Ok, so I wanted to get a feel of DLers here on this. I am considering buying an apartment for myself in the NYC area (since I have some cash to pay for it without a mortgage). For my budget range, I've narrowed it down to two areas in the five boroughs.
One place I'm looking at is in Staten Island at the top of my budget. It's by the ferry, has a nice view of the water and lower Manhattan and the HOA fee is low. However, the apartment is small (400 sq ft) and it's in, you know, Staten Island.
The other is in the Bronx. It's at the lower end of my price point, has a good amount of sq ft. (700) with a low HOA and is near two subways, the Metro North and Van Cortland park. The drawback is, like Staten Island, it's in the Bronx. Not the worst neighborhood in the Bronx, mind you, but still.
I'm including the first listing in post 1 and then the second in post 2. Maybe some of you will say that I shouldn't purchase in either, but if you [italic] had to choose, [/italic] which would you go for?