The NYC Apartment Hunt Saga (NFRC), or How My Stomach Led Us to Astoria

We lived in Saudi Arabia for 12 years and I had no trouble with the transition

going there, (well, a little) but I had a much harder time returning back here. In all honesty, it was the change our life took, not the country or the people. (Well, maybe the people. I'm with Erin, I'm really happy now.) 80)) My husband came back to a great job that required him to travel around the world most of the time and I just couldn't figure out how to adjust. It was a difficult time and I didn't do it well. I think it matters if you have family and friends around you. Oh, and great article and cute picture!

 
Erin...wonderful article! Congrats on the new digs. Can you comment about how that story came

to be? Did you pitch it to the NYT?

 
I did pitch it, I guess, in a way...

Back when we were first starting to look for places from Prague, I came across one or two past columns of Joyce's, so I emailed her to ask if she could point me toward the archive. (The past columns were full of practical advice for NYC apartment seekers, so I felt like I was a student of the column, once we arrived here.)

And I figured our situation was relatively uncommon, so I told her a bit about us and where we'd been, etc., in the hopes that maybe (at best) she would pass on the name of a great no-fee listing or a broker friend. smileys/bigsmile.gif But then she wrote back and said she was interested in doing a story--after we'd found a place and settled in. (She was also extremely kind in offering to note, in the piece, that I was looking for work!)

Anyway, it was a fun experience and we love the apartment.

It did break all the "pitch" rules, though, I now realize. smileys/wink.gif

 
thanks for the interesting replies!

I don't know if we will end up back in the US, but I am hoping. My husband is Dutch, has settled back into Dutch life again here after all the years we spent in the US. but it's never become a place of which I can say 'yeah, this is a place I want to stay in forever'. I've adopted some European ways of being and values but remain quite American at core. So we will see. Thanks for responding! cheers, Bonnie

 
LOL! I noticed that mention in the piece that you were looking for work. smileys/smile.gif It's funny...

I had a similiar experience. I was writing a journo asking some questions and through our conversations, she ended up doing a piece about me & my cookbook group. Totally unintended, but it was a fun experience.

I remember when you were looking...so glad you found a nice place to settle into. The neighborhood sounds fabulous!

 
How about pursuing a job in real estate?

I think that your house-hunting experiences were exceptional due to your prep/planning. I imagine that there are scads of people looking for places in greater NYC. You don't have to become a real estate agent - just make friends in the business and bring them pre-qualified buyers. OR you could become an agent! I like a "House Hunting Specialist" consultant designation because you would get paid upfront for your help - preset # of hours for $'s - instead of after closing. I know that I would love doing the research and visiting the neighborhoods!

OR how about more articles - maybe you could become a neighborhood expert and get paid for public relations from various communities.

And while making new friends, you would end up smack in the center of all kinds of wonderful community information - including leads for a new apartment for you and hubby!

Reprints of your article would be your brochure! Colleen

 
Very cool article--congratulations on landing the "holy grail" of an affordable place near NYC

 
Thanks, Colleen, but I think I would still need to bone up on the NYC market...

for years...but at the moment I prefer wandering around and writing. smileys/smile.gif Plus, it's sad, but there's not a lot of respect for anyone in the real-estate business, here (especially brokers). If we're here for a long time, maybe it's something to pursue, though. Thanks for the tip!

 
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