What is the right thing to do about my apartment?

[RedMaple]

Have you documented your complaints to the landlord?  Send him a letter, registered mail outlining your complaint as specifically as possible.  Send a letter each time it occurs. You need to force him to lever the tenant into behaving or to get rid of him.  I did this in the past.

At the same time, look for another place.  Let the landlord know you will not renew until and unless the situation gets under control.

I didn't do this, but my neighbor did this for her noisy upstairs neighbor. He's a professional musician who practices at home. He has one of those big pianos. In the lease it says that we're not allowed to play musical instruments. She kept notes of when he played, how long he played, how loud it was in her apartment - she purchased a reader. The landlord told her that her only option is for her to move out.

My landlord doesn't care. I live in a very popular spot. There will be someone who will rent my apartment. The thing that another user said hit me, the reason why I can't move into a smaller place is because I want to have a small couch and bed in my apartment. If I had a sofabed, this wouldn't be an issue.

[Goldielocks]

If you don't like being around people and you aren't working, why are you staying in Queens? You could go to Maine and rent a gorgeous house on the water for the winter for under $1000.  I did read that you don't have a car so you would either need to get a cheap one or live somewhere walkable/bikeable.  There are tons of places that still fit that bill for cheap.  You should live in a low COL location until school starts.

There are no hedge funds in Maine and the school that I want to attend is in NYC. Yes, I don't have a car, I don't know how to drive. I think that is screwing me - if I at least had a car (or knew how to drive) I could live further away from the train or move upstate and still be able to purchase groceries whenever I need to.

I misread your original post I guess.  I thought it was going to be another year or two before you would be going to school and that you were studying for the entrance exam, not working and living off of savings in the interim.  That is why I suggested moving and then moving back.  Disregard if the time frame is shorter than I realized.

It would be another year or so until I got into school, and I am living off my savings. But moving away and then coming back to NYC after 2 years doesn't make sense - there would be moving costs, I'd have to learn how to drive, and I'd need to purchase a car - that I would have to sell when I moved back into the city. Am I missing something?

Maybe learn how to drive anyway?  I am not saying buy a car, but get your Driver's license.  This time of your life seems ideal to take that extra time, and the skill  / paperwork may come in handy one day.   Even if you do remain in hedge funds and not another role for the rest of your life.

I have a license. When I was 19 I took a month worth of lessons, took the exam, passed, and never drove again. There is no point to "relearn" how to drive if I'm not going to practice driving/have no car.

Well pardon me for assuming "I don't know how to drive" to mean no license.

From your other responses, I guess there is no hope /option for any alternative choices in your lifestyle and I wish you good luck.

[dilinger]

>As long as it's within two or three miles from a grocery store, biking or walking should cover all your daily errands
That's just not for me. I wouldn't take a 3 mile bike ride every couple of days for groceries. My time is too valuable.

You do realize that 3 miles on a bike is about < 15 minutes, right?

[SaintM]

If you don't like being around people and you aren't working, why are you staying in Queens? You could go to Maine and rent a gorgeous house on the water for the winter for under $1000.  I did read that you don't have a car so you would either need to get a cheap one or live somewhere walkable/bikeable.  There are tons of places that still fit that bill for cheap.  You should live in a low COL location until school starts.

I'll take this a step further.  You write like you are too good to live anywhere but NYC, too good for a roommate, too good to live with your parents, and too good to work at anything but a hedge fund.

Yet you have nothing. No job/income, no property, no car. and no plan  You say you don't want a job for a couple of years until you start school, yet you bombed the standardized test so all you do is study for te test again. What kind of plan is that? Unless you have a shit ton pile of cash, it isn't going to last long.

You need to seriously re-evaluate your complete situation and stop blaming the neighbor below you.

[RedMaple]

If you don't like being around people and you aren't working, why are you staying in Queens? You could go to Maine and rent a gorgeous house on the water for the winter for under $1000.  I did read that you don't have a car so you would either need to get a cheap one or live somewhere walkable/bikeable.  There are tons of places that still fit that bill for cheap.  You should live in a low COL location until school starts.

