Photo by Eye of the Storm via Flickr

When people think of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, they think of gentrification, Orthodox Jews, or lots of skinny jeans and coke bottle glasses. Whatever Williamsburg means to you, it is a great place to live for people who are looking to get a little bang for their buck in a New York apartment, without missing out on the cultural opportunities gained by living in a city!

I live in a no-fee apartment in Williamsburg, near the Graham stop on the L train. It is a ten-minute commute to Union Square, and about twenty minutes to the Grand Central area. My area is a little more spread out and relaxed. There are great restaurants and bars near my apartment in Williamsburg. One of my favorite places is The Blue Stove, a cute little pie and coffee shop. My neighborhood haunt though, is Legion, which is a divey bar with cheap beer and a somewhat secretive back room!

As you get closer to Manhattan, it becomes more city-like, with trendy shops, bars and restaurants abound near the Bedford Avenue stop. I love sunbathing at McCarren Park, the biggest park in the area, especially the dog park (I have doggy owning dreams).

One of my favorite parts about my neighborhood is the architecture. You will fall in love immediately with the brownstones that line many of the more residential streets. Another trademark of the area are warehouses converted into unique New York loft apartments, that offer a unique experience apart from most Manhattan rentals. Imagine floor to ceiling windows with the sun streaming in!

My grandparents grew up in Williamsburg, and when I told them where I was moving, they told me that it is so funny that people are dying to get into the same neighborhoods they were working so hard to get out of less than 100 years ago. The temple where my grandfather had his Bar Mitzvah is still there!

By Dayva Segal

Photo by midweekpost via Flickr

As it's evocative moniker suggests, Hell's Kitchen, the area west of Eighth avenue between 34th and 59th streets, has a rich history and a distinctive flavor. Once infamous as the center of Irish-American organized crime and the hotbed of “speakeasys" during prohibition, the neighborhood was immortalized in the musical West Side Story, which highlighted the conflicts that occurred in the 1950's when Puerto Rican immigrants started to move into the then-mostly Irish and Italian neighborhood. Today, the singing, dancing street gangs are gone, replaced by a more genteel (yet still diverse) mix of young professionals and families. The neighborhood's comparatively low cost and close promixity to some of New York's biggest attractions have made Hell's Kitchen a hot area to search for a no-fee New York apartment!

A Neighborhood to Get Noticed in

Nestled between bustling Midtown and the Hudson, Hell's Kitchen is a cozy neighborhood lined with cute brownstones and charming pre-war walk ups—a cap on the height of buildings in the area give dwellings here a more homey feel than most apartments in Manhattan. In recent years, HK has famously been a launching pad for some of NYC's biggest stars, from Madonna to Jerry Seinfeld, before they were famous. The area now hosts many performance-related attractions such as the celebrity synagogue Actor's Temple, the CBS Broadcast Center, Sony Music Studios and the Daily Show.

Close to Everything

Even if you don't dream of your name in lights, Hell's Kitchen is a great neighborhood for anyone looking for an apartment in New York. Foodies, for example, will be drawn to Ninth avenue's diversity of affordable restaurants, offering cuisine from nearly every country in the world, leading up to the famous “Restaurant Row" at 46th street between 8th and 9th. Culture lovers will appreciate their proximity to the hub of high culture at Lincoln Center (just to the neighborhood's north), while outdoor enthusiasts will enjoy easy access to Central Park, the Hudson Riverfront and the newly-opened High Line.

Many Ways to Come and Go

The Eighth Avenue Subways (A & C trains) will take you up and down the west side of town, while the E train goes crosstown and on to Queens. 59th Street/Columbus Circle is a major subway hub. Those wishing to get out of town have many options: catch an Amtrak, New Jersey Transit or Long Island Rail Road train at Penn Station, a Greyhound or other bus at the Port Authority Bus Terminal or drive your car through the Lincoln Tunnel for quick access to Jersey.

With it's unique history and one-of-a-kind ambience, Hell's Kitchen has a lot to offer those looking to move into their no fee NY apartment.

Photo by Jens Karlsson via Flickr

One of the fastest-growing neighborhoods in Manhattan, TriBeCa (shorthand for "Triangle Below Canal") was a vacant industrial wilderness only a few decades ago. Artists and bohemians pioneered the conversion of the neighborhood's loft space into residences in the 60s and 70s, and entrepeneurs followed with trendy restaurants, boutiques and nightclubs. Today, TriBeCa is a center of New York culture, hosting world-class events such as the annual TriBeCa Film Festival. With convenient access to the Holland Tunnel and tons of spacious, riverfront loft space, TriBeCa is a great place to start your Manhattan apartment search.

Boho Heaven

TriBeCa is at the center of the luxury loft boom, with one of the highest concentrations of luxury apartments in Manhattan. As a result, prices here trend higher than the average for New York apartments, but TriBeCa diggs are often huge (by Manhattan standards), come loaded with amenities and many offer sweeping views of the Hudson. Additionally, the area is home to many stately and ornate 19th-century low-rise buildings.

