Moving to NYC - The Ultimate Guide for 2025

If you’ve decided to move to New York City, we salute you. 

A move from point A to point B will always be stressful, but a move to one of the most famous cities in the world is an endeavor that requires endurance and preparation. 

No matter your financial situation, and no matter how many YouTube videos you may have watched about moving to Brooklyn or Queens, nothing can fully prepare you for a flawless move to NYC. But it doesn’t hurt to try, and the team at Prevu Real Estate has put together their essential list to help you prepare for the big move.

Below, we put together a comprehensive and step-by-step guide on everything you should look out for. From choosing your neighborhood to picking the right living space to handling your move from square one, the Prevu team has your moving journey covered.  

Preparing for the move

• Pick your neighborhood
• Decide on your living space
• Know the transportation options in NYC
• Choose a moving company

Take a deep breath. The list of things to worry about will pile up quickly, but we can help you tackle each challenge step-by-step with some expert advice. 

Picking your neighborhood should be your first priority. Many lifestyle factors will depend on which zip code you choose to adopt. Your commute, rent, and leisure will all feel different if you live in Williamsburg instead of Bay Ridge. So grab a pen and paper and start jotting down the things that matter most.

Pick your neighborhood

Five boroughs make up New York City: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, and Staten Island.

One of these will be your new home in the Big Apple, unless your first ride on the MTA subway system makes you reconsider the whole ordeal. 

Each borough is a fascinating display of fierce character, rich cultural diversity, and countless dining options. So how do you choose the right one? Start with the important stuff.

Life and work in the city revolve around the transportation system. Cars are also an option, but be ready to splurge on parking. Or you can make circles around the neighborhood searching for a spot (we’ll leave rush hour traffic to your imagination). Whatever you choose, commuting should be your first factor.

Naturally, Manhattan is the center of everything, and the subway system will get you to almost every nook and cranny of the city. You can perch north of Central Park in Harlem or settle in the glamor of Chelsea on the West Side, but you will always get to where you need. 

However, venture into South Brooklyn and train options slim down in exchange for cheaper, spacious apartments and residential vibes. Wade out even further to Staten Island, and buses and ferries will become your go-to. 

Next comes lifestyle. Let’s say you have a subway station right around the corner that can get you to Wall Street in thirty minutes. The commute seems perfect, but after the daily grind, you return to a block with no decent pizzeria or bar in sight. This is where the balancing act begins. 

Sometimes it’s worth taking on a long walk to the subway station in return for a five-star weekend brunch spot right across the street from your future place. Extra points if there’s a laundromat and supermarket right next to it. The same goes for recreation. Having a park nearby will make summer in the city much more enjoyable.

And so, we come to the price point. You know how long you are willing to commute, and you know what must-haves you want nearby your home. What’s left to determine is how much you’re ready to spend. 

Commute times and entertainment scenes can help you narrow down the neighborhood, but the kind of home you want, be it a house or a condo, and where it’s located, will determine how much you will pay. It’s time to decide on your living space. 

Deciding on your living space

First, you should remember that space comes at a premium here. Most people will settle for expensive rent not because of an extra bedroom but because of location and proximity to public transportation. That’s because a small bedroom with home-office potential can sometimes push the rent or asking price higher than if you had a park nearby. 

If your budget is not too limited, you can enjoy the best of both worlds. But if you’re committed to a frugal approach, there are some specific questions you need to ask. 

How much space will you need? Emphasis on need because daydreaming about how much you want can lead to unnecessary spending. 

Will you be working from home and need a home office space? You will need to prioritize a second bedroom, however small, instead of a shorter commute and a nearby park. 

Do you have a pet or plan to get one? Keep in mind that many apartments in NYC are not pet-friendly. This might also make specific neighborhoods a more challenging destination since owning a pet means vet bills, food costs, and dog parks. These can eat into a budget, and you don’t want to be stuck with a rent that doesn’t allow you to enjoy and care for your furry companion adequately.

Are you planning on making a family? Then space should be your number one search filter. There are many feel-good stories about families making it in the Big Apple with limited square footage, but you will thank yourself in the end for setting up your living space to handle your future family’s needs. 

Of course, your living space will ultimately depend on whether you buy or rent. We’ll dive into that more thoroughly later on. 

Know the transportation options in NYC

One of the most extraordinary things about New York City is that virtually all of it is accessible. We touched lightly on commuting before, but getting to work is just one aspect of your commute. Therefore, it’s essential to understand how public transportation works in NYC before deciding to move here.

The MTA (Metropolitan Transit Authority) is in charge of almost all the public transit that keeps NYC running 24/7. The subway system here is one of the most extensive in the world and not only gets you anywhere within Manhattan but almost anywhere within the five boroughs.