There are no hedge funds in Maine and the school that I want to attend is in NYC. Yes, I don't have a car, I don't know how to drive. I think that is screwing me - if I at least had a car (or knew how to drive) I could live further away from the train or move upstate and still be able to purchase groceries whenever I need to.

I misread your original post I guess.  I thought it was going to be another year or two before you would be going to school and that you were studying for the entrance exam, not working and living off of savings in the interim.  That is why I suggested moving and then moving back.  Disregard if the time frame is shorter than I realized.

It would be another year or so until I got into school, and I am living off my savings. But moving away and then coming back to NYC after 2 years doesn't make sense - there would be moving costs, I'd have to learn how to drive, and I'd need to purchase a car - that I would have to sell when I moved back into the city. Am I missing something?

Maybe learn how to drive anyway?  I am not saying buy a car, but get your Driver's license.  This time of your life seems ideal to take that extra time, and the skill  / paperwork may come in handy one day.   Even if you do remain in hedge funds and not another role for the rest of your life.

I have a license. When I was 19 I took a month worth of lessons, took the exam, passed, and never drove again. There is no point to "relearn" how to drive if I'm not going to practice driving/have no car.

Well pardon me for assuming "I don't know how to drive" to mean no license.

From your other responses, I guess there is no hope /option for any alternative choices in your lifestyle and I wish you good luck.

Heh, if you give me a car. I wouldn't know what to do with it. I equate that with not knowing how to drive.

I'm happy that I posted here. People have given me many things to think about - things that I didn't realize before. I will start looking at apartments and seeing how much smaller the apartments are and how comfortable I would be (in terms of space, commute, groceries etc.)   

[RedMaple]

>As long as it's within two or three miles from a grocery store, biking or walking should cover all your daily errands
That's just not for me. I wouldn't take a 3 mile bike ride every couple of days for groceries. My time is too valuable.

You do realize that 3 miles on a bike is about < 15 minutes, right?

It's all fine and dandy until it's cold outside or I come home at 11pm either from the library or work only to wake up at 7 and do it all over again. In ~6 months that will be me.

My company will pay for the cab, but the cab isn't going to wait around until I do my shopping. Actually will the stores even be open at that time? Where I live now, almost everything is open 24/7. There have been plenty times where I went grocery shopping at 1am because that was the only time that I had.

[RedMaple]

If you don't like being around people and you aren't working, why are you staying in Queens? You could go to Maine and rent a gorgeous house on the water for the winter for under $1000.  I did read that you don't have a car so you would either need to get a cheap one or live somewhere walkable/bikeable.  There are tons of places that still fit that bill for cheap.  You should live in a low COL location until school starts.

I'll take this a step further.  You write like you are too good to live anywhere but NYC, too good for a roommate, too good to live with your parents, and too good to work at anything but a hedge fund.

Yet you have nothing. No job/income, no property, no car. and no plan  You say you don't want a job for a couple of years until you start school, yet you bombed the standardized test so all you do is study for te test again. What kind of plan is that? Unless you have a shit ton pile of cash, it isn't going to last long.

You need to seriously re-evaluate your complete situation and stop blaming the neighbor below you.

Wow such hostility. This is kinda funny. From reading what you wrote, it doesn't look like you actually read everything that I said. It's ok though, you're not really contributing to my post anyway. Move along.

[sheepstache]

Have you documented your complaints to the landlord?  Send him a letter, registered mail outlining your complaint as specifically as possible.  Send a letter each time it occurs. You need to force him to lever the tenant into behaving or to get rid of him.  I did this in the past.

At the same time, look for another place.  Let the landlord know you will not renew until and unless the situation gets under control.

I didn't do this, but my neighbor did this for her noisy upstairs neighbor. He's a professional musician who practices at home. He has one of those big pianos. In the lease it says that we're not allowed to play musical instruments. She kept notes of when he played, how long he played, how loud it was in her apartment - she purchased a reader. The landlord told her that her only option is for her to move out.

Ah, the classic New York story. Arty musician types make the city more interesting so the business types move here and then learn they can't stand the fucking arty types and try to drive them out.