The Triangle Never Sleeps

In recent years, Tribeca has come into its own as a place for fine dining and high-end nightlife. Robert DeNiro's Myriad Restaurant Group is headquartered here, and the neighborhood is dotted with swank bistros, sushi bars and wine bars. For live music, there's the venerable Knitting Factory, an indie/punk stalwart. And finally, you're not officially a New Yorker until you've been invited to an exclusive TriBeCa loft party.

A Quick Getaway

Situated at the mouth of the Holland Tunnel, TriBeCa is ideal for those commuting to and from the city. The 1, 2, A, C and E trains provide quick round-the-clock service to Uptown, Downtown and Brooklyn via the Canal, Franklin and Chambers Street stations. The neighborhood is a short walk from nearby SoHo, Chinatown and Battery Park.

Photo by Jeffrey Bary

Looking for a New York apartment for rent? Allow me to let you in on one of New York's best-kept secrets: some of the best neighborhoods in Manhattan are actually in Brooklyn. If your definition of New York includes postcard-perfect brownstones, beautiful parks and quality dining and shopping, you may find your ideal New York apartment in Cobble Hill.

More Brownstones for your Green

Cobble Hill's apartments are mainly subdivided brownstones that are gorgeously-maintained, although rentals can also be found within equally splendid multi-unit brick buildings. Apartments here start at $1,800 a month for single-bedroom apartments and $2,200 for two-bedroom apartments--quite a deal for being just around the corner from trendy Park Slope.

Good things in a small package

Cobble Hill offers all the frills of the big city in a compact, cozy area of just forty square blocks. Brooklyn's own "Restaurant Row", Smith Street serves up an alphabet of cuisine from Afghan to Yemeni, while the shopping corridor of Court Street is a charming juxtaposition of newer, trendy boutiques alongside holdout mom-and-pop stores with a unique local character. Cobble Hill Park is a leafy oasis framed by some of Brooklyn's most picturesque brownstones. Parents can rest easy knowing Cobble Hill is home to some of New York's best-performing public schools.

Getting there and Away

The MTA F train runs below Smith Street in Cobble Hill on its way to Prospect Park (a 10-minute ride) and Coney Island (a 40-minute ride) from Manhattan (a 20-minute ride to Midtown). The Crosstown G also originates on Smith Street, offering easy access to neighborhoods north in Brooklyn and Queens. The Brooklyn-Queens Expressway skirts the west side of the neighborhood, making Cobble Hill convenient to Lower Manhattan, Staten Island and New Jersey.

So before you begin your Manhattan apartment search, ask your apartment in Cobble Hill, NYC is right for you.

Fans of jazz, theater, history and reasonably-priced apartments in New York take heart! Harlem is back in full swing! After decades of neglect and decline, this cultural mecca has been revitalized, and with an abundance of gorgeous housing stock, apartments in Harlem are still cheaper than most other neighborhoods in Manhattan.

Culture for Less!

Pristine brownstones are abundant in Harlem, With some luck and a good Harlem NYC broker, you may find apartments in Harlem that cost 20% less than comparable apartments in Manhattan. It is still possible to find studios for under $1,000 in Harlem, and some low-cost townhomes sell for just $400,000.

Sights and Sounds

Any tour of Harlem should begin with the celebrated Apollo Theater, a cradle of jazz music, performance and African-American culture for much of the 20th century. The historic corridor of 125th Street houses many Renaissance landmarks, such as the Hotel Theresa, and has been revitalized as a shopping district. For a more relaxing experience, check out one of New York's most beautiful green spots at Fort Tryon Park.

Safe and Convenient

Harlem in the 21st century is now one of the safest neighborhoods in New York City, with crime statistics well below the national and the city average. In addition, the neighborhood is well served by round-the-clock transit, including the 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, A, B, C and D lines.

So if you're looking to move to a vibrant, historic Manhattan neighborhood rich in culture and convenient to transportation, ask your New York real estate broker about apartments in Harlem today!

The Lower East Side of Manhattan was once known as a rich and diverse immigrant enclave and is now viewed as a fine area for delicious food, great bargains and hip entertainment. Don't be discouraged by the name! The LES is one of the oldest areas of NYC and has some of the most affordable apartments in Manhattan.

Renting Apartments in Lower East Side Manhattan

If you're looking for a Manhattan luxury apartment at a bargain price, the Lower East Side may just be for you. Apartments in the LES start as low as $1,500 a month, and some single bedroom apartments can still be found for under $1,000 a month. Compared with NYC village apartments and other rents in Manhattan, the Lower East Side is a steal!

Safe and Entertaining Nightlife

With recent gentrification, the Lower East Side has become one of the safest areas in Manhattan during late hours. Plenty of bands, artists, and performance groups live in the area, making it a popular late night destination. Expect a lot of live music venues and events around the neighborhood.

Fantastic Deals

Do a Manhattan apartment search for areas along Orchid Street and you'll be living near stores boasting fantastic deals that are perfect for bargain hunters. Whether it's housewares, linens, groceries, or quick snacks, you''ll find Lower East Side shopping irresistible.

So if you're a bargain hunter who enjoys lively nightlife, tell your New York City broker you want to see apartments in Manhattan's best-kept secret: the Lower East Side.