The MTA’s bus system complements the subway and creates convenient routes in areas where the subway doesn’t operate. It also becomes the primary option for commuters living further away from the city, in areas such as the northern Bronx or east Queens. 

There is even an option to whip out your cell phone and download the Citibike app, which gets you access to multiple bike stations throughout the city for a fee. Bikes have become increasingly popular and can sometimes offer a way to avoid crowded subways and backed-up highways in exchange for a cruise across Brooklyn Bridge.

If you already have some top neighborhoods in mind, hop into Google Maps and run a search from those areas to your current or future place of work and places you might want to visit.

Knowing what types of transportation you will have to take can help you narrow your neighborhood pretty quickly. 

Choosing a moving company

In the grand scheme, choosing the moving company is likely at the bottom of the long list of worries. But it can help save a minor migraine in the long run if you take the time to focus on who will be moving your stuff. 

There are countless moving companies and not all specialize in every kind of move. If you have valuables that mean a lot, you should make sure professionals will handle them. The last thing you want after a stressful move and a new home full of unpacked boxes is to notice that your 1965 Steinway has a crack on its lid because the movers were clumsy. 

Deciding on your living space will also affect the price of your move. Let’s say you found the perfect two-bedroom apartment that works with your budget. The only issue is it’s a pre-war walk-up. On the 6th floor. 

Anyone having to haul a West Elm wardrobe or a grand piano up those narrow stairs will charge you a pretty penny for the service. Sometimes they might not even do it. 

In these cases, take a deep breath, and keep on searching. Sometimes it helps to be patient and find a place that fits the bill rather than deal with discomforts that will grind away at you in the long run. 

As you search for movers, call and get as many quotes as possible. That way, you can help factor them into your final budget. 

The housing options in New York City

• Condos and co-ops
• Townhouses
• Houses
• Rental buildings

It might be safe to say that, up to this point, we have covered the basics. Having an idea of the neighborhood you want to live in, the kind of space you want, and what commute you should prepare for is a huge first step. With the outline ready, you should start understanding the housing options you can choose from in the Big Apple. 

Some neighborhoods are residential, where finding a house is a lot easier. Some are home to the famous brownstones you may have seen in the movies. Others offer gleaming high-rises above bar-laden and restaurant-speckled city streets. 

But no matter where you land, the kind of home you choose will impact everything from the application process to the mortgage loan. Below, we list the most prominent housing types in NYC. If you’re only interested in renting an apartment, skip to the last section.

Condos and co-ops

Arguably the bread and butter of the NYC real estate scene, condos and co-ops are some of the most common housing options for people moving to The City That Never Sleeps. So what exactly are they?

Condominiums, or condos for short, are individually owned units within buildings where common spaces are shared and the property is run by a management company on behalf of the condo association. 

When owning a NYC condo, you will pay monthly fees called common charges, and these fees go toward the day-to-day operation of the building. That includes all the amenities most condos have access to, such as pools, roof terraces, BBQ areas, and other shared communal spaces. If you’ve owned a condo in other parts of the country, you may have heard common charges referred to as condo association fees or HOA fees.

Many homeowners choose condo ownership because of easy upkeep and luxury amenities. The drawback is the monthly common charges.

Co-ops are another popular choice for homebuyers in NYC and make up the majority of listings for sale in boroughs like Manhattan. The difference here is that you’ll be buying shares of the co-op corporation that owns the building with a proprietary lease to a specific unit, as opposed to owning the unit itself like a condo.

Co-ops are generally cheaper than condos, making them more attractive for homebuyers with a stricter budget. Yet they are also more restrictive, prohibiting subletting until certain conditions are met, and sometimes requiring substantial financial reserves on hand before purchase approval.

Similar to condos, co-op owners can expect to pay a monthly fee called maintenance that goes toward the operation of the building. Unlike condos, co-op maintenance also includes the unit’s portion of the building’s property taxes, whereas condo owners receive separate tax bills for each deeded unit.

Townhouses

It’s easy to imagine condos and co-ops as apartments within a building, but they can also extend to various housing options. For example, while the famous, Italianate-style townhouses in neighborhoods like Park Slope and Brooklyn Heights are single-family houses, some of them are also split up into co-ops and condos.

They are ideal options if you’re shopping for the closest thing that feels like a house. They are not the glistening high-rises overlooking the East River with a pool and gym, but they may come with their backyard and parking space. 

Townhomes, or townhouses, can come in different styles, such as brownstones and rowhouses. They all share similarities, and the distinction comes from the style they are built in.

Houses

In densely populated New York City, owning a house is a luxury, especially in Manhattan. The vast majority of real estate options are condos and co-ops. But for those whose longtime dream has been to own their house in the Big Apple, there are ways to achieve it.