It's true, a lease clause like that wouldn't be enforceable. The city noise limit during the day is quite high (like, you can't work on jet engines in your apartment), but much lower at night. You don't specify when your problem is happening. I don't know what you mean about police vs. 311. If you call 311, they will send the police, assuming police aren't too busy with actual emergencies that night.  Regular visits from the police might annoy your neighbor and your landlord enough to effect change. Or your neighbor might just move out after awhile regardless of anything you do. Same as if you moved to another building with good neighbors but then they moved.

[jmusic]

If you don't like being around people and you aren't working, why are you staying in Queens? You could go to Maine and rent a gorgeous house on the water for the winter for under $1000.  I did read that you don't have a car so you would either need to get a cheap one or live somewhere walkable/bikeable.  There are tons of places that still fit that bill for cheap.  You should live in a low COL location until school starts.

I'll take this a step further.  You write like you are too good to live anywhere but NYC, too good for a roommate, too good to live with your parents, and too good to work at anything but a hedge fund.

Yet you have nothing. No job/income, no property, no car. and no plan  You say you don't want a job for a couple of years until you start school, yet you bombed the standardized test so all you do is study for te test again. What kind of plan is that? Unless you have a shit ton pile of cash, it isn't going to last long.

You need to seriously re-evaluate your complete situation and stop blaming the neighbor below you.

Wow such hostility. This is kinda funny. From reading what you wrote, it doesn't look like you actually read everything that I said. It's ok though, you're not really contributing to my post anyway. Move along.

First post here, but I did read through everything.  You're asking a bunch of strangers for advice based solely on what you've written, and first you say you're unemployed and asking us for advice regarding your situation, then refusing everything that we propose!  Now you're saying stuff like "my time is too valuable..." and "My company will pay..." which makes it sound like you're super important.

Either SaintMichael's facepunch is WELL-DESERVED, or there's a LOT that you're not sharing with us and you're judging our responses based on information that we don't have!

[RedMaple]

If you don't like being around people and you aren't working, why are you staying in Queens? You could go to Maine and rent a gorgeous house on the water for the winter for under $1000.  I did read that you don't have a car so you would either need to get a cheap one or live somewhere walkable/bikeable.  There are tons of places that still fit that bill for cheap.  You should live in a low COL location until school starts.

I'll take this a step further.  You write like you are too good to live anywhere but NYC, too good for a roommate, too good to live with your parents, and too good to work at anything but a hedge fund.

Yet you have nothing. No job/income, no property, no car. and no plan  You say you don't want a job for a couple of years until you start school, yet you bombed the standardized test so all you do is study for te test again. What kind of plan is that? Unless you have a shit ton pile of cash, it isn't going to last long.

You need to seriously re-evaluate your complete situation and stop blaming the neighbor below you.

Wow such hostility. This is kinda funny. From reading what you wrote, it doesn't look like you actually read everything that I said. It's ok though, you're not really contributing to my post anyway. Move along.

First post here, but I did read through everything.  You're asking a bunch of strangers for advice based solely on what you've written, and first you say you're unemployed and asking us for advice regarding your situation, then refusing everything that we propose!  Now you're saying stuff like "my time is too valuable..." and "My company will pay..." which makes it sound like you're super important.

Either SaintMichael's facepunch is WELL-DESERVED, or there's a LOT that you're not sharing with us and you're judging our responses based on information that we don't have!

I'm unemployed as of earlier this month, but I have excellent savings. I can not work for 4+ years and still pay all of my bills plus inflation. The only reason why I mentioned that I was unemployed was because it will cause some complications such as renting a new apartment - because landlords want pay stubs and they will be very finicky with guarantors. My question wasn't about my salary, it was weather or not having a shitty neighbor and rising apartment cost worth looking for a new place - especially since the cheaper apartments are only a few hundred dollars cheaper and there is no guarantee that my new neighbors will be better.

I did receive some good advice. People have given me many things to think about - things that I didn't realize before. I will start looking at apartments and seeing how much smaller the apartments are and how comfortable I would be (in terms of space, commute, groceries etc.) I also received good suggestions about ways to decrease the noise in my apartment.   

