opposed to a co-op.) They fulfilled their 25 years in the program, and withdrew from the program. As part of the withdrawl, all existing residents were able to get an Enhanced Section 8 voucher. My apartment is now $1,700/month, but the government pays for $1,200 of it. I pay $500/month (including utilities.) In October (when they'll resume filling vacancies,) you'll be able to get a studio in my building for $1,700/month. :)

:( $1,700 is too much.

God I can't wait to move to NY.

Russ was very lucky in getting this deal. I cannot emphasize ENOUGH however how much these type of programs are really unaccessible right now. Even if you by some stroke of luck get in touch with a program like this it will take YEARS to get an apartment this way. I deal with housing issues daily with my clients and I just want people moving to NY to be informed that housing programs for lower-middle income people is really not a realistic option. Just renting a room in some pretty ghetto neighborhoods costs people at least $450 a month and that is with sharing a kitchen/bathroom. People that do get the low-middle income apartments are not moving anytime soon so that is another reason why they are so scarce. I am sure if Russ decides to give up his apartment tommorrow, either it will go up to the going rate rent, go co-op or there will be a wait-list 20 miles long for this apartment. One of my biggest pet peeves that I see happen so much especially to lower income people is when well-meaning but uninformed people tell them to just go get housing this way. It really does not exist. Moving to NYC (or any urban environment for that matter) takes a great deal of planning. It can be very stressful if you can afford it, let alone if you cannot and are uninformed that there is affordable housing available. I am confident that Mullet will find something in her price range it will just take a bit of time, research and planning. AGAIN programs like these are not realistic in these times and in this city!!!!! Happy Friday everyone :D

You know, I think Russ did a perfectly fine job explaining how difficult it is to get Mitchell-Lama housing in the city. I think we're all quite aware of how expensive it can be to live here. Also, not all of the "reasonable" rents are in "ghetto" neighborhoods. :rolleyes:

That isn't the point I was trying to make. And I am not implying that reasonable rents are only in "ghetto" neighborhoods. I am just saying that many people are uninformed about services that really don't exist anymore and I don't want them to make this mistake. :rolleyes:

I'm making this my offical "i'm moving to NYC" thread

I was offered the job - so now the pressure is really on for me to find a place to live.

The job offically begins October 1st...

I know I'll need to fly out to NYC to find a place to live - and i know that can be a crazy process. Does anyone have any idea of how many days I wouild need to truly find a good place/ how far in advance I should do that (next week? mid september?)

I know the republican Convention is going on soon, so the city will be crazy, so i want to put it off until after that.

Most apartments move quick in the city. If I were you I would spend a day in Brooklyn, a day in Queens, and a day in Manhattan so you understand the neighborhoods. Then as soon as I saw an apartment I liked I would move on it like a hawk.

Your work doesn't provide housing assistance?

-Rudey

Congratulations on the job! That's great! :D

Check out Sunday's Times for new real estate listings. I think that if you find something that looks like it might work, contact the leasing agent immediately. Apartments move fast in this city. There are a few listings for under $1,000 in Astoria, Queens right now.

I think that waiting until after the RNC to visit is a good idea.