Your best bet is to go further from the city. The deeper into the residential boroughs you go, the more homes you will find for sale. Keep in mind that outdoor space is rare. Space is precious in New York City, so very few homes will feature expansive backyards.

And for those who want to be at the heart of it all and still own a house, be prepared for a heavy expense. Though quite rare, houses in Manhattan do exist. Many are mansions built in the early 1900s; others are townhouses found in the tree-lined streets of Greenwich Village or the elegant avenues of the Upper East Side. For those with the means to purchase one, your biggest challenge will be finding one for sale.   

Rental buildings

Renting in NYC is an infamous undertaking. The apartment search, the move, the fees, and everything in between leave a mark of pride on all who follow through with it. 

So far, we have covered options for buyers, but condos and co-ops are also available for renters, who make up most of the folks who live in NYC.

Rental buildings come in wide varieties. Some are operated by a single landlord, and some are managed by a large owner-operator. Most aspiring NYC renters might be familiar with the single-landlord option, but many newer buildings, some of which also contain condo and co-op units, offer renters a more streamlined way to find a rental in the city.

Instead of working through a broker, you can sometimes contact a building’s leasing office and work directly through them. Renting anapartment gives you access to the same amenities on offer without committing to buying.

Renting vs. Buying

• Pros and cons of renting
• Pros and cons of buying
• Broker fees in NYC
• Get money back when you buy

There’s a lot to digest about the housing styles of New York City, so take your time with it. Explore what each one offers and which neighborhoods provide the closest to what you want. But the time will come when you decide whether to rent or buy. Though the decision has a lot of financial implications, there are also lifestyle and career questions to consider.

Renting in NYC is one of the most stressful events for anyone, even veteran New Yorkers taking on the challenge of moving from Brooklyn to Manhattan. A lot of searching is involved, and a lot of rent money will go into a landlord’s pocket and not towards equity. But there is also a freedom to explore and no commitment to stay in one place for too long. 

Below you’ll find our breakdown of the top pros and cons of renting versus buying.

Pros of renting in NYC

• No long-term commitment 
• Freedom to pack up and move
• Great way to ease into living in New York
• Lower upfront financial cost

Cons of renting in NYC 

• High monthly expense vs other cities
• Renters don’t build equity in a property
• Rent rises vs fixed mortgage payment

Pros of buying in NYC

• Owning your own space
• Freedom to renovate as desired
• Potential for price appreciation

Cons of buying in NYC

• Property taxes
• Responsibility for fixing and maintaining property
• Moving is more complex with selling, renting out

Broker fees in NYC

The words broker and fee can trigger unpleasant feelings for many veteran renters living in New York. But they sometimes go hand in hand with getting the keys to your first place in the Big Apple. So we’re here to help break it all down for you. 

Traditionally, when you rent in New York City, you as the tenant will usually pay the broker fee, which is the opposite of many other cities in the US where the owner pays. The amount of that fee will depend on a few things: 1) The amount of rent being asked. 2) How the brokerage charges its fee (sometimes one month's rent, sometimes a percentage of the annual rent), and 3) Negotiation.

Savvy renters who want to save should get familiar with the "no fee" filter on popular rental search sites. Another alternative is to search for rental buildings where you can reach out directly to the leasing office of luxury rental buildings and bypass agents entirely.

Saving money when you buy

Don’t worry, buyers. There are ways for you to save as well. And those savings involve putting cash back in your pocket after you close. It may sound too good to be true, but after you went through all the steps outlined to find the right home and move to NYC, it is a welcome reality.

When buying a home in New York City, search for brokerages that offer commission rebates. Modern brokerages such as Prevu unlock significant savings for buyers by giving them up to half of their commission back in the form of a rebate.

For example, Prevu offers the largest commission rebate in NYC - up to 1.5% of the property’s purchase price. So if you were to purchase a $2,100,000 condo in the West Village with Prevu, you could receive a check for up to $31,500 after closing.

After a sizable purchase price and hefty closing costs, that rebate check can help you replenish your savings account, cover furniture costs, or fund any needed renovations.

Making the move

• Organize your financials
• Interview buyer’s agents
• Free your schedule to help avoid stress

Everything we covered up until this point should help you set the foundations for a successful move. The time between your planning stages and the actual move can take weeks to months to even a year. But once you are ready to set the plan in motion, organization and working with professionals will be vital in ensuring a successful move. 

For those looking to buy, the expertise of a local real estate agent can be invaluable. Few cities in the world are as intricate and pricey as New York City. Having a professional to help you navigate it will give you an irreplaceable advantage regarding prices and negotiations. For those looking to rent, finances should be your primary focus.