[RedMaple]

Have you documented your complaints to the landlord?  Send him a letter, registered mail outlining your complaint as specifically as possible.  Send a letter each time it occurs. You need to force him to lever the tenant into behaving or to get rid of him.  I did this in the past.

At the same time, look for another place.  Let the landlord know you will not renew until and unless the situation gets under control.

I didn't do this, but my neighbor did this for her noisy upstairs neighbor. He's a professional musician who practices at home. He has one of those big pianos. In the lease it says that we're not allowed to play musical instruments. She kept notes of when he played, how long he played, how loud it was in her apartment - she purchased a reader. The landlord told her that her only option is for her to move out.

Ah, the classic New York story. Arty musician types make the city more interesting so the business types move here and then learn they can't stand the fucking arty types and try to drive them out. The neighbor who complained about the pianist has lived in the apartment for 30 years - it was her moms apartment.

It's true, a lease clause like that wouldn't be enforceable. The city noise limit during the day is quite high (like, you can't work on jet engines in your apartment), but much lower at night. You don't specify when your problem is happening. I don't know what you mean about police vs. 311. If you call 311, they will send the police, assuming police aren't too busy with actual emergencies that night.  Regular visits from the police might annoy your neighbor and your landlord enough to effect change. Or your neighbor might just move out after awhile regardless of anything you do. Same as if you moved to another building with good neighbors but then they moved.

The guy is actually good, he performs at Lincoln Center very often. My buildings new tenant is an opera singer, I don't know where she performs but I hear her practicing when my window is open.

The noisy neighbor is oldish (60's.) I assume he doesn't work since he stays up all hours of the night. I highly doubt he'll move. He'll probably die in the apartment. Maybe I should try calling 311 and see what they say, but from other peoples experiences they don't do much except take information down. I guess if I lived in a small town then noise complaints would be handled, but in NYC it's not a priority.

[galliver]

In your shoes I would scout other apartments whole working on the nose isolation measures. And maybe try being nice to the neighbor. Honey and vinegar, as they say.

That said, you sound very particular about your environment (can't have other people moving around, etc.) Which makes me wonder if you can ever find peace living in a big city.

[RedMaple]

In your shoes I would scout other apartments whole working on the nose isolation measures. And maybe try being nice to the neighbor. Honey and vinegar, as they say.

That said, you sound very particular about your environment (can't have other people moving around, etc.) Which makes me wonder if you can ever find peace living in a big city.

Do you have any suggestions regarding decreasing the noise? I try to be nice to him but it's hard to be nice when he constantly wakes me up. It's hard to fall back asleep, so I lose sleep and am tired in the am. I have been yelled at work for being tired.

I wouldn't find peace living in the 'burbs either because I don't want the responsibility of home or car ownership. Being stuck alone in the middle of the road scares the shit out of me. Heh I can never be satisfied.

[jmusic]

Going back to the noise issue, I'll set aside the earplug discussion since it's already been thoroughly discussed. 

The other thing to do would be to add heavy mass to your floors.  "Mass Loaded Vinyl" products would probably work best at blocking the sounds, though the stuff I could find from a quick search isn't cheap...

http://www.tmsoundproofing.com/Mass-Loaded-Vinyl-2-pound.html

[galliver]

Going back to the noise issue, I'll set aside the earplug discussion since it's already been thoroughly discussed. 

The other thing to do would be to add heavy mass to your floors.  "Mass Loaded Vinyl" products would probably work best at blocking the sounds, though the stuff I could find from a quick search isn't cheap...

http://www.tmsoundproofing.com/Mass-Loaded-Vinyl-2-pound.html

This just made me think, build an anechoic chamber in the bedroom...those things are freaky quiet.

[Blonde Lawyer]

I don't like playing armchair psychologist but if you think there is any chance you could be depressed or suffer from anxiety, whatever the cause, I would look into that too.  It might make some of the suggested tasks seem less insurmountable and if you truly have no other options, it could give you some coping skills in the meantime.

[SaintM]

I call them as I see them.  Take the advice any way you choose.

We were once broke with nothing but an upside-down car.  Last week, we passed $2M in net worth.  I've seen everything along the way.

[Quinn]

My downstairs neighbor is driving me insane. He listens to the radio very loudly at all hours of the night. I've spoken to him but he doesn't give a fuck.

The noisy neighbor is oldish (60's.)

Could it be that he's hard of hearing, and turns up the radio because he can't hear it? How about getting him to listen to the radio with earphones.

[Ricky]

This just doesn't seem like a question for these forums...it's more of a personal decision.

I second that you could be depressed. It doesn't sound like any situation will satisfy you and that is definitely a sign of depression.

If the noise is a big enough issue for you to move, you'd do it. You wouldn't have to ask us. We can't decide whether withering down your savings is a good idea, although in general it definitely wouldn't be. Those savings should be ideally locked away in investments if you asked any of us, because I doubt many here keep large emergency funds and cash on hand. We also don't know how good your future prospects are, making it even more difficult to make a decision.

I think most of us woild have already at least moved out of NYC with no job and living off savings. But you're not willing to do that, so I say just do what will make you happy.

[RedMaple]

My downstairs neighbor is driving me insane. He listens to the radio very loudly at all hours of the night. I've spoken to him but he doesn't give a fuck.

The noisy neighbor is oldish (60's.)

Could it be that he's hard of hearing, and turns up the radio because he can't hear it? How about getting him to listen to the radio with earphones.

The times I've spoken to him I didn't raise my voice, I spoke normally and he understood me. He isn't noisy all of the time. Like right now he is normal, as in I can drown out the noise with my fans. Every few months or so he'll blast the radio for 2-3 weeks straight and then he'll quiet down again. I don't particularly like dealing with him which is why I don't usually bother him until it drives me crazy enough to have to deal with him.

[RedMaple]

This just doesn't seem like a question for these forums...it's more of a personal decision.

I second that you could be depressed. It doesn't sound like any situation will satisfy you and that is definitely a sign of depression.

If the noise is a big enough issue for you to move, you'd do it. You wouldn't have to ask us. We can't decide whether withering down your savings is a good idea, although in general it definitely wouldn't be. Those savings should be ideally locked away in investments if you asked any of us, because I doubt many here keep large emergency funds and cash on hand. We also don't know how good your future prospects are, making it even more difficult to make a decision.

I think most of us woild have already at least moved out of NYC with no job and living off savings. But you're not willing to do that, so I say just do what will make you happy.

Heh, maybe? I've never ever been satisfied. Like the friends that I've had throughout my life, I didn't have them because I liked them. I had them because it was something to occupy my time. The boyfriends that I had, I didn't have them because I liked them, they were something to occupy my time. My parents, I don't particularly like them or love them, but I have to deal with them until they die. It's my fiduciary duty. I view people as a liability not an asset. This is why I stopped having friends and relationships, what I get out of relationships isn't worth it to me. Hanging out with people means doing shit that I don't want to be doing. I'm selfish. I'm also very fastidious about things.

A large fund allows me to do whatever I want without having to consider anyone else. Ie: deciding to get a Masters degree. I don't have to work and I can pay for the degree 100% without taking out loans. This way my energy will be spent on my grades, studying, and networking. I have the freedom to choose what I want. I have the freedom to turn my future into what I want. I wouldn't have a large fund unless i had something planned for it. I wouldn't necessarily call the entire thing my eFund, but I don't distinguish my eFund from my other funds.

Where would I move to? I have never lived anywhere but NYC.. well I lived in Moscow but I don't remember it. All of my family is here and I have to be in the vicinity of them because I help them out often. All of the jobs are in NYC. It's easy for people to say that I should move, but where without elongating and complicating my commute to the city and to my family/parents?

[mozar]

Some landlords will accept high net worth in lieu of a job. Its worth asking. I learned the math by doing the problems over and over again. Its not all or nothing. I live in the suburbs and dont own a car. I can walk to some amenities. And I live 2 miles from the metro and take the bus. Lots of great suburbs near nyc with great bus lines.