Organize your financials

Whether you are renting or buying in NYC, you will need to have financial documentation ready. Renters will need to document income and plan for moving fees, broker fees, and security deposits. Buyers will need to prepare for the demanding mortgage underwriting process and plan for down payments and closing costs.

Renter financials

• Focus on your credit score. It is one of the major factors in getting approved for a lease. 
• Set a budget. Put money aside for movers, broker fees, and security deposits.
• Organize those pay stubs and W-2s. Get a letter of employment if applicable.

Buyer financials

• Pay down any outstanding debts, so when the time comes to get a mortgage pre-approval, your finances will look strong with a low debt-to-income ratio.
• Organize your W-2s, bank statements, and brokerage statements for all your assets.
• Speak to various lenders to find the best rates and mortgage products.
• Plan for your down payment as well as closing costs.

Buyers should interview buyer agents

If your sights are set on buying, start interviewing a few buyer’s agents to find one that aligns with your ownership goals.

Here are some questions you should ask a buyer’s agent

• How long have you worked in NYC?
• How many deals have you closed in your career?
• Have you worked on a deal around this price point before?
• Are you experienced in my favorite part of the city?
• Do you offer a commission rebate?

A buyer’s agent offers a wealth of real estate knowledge to help guide you through a complicated transaction. They’re there to help you negotiate a fair price based on data, assist you in the paperwork, and represent your best interests. Take advantage of it. 

A local NYC agent can also help you zero in on what you need in a property or neighborhood.

Free your schedule to help avoid stress

We’re approaching the finish line now. Every person’s journey will have been different up until this point. You might be a renter who couldn’t care less about townhomes and houses for sale in Greenwich. You may be a buyer who saved for years to be able to buy a condo on the Upper East Side.

Whatever your goal might be, de-stressing is key as the moving date gets closer.

Give yourself space to make errors and handle unforeseen situations. Try to make your schedule as open as possible for the move. You don’t want to arrive at the apartment only to realize your favorite couch doesn’t fit through the doorway while remembering you have work the next day.  

Try to free up your schedule ahead of the move. After all, you’re about to move to one of the greatest cities in the world. So give yourself some time to enjoy it.

Enjoying your life as a New Yorker

• Getting to know what NYC has to offer
• Distressing post-move in NYC parks
• Explore your new neighborhood

It may be surreal and hard to picture, but you will be in your new Big Apple home with keys in your hand at some point. Those keys unlock more than just the door to an apartment so take advantage of getting to live in one of the most legendary cities in the world. 

Freeing up your schedule will help you alleviate the stress during the move, but it should also give you some time to get to know your new city. So take that time to explore some of the best New York City offers.

Getting to know what NYC has to offer

You’ve made it. The keys to your home in New York City are yours. So what if you have a pile of boxes up to the ceiling to unpack. It’s time to start enjoying your life as a New Yorker.

From world-famous theaters on Broadway to luxurious rooftop bars on Fifth Avenue to a tranquil oasis in the middle of Central Park, it can take a lifetime to discover NYC fully. But you don’t have to start big. 

Head to a neighborhood you heard about. Stop by one of the many craft coffee shops that dot the city. Take a yellow cab (before you religiously start using Lyft or Uber). 

Amid the daily grind, it can be easy to forget some of the unforgettable experiences New York can offer. Before you start settling in for the long haul, use the opportunity to take it all in.

De-stressing post-move in NYC parks

If the first thing you want to do after a stressful move is lie down in a patch of grass and get away from concrete, the concrete jungle of the Big Apple is just the thing for you.

Amidst the famous skyscrapers and brownstones are some of the most idyllic parks in the world. Prospect Park in Brooklyn is massive, with winding roads leading to open fields and hidden gazebos overlooking tranquil lakes.

Central Park is right in the heart of Manhattan, yet, once you’re inside, you might forget you’re in the middle of one of the most populated cities in the United States.

Bryant Park is a local favorite, where an ice rink comes alive during the winter, and classic films are shown on the lawn in the summer.

Even in the middle of the famous rush of NYC, you won’t have trouble finding some tranquility.

Explore your new neighborhood

Whether in the heart of Chelsea or in historic Bedford-Stuyvesant, your neighborhood will be a unique part of your new life in the Big Apple. 

Explore the streets you now call home. Find your go-to delivery spot for nights when cooking is just too much. Try an espresso at the local coffee shop or a sandwich at the corner deli. Then, get on the subway and see how the commute feels. 

Most importantly, enjoy it. After all, you just moved to New York City. You deserve it. 

Interested in buying a NYC apartment? Browse listings in your favorite neighborhood and see how much you can save with Prevu’s Smart Buyer Rebate.